Ch. 211..220

Chapter 211

By the time Evelyn and Derek brought her parents home from the hospital, it was evening already.

Derek pushed the door open with his shoulder, balancing Claire's suitcase in one hand and holding the doorframe with the other.

Evelyn followed close behind, her arm linked with her mother's.

Eric shuffled in last with his duffel bag in hand.

Claire let out a soft sigh of relief as she stepped inside, her fingers lightly brushing over the back of the couch. "It's good to be out of the hospital finally," she murmured, her voice warm but tinged with exhaustion. Maya appeared from the kitchen, her smile wide and welcoming.

"Welcome!" she greeted, stepping forward to help. Her eyes flickered to the suitcase in Derek's hand. "Let me take that upstairs for you."

Derek shook his head with a small smile. "Thanks, but I've got it."

Reluctantly, she stepped back, allowing Derek to carry the bag upstairs on his own. As he left, she disappeared into the kitchen, promising to bring refreshments.

"Is it just me? Why does Maya seem restless?" Claire asked as she eased herself onto the couch, leaning back against the cushions.

Her face was still pale, but there was a spark of liveliness in her eyes that hadn't been there days ago.

Evelyn smiled, "habit. I guess she doesn't know how to stay still."

"The house feels so quiet without Samantha," Eric remarked, glancing around as if expecting the little girl to come running into the room. His tone was light, but there was a hint of wistfulness beneath his words. "She will be back tomorrow," Evelyn reassured him, sitting beside her mother and giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "She's been asking about Mom non-stop."

"I can't wait to see her. And I hope you will also bring her over to spend weekends with us when we return to the house," Claire asked hopefully.

"Sure, I will, Evelyn promised, and Claire smiled, the kind of soft, maternal smile that made Evelyn's chest tighten with warmth.

Maya returned moments later, carrying a tray with glasses of fresh watermelon juice and a plate of cookies. She set it down carefully on the coffee table before taking a seat across from them. "How are you feeling now?" Maya asked, her voice kind and genuine.

"Apart from the occasional headache, much better." Claire picked up a glass of watermelon juice and took a small sip. "Thank you for helping Evelyn take care of things around the house."

Maya's cheeks flushed, and she looked down, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's nothing, really. I'm happy to help."

Eric, who had been quietly observing, reached for his own glass.

"We're grateful, Maya."

"If everyone had a nanny like you, life would be easier for working mothers," Claire said with an easy smile.

The comment hung in the air, seemingly harmless, but Evelyn felt her pulse quicken. She glanced at Derek, who had just returned to the room and was taking his seat across from her. He met her gaze, and with a slight nod, she urged him on. Derek leaned forward in his seat. "Actually"" Derek began, his voice serious, "there's something we need to talk to you about."

Claire and Eric exchanged a curious look, their attention shifting to Derek. Claire set her glass down, her brows knitting together in concern. "What is it, Derek?"

Derek looked toward Maya, and she gave him a small smile. He took a deep breath and said, "We recently discovered that Maya is my sister. My biological sister."

For a moment, the room was silent. Claire's eyes widened in shock as she turned to look at Maya. Eric blinked, his face a mixture of confusion and disbelief. "Your sister?" Claire repeated, leaning forward slightly. "How is that possible?"

"I never knew you had a sister," Eric said, looking from Derek to Maya and then to Evelyn for confirmation.

Evelyn and Derek took turns explaining everything-how Michael had first told Derek about his sister, how Derek had begun remembering fragments of his childhood, the nightmare that had

revealed buried memories of the accident, and the findings that had led them to Maya. They explained the necklace and everything that pieced it all together.

Claire listened intently, her frown deepening with each detail.

When they finished, she turned to Maya, her gaze searching.

"Where were you raised?"

"Cavenspot," Maya replied softly, her hands folded in her lap.

'That's where I grew up."

Claire's lips parted as if she were about to speak, but then she stopped herself. She shook her head slowly, her expression troubled. "Cavenspot..." she murmured, almost to herself. "That can't be a coincidence." "What do you mean?" Eric asked, his voice cautious.

Claire shook her head again as if trying to dispel a nagging thought. "It's just... it all sounds familiar, but it doesn't make sense. It's probably nothing."

"Or maybe it's something. What do you know?" Derek asked curiously.

"Can I see the picture you talked about?" She asked instead, and Maya nodded as she took off the necklace and passed it to her.

The moment Claire saw the pictures in the locket, she froze. Her breath hitched, and her hand trembled as she traced the edges of the locket. Her eyes were wide, the color draining from her face. "How can this be?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. She

held the locket tighter, staring at the tiny photographs as if they were ghosts from her past. "I know these people."

The room fell into a stunned silence. Derek leaned forward, his voice urgent. "You knew them? How? Who were they to you?"

Claire's gaze flickered to Derek and then to Maya. She opened her mouth and closed it again as though the words were too heavy to say. Finally, she took a deep breath, her voice trembling as she began to speak.

"It was twenty-eight years ago," she said. "Back then, I was married to someone... someone terrible. A man named Victor Harding." Her lips twisted at the name, and her shoulders sagged under an invisible weight. Derek frowned, "Is that Sandra's father? The one you mentioned the last time who was arrested for murder and has been in jail."

Claire nodded, "Victor was a dangerous man. Ruthless. He didn't care who he hurt to get what he wanted."

Evelyn's hand flew to her mouth, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I've never heard about him."

"There is a reason I never mentioned him," Claire admitted, her voice low. "I ran from that life. From him. But before I did, I... I witnessed something horrible."

Eric, who had been sitting silently, reached out to gently squeeze her hand. "Take your time, he said softly, knowing that this wasn't easy for her.

Claire paused, her fingers still clutching the locket. The weight of her words seemed to drag the room into a deeper silence.

"The people in this picture-your

parents... they were kind, decent

people. I didn't know them well, but I knew enough to see they were good. Your mother, her name was Elena She ran the major arts and

Joy!.ne

bookstore in the neighboring town from Cavenspot. Your father was a journalist. His name was Carter Reed. Victor wanted to shut them up. Your father had found... evidence. Something incriminating about Victor and his dealings. He was trying to do the right thing, trying to bring him down."

"What was the evidence about?" Evelyn asked, and her mother sighed.

Her voice broke, and she pressed her lips together tightly before answering. "Victor used to work as a construction contractor at Stone Corp..." "Stone Corp?" Derek asked with a deep frown, his heart racing at this revelation.

Claire nodded, "I was hoping I'd never have to bring this up before your parents," she said, looking down.

"What did his working as a contractor at Stone Corp have to do with our father?" Maya asked, unable to understand how it was all related.

"There was an accident at one of the construction sites. One of the buildings under construction collapsed, and several workers were injured, and some died. There were rumors that the little Stone boy was at the site and got hurt too, but it was never confirmed," she said, and Derek rose from his seat, unable to sit

still anymore.

Evelyn glanced at him, not knowing what to say or do since she was shocked by the revelation herself.

Before Claire could continue, Derek's phone buzzed in his pocket.

He glanced at the screen and saw the investigator's name flashing. "Excuse me," he said quickly, stepping aside to take the call.

The investigator's voice was brisk and direct. "I looked into the major accident in the outskirts of the Cavenspot area from the night you described."

Derek's grip tightened on the phone. "And?"

"The description you gave fits the case of a couple identified as Elena and Carter Reed. They were found deceased at the scene.

The authorities believed there were kids in the car, but they weren't there when they arrived. They suspected that the perpetrator might have taken the kids at the scene. There were traces of blood on the back seat but no sign of their body. When the perpetrator was finally apprehended, he denied taking or hurting the kids. The case went cold after that."

Derek felt a cold shiver run down his spine. "Do you have anything else?"

"I sent you the full report, including witness statements and photographs. I think you'll want to see them."

Derek nodded, though the investigator couldn't see him. "Thank you. I'll take a look."

As he hung up, his mind swirled with the details he'd just heard, and he tried to compare them with all he knew already.

The pieces were starting to fit together, but the picture they formed was far more horrifying than he'd imagined. Re-entering the living room, he saw the others still seated, their expressions a mix of curiosity and tension. "Derek?" Evelyn asked softly; concern etched on her face.

He swallowed hard, glancing at Maya, who looked back at him with quiet apprehension. "That was the investigator. He said the names of the people in the accident were Elena and Carter Reed," he said before looking at Claire.

"You were telling us what happened with the construction site," he reminded her as he sat down.

She sighed deeply. "Your father,

being a journalist, decided to look deeper into it since the issue of collapsed buildings was becoming a norm in the region. He traced them all to Victor and gathered evidence that Victor was using substandard. materials, and he was the one

supplying most of the material net

himself under a fake name. He produced inferior materials and sold them to the companies that gave him contracts. Victor found out that your father knew, and he sent men to threaten your father to make him stay silent. But your father refused. He was brave, but he

underestimated Victor. Slowly, your father began to expose Victor's wrongdoings, and this made most of the companies terminate their contracts with Victor. Some went as far as suing him," Claire looked away, tears glistening in her eyes.

Derek's hands clenched into fists. "What happened?"

"Victor became furious. He blamed your father for everything. He decided to punish him," Claire said, her voice cracking as she shut her eyes.

Maya's voice trembled as she spoke for the first time since Claire began her story. "You... you knew all he was doing? And you didn't say or do anything?"

Claire's head snapped up, guilt etched deep in her features. "I didn't know. I had no idea he did all those illegal things until your father exposed him. I wanted to leave, but I couldn't. I was pregnant and trapped. Victor controlled everything- my life, my money, even my freedom. He almost killed me when I questioned him. I was terrified, so I stayed silent."

Derek stood abruptly, pacing the room. "You're telling me our parents were murdered by your ex-husband? And you just-what-let it go because you were terrified?"

Claire flinched, but she didn't shy away from his anger. "No," she said firmly. "I didn't let it go. It took some time, but I gathered enough courage to leave Victor. It took me a while to gather the needed evidence against him to prove all he did, and after I submitted the evidence to the authorities, I fled with Sandra, changed my name, and never looked back. I didn't know you and Maya survived."

Derek paused when another memory came to him, "I don't remember much, but I remember being scared. I remember someone coming to our house late at night. And... the fire." His voice cracked on the last word.

Claire nodded, her face pale. "Yes. He sent his thugs to your parent's house that night. I overheard him on the phone giving the

orders. They were supposed to...

eliminate your father and destroy every evidence he had gathered. They set the bookstore on fire, along with you house. Your parents were trying to run away when they were killed. I was horrified but too afraid to come forward even when Victor continued his life like nothing had happened. I stayed silent, and I hated myself for it every day. I've always carried the guilt."

Maya wiped a tear from her cheek, her voice trembling, "Do you know if he is still alive?"

Claire shook her head. "I don't know. Last I heard, he was still in prison. He could be dead by now."

The room fell into silence once more. None of them spoke, but the questions in their eyes were unmistakable: What now?

 

Chapter 212

The silence in the room was broken when the chef came to announce that dinner had been served.

Although none of them had an appetite, they all moved to the dining room. Derek wanted Evelyn to eat because of her condition, and Eric also wanted Claire to eat so that she could take her medication.

As they all pretended to eat while pushing their food around their plates, Evelyn looked at Claire, "Was Sandra aware? I mean, does she know about her biological father?" Evelyn asked curiously. Claire nodded. "I told her about it when she was old enough to understand," Claire said softly.

Derek shook his head. "And yet she decided to become everything her father was- manipulative, ruthless, willing to go to any length for money. I guess the darkness in the bloodline couldn't be erased," Derek said bitterly, and Evelyn placed a calming hand on his arm. Maya, who had been silent for a while, cleared her throat, "So, your... I mean Victor. From what you said, does it mean that he wasn't arrested until you submitted evidence against him?" She asked, wanting to understand what happened after the accident. Claire nodded, "Yes."

"He got away with the murder? How?" Evelyn asked in disbelief.

"Victor was meticulous. He knew how to cover his tracks. He framed a rival- David Hunt, a businessman who had been a thorn in his side. He planted evidence to make it look like Hunt used Carter to tarnish his reputation and then had him murdered to silence him. The police bought it, and Hunt was convicted and sentenced to death."

Evelyn inhaled sharply. "He died?"

"Yes," Claire confirmed. "It took me three years to gather all I could on Victor. By then, it was too late for David Hunt," she said, looking down at her plate with shoulders slumped from guilt.

Derek stared at her in disbelief. "An innocent man was executed for a crime my parents' murderer committed," Derek muttered.

Without another word, he rose and walked away, unable to contain the storm of emotions threatening to consume him.

His footsteps echoed through the hallways as he climbed the stairs to his room, leaving an air of tension behind. Evelyn watched him go, her heart aching at the raw pain etched across his face. Without hesitation, she excused herself from the table and followed him.

"Maybe we should go home," Claire told Eric softly, but Maya shook her head.

"No. Why would you leave?" Maya asked with a frown as she looked up from the remnants of her untouched meal.

"Derek is upset..."

"Yes, but not at you. He's upset by the situation. You shouldn't leave because of that. He just needs time to pull himself together," Maya said, and Eric looked at her.

"What about you? Aren't you upset?" He asked, and she sighed.

"I feel sad, but for some reason, I don't feel as deeply connected to it. Maybe he feels that way because he remembers his time with them. But I don't. As sad as it is, they're like strangers to me," she admitted, "and being upset about it won't change much. Life has taught me to accept whatever it throws at me and move on."

"You're quite self-aware and wise" Claire observed softly.

"I don't think Derek and Evelyn will be returning to the table. Weve all been through a lot today. Let's give each other the space to process everything. Tomorrow's a new day."

Claire nodded, her voice quiet but resolute. "And maybe tomorrow, we can put the past behind us and look forward."

Maya looked at her and gave a small smile. "Yeah," she said.

Upstairs, Evelyn reached the bedroom door, and she hesitated for a moment before knocking softly.

"Derek, it's me. Can I come in?"

There was silence on the other side of the door, and just as she was about to knock again, she heard his voice, muffled but calm.

"Come in."

Evelyn pushed the door open and found him standing by the window, his back to her, staring into the darkening sky. His hands were clenched into fists at his sides, and his posture was rigid. "You should have stayed back to eat. You didn't have to follow me," he said without turning around.

"I couldn't just sit there and eat, Evelyn said gently, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her. "You're hurting, Derek, and I-"

"I'm fine. I just need some time to process everything," he said calmly, not wanting her to see him so upset or angry.

He hated that he was feeling this way when he knew there was nothing else he could do about it. Victor had been arrested and prosecuted and all he could do was be mad.

Evelyn frowned, walking closer to him. "You're not fine. Stop pretending that you are. This isn't something you can just brush off, Evelyn said as she wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.

"What do you want me to do?" He asked quietly.

"Bottling it up won't help. Tell me how you're feeling," she said, sliding her hands under his shirt so she could feel his skin.

Derek sighed as he felt her touch on his skin. He turned around to look at her, letting her see the anger and anguish in his eyes. "I'm mad. I feel angry and frustrated. I wish there were something I could do, but I can't do anything. I didn't do anything then. I can't do anything now. I feel useless. What kind of a son am I? First, I forgot them, and all that happened, I forgot my younger sister, and

even now, there is nothing I can do for them."

Evelyn held his gaze, her voice gentle but firm. "You did enough by surviving that terrible incident. Any parent would rather you forget them than be tormented by nightmares or live with that trauma.

I'm sure you'd have wanted the same for Sam. You did more than enough by turning out right, D. You are doing enough now by standing by Maya. Your parents would be so proud of you. I'm not even your Mom, and I feel so damn proud every time I look at you." "Eve." Derek groaned, burying his face in the crook of her neck.

"You're right, but it doesn't make any of this easier."

Evelyn guided him to sit on the edge of the bed, and as he sank down, she stood in front of him and embraced him. "I know it's overwhelming, but your parents got justice, Derek. You don't have to do anything to make you feel worthy of being their son."

Derek leaned back into her embrace,

closing his eyes. She was making it hard for him to stay upset. "If you hadn't returned to Ludus and come back into my life when you did, might have gone through with the plan to marry Sandra just to make my mother happy. I would have been marrying the daughter of the man who murdered my parents and destroyed my family."

Evelyn tightened her hold on him. "But you didn't. Don't dwell on what might have been. Focus on what's real, on what you've achieved. You found your sister. You uncovered the truth about your parent's death, and now you can find closure." Derek let out a long sigh, nodding. "You're right. Maybe now I can let it go." He paused, his voice softening. "I'm grateful to Claire.

Despite everything she endured, she helped bring Victor to justice.

She deserves peace, too. She doesn't deserve to have a daughter

like Sandra."

"You're right" Evelyn agreed. "I feel sorry for all she had to go through."

Derek shifted, pulling Evelyn onto the bed with him. He lay back, holding her close, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. The silence stretched between them until Evelyn spoke, her voice breaking the stillness. "What are you thinking?" Derek hesitated before answering. "I'm wondering if I should be proud of my father."

Evelyn tilted her head to look at him. "What do you mean? Of course, you should be proud. He was brave. He fought against evil."

"Maybe," Derek said, his voice heavy. "But if he hadn't taken Victor's case, none of this would have happened. He could've walked away, protected his family."

Evelyn sat up slightly, her expression

firm. "And let Victor continue to ruin other families? Do you know how many people must've suffered because of him? Your father didn't just expose Victor for himself, he did it for every wife and child who lost their father and husband to that monster in those collapsed buildings."

Derek's eyes darkened. "I never want to be a hero at the expense of my family, Eve. My priority is keeping you and our children safe.

That's all that matters to me."

Evelyn smiled gently. "I know that's what you believe, but I also know you. If faced with the same choice, you'd do exactly what your father did. You wouldn't stand by and do nothing."

Derek shook his head, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Not at the expense of my family."

Evelyn chuckled softly. "That's what you think."

Derek reached for her hand, his gaze serious. "Evelyn, your safety and the well-being of our children will always come first. I don't care if the world burns as long as you're safe. I owe that to you, to myself. I wouldn't let anything jeopardize that." Evelyn leaned in, kissing him softly. "Let's not think about it anymore. Let's focus on something else."

"Like what?" He asked. He watched as she reached over to the bedside drawer and pulled out the ultrasound pictures with a smile.

"Like this."

Derek's expression softened, and his

eyes lit up at the sight of the

pictures. He took them from her hands, tracing the tiny image with his fingers. "How could you ever think wouldn't do everything to protect you and this little life inside you? I'd sell my soul to the devil for you two and Sam."

Evelyn wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"You will never have to do that. I love you, Derek."

He kissed the top of her head, his voice filled with emotion. "If there's a word deeper than love, that's what I feel for you. Remember that."

Evelyn smiled, her tone teasing. "I hope you're not obsessed."

Derek smirked. "Worse than obsessed. Soon, I'll be spying on you in the bathroom."

Evelyn laughed, the sound light and carefree. "You're crazy."

"Crazy about you," Derek murmured, pulling her closer. "Get used to it."

"How do you feel now?" She asked, and he sighed.

"For some reason, I can't stay mad or upset when I'm around you," he said, and she grinned.

"Maybe it's because you're obsessed," she joked.

"Totally obsessed. That must be it," he said, and they laughed as they lay on the bed.

Their laughter filled the room, soft and soothing, cutting through the tension that had weighed heavily on the evening.

Derek pulled Evelyn closer, their breaths mingling as he pressed a kiss to her temple, the warmth emanating from her calming him in a way nothing else could.

He felt a fragile sense of peace creeping in, as though her presence had the power to mend the broken pieces inside him.

"Thank you for being in my life," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Evelyn looked up at him, her eyes full of love and understanding.

"There's nowhere else I'd rather be"" she murmured as they lay tangled in each other's arms.

Tomorrow, they would face everything else together. For now, they had each other. And that was enough.

 

Chapter 213

The following day, Derek and Evelyn decided to see Sandra as planned before going to his parent's home to inform them about their findings and also pick up Samantha.

Derek tightened his grip on Evelyn's hand as they approached the gray concrete walls of the prison.

The air felt heavier here; the echoes of distant voices and the sharp clang of metal gates made Evelyn's heart race. It was her first time in a prison environment, and she couldn't help feeling uneasy.

That morning Derek had tried to convince her once again that she shouldn't visit Sandra, but she had insisted. Sandra had asked to see her, and no matter how complicated her feelings were, she needed to know why.

A guard led them through a series of security checks until they reached a small visitation room. A metal table stood at the center, flanked by two sets of chairs. Evelyn's eyes drifted to the scratched surface of the table, her thoughts swirling with uncertainty. The door on the opposite side creaked open, and Sandra entered.

Evelyn's breath caught as she took in the sight of her. Sandra was a shadow of her former self. Her once-vibrant complexion was now pale, her cheeks hollow. Her hair, tied back in a limp ponytail, lacked its usual luster. Dressed in a standard-issue prison uniform, she looked smaller, as though the weight of her actions had physically diminished her.

Sandra walked in, her eyes fixed on the ground. She seemed reluctant to meet their gaze, her hands nervously twisting together as she lowered herself into the chair opposite them. Her shoulders were hunched, and her eyes remained fixed on the table. Evelyn felt a pang of pity despite everything Sandra had done.

"How are you?" Evelyn's voice was soft, carrying an unexpected note of concern.

Sandra's head jerked up, her eyes wide with surprise. She hadn't expected Evelyn to ask that. "I'm... fine," she replied hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Thank you for coming." Derek leaned forward, his expression hard. "She shouldn't have come. I didn't want her to. But she insisted." His voice carried an edge of warning. "Don't make me regret bringing her here."

Sandra nodded quickly, her gaze flicking to Derek before returning to Evelyn. "I won't," she said. Her voice wavered as she continued,

"I-I wanted to apologize. For everything."

Evelyn's brow furrowed, but she said nothing, waiting for Sandra to explain.

Sandra swallowed hard, her hands trembling as they lay clasped on the table. "'ve had a lot of time to think she began, her voice trembling. "And I've realized how wrong I was. My anger at you, Evelyn- it wasn't justified. You didn't deserve what I did and tried to do to you." Her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at Evelyn. "Even when you found out about my affair with Michael, you didn't expose me. You didn't ruin me, even though you could have."

"Is that why you wanted to see her?" Derek interrupted, his voice

cold. "To justify your sudden change of heart? To tell her you've finally come to your senses? Because if that's all, she doesn't need to hear it. We're leaving."

Sandra flinched at his tone, but before she could respond, Evelyn placed a calming hand on Derek's arm. He turned to her, his jaw clenched, but her gentle touch seemed to defuse some of his tension.

She could tell that Derek was mad at Sandra for what her father had done to his parents and for what Sandra had almost done to her.

"Why now?" Evelyn asked, her voice steady but laced with curiosity. "Why did you ask to see me?"

Sandra's lips quivered, "I promised God that I would do this if he brought Mom back to life."

Evelyn hesitated, "Do you know why your biological father went to jail?"

Sandra's brows knitted together in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Your biological father, Victor Harding," Evelyn said, and Sandra's frown deepened, and she shook her head slowly.

"How did you know about him? Did Mom tell you? Why are you asking me that?" she whispered.

Evelyn exhaled deeply, her eyes locking with Sandra's. "Your biological father murdered Derek's biological parents."

The color drained from Sandra's face. Her lips parted in shock, and her eyes darted to Derek, then back to Evelyn "What?" she breathed, her voice barely audible. Tears welled up in her eyes, spilling over as she shook her head in disbelief. "No... that can't be true."

"It is, Evelyn said, her tone

unwavering We recently uncovered the truth. He killed Derek's parents and tried to cover it up. And now, you-you've followed in his footsteps, Sandra. You've hurt people, lied, manipulated, all for your own gain."

Sandra's tears fell freely now, her body trembling as she absorbed Evelyn's words. "I didn't know," she choked out. "I swear, I didn't know."

Evelyn nodded slowly, her voice softening. "We know you weren't aware. Even Mom had no idea it was Derek's biological parents. I thought you should know."

"I'm sorry," Sandra cried, looking from Evelyn to Derek, but Derek didn't look at her, though his jaw tightened at the thought that her father had killed his parents and she had attempted to kill the woman he loved.

"Like you, I promised that I'd forgive

you if Mom woke up, so I have. But you need to understand something, Sandra." She leaned forward, her eyes piercing. "Mom doesn't deserve a daughter like you- not after living with a man like your father, hope you stay here long enough to truly change because that's the only way you can make things right."

Sandra sobbed openly now, her hands covering her face as she broke down. Evelyn stood, her expression calm but resolute. Derek rose as well, his posture stiff with barely contained anger. "Let's go," Evelyn said, her voice gentle but firm.

Without another word, they turned and left, leaving Sandra to grapple with the weight of her actions and the truth Evelyn had laid before her.

 

Chapter 214

As they left the prison, the drive to Derek's parents' house was quiet. Evelyn occasionally glanced at Derek, noting the subtle tension in his jaw.

She reached out to place a reassuring hand on his thigh, and he gave her a small smile.

When they arrived, Samantha's laughter echoed through the house before they even stepped inside. Derek's mother opened the door, beaming at them. "Come in, come in. Samantha's been waiting for you both all day." In the living room, Samantha was perched on Derek's father's lap, giggling as he made silly faces. Her eyes lit up when she saw her parents, and she scrambled down, running toward them.

"Mommy! Daddy!" she squealed, her little legs carrying her as fast as they could.

Seeing Samantha, the remnant of Derek's bad mood evaporated, and he crouched down and scooped her up in one fluid motion, twirling her in the air. "There's my favorite girl!" he said, planting a kiss on her cheek. Samantha giggled, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I missed you, Daddy!"

"I missed you too, sweetheart," Derek said, holding her close

Evelyn raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. "Wait a minute. I

thought I was your favorite girl."

Samantha turned to her mother, her expression serious. "Mommy, you're not a girl. You're a mommy. Daddy's favorite girl is me.

You're his favorite wife."

Evelyn and Derek burst into laughter as Derek's parents joined in the laughter. Derek hugged Samantha tighter. "Well, you've got me there, baby."

Evelyn smiled and kissed Samantha's forehead. "Noted. We missed you so much, darling. Aunt Maya has missed you, too. And guess who else has missed you?" Evelyn asked, and Samantha grinned. "Grandparents Quinn?" She asked, and Evelyn laughed.

"Exactly. And guess what? Your Grandma Claire is waiting for you at home," Derek said, Samantha's eyes widened.

"Really? Is Grandma Claire at our house? Is Grandpa there too?" She asked, and Evelyn nodded.

"They sure are" Evelyn confirmed, smiling at her daughter's excitement.

"So, are you ready to go home?" Derek asked, and Samantha nodded enthusiastically, her hair bouncing.

"Yes! I can't wait!" She said, jumping.

"Don't be too excited to leave, dear. You're breaking my heart,"

Derek's father said, and they all laughed.

"Don't worry, I'm going to fix it," Samantha promised, kissing her palm and placing it on his chest.

Derek's father chuckled. "It feels much better, my little heart doctor," he said, and Samantha giggled.

As Derek and Evelyn sat down, Derek's mother's warm gaze followed Evelyn. "How are you feeling, dear?"

Evelyn smiled. "I'm fine, thank you."

Derek's father chimed in, his tone teasing. "I hope Derek isn't stressing you out too much."

Evelyn laughed, shaking her head. "Quite the opposite. He's been pampering me so much it's starting to stress me out." The room filled with laughter, and Derek rolled his eyes playfully.

"You're welcome," he quipped.

He then turned to Samantha. "Why don't you head to your room for a bit, munchkin? The grown-ups need to talk."

Samantha pouted but nodded. "Okay, Daddy." She skipped off, humming to herself.

"I hope she hasn't been stressing you out and has been on her best behavior?" Evelyn asked, and Derek's mother laughed.

"You ask like I'm supposed to report my granddaughter to you. It's the grandparent's duty to spoil the grandkid," she said, and Evelyn laughed.

As the door to Samantha's room clicked shut, Derek's parents turned to him with expectant expressions.

"Did you hear from the investigator?" his father asked, suspecting that was what Derek wanted to talk about.

Derek nodded, his face serious. "I did. But there's a new development."

His mother frowned. "What kind of development?"

Derek hesitated, his voice low, when he finally spoke. "Do you know a man named Carter Reed?"

His parents exchanged a look, their expressions shifting from confusion to recognition.

"Yes," his father said slowly. "We weren't close, but he was a journalist. A good one."

"Yeah. He was pretty decent. It was a shame how he was brutally murdered with his family," Derek's mother added.

"Why do you ask?" His father asked curiously.

Derek took a deep breath. "Because he was my biological father."

His mother gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "What? How is that possible?"

Derek explained everything Claire had told him, his voice steady despite the emotional weight of the revelation.

When he finished, his mother shook her head in disbelief. "All this time... everything we needed to know was right there, and we didn't see it."

"It's because we weren't looking," Derek's father said, his voice thoughtful. "The universe has a way of bringing things full circle, of putting everything in its rightful place."

Derek's mother exhaled shakily. "I remember how ruthless Victor was. It's no surprise that he was Sandra's father: Do you know he had the audacity to threaten us when we canceled his contract? But we were so focused on our little boy, on making sure he was okay, that we didn't have the energy to pursue it further."

Derek tilted his head. "What do you mean? What happened?" He asked, wanting to know if that was indeed how their son had died.

All these years, he had never been able to bring himself to ask how they had lost their son.

His mother's eyes softened with sadness. "Our little boy was with your father at the site that day. When the building collapsed, he was trapped under the rubble. Some of the rods pierced his chest. He was hospitalized for a while, but he didn't survive."

Derek's father's voice was heavy. "It

was Carter who helped us expose Victor. The collapse was a big deal and we went through a lot while trying to take care of our son and what was happening with him a secret. Without Carter, we wouldn't have gotten justice."

"And now... now, his son is ours. It's unbelievable, Derek's mother said as she reached out, touching Derek's cheek. "Your biological parents. would be so proud of you. And so

1.n

are we. You've become such an

incredible man."

Derek's throat tightened, but he managed a smile. "Thank you.

That means everything."

His mother's eyes glistened with unshed tears. "You've brought so much light to our lives, Derek. No matter where you came from, you're ours. Always."

The room fell silent, the weight of

the past mingling with the hope of the present. Derek glanced at Evelyn, who gave him a reassuring nod. Together, they were piecing their

lives back together, one step at a time.

 

Chapter 215

The morning air was still crisp when Ethan stepped out of the hospital's automatic doors with his injured arm tucked in its sling and Rayna by his side.

Melvin had offered to pick him up and drive him to his place, but Ethan had declined his help, saying they had everything under control and Melvin would only get in the way since he would prefer to be alone with Rayna. Ethan's steps were slow and springy as they approached Rayna's car, and the grin on his face was bright enough to rival the sun.

Rayna adjusted the strap of his overnight bag slung over her shoulder and gave him a side glance. "You're walking like you just got out of prison."

Ethan smirked. "Feels like it. Fresh air, freedom, and you. What more could a man ask for?"

Rayna giggled, "You never stop, do you?"

He nudged her gently with his good arm. "Do you want me to?"

"No, I don't," Rayna shook her head, unable to hide her smile.

She walked ahead of him to the car, opening the passenger door and gesturing dramatically. "Your chariot awaits, my lord."

Ethan chuckled. "I should be the one doing this for you," he said with a sigh as he got into the car.

"You will. I assure you that this is temporary. I have no intention of playing the man," she said, and Ethan chuckled as she helped him settle into his seat and fasten his seatbelt.

He let her fuss, his eyes never leaving her face. When she finally finished and pulled back to leave, he stopped her.

"You missed a spot."

She paused, confused. "What spot?"

"My lips""" he replied with a mischievous grin.

Rayna rolled her eyes but leaned in, brushing a soft kiss against his lips before pulling back. "All set?"

"Perfect," Ethan murmured, his voice low and tender.

Rayna giggled as she closed the door and moved around to the driver's side to get into the car.

"So, do you have your stuff in the car?" Ethan asked Rayna since she was moving into his place.

Rayna sighed inwardly, unable to shake off the wistful feeling she was having. As much as she had been looking forward to meeting a man and getting married, she had not really thought about moving out of her house.

And even now, she felt like it was all happening too quickly. She knew that moving in with Ethan now meant that she might never really go back to her place after he recovered because he would want to get married quickly. "Are you okay?" Ethan asked when she didn't respond to his question, and she turned to look at him.

"Yeah. I'm fine. Some of my things are in the trunk," she said, and Ethan watched her, trying to figure out what the problem was.

"Is something bothering you?" He asked, and she shrugged.

"Not really," she said, not wanting to talk about it.

She was sure she would figure it out soon enough. And maybe when he recovered and went back to work, she could go to her place.

Ethan watched her, wondering what she was thinking, but seeing as she didn't want to talk about it, he decided not to press, and just wait until she was ready to share.

When they reached Ethan's home, Rayna parked the car in the driveway and got out quickly, moving to his side to help him out.

"I'm not an invalid""" Ethan protested as she opened his door.

"Maybe not, but your argument is invalid. See what I did there?" She asked with a wink, and Ethan chuckled at her quick wit.

"Now listen," Rayna said, looking at him with a serious expression,

"if you keep claiming you can do everything yourself, that means I'm not needed, so I might just as well leave you here and go home. If you want this arrangement to work, you must allow me to nurse you," she said, fixing her gaze on him. "Alright. I'm going to let you nurse me. You can bathe me and even

take me to the restroom," he said, and Rayna laughed.

"Good. Now hush and let me help you," she said as she took hold of his bag with one hand and supported him out of the car with the other.

Ethan sighed dramatically but allowed her to guide him to the door. Inside, the familiar warmth of his home greeted them, and Ethan visibly relaxed. Rayna set his bag down and turned to face him.

"You're welcome to my abode"" Ethan said, and Rayna smiled.

"It's not my first time here," she reminded him since she had dropped by two days ago to take a look around his place and at his kitchen so she would know how much space he had and what work tools to bring with her.

"I wasn't here when you came," he reminded her.

"Couch or bed?" she asked, hands on her hips.

"Neither. Kitchen," Ethan replied without missing a beat. "I need coffee. And I need to get my guest some refreshments."

"Sit down. I'll get the coffee. And I don't need refreshments"" she said and turned to leave.

Just as she turned, Ethan tapped her ass, and Rayna gaped at him in surprise when she turned.

Ethan grinned, "I figured since you accused me of that at the club and it caused all the problems between us, I should get a feel of it,"

he explained with a wink.

Before Rayna could stop herself, she burst into peals of laughter,

"Are you out of your mind?" She asked, and he nodded.

"I must be tam"" he said, "and when my hand gets all better, we are going back to the club, and I'm going to beat the crap out of the guy that touched my girl's ass," he promised, and Rayna laughed.

"You will do no such thing. Besides, you don't even know the person," she said, and Ethan shrugged.

"That's easy enough. I know the group of guys. All I need to do is make them tell me which one did it, he said, and Rayna shook her head.

"That might have been their first or last time at the club. And even if it weren't, I'd rather forget it."

He opened his mouth to argue but stopped when she leveled him with a stern glare. "Fine," he muttered.

"Good boy. Now wait here while I get your coffee, and then I'll go get my things out of the car," Rayna said, heading to the kitchen.

Ethan sank into the couch with exaggerated care. "I take my coffee black," he called out.

"I'm aware""" she called back.

Ethan leaned back, listening to the comforting sounds of Rayna moving around his kitchen. The clink of mugs, the hiss of the

coffee machine-it all felt so domestic, so right. He closed his eyes, letting the moment sink in.

When Rayna returned with two mugs, she found him with a soft smile playing on his lips. "What's that look for?" she asked, handing him his coffee.

"Just thinking about how perfect this is. You. Here. Us," he said, placing his mug on the table near him and pulling her down so that she was seated beside him. Rayna's cheeks warmed as she sank down beside him. "Easy, so you don't hurt yourself."

"I won't hurt myself. I just need a little sugar for my coffee," he said, kissing her, and she giggled

"Why are you so naughty?" She asked when he pulled away, and he took a careful sip before answering.

"Hm. The coffee does taste a lot better. I need more," he said, and she pulled back.

"I need to go get my bags""" she said, and Ethan gave her a puppy look.

"The bags are not running, but my coffee will get cold," he said, and she rolled her eyes as she kissed him, and then he sipped his coffee again making her grin.

"You have the most kissable lips I've kissed," he said, and she raised a brow.

"And how many lips have you kissed?" Rayna asked, and Ethan groaned.

"Forget I said that," he said, but she scowled at him.

"How many?" She repeated.

"Not many. I can't even remember the names or faces," he said, and she eyed him with disbelief.

"How many ladies have you dated?"

"Didn't you want to go get the bags?" Ethan asked, and Rayna smiled sweetly.

"I can't leave now. You want some sugar for your coffee, remember?" She asked, and Ethan chuckled.

"I love you, Ray. I think I might just quit my job and join Melvin in running the family business so I don't stay away from you," he said, and her breath hitched.

"I didn't put any alcohol in your coffee, so I know you're not drunk.

Why are you saying what you don't mean?" she asked, raising her brow.

"Do I look like the kind of guy who says things he doesn't mean?" he asked, his voice gentle.

Rayna smiled, her fingers brushing over his good hand. "No. You're too blunt for that." "Exactly." Ethan leaned closer, his eyes locking with hers. "I'm

serious, Ray. This... being with you, it's everything I didn't know I needed."

She felt her throat tighten, emotions bubbling to the surface. "But you love your job."

"Yeah. But I love you more than my job. I don't find the thought of being away from you for months so appealing It might have worked if t didn't love you, but I'm really into you. And I've realized I'm so damned clingy with you. I get sick when you're far away from me for so long. If get sick on the ship, I can't do my work," he said. Rayna laughed as tears gathered in her eyes at his confession.

"Ethan... you're going to make me cry."

"Good tears, I hope," he whispered, his forehead resting against hers.

"The best tears," she replied, her voice shaky but full of warmth.

"I also realized I want to be with my family. I want to stay with you when you get pregnant and be with you through every phase. I think you're going to be very sexy when you're pregnant," he said, and Rayna felt the butterflies in her belly flutter.

"When you talk about pregnancy, you make me think about the act that leads to it," she said, and Ethan chuckled.

"I want you to think about it," he said, kissing her then, soft and slow, as if the world outside didn't exist.

When they pulled apart, Rayna rested her head on his shoulder, careful of his injured arm.

"Let's just stay like this," Ethan mulmured.

"For as long as you want," Rayna replied, thinking about how he was willing to give up his job for her sake, yet she was hesitating over leaving her house.

 

Chapter 216

After dinner with the rest of the family, Derek, Evelyn, and Samantha retired to the bedroom.

Evelyn sat propped against the headboard with a quiet smile on her face as she watched Derek and Samantha.

Beside her, Derek lay on his back, his strong arms playfully holding up a giggling Samantha.

"Higher, Daddy! Higher!" Samantha squealed, her laughter ringing through the room like music.

Derek grinned and lifted her into the air again, making airplane noises that sent her into a fit of laughter. Her little legs kicked wildly in excitement, and her cheeks flushed pink with joy. "You're going to fly away at this rate"" Derek teased as he brought her back down onto his chest. Samantha's hands clutched his shirt, her face glowing with happiness.

"I'm not flying anywhere!" she announced between giggles. Then, in a sudden, sweet moment, Samantha wrapped her arms around Derek's neck, pulling him into a tight hug. Her voice turned soft, full of love. "I love you, Daddy."

Derek's heart melted, and his smile faltered as his eyes softened.

He tightened his arms around her, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. "I love you more, baby."

"No, I love you more"" Samantha argued, her face serious as she pulled back to look at him. Derek raised an eyebrow, pretending to look shocked. "That's impossible. I love you the most." Samantha shook her head stubbornly, her curls bouncing. "Nope!! love you the mostest!"

Watching the sweet scene from her spot on the bed, Evelyn couldn't help but laugh. Her heart swelled as she looked at the two people she loved more than anything in the world. "Alright, you two," she said, her voice light and playful, "you both are wrong. I love you both the most."

Derek turned his head to look at Evelyn, a slow smile spreading across his face. Samantha turned, too, her eyes bright with curiosity.

"I love you two the most," Derek said, and Samantha shook her head.

"Mommy is always right, so she has to win"" Samantha said with a dramatic sigh, making her parents laugh.

Derek and Evelyn exchanged a knowing look as the playfulness quieted. Something gentle passed between them, an unspoken agreement. It was time. Evelyn gave him a slight nod, her smile softening. "Baby," Evelyn began, her voice tender, "there's something we want to tell you."

Samantha tilted her head, her eyes darting between her parents.

"Did you get me a new toy?" she asked curiously.

Derek chuckled, "No, darling. But we can get you as many as you want," he promised.

"Then what?" Samantha asked, looking from Derek to Samantha.

Evelyn reached out and smoothed Samantha's wild curls. "Well," she said with a smile, "there's one more person for us all to love now."

Samantha's smile widened. "Is it Aunt Maya?"

Evelyn chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Maya is very special to us, but no, sweetheart. There's someone else we want you to meet."

Samantha's brows furrowed in confusion. "Who?"

Samantha watched with curiosity as her father turned to the nightstand and opened the drawer, pulling out the ultrasound picture. He handed the picture to her, and she received it carefully. "Do you know what this is, baby?" Derek asked gently.

Samantha frowned, studying the picture intently. "Is it a drawing?" she asked, squinting her eyes as she turned it this way and that.

Evelyn and Derek exchanged a quiet laugh. "Not quite, love," Evelyn said softly.

Derek sat up straighter and grabbed his phone. "Here," he said,

swiping through until he found a similar photo. "Do you know what this is, Sam?" he asked as he showed her the image.

Samantha stared at it, her face blank. "No..."

Derek's voice was gentle as he said, "That was you, sweetheart when you were in Mommy's tummy."

Samantha's little mouth dropped open, and she turned her wide eyes toward Evelyn. "Me? In your tummy?"

Evelyn nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, love. That's you before you were born."

"But there is nobody in this. I can't see myself here," she said, looking back at the picture on Derek's phone.

"That's because you were very tiny. But this little shape here was you," Evelyn said, leaning closer to show Samantha the shape she was referring to.

Samantha looked back at the photo in her hands, staring at it with awe. "Is this a baby, too?" she asked, and her parents nodded.

"Yes, darling," Evelyn said softly.

"But this baby is not me?" She asked, wanting to be sure.

"This is a different baby," Derek said with a slight nod.

"Is there a baby... in there now?" Samantha asked quietly, her voice trembling with wonder as her gaze shot back to Evelyn's stomach. Evelyn smiled and placed a hand on her belly. "Yes, Sam. There's a baby in here right now. You finally get to have a younger one."

For a moment, the room was silent.

Samantha blinked, her small face filled with amazement. Then,

without warning, she let out a tinvet

gasp and scrambled forward, wrapping her arms around Evelyn's belly as far as they would go. Her voice broke with excitement.

"There's a baby in there! Mommy, there's a baby in there!"

Evelyn let out a soft laugh, tears stinging her eyes at her daughter's pure joy. "Yes. There's a baby in here," she said as she embraced Samantha.

Samantha lifted her head, her little face glowing with happiness.

"Mommy, Daddy-I'm gonna be a big sister!"

"Yes, sweetheart," Derek said softly, his voice thick with emotion as he watched his family. "You're going to be the best big sister ever."

Samantha turned to look at him, her eyes suddenly shiny with tears she didn't quite understand. "Do you think it is going to be a boy or a girl? Or will there be two?" Samantha asked excitedly.

Evelyn laughed, "I don't think there will be two. And we can't tell yet whether it is going to be a boy or a girl. Why? Do you have a problem with either?"

Samantha pursed her lips, "If it's a girl, we can play with my dolls and have lots of tea time together, but if it's a boy, I don't know what we can do together. Will the baby love me, too?"

Evelyn's heart swelled as she leaned closer, brushing a kiss over Samantha's forehead. "Of course, the baby will love you, Sam. And there is a lot you can do with your little brother too. You can also have tea time with him and play with other toys." Derek reached out and placed his hand on Samantha's shoulder.

"You already have the biggest heart. That baby is so lucky to have you."

Samantha's lip trembled, and she

looked as if she might cry for a moment. But then a bright smile broke across her face, and she threw herself into Derek's arms first, hugging him tightly, before crawling

back to Evelyn and pressing her

cheek against her tummy,

"Hi, baby," she whispered softly, her voice filled with love. "I'm your big sister. I'm going to love you forever."

Samantha lay curled up next to

Evelyn's tummy, her little hand

resting there as if she could feel the

new life within. "I can't wait to meet

you. You can be a boy or a girl; don't mind as long as I get to be your big sister," she whispered again, her voice full of promise.

Tears slipped silently down Evelyn's cheeks as she looked up at Derek. His eyes mirrored her own, brimming with emotion. No words were needed between them.

Evelyn reached for Derek's hand, and as their fingers laced together, they knew that this moment- this little family of theirs - was perfect, and the love in the room felt bigger than words.

Derek leaned in close to Evelyn, pressing a kiss to her temple.

"Thank you for this. I love you," he murmured.

Evelyn turned to him, her voice soft but steady. "I love you too."

Samantha continued to "talk" to the baby until she fell asleep, and then Derek took her to her bedroom and tucked her in.

Derek smiled as he returned to join Evelyn in bed. "She was still talking to the baby in her sleep as I lay her down," he said, and she giggled.

"That's all she is going to be talking about now. I can imagine her telling my parents and Maya about it tomorrow," Evelyn said, and Derek chuckled.

"I'm just so glad she didn't ask how the baby got into your stomach," Derek said, and Evelyn giggled.

"That she didn't ask today doesn't mean she's not going to ask some other time. So, get ready for it, Evelyn advised.

Derek shook his head, "I have a lot of reading to do. I've gotten quite a number of books on parenting," he said, and Evelyn smiled.

"Really? You're such a good dad," she said, and he sighed softly.

"I want to be a great dad to my kids. But mostly, I want to be a great husband to you," he said, and she smiled.

"I do not doubt that you'll be both," she said confidently.

"Do you think we should tell Samantha about Maya? I'm not sure how to explain how we got separated and about our parents?" Derek asked, since the reason they were yet to mention it to her was because he wasn't sure how to explain it. Evelyn shook her head, "We can always tell her when she is older and can understand. For now all she needs to know is that Maya is her Aunt," Evelyn said, and Derek nodded.

"Yeah. Good idea."

 

Chapter 217

After the close of work the following day, Derek and Evelyn headed for Ethan's house. They stopped by a wine shop on their way for a bottle of wine to celebrate his discharge and recovery.

With the bottle in hand, they headed to Ethan's house, and when they arrived, Derek knocked lightly.

Moments later, Rayna swung the door open. "Evie!" Rayna exclaimed, pulling her friend into a warm hug. "It feels like forever since I've seen you properly."

"It really does"" Evelyn replied, her voice tinged with guilt. "We need to catch up."

Rayna stepped aside to let them in. "We definitely do. Come in, both of you."

Inside, the house was cozy and inviting, with soft lighting and the faint aroma of freshly baked bread wafting from the kitchen. Ethan was seated on the couch, his injured arm still in its sling, but his face lit up when he saw them. "Look who decided to show up!" he teased, his grin wide.

Derek raised the bottle. "Bearing your favorite wine. Thought you'd appreciate it."

Ethan chuckled. "You know me too well. Thanks, man," Ethan said and then smiled at Evelyn.

"Hello, Evelyn. It's always good to see you," he said, and Evelyn smiled.

"It's good to see you, too. How are you feeling? I hope my girl is taking good care of you?" She asked, and Ethan glanced at Rayna, his eyes filled with love for her.

"She's the absolute best," he said, and Rayna grinned.

Before Evelyn could sit down, Rayna looped her arm through Evelyn's. "I'm stealing her, she declared, giving Ethan a pointed look. "You boys can talk about whatever it is men talk about. Evelyn and I need some girl time" she said as Derek sat down across from Ethan.

Ethan waved them off. "Go ahead. Derek and I can handle ourselves."

Evelyn laughed softly as Rayna led her toward the kitchen. Once they were out of earshot, Rayna poured two glasses of juice and motioned for Evelyn to sit at the small dining table.

"So," Rayna began, sliding a glass toward Evelyn. "What's been going on with you? You've been so busy lately."

Evelyn sipped her water, buying herself a moment. "I'll tell you everything," she promised, "but only after you tell me how you're doing. It shouldn't always be about me. How's everything with Ethan? And the business?"

Rayna sighed, her gaze softening. "It's been a lot, honestly. Taking care of Ethan while running my business has been... challenging, to say the least. But now that he's out of the hospital, I think things will get a bit easier. Or at least, I hope so."

Evelyn studied her friend's face, noticing the faint lines of worry etched at the corners of her eyes. "Is there something bothering you?" she asked gently.

Rayna hesitated, then shrugged. "Not exactly. It's just that moving in with Ethan feels like such a big step. I love him, I really do, but I didn't think it would happen so fast. I guess I'm still adjusting to the idea. I love my house, and I didn't think I'd feel so attached or sad about leaving it."

"Have you talked to him about how you're feeling?" Evelyn asked, leaning forward.

Rayna shook her head. "No. I don't want to sound selfish, especially when he's considering giving up his job to be closer to me."

"He said that?" Evelyn asked, surprised, and Rayna nodded.

"Yeah. His family owns a shipbuilding company. He thinks maybe it's time he joined the family business so he could focus on starting a family. I had been hoping that when he recovered and returned to work, I could go back to my place. I know this probably doesn't make sense, but it's just how I feel," she said with a soft sigh.

Evelyn reached across the table, taking Rayna's hand. "Ray, relationships are all about communication. You have to tell him how you feel just as you re telling me about it. Otherwise, he won't know, and you'll keep carrying this on your own. Trust me, he'd want to know." Rayna sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips. "You re right. I'll talk to him. I just don't want to make it seem like I'm not willing to

put in any effort or make any sacrifices."

"I don't think Ethan will think about it that way," Evelyn reassured her. "You re in this together. I'm sure he will appreciate your openness and honesty."

Rayna nodded, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "Thanks, Evie. I needed to hear that."

"Anytime," Evelyn said warmly.

"Now, your turn. What's been going on with you?" Rayna asked, and Evelyn took a deep breath, her expression growing serious.

"A lot, actually. We found Derek's sister and also found out some... shocking things about his family."

Rayna's brow furrowed in concern. "What kind of things?"

Evelyn explained everything- the connection between Derek and Maya, the revelation about their parents' murder, and the role Sandra's father had played in it all. By the time she finished, Rayna was staring at her wide-eyed. "That's... unbelievable," Rayna whispered. "How's Derek handling all of this?"

"It's been hard on him," Evelyn admitted. "But he's strong. He's coping."

Rayna shook her head, a smile breaking through her astonishment. "And Maya's his sister? That's amazing."

"It is""" Evelyn agreed. "She's been a blessing through all of this."

Rayna's eyes lit up. "I always liked her but thought she'd be uncomfortable if I got close since she was working for you. Maybe we can all hang out one of these days."

Evelyn smiled. "That sounds like a great idea. I think she would like that."

"It's crazy, though, how Sandra's father is involved in this," Rayna said with a shake of her head.

"When I told her about it..."

"You told her about it? When? Did you go to see her?" Rayna asked, and Evelyn nodded and told her about the visit over the weekend.

"I don't feel sorry for her. And I am not going to forgive her either. I didn't make any promise to anyone to forgive her. I hope she rots in there," Rayna hissed, and Evelyn smiled.

"I understand how you feel, Ray. And I'm not asking you to forgive her," Evelyn said softly.

"You'd better not. So, what's the plan? Now that all of this has been settled, when are you two getting married?" Rayna asked curiously.

Evelyn smiled, "When he proposes to me, we will get married."

"Or maybe you can just propose since he's taking too long," Rayna suggested.

"No. I'm not doing that. I'm going to wait, even if it takes him a year. I believed deserve a proper proposal. And I'm not sophisticated enough to want to propose to a man," she said, and Rayna rolled her eyes.

"Obviously," she said dryly, and they both laughed.

Rayna sighed after a while, "Life's strange, though- full of coincidences and twists."

Evelyn nodded. "Life really is. But I'm beginning to think that it's those twists and turns that make it interesting, don't you think?"

Rayna smiled. "I couldn't agree more."

After chatting for a while, they returned to join their men in the living room, and the moment the men heard them approaching, they stopped talking. "Why did you two stop talking?" Rayna asked curiously when she noticed the sudden silence.

"We were giving a moment of silence in respect to the arrival of our beautiful ladies," Derek joked, and both Evelyn and Rayna laughed.

"That was a good one," Ethan said with a chuckle.

They all chatted for a while, and then Derek and Evelyn left since they wanted to get home in time to have dinner with Samantha and the rest of the family. After seeing them off, Ethan and Rayna returned inside. As they

settled on the couch, Rayna decided to talk to Ethan about her worries.

"Ethan?" She called softly as he scrolled through Netflix in search of a movie they could see.

"Yes, sugar," he said, turning to look at her.

"There's something I want to talk to you about" she said hesitantly, and his gaze roamed over her face before he gave her a nod.

"Sure. Go ahead," he urged her softly.

"It's about my apartment," she said, pausing as she tried to find the right words to express herself.

"What about it?" Ethan asked, judging from her expression that it was something serious to her.

She remembered that Evelyn had suggested she talk to Ethan the same way she had confided in her, so she took a deep breath and plunged on.

"I'm attached to my place. I've been living there for such a long time, and now it's just really hard to move out so suddenly.."

"You don't want to stay here? Do you want to move back there?

Don't you like this place?" He asked, trying to understand what she was saying.

Rayna shook her head, "It's not that. Here is lovely and way more spacious and conducive for indoor baking than my place. I'm just having a hard time letting go of the apartment," she said, and Ethan stayed silent for a moment, searching her face.

When he didn't say anything for a

moment, she rushed to assure him, "It has nothing to do with our relationship, and I don't want you to think I'm selfish or I don't appreciate I your thoughtful decision to quit your job so that you can be more

committed to us.

It doesn't change anything. I just wanted you to know how I'm feeling. We don't have to do anything about it. I'm sure I will adjust soon enough," she babbled on. "What do you think we can do about it?" Ethan finally asked, and she shook her head.

"Nothing. You don't have to..."

"I would have offered to move in

with you, but like you just pointed out, my place is more spacious and conducive, and it's logical you move in with me. But what if when my hand feels better, you return to your

place, and we date for a few your

months? Do you think doing that will help you feel better and slowly get accustomed to the idea of moving out?"

"But you want to get married soon..."

"Yes. I want to. But don't forget that was also because of my job.

But now that I'm considering quitting, it means I have more time.

And giving you a couple of months to make up your mind wouldn't be too much of a sacrifice for our future together," he said, and Rayna smiled

"You're sure about that?" She asked, and he nodded.

"Absolutely. And I'm happy you talked to me about it. I hope you will always do that, he said as he kissed her forehead.

"I will she promised softly as she leaned her head against his shoulder. I'm so relieved now. Thank you."

 

Chapter 218

As Derek and Evelyn drove home after leaving Ethan's place, Evelyn turned to Derek with a grin, "You know Friday is only a few days away, right?" "Yeah. Why?" Derek asked, acting like he didn't know.

"You haven't forgotten what it means, have you?" Evelyn asked, and Derek feigned a frown.

"What is it? Our anniversary?" He asked, and when she glared at him, he chuckled.

"It's the interview, I know. I'm ready for it," he said, and she smiled.

"We can go over the questions..."

"There won't be any need for that. I trust you. You can ask me whatever questions," he said, and she paused.

"You remember it's going to be a live television interview, right?" She asked, and he nodded.

"Yes. I know that," he assured her, "This interview made us cross paths and brought you back into my life. The least I can do is give it my best."

"Okay then," she said with a wide smile, looking forward to the interview.

Derek smiled, also looking forward to the interview.

On Friday, Derek arrived at The People's Times building some minutes before noon since the interview was scheduled for noon.

As Derek stepped out of his car, he straightened his tailored navy suit and adjusted the silver tie that Evelyn had chosen for him to wear that day. He took a deep breath, his confidence unshaken and his excitement undeniable.

As he entered the lobby of Evelyn's office, a young receptionist greeted him with a warm smile. "Mr. Stone, welcome to The People's Times. Ms. Evelyn will be with you shortly."

Because of his relationship with Evelyn and his frequent visits to the office to pick her up or drop her off, he had become a regular face there.

Before Derek could respond, Evelyn appeared from an adjacent hallway; her fitted burgundy dress and sleek bun radiating professionalism. Her face lit up with a welcoming smile as she approached him.

"Good morning, Mr. Stone," she greeted, extending her hand before he could embrace her as she knew he wanted to do.

Derek scowled at her and eyed her with disapproval as he took her hand, "Ms. Evelyn," Derek replied, leaning in slightly.

His voice dropped an octave as he added, "You look breathtaking.

I want to kiss you."

Evelyn resisted the urge to giggle, but a blush stole up her cheeks,

"We're on the clock, Derek. Let's keep it professional, shall we?"

Derek smirked, clearly enjoying the effect he had on her. "As you wish, Ms. Evelyn. Lead the way."

As Evelyn led him down a corridor toward the interview room, Derek watched the sway of her hips and grinned, "I should walk behind you more often, Ms. Evelyn. Your backside is lovely. Professionally speaking," he added, and she giggled.

"Shut up, Derek" she hissed under her breath.

"Your man must be so lucky," he drawled as he looked around to make sure they were alone before tapping her ass.

Evelyn gasped as she turned to glare at him, but seeing the naughty smile on his face, her lips twitched. "This could be considered workplace harassment, you know?" she asked, and he chuckled.

"For you, I don't mind going to jail," he said, and she shook her head with a laugh as she continued down the hallway.

The sound of tapping keyboards and quiet conversations filled the air, underscoring the busy morning.

She stopped at a large glass door and gestured for him to enter.

Inside, the room was perfectly lit, with cameras and microphones meticulously arranged. A few crew members gave him polite nods as he stepped in.

"This is where the magic happens"" Evelyn said, motioning for him to take a seat across from her at a polished oak table. She adjusted her mic and made sure his mic was working as well before glancing at the crew. "Are we ready?" The director gave a thumbs-up. "We're live in five, four, three..."

Evelyn turned to Derek, her face calm but her eyes twinkling with anticipation. "Welcome to The People's Times. We're honored to have you here today, Mr. Stone."

"The honor is mine," Derek replied smoothly, flashing his signature smile.

Evelyn resisted the urge to smile back just as widely. She flashed him a polite smile as she leaned back in her seat. Before we dive right into it, everyone has been curious about something. After years of avoiding the public eye, what motivated you to agree to this interview?

Derek eyed her with amusement for a moment, wondering if she wanted him to lie or be honest. Deciding to go with the truth, since that was what was expected of him for the interview, her smiled, "I agreed because of the person who requested it." Evelyn bit back a smile but decided not to pursue it since she didn't want him to reveal so much. She had felt the need to ask the question because it was expected, considering how he had remained elusive this whole time.

"If I may ask, why did you avoid the public eye for so long? Who is Derek Stone? Why has he stayed hidden all these years?" Evelyn asked with a polite smile.

Derek leaned forward slightly, his voice steady and engaging.

"Well, Derek Stone is just a simple guy with a complicated story. I was born into a loving family, but circumstances led me to be adopted at a young age. My adoptive parents gave me a life I could only dream of. I owe everything I am today to their love and

guidance. And I stayed hidden because I didn't trust the media and didn't want my face out there.

Evelyn tilted her head thoughtfully. "Speaking of your adoption, there was a recent scandal about it that gained traction online. Would you like to address that?"

Derek's smile softened, and he

nodded. "Absolutely. The rumors

stemmed from a misunderstanding.

My biological parents were

el?

murdered when I was very young, and my adoptive parent gave me the name of their precious son to protect me from the murderer of my biological parents and give me a fresh start. They didn't do it because

they wanted me to replace their child. No parents could replace a lost child. They selflessly gave me a chance at life, and I will always be grateful for the second chance they gave me."

Evelyn gave him an approving nod. "Thank you for sharing that.

Now, we ran a poll asking our viewers what questions they'd like you to answer. Shall we dive in?"

Derek chuckled. "Go ahead. 'm ready."

She glanced at her notes, a playful glint in her eye. "One of the most popular questions was: is Derek Stone in a relationship?" Derek threw his head back and laughed. "Yes, I am. I'm in a very serious relationship, actually. We have a daughter together."

Evelyn's lips twitched, trying to suppress a smile. "Well, I'm sure the viewers will be disappointed to hear that. The woman must be very lucky." Derek's gaze locked onto hers, his expression turning sincere. "No, I'm the lucky one. My fiancée is the most thoughtful, intelligent,

sexy, kind, and beautiful woman I've ever met."

Evelyn laughed, shaking her head. "Mr Stone, you weren't invited here to give a shout-out to your girlfriend. And last I checked, you weren't engaged."

Derek leaned back, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.

"Not yet. But I will be as soon as she says yes."

Evelyn raised a brow, her confusion evident. "Does that mean you have asked?"

Derek grinned, but before he could answer, soft music began playing in the background- John Legend's All of Me. Evelyn's eyes widened in realization, and her hand flew to her mouth.

"Derek..." she began, her voice barely above a whisper as she watched him stand up and move around the table to her. "What are you doing on live television?" She asked, darting her gaze towards the cameras.

He dropped to one knee in front of her. "I got permission from your father and everyone who matters. I couldn't think of a better time or place to do this than right here, in front of the world. I want everyone to know what you mean to me."

Tears welled in Evelyn's eyes as Derek continued. "Evelyn Quinn, you are the best part of my life. I love you more than words can ever express, and I want to spend every day and night by your side.

Will you marry me?"

Evelyn let out a laugh, tears streaming down her face. "Yes"" she said, holding out her hand.

Derek slipped the diamond ring onto her finger, the cameras capturing every moment. Evelyn looked at the crew and said, "Let's take a commercial break."

As soon as the cameras stopped rolling, Evelyn threw her arms around Derek and kissed him for all they were both worth, the world around them fading away.

 

Chapter 219

As Derek drove them home after the interview, Evelyn looked out the window, her mind still swirling with thoughts of the incredible day they'd had.

The live proposal had been the last thing she'd expected, and her cheeks still hurt from smiling so much.

She reached for Derek's hand, squeezing it lightly. "I still can't believe you did that on live television," she

teased.

Derek chuckled as he parked the car in front of their house, "I wanted everyone to know how much I love you."

"Still, that was... surprising," she said with a grin, and Derek laughed.

"I'm glad I could surprise you," he said as he got out of the car and opened her door.

Before Evelyn could get out of the car, Derek leaned inside and kissed her, "You know I love you, right?" He asked, and she grinned

"Yeah. I know. And I love you, too"" she said as she got out of the car, and they both headed for the front

door.

"I'm going to have to give Rayna a call so we can officially start planning the wedding. I wonder if she saw the interview. She's going to be so upset you didn't carry her along," Evelyn said with a giggle, which died on her lips the moment Derek opened the door, and a chorus of voices shouted, "Surprise!"

Evelyn froze in the doorway, her eyes widening as she took in the scene before her. The living room had been transformed into a warm party space. Twinkling fairy lights adorned the walls, soft music played in the background, and a table near the corner was laden with a beautifully decorated cake, trays of pastries, and an array of food and drinks.

Her parents stood near the center of the room, beaming with pride. Derek's parents were beside them, their hands clasped as they exchanged knowing smiles. Rayna and Ethan waved from their own corner, and Maya stood near the food table with Liam, both grinning widely. But it was Samantha, holding a bouquet of daisies and bouncing on her toes, who stole Evelyn's heart.

"What... what is this?" Evelyn asked, her voice a mix of laughter and disbelief.

Derek slipped an arm around her waist, guiding her inside. "This, my love, is our engagement party."

"Surprise!" Samantha yelled again, making everyone laugh. She hurried over to join her parents and kissed Evelyn's belly, saying hello to her younger sibling before handing the bouquet to her mother.

"Thank you, darling," Evelyn said as she took the bouquet from Samantha and kissed her forehead.

Evelyn turned to Derek again, her eyes sparkling with surprise. "When did you even have time to plan this?

How did I not know?"

Derek shrugged, his grin mischievous. "I didn't want you to know. That's the whole point of a surprise." Evelyn turned to Rayna, narrowing her eyes playfully.

"And you? You knew about this, didn't you?"

Rayna giggled, looking entirely too pleased with herself. "Of course I did. I baked the cake and pastries!"

Evelyn gasped, pointing an accusatory finger at her friend. "And yet you were the one asking me to propose to him just yesterday! You're terrible!"

Rayna laughed, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I was just pulling your leg. Besides, it was so much fun watching Derek steal the show. Congratulations, you two," she said as she embraced Evelyn while Ethan slapped Derek's back as he congratulated him.

Their parents came forward to embrace and congratulate them and then Maya stepped forward, pulling Evelyn into a tight hug. "Congratulations, Evelyn! You deserve all the happiness in the world."

"Thank you, Maya,, Evelyn murmured, her heart full.

As Maya stepped back to congratulate Derek, Evelyn glanced past Maya to Liam, who was standing with his hands in his pockets, with a small smile on his face.

"Liam! It's so good to see you."

Liam stepped forward, shaking her hand warmly.

"Congratulations, Evelyn. I stopped by to convince Maya to hang out with me, but I walked into a party instead. They invited me to stay, and, well, here I am."

Evelyn chuckled, her smile soft. "I'm glad you stayed."

"Come now, Evie. We, ladies, have to start planning the wedding at once," Rebecca said, and Evelyn laughed as she followed them while Derek joined the men, leaving Maya and Liam no choice but to part as well.

As the ladies discussed the wedding plan, the men drank and talked about everything ranging from business to sports and politics, and each of them contributed adequately to the conversations.

Samantha darted around the room, happily delivering

slices of cake to everyone while the soft strains of music kept the atmosphere light and joyful.

After some time, they all converged again, and Rebecca announced, "So, we've chosen a date for the wedding."

"Already?" Evelyn's father asked, and they laughed.

"Yes. The wedding will be in three weeks," Claire said with a wide smile.

"Honey, what about your birthday party?" Derek's father asked his wife, and she shook her head.

"I won't be celebrating my birthday party as planned.

This is all the celebration I need. I'll hand out the wedding invitation instead of my birthday invitation," she said with a proud smile.

"Will three weeks be enough to plan a wedding?" Ethan asked thoughtfully, hoping his hand would be completely fine by then.

"Even a week is enough to plan a wedding if you have the money and know what you want," Claire assured him.

"Don't worry about a thing, Evie; all you need to do is relax and tell us what you want. Between your Mom, Maya, Rayna, and me, you don't need a planner," Rebecca said, and Samantha pouted.

"Me too," she said, eyeing her grandmother with disapproval for not including her.

"Oh, my darling. How could I leave you out? Of course, you're the best planner in the house," Rebecca corrected, and they all laughed

"What if my arm is not healed by then?" Ethan asked Derek with a frown.

"It should be. If it's not, I'll stand in for you," Liam suggested with a teasing smile.

"And deprive me the chance of looking dashing before my girlfriend? Never!" Ethan said, and the ladies laughed.

"Here I was thinking you were

worried about your arm because you were concerned about not being able to assist me properly," Derek said dryly with a shake of his head and Ethan grinned at him.

"Hopefully your arm will be fine by then. The doctor said it needs a week or two to heal, Rayna assured Ethan.

"Although we won't be having a long train, but you two should be part of the train," Evelyn said, looking from Maya to Liam, "and you guys need to bond over the

planning," she said, referring to Derek and Liam.

"Guys don't bond over wedding planning. We bond over drinks and sports," Ethan said, and Derek eyed him.

"If my FIANCEE says we should bond over planning, then we will do that," Derek said, and everyone laughed.

"Good. I see you two having a very successful home and happy family with that attitude. Women like to be right even when they're wrong," Derek's father said, his wife raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? When am I ever wrong?" She asked, and he shook his head.

"Never. You're always right," he said, and everyone laughed.

The evening passed in a blur of laughter, heartfelt toasts and stories as Derek's and Evelyn's parents talked about how they met and their proposal stories.

As the party wound down, Maya saw Liam off to his car when it was time for him to leave for his shift at the clinic.

"I will admit," Liam began, leaning against his car. I wanted to spend some time alone with you tonight,

but this was a pretty great party."

Maya smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"It was."

Liam's gaze softened. "Samantha is so happy. I'm happy for them."

Maya nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I've been thinking, Liam. About us."

Liam straightened, a flicker of hope lighting his eyes.

"And?"

She hesitated, then smiled softly. "I think we should be friends..."

"No way. I'm not interested in being just friends with you," Liam cut in immediately, and Maya raised a brow.

"I thought you wanted us to be friends?" She asked, and he shook his head.

"Yes, I did. But that was before I realized I had feelings for you. I don't want to just be friends with you," Liam said, and Maya rolled her eyes playfully.

"As I was saying before, you rudely interrupted," she said, and Liam chuckled.

"I think we should be friends for a while. Maybe we can spend a few weeks getting to know each other better. And if you're sure about how you feel after that, we can think about dating. If you don't mind dating a student, that is."

Liam didn't miss a beat. "I don't mind dating a student as long as that student is you," he said with a grin.

Maya laughed, taking a step back when he moved closer with a naughty smile. "Don't jump the gun, Liam. Remember, we're starting as friends."

Liam smirked, his voice low and teasing. "Friends who kiss? 'Cause that's the only friendship I want," he said, winking at her as he pouted his lips for a kiss.

Maya's laughter rang out, bright and carefree. "Not a chance! Everyone's inside, and I don't need them watching."

"I don't care if everyone knows how much J love to kiss you," Liam said, his tone light but sincere.

Maya shook her head, still laughing as she backed toward the door. "Goodnight, Liam. I'll see you tomorrow."

Before he could respond, she disappeared inside, leaving him smiling after her.

When Maya returned to the living room, all eyes turned to her, grins and knowing looks spread across their faces. "Someone looks awfully happy," Derek teased, raising an eyebrow.

Maya laughed, flopping onto the couch. "Leave me alone."

The room erupted into laughter, the warmth and joy of the evening wrapping around Maya like a blanket.

"You both look really good together," Claire said with a grin.

"Yeah. He's a fine young man. They

both kept gazing at each other from across the room. If I didn't know better, I'd think it was also their engagement party," Derek's mother said, and everyone laughed while Maya blushed.

"You're all terrible" Maya murmured shyly, making them laugh even more.

Maya had a wide smile on her face as she watched them all, her heart swelling with gratitude. She was surrounded by love, laughter, and the promise of a bright future. She was grateful for the turn that her life had taken.

 

Chapter 220

Although Claire's heart ached, she kept her back straight and her chin up as she followed the guard who was leading her through the halls of the correctional facility where Sandra was being kept with a visitor's pass in hand.

All her life, she never thought that she would come to a place like this for any reason, but here she was.

Eric had wanted to come in with her, but she had refused. She had only let him drive her to the place and asked him to wait outside until she was done. Maybe another time, they could come in together to see Sandra. But for now, she wanted to see Sandra alone. "This way, ma'am," the guard said gruffly, opening a heavy door that groaned on its hinges.

Claire swallowed hard and nodded, stepping inside. Inside was a small room with a table and two chairs bolted to the floor.

"She'll be here shortly," the guard said before stepping out and locking the door behind him.

Claire sat down, her hands folded tightly in her lap. She had rehearsed this moment in her head a hundred times, but now that she was here, every word seemed to escape her.

The door opened again, and Claire's breath caught as Sandra shuffled in, her head bowed and hands cuffed in front of her.

Claire's chest tightened as tears welled in her eyes at the sight of her beautiful daughter looking so thin and pale.

When Sandra finally looked up and met her mother's gaze, her face crumpled. "Mom.." Her voice broke as a sob tore from her throat, and the sound of her mother's palm connecting with her cheeks echoed through the room.

"How could you do this to me?" Claire asked as her tears spilled over. "How could you make me come to see you in a place like this?"

"Sit down"" the guard ordered them.

"I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry for everything I've done... for hurting you.

I didn't mean to. I didn't mean to push you!" Sandra cried, tears streaming down her cheeks as they both sat down.

Claire reached across the table, her hands shaking as she gently touched Sandra's face, "No contact," the guard warned Claire harshly, but Claire didn't pull away as she brushed off Sandra's tears.

"I never blamed you for it," Claire said softly, her voice trembling.

"I've forgiven you already."

Sandra shook her head, her sobs making her words barely audible.

"I didn't push you on purpose... I swear. I-"

"I know. I know it was an accident," Claire interrupted gently. Her voice cracked, but she forced herself to keep speaking. "I know you didn't mean to hurt me. And I thank God every day that it happened because it stopped you from doing something far worse. You didn't hurt Evelyn."

Sandra's tear-streaked face was a mask of anguish. "If you had died, Mom, I wouldn't have been able to live with myself. I wouldn't have been able to forgive myself!"

"But I didn't die, Sandra." Claire's voice was firm, though her own tears betrayed her. "I'm here. And I came to tell you that it isn't too late for you to change now and retrace your steps."

Sandra's gaze dropped to the table. She sniffled and wiped her face with her cuffed hands. "What's the point, Mom? Even if I change... my life is over."

"No, Sandra. Your life isn't over," Claire said, leaning closer. Her voice softened but held a note of steel. "You pleaded guilty, and tomorrow, we will find out the duration of your sentence. If you show good behavior, you could get out early."

Sandra let out a shaky breath and looked up at her mother. "And then what? What's waiting for me out there?"

Claire smiled through her tears. "And then, Sandra, you'll earn your place back in our lives. And I will be waiting for you out there.

You'll show everyone the wonderful woman I know you can be.

You'll show yourself."

Sandra hesitated, her lips trembling. "I don't think so. I don't think I have it in me to be good. Evelyn... Evelyn told me about my father,"

she said quietly. "And about Derek's biological parents."

Claire nodded slowly. "You are not your father, Sandra. Your father was responsible for his choices, and you are responsible for your choices, too. And even if his evil blood runs through your veins, my good blood runs through your veins, too." She reached out again, her fingers brushing against Sandra's hands. "And goodwill always overcome evil. Always. But only if you let it. Let the good in you show, Sandra. Let it shine. Let go of everything else."

Tears welled up in Sandra's eyes again, but there was something else there this time- the faintest glimmer of determination. "And Dad?" Sandra asked without meeting her mother's eyes.

She knew just how disappointed her stepfather must be, and she wouldn't blame him if he didn't want to set eyes on her again.

"He will be waiting, too. He wanted to come see you, but I asked him to let me meet you alone..."

"Isn't he mad?" Sandra asked, looking up at her mother.

"He is disappointed, but like me, he's hoping you change. We will be waiting to get our daughter back," Claire said, and Sandra nodded slowly, her lips pressing into a thin line as she fought back another wave of tears.

"I won't disappoint you again, Mom. I promise," she said quietly.

Claire smiled, her heart aching but full of love. "I hope so, my dear.

I truly do."

"What about Michael?" Sandra asked hesitantly.

"He was sentenced to five years imprisonment for embezzlement,"

Claire said, and Sandra sighed sadly.

She had thought a lot about Michael, and she knew that she owed him an apology for ruining his life. She was responsible for everything.

"Tell everyone that I'm sorry," she said, and Claire nodded.

"I have to leave now. We have some shopping to do for Evie's wedding," Claire said, wanting to see Sandra's reaction and be sure that she had changed Thankfully, Sandra's expression didn't change. "Wil. will you come to the court tomorrow?" "Yes. We all will be there," Claire assured her since they had missed the first hearing because she had been in the hospital.

"Will you visit me in here?" Sandra asked, and Claire nodded.

"Every chance I get," Claire promised. "And I'll wait for you.

Patiently. I'll be here when you come home."

As Claire walked outside after they were done, she let out a soft sigh. No matter how pitiful Sandra's state was, she would rather see her behind bars than let her continue on the path she had been headed.

For now she would focus on Evelyn and her grandchildren while she waited patiently for Sandra to do her time and come back home.

The following day, the courtroom buzzed with low murmurs as people filled the wooden benches.

Claire sat with Eric by her side, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.

Evelyn was next to her, her hands entwined with Derek's. Rayna and Ethan were seated behind them.

They all watched as Sandra was led in by two guards, dressed in a plain gray jumpsuit, her wrists shackled.

She kept her head down, avoiding the stares of the onlookers.

Claire's heart twisted at the sight of her daughter, whose head hung really low, but she sat tall, determined to be strong for Sandra. The judge entered, and the room fell silent. "All rise," the bailiff called, and everyone stood until the judge took her seat.

"This court is now in session"" the

judge declared. "We are here to determine the sentencing of Sandra Quinn, who has been convicted of three counts of attempted murder. Two charges of first-degree

attempted murder and a

nove

second-degree attempted murder."

Sandra was instructed to stand. Her face was pale, and her eyes were red-rimmed from the tears she had shed all night in her cell.

Claire watched her daughter closely, willing her to stay strong. She wished she could shield her daughter from the weight of her choices, but this was Sandra's burden to bear.

They all listened with bated breath as the prosecutor and defense attorney gave their final arguments and statements.

"While we do not excuse her actions, Your Honor, we ask for leniency, acknowledging her remorse and willingness to change,"

the defense attorney concluded.

The judge listened carefully, her face unreadable. Then, it was Sandra's turn to speak.

Sandra stepped forward, her

shackles clinking. She raised her head, her voice trembling but clear. "I am so sorry for what I did. I hurt everyone, and I almost destroyed my family. I can't take back what i've done, but I promise to spend every day making amends."

Claire wiped a tear from her cheek, pride swelling in her chest despite the ache.

The judge leaned forward, her expression stern but not unkind.

"Sandra Quinn, your actions were deliberate and caused significant harm. You endangered lives and betrayed the trust of those closest to you. However, I acknowledge your remorse and your plea for a chance to change." Sandra held her breath, her fingers gripping the edges of the table.

"It is, therefore, the judgment of this court that you shall be committed to the custody of the Department of Corrections for 20 years to life. You shall receive credit for time served and shall be eligible for parole after fifteen years for good behavior. The court further orders you to undergo counseling and treatment as directed by the probation? department. Let this serve as a reminder of the gravity of your actions and as an opportunity for you to rebuild your life."

The gavel struck, and the sound echoed through the courtroom. Sandra's knees buckled slightly, but the guard held her steady.

Claire stood, her hands over her mouth as tears spilled down her face. Eric and Evelyn placed comforting hands on her shoulder.

Sandra was led out of the courtroom, her steps slow, her head turning briefly to meet her mother's gaze. Claire mouthed, "I love you," and Sandra nodded, her lips trembling as her gaze shifted to Evelyn.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, and tears dropped from Evelyn's eyes as she acknowledged her apology with a nod.

Sandra might have been terrible to her, but she was still her sister and Evelyn's heart felt heavy at the thought of Sandra being locked away for so many years.