The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Billionaire’s 157

Billionaire’s 157

Chapter 157

Derek leaned back in his chair as he sipped his whiskey. Ethan sat across from him, nursing a beer, his gaze distant as he stared at the wall behind Derek's shoulder. The lounge was their usual hangout spot, cozy and familiar, but tonight was different. Ethan was not his usual funny and chatty self, and it was glaring.

Derek studied Ethan for a moment, watching his friend's face for any sign of emotion. "So, what's going on with you, man? How are you really feeling about the whole situation with Rayna?" Derek asked, breaking the silence that had settled between them after their pleasantries and small talk about work. Ethan took a slow sip of his beer, his expression unreadable. "I'm fine," he said flatly. "I've moved on."

Derek raised an eyebrow. "Really? Just like that?"

Ethan shrugged. "Yeah. Just like that."

Derek set his glass down on the table with a soft thud, leaning forward. You don't just move on from someone you claimed to love, Ethan. You don't just flip a switch and pretend everything's fine." Ethan's jaw tightened, but he said nothing, his eyes still fixed on the wall.

"Come on, man," Derek pressed, his voice quieter now. "You're holding on to this grudge like it's going to fix things. She's apologized, Ethan. More than once, to the best of my knowledge.

Is losing your golden sun over that misunderstanding really worth it?"

his beer bottle tightened, and for a moment, Derek thought he was going to answer. But instead, Ethan sighed and shook his head. "Can you stop calling her that? Or better still, can we just talk about something else?" Before

to see it had an attachment:

his pocket and connecting it to his phone. He played the recording, his face

It was Sandra.

Sandra's voice said coldly through the recording. "Make sure it doesn't look like a

a way to distract him. But don't make it obvious. We need to make sure no one suspects foul

tragic had happened. Or better yet, they should make it look like Michael had kidnapped Evelyn out of anger and jealousy because he was still obsessed with her and then killed her and then committed suicide. It was a twisted, calculated plot, and the more Derek listened, the more his blood boiled. "What the

just about her wanting Evelyn out of the picture- this

Ethan asked, noticing Derek's

the situation made it impossible. He yanked out

frowning as he played the recording. The further into the

out the earbud slowly, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Are you kidding me?" he asked, his voice low. "She is really doing this? She's planning to murder Evelyn...and Michael? I thought Michael was supposed to be her partner?" Derek ran a hand through his hair, still reeling from what he had heard. "I can't believe this. She's gone completely off the rails. This isn't just about some petty jealousy

to

stared at the table, his mind racing. What was he going to do? He couldn't just

didn't matter that Michael had

rather Michael face

was he going to do this without putting Evelyn's life in danger? Could he afford