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?"

we just talk about something else?" Before Derek could respond, his phone buzzed on the table, the screen lighting up with a message notification. He glanced down, his brow furrowing when he saw the message was from his

to see

earbud from his pocket and connecting it to his phone. He played the recording, his face paling as

It was Sandra.

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

to have a bodyguard, so find a way to distract him. But don't make

chest, and his blood ran cold as he listened to Sandra give more instructions. She wanted Michael kidnapped and then Evelyn. The plan was to make it appear as though they had eloped and something tragic had happened. Or better yet, they should make it look like Michael had kidnapped Evelyn out of anger and jealousy because he was

everything he was hearing. This wasn't just about her wanting Evelyn out of the picture- this was a murder plot- a carefully crafted scheme to

wrong?" Ethan asked, noticing

thoughts, but the gravity of the situation made it impossible. He yanked out his earbud and handed

the earbud, frowning as he played the recording. The further into the recording he got, the more his face mirrored Derek's

She's planning to murder Evelyn...and Michael? I thought Michael was supposed to be her partner?" Derek ran a hand through his hair,

are you going to do?" he asked, his voice

going to do? He couldn't just sit on this information. Evelyn was in danger, and so

had betrayed

still family, and he would rather Michael face the

since this might be his opportunity to catch Sandra red-handed. But how was he going to do this without putting Evelyn's life in danger? Could he afford to do it when Evelyn