The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter 169

Derek arrived at the Quinn house, pulling up to the driveway with a steady resolve. He knew tonight would be a test of his patience and control.

As he approached the front door, it swung open, revealing Sandra, who beamed at him, her face lighting up with enthusiasm. It seemed like she had been waiting for him. "Derek! You're here!" she exclaimed, stepping forward as if to hug him, but he subtly shifted, pretending to give her a once-over.

"You look good, Sandra", he said, making her flush with pleasure and not realize that he had just avoided her hug.

"You're always so full of compliments. Thank you," she said with a wide smile and then ushered him in, "Come in, come in! My parents are so eager to see you."

Claire and Eric, who were seated in the living room watching the television, looked up when Derek followed Sandra into the living room.

They both maintained a carefully neutral expression so as not to give away the fact that they were familiar with him already.

"Dad, Mom, this is Derek, CEO of Stone Corp. Derek, my parents," Sandra said with a beaming smile as she did the introductions. Claire and Eric greeted him with warm smiles and extended their hands with a practiced air of cordiality.

"Hello, Derek," Claire said, her tone deliberately neutral.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Quinn," Derek replied, giving them a polite nod.

They exchanged the usual pleasantries, keeping the conversation light and cordial while Sandra went in to finish her look and get her purse.

All three of them could sense the tension in the room, apart from Sandra, who had no idea that they were all very much aware of her plans.

After a few minutes, Sandra reappeared, her makeup finished, and her excitement apparent. "Alright, ready to go!" she announced, glancing at her parents. "I will be back late. Or not. Don't wait up," she said as she reached for Derek's arm, attempting to hold on to him, but he subtly stepped aside, gesturing toward the door.

"We will be leaving now. 'Il bring her back early," Derek promised, and Sandra pouted for a moment but quickly masked it with a smile since she didn't want to offend Derek by seeming too clingy.

"Our reds don't match. Mine looks sharper while yours is deep" she observed as they walked outside.

"You told me red. You didn't exactly give me a specific shade," he pointed out, glad that it didn't match.

"You're right. I suppose red is red. It doesn't matter the shade," she said, and Derek hoped she would think so when she saw Evelyn's outfit.

When they got to the car, Derek opened the car door for her and then took his place behind the wheel.

As he drove, she tried to make small talk, chatting about her week and work and how she was excited about the evening ahead, but he only offered brief responses, his thoughts elsewhere.

In his mind, Derek kept replaying his last conversation with Evelyn before Ethan's call came in. He was concerned about the tension he'd noticed in her earlier and wondered if she'd truly been okay.

Had something else happened that she wasn't telling him? And why had she claimed she received a kitchen delivery yet had come out from the guest room instead of the kitchen? Something felt off, and he couldn't shake the feeling that she was hiding something. "Derek?" Sandra's voice broke into his thoughts, pulling him back to the present. "Hmm?" he murmured, barely glancing her way.

observed with a hint of annoyance that she tried

I'm wondering what I'm going to say and how I'm going to fit

you don't have to fit in. I'm

to entertain

had lost Derek and didn't even stand a chance with him. Not when she was a Babymama to some man. All she had to do

as she pulled out her phone,

texts that would make it seem like he is obsessed with her. Make it believable.] Satisfied, she put her phone away. "What are you up to?" Derek asked, catching

chat to see if everyone

Derek parked and stepped out of the car, going

Derek immediately looked around for Evelyn,

and he felt his chest tighten at the sight of her. The red color matched his own perfectly, and he resisted the urge to smile, keeping his composure so that Sandra would

she turned and saw him, she pressed her lips together to keep from grinning

other hand, Sandra's face fell when she

She glared at the deep, complementary shade Evelyn wore, which fit Derek's red perfectly and

see if he had noticed Evelyn looking at him, but to Sandra's pleasure, Derek was smiling down at her instead of

they drew closer to the long banquet table, Sandra noticed, to her frustration, that the only available seats

waves from former classmates since Sandra wasn't exactly very friendly with others, unlike Evelyn, who got along with everyone and was loved by

so I can sit next to my boyfriend?" Sandra asked hopefully since the last thing she wanted was for either of them to

the urge to giggle. Evelyn had not noticed what Rayna had done until then, and it

even make any sense. Why do I have to sit separately

scene,"

spend with your fine-looking boyfriend. A couple of minutes away from him won't be the end of your relationship," someone said dryly, and

don't want any fighting in my bakery," Rayna said, and

imagining things. What possibly could have torn

had presented, Derek spoke quickly. "She is right. I will sit beside Evelyn, and you can sit here. It's only for a couple of hours. It's not a big deal," Derek said, guiding Sandra

held out the seat for her, and after that, Derek went to take the seat

moment he sat down, Evelyn greeted him

It's good to see you again," she murmured, her

Sandra was watching, Derek spared Evelyn a brief glance, unable to bring himself to ignore her even though it was only for show. "Same here. You

eyes, Evelyn could tell it was a genuine

her, feigning disinterest, but under the table, he reached

flutter in her stomach, and she held back a

other?" Someone asked, and Evelyn

course. This is

watched the interaction, her irritation barely concealed. "He

next to Evelyn, smirked as she watched Sandra's irritation. "You know, if I didn't know better, I'd say Evelyn

is my boyfriend, not Evelyn's," she snapped. "Don't joke