The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter 186

Derek sat in the station's visitor area and waited to see Michael.

The detectives had told him that Michael had pleaded that he stop over to see him when he came around.

He didn't owe Michael a visit, and he didn't owe him forgiveness.

But here he was, waiting in this cold, impersonal room.

As he sat there waiting for Michael to be brought to him, Derek thought about Ethan. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly as he recalled how they had caught Ethan eating after he had been pretending to be unconscious.

Ethan had looked like a guilty child caught red-handed, and the memory briefly lifted Derek's mood. He couldn't believe how silly Ethan was. A quiet chuckle escaped him, but the lightness faded as quickly as it came.

The sound of shuffling feet snapped Derek out of his thoughts. He looked up, and his amusement vanished entirely. Michael was being led in, dressed in the dull, gray uniform of an inmate. His movements were slow and hesitant, and he carried the weight of his actions like a visible burden. Derek's jaw tightened as their eyes locked. He held Michael's gaze until he sat across from him.

"I was told you wanted to see me" Derek began, his voice cold and flat. "Why?"

There was no greeting, no attempt at civility. Derek didn't see the point. The betrayal ran too deep. His fists clenched under the table, hidden from view, as he remembered everything Michael had done- not just to Evelyn, but to him. The lies. The schemes. The sheer audacity of trying to destroy his life. He no longer cared about Michael and he was never going to forgive him.

Despite his claim that he had done it all on Sandra's instruction, Derek believed that a huge part of the idea to dupe him was Michaels, and for that, he couldn't forgive Michael.

Michael swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously.

"Derek, I'm sorry for everything.."

you were caught? Or because the whole family is mad at you?" Derek cut in, not wanting

his hands fidgeting on the

I was caught. I'm glad I was caught. I'm actually sort of relieved that everything ended now. Things were beginning to get

and raise your kids as my own, then let them grow to inherit everything? Or were you planning to get rid of me altogether? Let me guess, you'd marry her yourself after I was conveniently out of the picture and claim everything along with your

know what I was thinking..." Michael

low and dangerous. "Don't insult me by pretending otherwise.

shakily. "The woman

your money. It twisted something inside me. I started seeing you as the obstacle, the competition. I was jealous. Greedy. I became someone I'm ashamed of. I was wrong, Derek. I'm not going to make any excuses. I was a fool. But right now,

"Please, Derek. Forgive me."

going to keep you from going to

I don't expect anything else," Michael said, and there was a pause before he added hesitantly, "There

him pause, and his brow furrowed. "What is

in his seat for a moment as though what he was about to say was something he'd

about your adoption," Michael

anger

asked, angry that Michael was

your biological family. Something I could use to..." He trailed off, unable to meet Derek's glare Derek's eyes widened slightly, shocked by the length Michael had been going to bring him down, and his fists tightened until his knuckles turned

found something," Michael said quickly, sensing Derek's breaking point. "Something I

between his instinct to leave and his curiosity. On the one hand, he didn't want to care about his biological family-and he didn't want to know anything about them since it would only bring pain and unnecessary hurt to everyone. On the other hand, he wanted to know what Michael found and why it was important enough that Michael would risk provoking him to tell him that. "What is

a deep breath.

a punch to the gut. He stared at