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

his head, his hands fidgeting

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

me altogether? Let me guess, you'd marry her yourself after I was conveniently out of the picture and claim everything along with your kids?" Michael looked down, his

was thinking..." Michael began, but Derek

Derek growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Don't insult me by pretending otherwise. I know very well that you do, so

exhaled shakily. "The woman 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, I'm also heartbroken. My heart is shattered, and I

"Please, Derek. Forgive me."

calm, but the edge was unmistakable. "Forgiveness isn't going to keep you from going to prison. You committed a crime, Mike. You're going to do

nodded, his shoulders slumping further. "I know that. And I will. I don't expect anything else," Michael said, and there was a pause before he added hesitantly, "There is also

look on Michael's face made him pause, and his brow furrowed. "What is

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

about your adoption," Michael said,

his anger

He asked, angry that Michael was bringing that

his voice barely above a whisper. "I was trying to find something incriminating about 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

something," Michael said quickly, sensing Derek's breaking point. "Something I think you need to

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

took a deep breath. "You

hit Derek like a punch to the gut. He stared