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.."

voice dripping with disdain. "Sorry because you were caught? Or because the whole

his hands fidgeting

that everything ended now. Things were beginning to get out of hand with Sandra. I didn't want to harm anyone," Michael rushed

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 kids?" Michael looked down, his lips pressed tightly together. He didn't deny it, and that silence spoke

I was thinking..." Michael began, but Derek cut him

dangerous. "Don't insult me by pretending otherwise. I know

exhaled shakily. "The woman I loved

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.

"Please, Derek. Forgive me."

edge was unmistakable. "Forgiveness isn't going to keep you from

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 another reason I wanted to see

Michael's face made him pause, and his

moment as though what

Michael said, and

anger flaring

about it?" He asked, angry that Michael was bringing

the length Michael had been going to bring him down, and his fists tightened until his knuckles turned white. "You bastard," he hissed, his voice trembling with suppressed rage. Derek rose, ready to leave because he feared he might hit Michael if he

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

froze, torn 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 it?" Derek asked, his voice

breath. "You have a

like a punch to the