The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter 202

Derek and Maya remained in each other's embrace, their hearts beating in sync as the intensity of the moment enveloped them.

Everything else around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the warmth of their connection and the unspoken words that lingered between them.

Evelyn carefully stepped back into the sleeping area, not wanting to get in the way or interrupt their reunion. Her heart was at ease, knowing that Derek's sister was Maya, whom they already considered family. After what felt like forever, Derek pulled away to look into Maya's face. The face he had gotten used to without knowing was his sisters.

He opened his mouth to say something but then closed it when something else came to mind. They were still on their way to Husla when they should have been heading back to Ludus.

"Give me a moment. I need to speak to the pilot," he said, and Maya nodded.

"I suppose you want to tell him we're turning around"" Maya said awkwardly, and Derek nodded.

"Yeah. I'll be right back. We have so much to talk about," Derek said before going to inform the pilot that there was a change of plans.

As Maya returned to her seat and waited for Derek to return, tears slid down her cheeks, and her lips curved in a shaky smile. Her mind drifted to her thoughts that morning.

Who would've thought that Evelyn was going to be her sister-in-law, that Samantha, whom she had nurtured since she was a baby, was actually her niece, and that she was expecting another niece or nephew?

To think she had raised her brother's child without even realizing it brought fresh drops of tears to her face. Like Samantha, she had also met her brother on her first day in Ludus without realizing it.

She looked up when Derek joined her again, and she sniffled. "I still can't believe it. You're really my brother?" She asked as Derek took the seat opposite her.

"I'm still trying to believe it myself, but I'm glad it's you," Derek said as he reached out and brushed the tears from her cheeks.

"You remember this?" Maya asked, referring to the locket since it was what had drawn Derek's attention.

"Not entirely. It just seemed so familiar when I saw it on you last night, and I couldn't tell why. And then I had a dream, and I saw something similar," Derek said, and Maya looked down at the locket. "Perhaps you would have known if I had taken it out earlier.

Yesterday was the first time I took it out since I received it from my late mother," she explained.

"What did she tell you? And how long have you been searching for me?" Derek asked, and Maya took a deep breath, gathering her

thoughts.

"I only just started searching for you. I wasn't sure you would remember me or that you would want me to be involved in your life. But for some reason, I just felt the urge to find you," she said, and Derek leaned back, his eyes locked on hers. "Have you always known about me?" he asked, and Maya shook her head.

"I only learned about you some years ago when my mom, the woman who raised me, was dying. She told me the truth that she wasn't my birth mother and that my parents had died in a car crash when I was just a baby, and she had taken my brother to the orphanage home because she didn't have the means to care for us both."

locket and told me it was the only thing left of my real family, and I was holding on to it when she found me. All this while, I hadn't thought of finding my brother even though I had the information I needed to find him, but after receiving so

all this while. I can't imagine how tough things must have been for you," Derek said

accident. I only found out about your existence recently, and that's why I started searching for you," Derek said, and Maya nodded, understanding that he had only been a kid then. "Better late than never, right?" She asked, and Derek took a shaky breath, his gaze softening as

everything, Maya. I want to know everything. Tell me about your mom. How did she find us?" Derek asked,

my brother... you were seated away from the car with me in your arms, crying. We were both crying and terrified. She said she couldn't ignore the cries, so she got out to help. She said our parents were already gone by the time she got there. She couldn't save them..."

knew Maya wouldn't have the answer

both of us in, but her circumstances were dire. She barely had enough to feed herself, let alone two children. So, the next morning, she took you to the local orphanage and kept me. She said it broke her heart to separate us, but she thought you'd have a better chance at life through the

quiet intensity. "I don't blame her for that. It

saved our lives. Without her, neither of

her husband's objection and gave me everything she

took her hands in his. "I wish I could ve met her. She sounds like a remarkable woman." "She was," Maya whispered, squeezing

after her death,"

Evelyn showed up and employed me as her live-in nanny, and I

then," Maya said,

then

is going

finds out

sister."

you to me without knowing," Derek said, his

quite unpredictable"" Maya said thoughtfully, "I never would have imagined that something like this would happen. I was still in awe of your relationship with Samantha, and now this," she

he should

their parents'

get into that. He

but for now, he

before bringing that unpleasantness into the

hours talking about their lives before now, crying, smiling, and laughing happily at being

land, Derek rose.

shortly," he said,

her being Derek's sister. Yeah. She was Derek's sister. She mused, a smile gracing her lips again. No matter the

watched Derek go, she wondered what Liam's reaction be when she told him. What about

going to think about all that later. What mattered now was that she had found her brother, and he was someone who had already considered her family, so she didn't

surprised to find Evelyn sitting up, wide awake, her

awake? Are you okay? Why are you crying?" he asked with a concerned frown as he joined her and took

okay. I just couldn't sleep," she said