The Billionaire's Unexpected Proposal by Samantha

Chapter 212

The silence in the room was broken when the chef came to announce that dinner had been served.

Although none of them had an appetite, they all moved to the dining room. Derek wanted Evelyn to eat because of her condition, and Eric also wanted Claire to eat so that she could take her medication.

As they all pretended to eat while pushing their food around their plates, Evelyn looked at Claire, "Was Sandra aware? I mean, does she know about her biological father?" Evelyn asked curiously. Claire nodded. "I told her about it when she was old enough to understand," Claire said softly.

Derek shook his head. "And yet she decided to become everything her father was- manipulative, ruthless, willing to go to any length for money. I guess the darkness in the bloodline couldn't be erased," Derek said bitterly, and Evelyn placed a calming hand on his arm. Maya, who had been silent for a while, cleared her throat, "So, your... I mean Victor. From what you said, does it mean that he wasn't arrested until you submitted evidence against him?" She asked, wanting to understand what happened after the accident. Claire nodded, "Yes."

"He got away with the murder? How?" Evelyn asked in disbelief.

"Victor was meticulous. He knew how to cover his tracks. He framed a rival- David Hunt, a businessman who had been a thorn in his side. He planted evidence to make it look like Hunt used Carter to tarnish his reputation and then had him murdered to silence him. The police bought it, and Hunt was convicted and sentenced to death."

Evelyn inhaled sharply. "He died?"

"Yes," Claire confirmed. "It took me three years to gather all I could on Victor. By then, it was too late for David Hunt," she said, looking down at her plate with shoulders slumped from guilt.

Derek stared at her in disbelief. "An innocent man was executed for a crime my parents' murderer committed," Derek muttered.

Without another word, he rose and walked away, unable to contain the storm of emotions threatening to consume him.

His footsteps echoed through the hallways as he climbed the stairs to his room, leaving an air of tension behind. Evelyn watched him go, her heart aching at the raw pain etched across his face. Without hesitation, she excused herself from the table and followed him.

"Maybe we should go home," Claire told Eric softly, but Maya shook her head.

"No. Why would you leave?" Maya asked with a frown as she looked up from the remnants of her untouched meal.

"Derek is upset..."

"Yes, but not at you. He's upset by the situation. You shouldn't leave because of that. He just needs time to pull himself together," Maya said, and Eric looked at her.

"What about you? Aren't you upset?" He asked, and she sighed.

"I feel sad, but for some reason, I don't feel as deeply connected to it. Maybe he feels that way because he remembers his time with them. But I don't. As sad as it is, they're like strangers to me," she admitted, "and being upset about it won't change much. Life has taught me to accept whatever it throws at me and move on."

"You're quite self-aware and wise" Claire observed softly.

"I don't think Derek and Evelyn will be returning to the table. Weve all been through a lot today. Let's give each other the space to process everything. Tomorrow's a new day."

Claire nodded, her voice quiet but resolute. "And maybe tomorrow, we can put the past behind us and look forward."

her and gave a small

reached the bedroom door, and she hesitated

Can

of the door, and just as she was about to knock again, she

"Come in."

fists at his sides,

eat, Evelyn said gently, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her. "You're hurting, Derek, and

just need some time to process everything," he said calmly, not

this way when he knew there was nothing else he could do about it. Victor had been arrested and prosecuted and all he could do was be

fine. Stop pretending that you are. This isn't something you can just brush off, Evelyn said as she wrapped her arms around his

want me to do?"

she said, sliding her hands under his shirt so she could feel

around to look at her, letting her see the anger and anguish in his eyes. "I'm mad. I feel angry and frustrated. I wish there were something I could do, but I can't do anything. I didn't do anything then. I can't do anything now.

there is nothing

incident. Any parent would rather you forget them than

You are doing enough now by standing by Maya. Your parents would be so proud of you. I'm not even your Mom, and I feel so damn proud every time I

but it doesn't make any of

and as he sank down, she stood in front of him and embraced him. "I know it's overwhelming,

leaned back

She was making it hard for him to stay upset. "If you hadn't returned to Ludus and come back into my life when you did, might have gone through with the plan to marry Sandra just to make my mother happy. I would have

you've achieved. You found your sister. You uncovered the truth about your parent's death, and now you can find closure." Derek let out a long sigh, nodding. "You're right. Maybe now I can let it go." He

she endured, she helped bring

doesn't deserve to have

like Sandra."

right" Evelyn agreed. "I feel sorry for all

Evelyn onto the bed with him. He lay back, holding her close, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. The silence stretched between them until Evelyn spoke, her voice breaking the stillness. "What are you thinking?" Derek hesitated before answering. "I'm wondering if I should

"What do you mean? Of course, you should be proud. He was brave. He fought against

he hadn't taken Victor's case,

up slightly,

just expose Victor for himself, he did it for every

hero at the expense of my family, Eve. My priority is

that matters

you. If faced with

a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Not

"That's what you

don't care if the world burns as long as you're safe. I owe that to you, to myself. I wouldn't let anything jeopardize that." Evelyn leaned in, kissing him softly. "Let's not