The Billionaire’s Unexpected Proposal (Evelyn and Derek)

As Derek drove away from his parent's house and headed for the venue where he was to meet with the hitman, his mind raced with the details of his conversation with Michael. Derek had been curious to know how Michael could have chosen to cheat on Evelyn with someone like Sandra, but Michael had shocked them all with his confession.

"I knew Sandra before Evelyn. I met her during our first year in school. I fell in love with her and wanted her to be my girlfriend," Michael had explained.

"So, how did you end up with Evelyn?" Rebecca had asked with a frown.

"Sandra said I didn't seem ambitious enough. She said she wanted an ambitious man. Someone who desperately wanted to succeed like she did. I told her I was ambitious, and she asked me to prove it by seducing her half-sister, Evelyn," Michael had said, detailing how Sandra had manipulated him from the beginning and guiding him to marry Evelyn for her inheritance. "And when it didn't work, you both decided to aim higher and go after Derek," Derek's father had said with disgust.

Every detail replayed in Derek's head, almost suffocating in its cruelty. The whole idea of it was appalling.

Derek sighed as he thought of Evelyn. How devastated would she be if she found out her entire relationship with Michael had been orchestrated by Sandra's jealousy and greed?

How hurt would she be when she realized that the relationship had been built entirely on deception and Michael had never once loved her? It had not been a matter of being cheated on. She had simply been lucky to catch them in the act when she did.

The thought made Derek's heart clench. He exhaled sharply, trying to shake off the idea, his focus returning to the road ahead.

Just as his mind began to clear, his phone rang, jolting him from his reverie. He glanced at the screen: it was Evelyn.

"Hey," he answered, trying to sound calm, but his voice held a hint of the tension he was feeling.

"What's going on? Are you still with Michael, or..?" Her voice was soft.

"No. I just left them now. I'm on my way to meet with Sandra's man," he replied, maintaining a steady tone.

"Why didn't you call to tell me? How did it go with Michael? Did he agree?" Evelyn asked, and Derek could hear the unmistakable anxiety behind her voice.

"I'm sorry. I guess I was lost in my thoughts about the meeting ahead, and calling you sort of skipped my mind. Yes, it went smoothly. Michael agreed to play along." Derek's eyes flickered over the road as he spoke, still mentally preparing for the meeting ahead. Evelyn let out a small sigh of relief, and he could almost picture her nodding, relief easing some of her worry. "Thank goodness.

I've been on edge all day. I couldn't focus on anything else... I haven't even eaten."

"Babe, you should go and get something to eat, he chided gently.

"You need to take better care of yourself. I'll handle this."

"I know," she murmured. "But I can't bring myself to stay still or focus on anything else. I'm anxious, and I can't stomach anything.

Maybe I'll feel better after tonight," she said, and Derek sighed, sensing her restlessness.

He understood that her anxiety could not be helped. It wasn't every day that one found out their stepsister was plotting their death.

"You need a distraction. What are you up to? Want to go hang out with Rayna?" He asked and Evelyn glanced at Samantha, who was busy drawing and painting on her table.

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"I don't want to go out right now. I'm home alone with Sam.

Although Rayna called to say she was coming over to spend the day with us, so I'm waiting for her."

Derek smiled faintly, "As long as she is coming over, that's good enough. How is Maya? I guess she has left for the hospital?"

"Yes. She finally left for the hospital a short while ago after much prodding, Evelyn replied. There was a note of relief in her voice, but it was laced with exhaustion. "This is all so overwhelming, Derek. I can't wait for it to be over." Derek's heart ached for her. "I understand. Look, why don't I order something for you to eat? It'll save you the trouble of looking around the house. Is there anything you'd like to eat?"

"No, no Evelyn replied, a bit more alert now. "Il find something here. It's okay."

A soft chime sounded in the background on Evelyn's end, and Derek heard her say, "Rayna's here. I should go. But let me know how things go with the hitman, okay? And when you get home, you can give me all the details."

"Of course. Don't worry about a thing," Derek assured her. With that, they said their goodbyes and Evelyn's line clicked off.

Just as Derek was about to focus on the road once again, his phone started ringing, and he scowled when he saw that it was Sandra.

He could guess that she was calling to remind him of the reunion later in the day. Taking a deep breath, he received the call. "Hello, Derek!" She greeted pleasantly.

Hearing his name from the same lips that had so casually ordered the murder of two people who were close to her sent a chill down Derek's spine.

"Hey! How are you doing?" Derek asked, trying his best to sound normal.

"I'm alright. You know what today is, right? I hope you haven't forgotten that you're accompanying me to my class reunion?" She asked hopefully. "How can I forget? You've made it clear that tonight is very important to you, so I have to be there," Derek said, and Sandra smiled.

"Have you picked out an outfit yet? I'm wearing a red dress," she said, and Derek raised a brow, wondering why she was telling him that.

"I'm sure I will figure out what to wear when it is time," he said, and Sandra rolled her eyes.

"I'm giving you a clue already. You should wear something with a touch of red to make us look like a real couple. You know, like a united front," she said, and Derek shook his head. "Alright. If this what you want," he said, and she giggled happily.

"Thanks, baby. I can't wait to see you tonight. Don't forget to pick me up, okay? I'll be ready by seven," she said, and Derek scowled at her reference to him as baby.

"Sure. See you then""" he said before hanging up.

As Derek got closer to his meeting point with the hitman, he dialed the number of one of the detectives they had stationed around the venue to make sure he was there and ready to apprehend the hitman. Once he confirmed that everything was in place, he took a deep breath and silently prayed that everything would go as planned and no one would get hurt.