Chapter 42: Are you jealous? It was a cold evening, and the moon shone brightly in the sky, casting a soft glow on the earth. Derek lay on his bed, operating his phone with a smile plastered on his face.“Ladies are so desperate these days,” he laughed, staring at his phone. “Imagine asking me to be her man for a week. What does she think I am? A play toy?” He chuckled on.As he sat on the bed, reading numerous messages on his Instagram account and laughing, the door to the room suddenly creaked open, revealing Sofia. She had a soft smile on her face as she walked up to the bed.“Why are you smiling like you won a lottery?” she questioned her husband, sitting beside him on the bed.Derek looked at her, smiled, and replied, “It’s nothing serious. I’m just reading desperate messages from all these desperate chicks who won’t leave me alone.”“Imagine asking me to be her man for a week after knowing fully well that I’m married,” Derek chuckled, his eyes still dancing on his phone, bar
Chapter 43: The Secret AllySofia stood in front of the massive mirror in the room, applying lotion to her soft skin. She smoothed the lotion into her skin, making sure it blended well. As she applied the lotion, her eyes drifted to the wall clock in the room, and she shifted uncomfortably.“When is he leaving so I can leave?” she mumbled to herself, soliloquizing on the time. “10:31.” Her face itched with worry. She didn’t want Derek to know she was going out; she wanted to keep it a secret. She knew that if he found out, he would want to know where she was going, and that was what she was seriously avoiding.As she sat there, her face masked with worry, the bathroom door suddenly pulled open, revealing Derek. He had a towel around his waist, and his hair was soaked with water. His muscular body stood firm as he stared to Sofia, and she gulped hard, trying to ignore the tempting sight.She sat up and quickly strengthened her face, faking a smile. “You sure did waste time bathin
Chapter 44: They is a problem “Okay, I’ll meet you there,” Sofia nodded and ended the call.As she did, she quickly picked up her bag from the bed and placed her phone into it. She turned to the mirror, took her perfume, and sprayed it all over her body. “Now that would do,” she smiled at her reflection before leaving the room.She took the stairs leading to the parlor exit. She yanked the door open and got out as soon as she got to it. As she stepped out, the cool morning breeze hit her, and she took a delightful breath. “Today is so perfect,” she giggled as she walked to her car.Getting to her car, she gave a gateman simple instructions before walking into the car. She pulled out of the garage and zoomed out of the mansion as soon as the gateman followed her instructions.As she zoomed into the busy streets of NYC, she tuned into her favorite music and head-danced to it as she drove. “Life would be so boring without you, Rihanna,” she said and sang along to the song.Behind he
Chapter 45: A Meeting with Grandfather “Why is she calling so soon? Has she opened the flash drive already?” Sofia wondered as she picked up the call. “Hello…” Her ally cut her short with urgent words. “There’s a problem, Sofia. There’s a problem,” her ally stuttered in panic.As the words hit Sofia, she battled to keep her eyes open, trying to make sense of what she had just heard. “A problem?” She finally stuttered as she realized what was going on.“Yes, Sofia, there is a big one, and you need to quickly take a new route,” her ally’s voice was covered in panic, and as she spoke, Sofia could feel her heart racing from her end. She listened as the lady gasped continuously before letting out the bombshell: “Someone is following you, Sofia. You need to take a new route.” Her ally stammered. Sofia’s eyes flew open in shock as she processed the words. “I am being followed?” she stuttered and tried to take a break from driving. She could feel her feet suddenly becoming heavy against
Chapter 46: Things are getting Funny“Are you playing deaf with me?” his grandfather’s question pulled him back to reality, and Derek lifted his head to look at his old man. As his eyes locked with those of his grandfather, he knew this was the right time to tell him the truth and make everything clear to him.He cleared his throat and began, “I can’t get married to my kid’s mom, grandfather. It’s just impossible.” He spoke in a hurry, his face bowed as he spoke. He didn't know what his grandfather’s reaction would be, nor did he know what his next decision would be.As he sat there waiting for his grandfather’s next action or word, he could feel his heart beating faster against his chest, and his legs shaking uncontrollably. His palms were sweaty from tension, and his face clouded with fear. He just couldn’t fathom what could happen next, but he was ready for whatever was going to happen.“Are you indirectly telling me that you are no longer interested in my wealth, your own inhe
Chapter 47: The Email“Hello, Sofia baby,” he said into the phone, but instead of Sofia’s laugh welcoming him, her loud shout did instead. “There’s trouble, Derek,” she stuttered into the phone, and her words sent Derek flying from his seat.“T-trouble?” Derek stuttered after her restlessly. “Just tell me what’s wrong, just tell me where you are? What’s the problem? Just give me details, I need to know, what’s going on?” Derek threw countless questions at once. He was way beyond confused and didn’t know the next step to take.“Derek… I am in trouble, I am currently hiding somewhere as I am speaking to you,” Sofia cried into the phone. “I am being trailed, Derek. Some men are trying to kill me, and they are on the lookout for me. Please, come and save me immediately,” Sofia cried further.“Trailed? Kill? How? I don’t understand?” Derek stuttered into the phone, his voice filled with terror. Everything was just like a dream to him.“Where exactly are you now? Just give a clear expl
Chapter 48: Mabel Paradise As she finally clicked on the message, she breathed out before reading the contents of the message, and that was when her eyes stayed on the most unexpected. Rose’s expression changed, and she quickly grabbed her phone to call Derek.But on second thought, she dropped the phone back. She was still reeling from shock, and her hands were trembling. Even as she stared at the life-threatening email in front of her, she knew it was going to change her life forever. But still, she needed to be the one to implement it, so it doesn’t get twisted.“If I call him, I won’t be able to explain everything to him; it’s better I have a meeting with him,” she stuttered and pulled out her phone from her pocket. Quickly, she sent a message to Derek: “Meet me at Tunop Eatery tomorrow; I have something really important to tell you.” She texted and clutched her phone to her chest.As she stood there, still reeling from shock and waiting for Derek’s response, her son’s voice
Chapter 49: Meet MeAs Derek’s eyes stayed on her, he recognized her immediately. “Sofia!” he screamed at the top of his lungs, rushing to her side. ‘That is my wife, officer. This is my wife,” he stammered, lifting Sofia from the ground.“Let’s go, let’s take her to the hospital,” Derek rushed out of the cottage with his unconscious wife, and the police followed immediately. Outside the cottage, he rushed her to his car and laid her on the back seat.“We will continue our investigation; take your wife to the hospital,” the police head said to Derek as he made to get into his car. Derek nodded and got into the car. “Please, alert me if you find out anything,” he said to the police.“I will definitely do so,” the police men smiled and waved at Derek as he drove off.At the hospital… Derek paced back and forth as he waited impatiently for the doctor to come out from the emergency ward.“I can never forgive myself if anything happens to you, so please wake up,” Derek mumbled, tighte
Chapter 137: A Family Dinner 1 month later……“Come on, babe! Aren’t you done yet?” Derek stressed; he was already tired of waiting for Rose. Him and the kids had been waiting for Rose for almost 30 minutes, and she hadn’t descended the stairs yet.“Gosh, mom! We’re going to be late for the outing,” Kendell poured in frustration, and Rose replied from the room where she was still applying makeup. “I’ll be down in a jiffy; I’m just adding finishing touches to my makeup,” she screamed back.“But you said that twenty minutes ago, and you’re still repeating it,” Derek replied. “Yeah, but I’m serious this time around. I’m done,” Rose said, already cracking the door to the room open.“I told you I am done,” she said as soon as she stepped out of the room. Hearing the sound of the door opening and noticing her voice grew nearer was enough to inform them that she had finally stepped out of the room.“Gosh, mom! It took you forever to look this beautiful,” Ken gasped, taking in his mom’s beaut
Chapter 136: Too Hard to Believe Derek and Rose paced around the Dave’s restlessly; yes, they were still definitely mad at Dave for what he did, but they never wanted any harm to come to him. As they strolled around impatiently, Mr. Reynolds and Sofia could be seen walking into the hospital with worried looks on their faces. Derek had called them earlier to inform them about Dave’s condition.“How is he doing?” Mr. Reynolds asked the couple as soon as he was close enough.“The doctor isn’t out yet; we’re still waiting for him,” Rose replied, as if she had been forced to.“Ouch!” Mr. Reynolds mumbled and sat in a provided seat. “I just hope nothing happens to him,” he said with desperation in his tone.“I might be mad at him for what he did to me, but honestly, the last thing I wanted was for him to end up in that hospital; I never wanted that,” Derek said after a while of pacing around.“You don’t need to worry, son. I believe everything will be alright, so worry not and keep prayin
Chapter 135: Unexpected Turnaround Two months later………“Do we really need to go see that jerk?” Rose said with dissatisfaction as the driver drove her and Derek to the station. “Of course, babe. I’m so desperate to see him, and I just don’t know why,” Derek clarified, but Rose gave a loud hiss. “So you’re suddenly concerned about a man who nearly sent you to an early grave? Absurd!” She folded her hands under her breast and turned away. Of course, that act of hers was to be pampered by her husband.“No, babe, I’m not going there because I care for him. I’m going because I have this great urge to, and furthermore, I really need to clarify something from him,” Derek explained further. “Whatever! Do as you please. What can I even do? It’s not as if you ever listen to me.”“Oh, babe, but I always do. You know you’re my best advisor,” Derek said, tickling Rose, but she remained stern. “If you always listen to me, then why aren’t you listening now? Why are you being really naughty now?”
Chapter 134: A Special moment As Rose waited anxiously in the waiting room, she noticed Sofia and Mr. Reynolds approaching her from the corner of her eye. Immediately, she turned away, attempting to avoid a conversation with them. “Rose, how long will you continue avoiding us? You know this isn’t the right time for this, right? Even if you want to be mad at us, it shouldn’t be now, please,” Sofia said calmly, standing in front of Rose. Mr. Reynolds stood nearby, listening as Sofia spoke.Slowly, Rose lifted her head and stared at Sofia. “I’m not angry at anyone; I’m just in a lot of trouble now,” she replied calmly, turning to face them. “I’m sad that Derek had to go through all of that alone, and that I’ve been blaming him without knowing the reasons behind his actions,” she continued, her voice laced with pain. “I feel terrible for not sharing in his pain or supporting him through his difficult time. I was always quick to blame him without understanding his predicament.”Sofia sa
Chapter 133: The Hidden Truth“Sorry that I had to take that call,” the doctor said, dropping his phone on the table. Earlier on, before Mr. Reynolds could say the things he wanted to, the doctor’s phone rang, alerting him to a call he had to take. “It’s nothing,” Mr. Reynolds said with a calm smile, but beneath his smile, his tension still flickered around. “Thanks for understanding, sir. So, you can start now; I am ready to listen.” The doctor assured with a bright smile, and Mr. Reynolds nodded and shifted uncomfortably on his seat. He stretched his back and cleared his throat before saying his first words, “Well, it’s a long story.” His voice was filled with emotions as he spoke. The doctor and Sofia turned to him with keen attention. Mr. Reynolds gave a sad sigh before he continued, “A long time ago, Derek’s mom died while giving birth to him, thereby leaving him in the care of his dad.”“A year after his mom’s death, I advised his dad to get remarried, seeing how difficult
Chapter 132: A Call for AlarmSofia and Mr. Reynolds waited impatiently for the doctor to arrive and give them a report. Derek had been taken to a ward, and now they were made to wait helplessly for the doctor’s arrival. A few minutes later, they saw the doctor coming from afar, and before the man could get closer to them, they rushed to him to inquire how things were going with Derek.“Doctor, how is my son doing?” Mr. Reynolds was the first to speak, and they waited impatiently for the doctor’s response. “Please, can we talk in my office?” the doctor said instead of responding, and Mr. Reynolds and Sofia gave each other a quick glance before they turned back to the doctor.“Ummmm, okay,” Mr. Reynolds responded, and they both followed the doctor to his office. They walked for a while before arriving at the doctor’s office, and upon getting there, he directed them to two seats where they sat before he occupied his. Taking his seat, he cleared his throat before turning to the adults
Chapter 131: Another Display “I need to bathe and rest too,” she made to leave, but Derek stopped her before she could make another move.“Please, I want to discuss with both of you,” Derek said, catching them off guard.Sofia quickly stopped on her track and gave Derek a quick stare. Slowly, her eyes moved to Rose, who stared back, blankly. “Ok,” she stuttered and returned to her seat. As she sat, she wondered what was going through Derek’s mind, what exactly he wanted to say to them.“Uhmm! Sorry for interrupting you, but I just couldn’t stop wondering, so I decided to inquire from you both.” Derek spoke, his eyes moving across the ladies. The room was silent for a while before he began again, “I wanted to know how you two know each other.” Derek asked the most confusing question.The ladies gave each other a shocking stare, unsure of what he meant by such a question. “What exactly are you trying to say? How do we know each other?” Rose was the first to speak, her face bathed in
Chapter 130: A Word The family sat on the dining table having dinner together. The dining table was filled with all kinds of assorted food. “Yum! This tastes so good,” Ken said with a mouth full of spaghetti. “I really missed having something this good,” he added. “I think this tastes better; the taste is just so nice,” Kendell chimed in, her mouth also filled with food.“Don’t forget the table manners, eat and stop talking,” Rose said calmly, her eyes dancing around the kids, who nodded calmly and kept quiet. “Please, let my grandchildren be; why are you dismissing them? They are marveling at this beauty, so let them,” Mr. Reynolds chimed in, his eyes quickly moving to Rose and then to the kids.The kids gave a bright smile and looked at their mom, who only shook her head and remained calm. “You see why Grandpa shouldn’t stay here? He would definitely spoil the kids,” Derek rolled his eyes at Mr. Reynolds. “Oh my! Oh my! You little brat,” Mr. Reynolds twisted Derek ears who sat
Chapter 129: A Child Three weeks later… The family has been discharged from the hospital, and now it’s time to return home. “It’s finally great to be able to return home,” Kendell releases a broad smile and looks up at her mom, who stood behind. “Right? I really wished to go home right away because I really don’t like the amount of people being rushed here daily. It breaks my heart,” Ken, who was standing next to her, chipped in with a sad scowl. “Honestly, it breaks my heart so badly that I wish to cry whenever I see such,” Kendell backed her brother.“Gosh! They talk like they have existed for ages,” Sofia, who stood not far from Rose, said to her in a surprised tone, and the entire room erupted in laughter. “You haven’t even seen anything; sometimes I wonder if they are really kids because they act so mature, and let’s not even talk about the way they talk,” Rose laughed.“I have already seen everything that is needed to be seen. The few days I have spent with them are enough