The Billionaire’s Unexpected Proposal (Evelyn and Derek) novel Chapter 102

Chapter 102
The moment Derek stepped into his suite, an uncontainable surge of joy overtook him. He flicked his finger in the air, a grin spreading across his face as he moved to the rhythm of the victory beating inside him.
Without thinking, he glided across the floor in a smooth moonwalk, followed by a jubilant Michael Jackson spin, laughing out loud. His laughter echoed in the spacious room, filling every corner with his euphoria. He was on top of the world.

Humming to himself, Derek began stripping off his clothes with the same excitement, eager to freshen up and head out. His shirt was the first to go, followed quickly by his trousers— until something small tumbled out of his pocket and hit the floor with a faint clink.

Derek paused, his brow furrowing in confusion. He stooped to retrieve the object, realizing it was a flash drive. His mind raced — how had it gotten there? Did someone slip it into his pocket? Who? When?
A flood of curiosity washed over him. Shrugging, he walked over to his nightstand where his laptop sat and plugged the drive in, impatient to uncover its contents.

Derek's heart skipped a beat as the files loaded on his screen. His breath caught in his throat, and a slow smile crept across his face, growing wider and wider until his cheeks ached from the sheer joy of it.
Pictures filled the screen-pictures of Samantha, his daughter. There she was, captured in precious moments frozen in time from birth to infanthood.

Every laugh, every tiny hand reaching out, every peaceful nap—it was all there. It was a treasure trove of memories he'd never seen yet missed.
He lowered himself onto the edge of his bed, all thoughts of meeting Ethan slipping away as he scrolled through the images. Each picture struck a chord deep within him. There she was, his little girl, growing up in front of his eyes, frame by frame. His fingers shook as they hovered over the keyboard, unable to tear himself away from the slideshow of her life.
His heart ached, both in sadness for the time he'd missed and in gratitude for the chance to see these moments now. His vision blurred as tears welled in his eyes, but a soft chuckle escaped him as one particularly goofy picture of baby Samantha popped up. Before he knew it, he was crying, laughing, and smiling all at once, emotions swirling through him like a storm he couldn't control.

He glanced at the time but didn't care about how much of it had passed. There was no rush. With newfound determination, Derek connected his phone to his laptop, transferring the pictures and videos. He needed them close, to carry with him wherever he went, so he could look at them whenever the longing hit. He would make up for the time he lost. He promised himself that.
His phone suddenly rang, pulling him out of the trance he'd been in. Ethan's name flashed on the screen. Realizing how long he had been caught up in the emotional whirlwind, he answered the call hastily.

"Where are you, man?" Ethan's voice asked, a playful impatience coloring his tone.
Derek ran a hand through his hair, already moving off the bed. "Sorry, I'll be there in a bit," he said, glancing at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes were still wet, but he didn't care. This was joy, not sorrow.
He moved quickly, setting his phone aside as he pulled on fresh clothes. Pocketing his phone and grabbing his wallet and car keys, Derek was halfway to the door before he froze. His laptop. The flash drive. He couldn't leave it out, not this— this was too precious, too important.

He hurried back to the bed, pulling the flash drive from the laptop. With a quick glance around the room, he walked over to his closet, sifting through the drawer until he found an old pair of socks. Carefully, he tucked the drive inside the sock and pushed it deep into the drawer. It wasn't much of a hiding spot, but for now, it would do.
Satistied, he rushed out, whistling as he made his way to the car. The drive to the lounge was smooth, and the city lights reflected his mood, bright and alive.

When he arrived, he spotted Ethan already seated at their usual table and waved him over. Derek grinned as he approached, signaling for the waiter.
"Bring us the most expensive wine you've got," Derek said, his voice brimming with excitement.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "What's this about? Don't tell me the mystery lady finally said yes," he teased, though a knowing smile tugged at his lips.
Derek let out a laugh, the kind that bubbles up from a place of pure joy. "It's more than that, man. She did more than just agree. I feel like my heart's about to burst from joy!" His voice shook slightly, his eyes bright with unshed tears.
Ethan's curiosity piqued, and he leaned forward.
"What did she do? Come on, tell me."
Derek hesitated, words failing him. Instead, he pulled out his phone and unlocked it, turning the screen toward Ethan. There, in the photo gallery, was Samantha.

Ethan stared at the picture for a moment before looking back at Derek, his eyes wide. "Is this... what I think it is?"
Derek nodded, his voice barely a whisper. "Her name is Samantha. She is my daughter."
"Get out of here!" Ethan said, unable to believe it.
Derek laughed, "I know, it's unreal. I still can't wrap my head around it."

"You're not kidding? This really is your daughter? The mystery lady has a daughter for you?" Ethan asked again.
Derek nodded again, tears spilling down his cheeks as he wiped them away with a shaky laugh. "Yes. Evelyn has my daughter. I found out today."
Ethan's face lit up as he clapped Derek on the back. "I can't believe it! You have a daughter? That's incredible, man!"
"If I didn't already know Sam before Evelyn introduced her to me, it would have been weirder. But I already knew and loved the kid before knowing she was related to Evelyn," Derek said, his voice choked with emotion.