The Billionaire’s Unexpected Proposal (Evelyn and Derek) novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12
During dinner at the Quinn's residence, Sandra decided to bring up Evelyn's return.
"Dad," she started, and both her parents looked at her when they detected the seriousness in her voice.
"Yes, dear?" Eric Quinn responded.
"Is there a problem?" Sandra's mom, Claire, asked, her concern evident in her voice as she stopped eating to look at her daughter.
Eric also glanced at Sandra with concern in his eyes.
"Is everything okay?" he asked when Sandra looked at them hesitantly as if she was trying not to say something.
Seeing that she had both their attention, she sighed deeply, "I'm not sure how to bring this up," she said, looking distressed.
"You're not sure how to bring what up? Is there a problem?" Claire asked again, looking even more concerned now.
"Go on and tell us if there is a problem"" Eric urged her.
Sandra sighed deeply as she looked down at her plate, "Has either of you heard from Evelyn? Are you aware that she is back?" she asked, and both her mother and stepfather exchanged glances.
"Evelyn is back? How do you know that?" Claire asked in concern while Eric looked at Sandra, waiting for her to answer the question.
"Yes. Michael called to inform me that he ran into her today at Stone Corp," Sandra said and then forced a smile.
"Are you sure about that? Is it possible that Evelyn would have returned but chose to stay away from home?" Claire asked while Eric frowned, not wanting to believe that his daughter was back, and she did not deem it fit to come see them.
None of them had heard a word from her since she left that morning six years ago, and all attempts to locate her had been futile.
Seeing the disapproval on her stepfather's face, Sandra decided to continue, "I was worried too, so I asked Michael to follow her and see where she stayed and what she was up to. She is staying at The Stone Palace.
I suppose that means she is only here because her magazine..." she stopped and pressed her lips together as though she had made a slip.
"Her magazine? What magazine?" Her stepfather asked with narrowed eyes.

Sandra bit her lower lip as though she was scared of speaking and causing trouble.
"What magazine?" He insisted, and she wriggled her hands helplessly.
"I wasn't going to say anything until I confirmed, but it seems Evelyn now works for a rival magazine.
Empowered, to be precise. And she visited Stone Corps to ask Derek Stone for an exclusive interview," she said, looking sad and then forced a smile.
"But you don't have to worry, Dad. I'm sure she's only working there for the time being, and she..."
Eric set down his cutlery with a clatter. "First, she embarrassed me by calling off her wedding on the very day of her wedding. And then she left home. Now she is back, and instead of coming home to ask for forgiveness, she is working with my rivals?" Eric asked, his disappointment evident in his voice, and Sandra hid a smirk. This was exactly what she wanted.
"Sandra, what exactly did Michael say? Did he speak with her? Did she say anything to him?" Claire asked, her voice tight with concern.
"She didn't talk to him. He said she completely ignored him." Sandra added, her tone laced with disappointment.
"Poor Michael. I can't believe I raised such a child,"

Eric said with displeasure.
"Honey, you shouldn't be too hasty..." one look from her husband and Claire clamped her lips together.
She believed that Evelyn had reasons for doing what she did six years ago, and she had kept blaming herself for not doing anything to stop her from leaving.
Over the years, she had asked herself if she would have stayed back and watched Sandra leave if it were Sandra and not Evelyn. Now, she believed this was her chance to right her wrong.
She knew that Evelyn was just as stubborn as her father, and when they both set their minds on a path, it was difficult to convince them otherwise. But she was determined to put things right.
"Why don't we go see her at the hotel tomorrow? I've missed her so much," Sandra said with a pout.
"Yes. We should go see her, Claire said, turning to her husband, but without saying a word, he pushed away from the table and walked away.
Immediately, Claire followed her husband, and the moment they walked into their bedroom, she looked at him, "I think you hurt her deep if she won't even tell us she's back after six years," Claire said, and Eric glared at her.

"I hurt her? How do you think I felt after she disgraced me in that manner? How could she disappear on the eve of her wedding, return the next morning reeking of male cologne, and decide she's no longer carrying on with the wedding?" Eric asked angrily.
"I understand you, but don't you think you handled it the wrong way? She's still your daughter, and you should have tried to find out why she did that in the first place and not threatened her in that manner. I'm sure her emotions were hurt, and that's why she left the way she did," Claire said. Even though Eric knew that and had been beating himself over it since then, his pride held him back from admitting it.
"If she had any tangible reason for calling off the wedding, she should have said so instead of just announcing it to my face like that. If she would rather stay at a hotel than come home to us, then let her be. I have other important things to worry about, Eric said before getting on the bed and turning his back to Claire.
Claire sighed as she watched her husband. No matter what he said, she was determined to see Evelyn and find out what actually happened six years ago.
Revealing the truth was the only way to repair her family and fix the chasm between father and daughter.