The Billionaire’s Unexpected Proposal (Evelyn and Derek) novel Chapter 203

Chapter 203

The drive to the house was silent as all three of them processed the discovery.

As Derek drove, his mind raced with thoughts of how to tell Maya about their parent's murder and how to go about finding out what happened to their parents.

Maya, on the other hand, was thinking about how to break the news to Liam. She wondered if she should tell him over the phone or in person. She wanted to see the shock on his face, Maya thought with a small smile.

Evelyn also was filled with thoughts of her own. She was amazed by how fate had brought them all together.

It was amazing how she ended up with Michael's cousin on her way from his place after being betrayed by him and how she also ended up taking in Derek's sister.

Evelyn paused when something occurred to her, and she turned in her seat to look at Maya, who was in the back seat, "Did you have another reason for going to Husla? Why were you going to Husla when you could have both met here in Ludus?" Evelyn asked, and Derek looked at Maya through the rearview mirror.

"I thought my brother was most likely in Husla, and I didn't want to make him travel such a long distance to find me," Maya explained with a small smile. "I'm glad we were all saved from this unnecessary trip; otherwise, it would have been very awkward after wandering around Husla aimlessly," she said, and Derek nodded.

"We almost made a pointless trip. I'm glad we found out before we got there," he said, thinking about what a waste of time it would've been to arrive at Husla with Maya only to realize it was her all along.

"It's all thanks to Evelyn for suggesting I fly with you," Maya said, and Derek nodded while Evelyn smiled happily.

"I'm glad I could be of service," she said with a proud smile.

"By the way, Maya, were you the one communicating directly with the orphanage home?" Derek asked, meeting her gaze through the rearview mirror.

Maya shook her head. "No. A friend was helping me" she said, hoping they wouldn't probe further. Not wanting to give them a chance to ask her any question, she changed the subject, "When I was told you didn't want to reveal your identity, I figured you were someone important. I never would have imagined it was you," Maya said with a sigh, still overwhelmed by the revelation.

Evelyn looked at Maya again. "Why didn't you tell me about your reason for traveling?" she asked, partially disappointed that Maya had kept something of that magnitude from her instead of asking her to help.

Maya looked away briefly before meeting Evelyn's gaze again, "I didn't tell you about it because I wasn't sure how the meeting would go. I didn't want to get my hopes up and tell you about it only to find out my brother doesn't want to have anything to do with me."

Evelyn's expression softened. "Why would you ever think something like that?"

Maya shrugged, "It sounded like he was someone important."

"And you don't think you are?" Derek asked softly.

"I just didn't want to have high expectations," she said, and Evelyn sighed.

"I hope you start having high expectations now, Maya," Derek said, and Maya nodded, her heart swelling with gratitude.

"Thank you. Both of you," Maya said, feeling very grateful and happy about the twist in her life right now.

Once they got to the house, they unpacked their bags from the car, and as they all went to their bedrooms, they agreed to meet again in thirty minutes for dinner.

The moment Derek and Evelyn walked into their bedroom, Evelyn looked at Derek skeptically, "Do you need me here? Or do you need a moment alone? I could excuse you," She offered, knowing that Derek would need a moment to himself to think and put himself together.

Derek turned to her with a soft smile. Although he had been thinking of being alone, now that she asked, he realized he didn't want her to leave him.

"I want to be alone, but I also want you here," he admitted, and she smiled.

"What do you want me to do?" She asked, and he held out his arms.

"Hug me. Hold me"" he said, and she nodded as she stepped forward and embraced him.

Derek buried his face in the crook of her neck, and he finally let the tears he had been holding back for hours flow freely now in the sanctuary of their bedroom.

His body shook as he sobbed silently, heartbroken by all that Maya had told him she had endured over the years while he lived in affluence.

He was broken by the thought that all these years he had partially held a grudge against his parents for making him adopt their dead son's identity, without realizing that they had done it out of love and concern for his wellbeing regardless of how it affected them.

Evelyn held back her tears as she patted his back, muttering words of comfort to him and assuring him that everything was going to be okay now.

After crying for some time, Derek remembered that they had to go have dinner with Maya, so he did his best to pull himself together.

After he had composed himself, he pulled back to look at Evelyn.

"Thank you," he murmured, and she smiled as she brushed the tears from his face.

"There is nothing to thank me for. I'm grateful that you let me stay with you," she said softly.

"I didn't tell her about the murder," he said, and Evelyn nodded.

"I know. That wasn't exactly the time to tell her all of it. How are 

you feeling? Do you think we should go get Samantha, or should we wait until tomorrow?" Evelyn asked since it was almost 8 p.m.

already.

"She is probably in bed already. We can get her tomorrow. I'm exhausted and having a headache," he said, and Evelyn nodded as she raised herself on her toes and kissed his forehead.