Billionaire's Surprise Engagement

Chapter 197

As the family gathered at the table to eat dinner that evening, Samantha launched into an enthusiastic retelling

of her day at school before the others even had the chance to settle into their chairs. "And then, Mrs. Connelly

said my drawing was the best in the whole class!" Samantha beamed, her fork clinking against her plate as she

stabbed at a piece of broccoli.

Evelyn smiled, resting her chin in her hand. Her daughter's energy was infectious, and though a part of her

wanted to remind Samantha to chew with her mouth closed, she refrained. Derek had said he preferred to have

them talk about their days during dinner and he would rather have a noisy dinner at hthan a civilized one.

"That's wonderful, Sam," Maya said, her voice warm as she leaned forward. "What did you draw?"

"A castle with unicorns! But the unicorns had wings, too. And Mrs. Connelly said | have a big imagination!"

Samantha's eyes sparkled as she spoke, her words tumbling out in an excited rush. "Well, I'm glad your talent is

finally being recognized, Derek said with mock seriousness, causing Samantha to puff up with pride.

Maya laughed softly, enjoying the warm atmosphere at the table. Moments like these made her feel truly at

home. "You do have a big imagination. Did you give the unicorns names?"

"Of course!" Samantha paused tically, glancing at each adult at the table as if preparing for a grand

reveal. "The blue one is Sparkle, the pink one is Starry, and the green one is... uh... Lucky!" "That's a perfect

name," Maya said, her smile widening. "Lucky sounds very unique."

"Sparkle is a beautiful name," Evelyn said, smiling as she gently reached out to ruffle Samantha's hair.

As Samantha continued her tale, Derek becmostly quiet, his fork moving methodically as he ate. But his

gaze kept flickering toward Maya-or rather, toward the necklace she was wearing.

The delicate silver chain glinted faintly under the light, the locket nestled just above the curve of her collarbone.

Derek's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of recognition stirring deep within him. It was as though the locket held

sunspoken significance he couldn't quite place.

Evelyn, sitting beside him, noticed his interest in Maya. Her brow furrowed, and her gaze darted between Derek

and Maya. The longer he stared, the tighter a knot formed in Evelyn's chest.

She tried to dismiss the unease that prickled at the edges of her thoughts, but it persisted. Why was he staring

at Maya like that? She mused as she followed his eyes to Maya's chest.

Trying hard not to read too much meaning into it, she forced a smile. "Derek?" Evelyn's voice was light but

pointed, breaking the rhythm of the conversation.

She arched an eyebrow, "You seem very interested in Maya's necklace. Is there a story there | don't know

about?" She asked, her tone teasing.

She hoped the necklace was what he was staring at and nothing else.

Derek blinked, startled out of his thoughts, as he turned away from Maya to look at her. "What?" He looked at

Evelyn, then at Maya, whose hand instinctively rose to the necklace, her fingers brushing over the locket

protectively.

Evelyn tilted her head, curiosity lacing her expression. "Do you have a thing for lockets, Derek?" she asked, her

tone playful but laced with a faint edge.

As if sensing the tension, Maya took a sip of her water and then forced a smile. "I-| haven't worn it before," she

said, her voice soft. It's... special to me."

Derek hesitated, his brows drawing together as he struggled to articulate what he'd been thinking. "It's not...

that," he began, but before he could finish, Maya's phone vibrated on the table next to her plate.

She glanced at the screen, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw Liam's nflashing. She had been

awaiting his call all day and had almost begun to think that he had forgotten his promise to reach out to the

orphanage home. "Sorry, | need to take this. Excusefor a moment," she said as she pushed her chair back

and rose from the table before walking away.

Once Maya disappeared up the stairs, Evelyn turned back to Derek, her smile fading. She lowered her voice so

that Samantha wouldn't catch on. "Was it really the necklace you were staring at?"

Derek paused mid-bite, his eyes meeting hers. "What else would | be looking at?" he asked, his tone laced with

confusion.

Evelyn hesitated, then sighed. "Forget it. It's nothing."

But Derek didn't look away. His expression shifted, a flicker of hurt crossing his face as understanding dawned on

him. "You think | was-" He stopped, his voice ringing with disbelief.

"I can't believe you thought that, talk more of askingsuch a question." His voice was firm, but he didn't raise

i)

Instead, he set his fork down carefully and leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightening.

"It was just a harmless question," Evelyn said quickly, though her voice lacked conviction.

Derek looked her in the eyes, letting her know he knew very well that she asked because the thought had

crossed her mind that he was ogling at Maya.

"You really think I'm that sort of person? Or that | would disrespect you in that manner?" He asked with a shake

of his head.

The tension at the table grew thick, and Samantha, who had been chewing a carrot, looked up with wide eyes.

"Are you fighting?"

Evelyn and Derek both turned to her, their expressions softening instantly.

"No, sweetheart," Evelyn said quickly, forcing a smile.

"We're just talking."

"Grown-up talk," Derek added, his voice gentle now. He picked up his fork again, stabbing at a piece of chicken.

Samantha eyed them suspiciously but then shrugged, returning to her plate. "Okay. But you sounded like you

were fighting."

"We weren't, Princess. | love your mummy too much to fight with her," Derek said, fixing Evelyn with a look that

both told her that he loved her, and he was disappointed at the stat her lack of faith in him. Upstairs in

her room, Maya tapped to answer the call and brought the phone to her ear.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Maya," Liam's voice cthrough, warm but slightly hesitant. "Is this a good time?"

Maya leaned against the wall, her hand idly playing with the locket around her neck. "Yeah. | was having dinner

with the family, but it's okay. What's up?"

"I'm sorry | didn't call earlier," Liam began, his tone apologetic. "I got caught up after our last conversation and

only just got hnow."

"It's fine," Maya assured him. "Did you find out anything helpful?"

There was a pause on the line before Liam spoke again, his voice tinged with disbelief. "I did. And you won't

believe what I found out." Maya's heart began to race, her fingers gripping the phone tightly. "What is it?"

"I spoke with someone at the orphanage," Liam explained. "They toldthat a couple of weeks ago, someone

caround to ask questions about the boy in the picture you sent. And recently, someone else has also been

asking around about the identity and details of the woman who left the boy there twentynine years ago... and

took his baby sister with her."

Maya froze, her pulse thundering in her ears. "Are you serious?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"lI am," Liam said excitedly. "It's incredible, Maya. While you're searching for your brother, it seems he's been

searching for you too."

A lump formed in Maya's throat as she struggled to process his words. "Did you find out who was asking? Is there

a way | can meet them?"

"I asked the orphanage to reach out to the person," Liam said. "I told them to ask for more details about your

brother, and | gave them my contact information

so they could follow up."

Maya's heart raced with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. "I don't mind flying to Husla if it means meeting

him," she said quickly. "If they ask where | am, you can tell them I'm in Husla. That way, he won't have to worry

about coming all the way to Ludus." "Got it," Liam promised. "I'll let you know as soon as | hear back. Hopefully,

tomorrow."

"Thank you so much, Liam," Maya said, her voice thick with emotion.

"Don't thankyet," Liam teased gently. "But I'll do everything I can to help."

When the call ended, Maya leaned against the wall for a moment, her hand pressed over her pounding heart.

Then, unable to contain herself, she flopped onto her bed and kicked her legs into the air with pure joy.

"He's looking for me," she whispered to herself, tears of happiness welling in her eyes. "He didn't forget about

me." The realization filled her with warmth, and for the first tsince she lost her mother, she felt whole. Her

heart was lighter than it had been in years.

After a few moments, Maya sat up, wiped her eyes, and took a deep breath. She touched the locket around her

neck, her fingers tracing its curves as she whispered a silent prayer of gratitude.

She couldn't help but feel that this was the beginning of something truly life-changing.

When she returned to the dining room, she noticed that everyone was quiet, and she silently hoped that Evelyn

and Derek weren't fighting over anything.

The rest of the meal passed in near silence, save for Samantha's intermittent chatter. Evelyn tried to rejoin the

conversation, but Derek remained silent.

Evelyn watched Derek from the corner of her eye, guilt twisting in her chest. She shouldn't have asked that. It

was just an innocent observation, wasn't it? Then why had she let her insecurity creep in?

After a while, Derek rose and excused himself.

Immediately, Evelyn rose too, "Maya, could you please finish up with Sam? We will tuck her in before she goes to

bed," Evelyn said, and Maya nodded.

"Sure," she said and watched as Evelyn hurried after Derek.

She caught up with Derek just as he stepped into their bedroom and hugged him from behind. "I'm sorry."

Derek stood still as she held him, and she turned around to face him, "I'm sorry. | really do not know

where that cfrom. | saw you

gazing at her so intently, and I just... | don't know. | felt really

uncomfortable. Maybe it's a result of my past relationship, and | just don't want to be taken for a fool while

things happen under my nose again," she explained softly, and Derek sighed.

"I love you, Eve. | wish there were a way to tear my heart out for you to see it. | love you. You've got me

completely. Body. Heart. Mind. Soul. I'm yours, | don't want anyone else I've not even wanted anyone else in all

the tsince | met you six years ago, feel really hurt that you'd think so low ofafter all we've been through

together. | deserve better than that, Eve. | understand where your feelings of insecurity are coming from, but can

you trust me? I've never given you a reason to

doubt my love or loyalty, have I?" He asked, and she shook her head.

"Then please, do not insult my love for you by thinking that way. | was staring at the locket. | was sort of

fascinated by it. And that's just it. Nothing else. | swear to you," he said, and she nodded.

"I know. | believe you. I'm sorry | insinuated otherwise," she said, and Derek nodded.

"It's fine," he said, and Evelyn batted her lashes at him.

"I could make it up to you," she said suggestively, and he chuckled.

"We will see how you plan to do that," Derek said with a grin. Evelyn embraced him, relieved that they could talk

it over so quickly.

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