Billionaire’s

Arlyn and Derek waited for Maya to bring Samantha back from the park. Derek paced the living room, his mind still spinning from the revelation

He couldn’t wrap has head around it–Samantha, the bright little girl he adored and had grown in fond of, was actually his daughter. Every interaction they’d had suddenly took on new meaning. Flow had he not seen it before! Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

He glanced at Evelyn, who sat on the couch, her eyes following his every step. And as much as a part of him was still upset that he had missed out

I save of her. on the earlier years of Samantha’s life and that Evelyn hard deliberately kept the much from him for over three weeks, he was still

She had done such an amazing job raising Samantha alone, and that thought filled him with awe. Evelyn, the woman he had fallen for at first sight. and lost, had carried the weight of motherhood by herself while he remained oblivious.

“What are you thinking” Evelyn’s voice cut through the silence when she saw him staring at her.

Derek shook his head. “I’m still just.. trying to wrap my head around the fact that you have a child for me, and not just any child. Samantha I just can’t believe that Samantha is actually my child,” he admitted, his voice raw with emotion

Misunderstanding what he meant, she frowned, “We could have a DNA.

“No. Don’t get me wrong, Eve. I don’t doubt you. Not in any way. It’s just that all this time, we’ve been interacting, and I didn’t know” He let out a soft, disbelieving chuckle. “From the first time I met her. I fch this connection to her, but couldn’t explain why. Now, it totally makes sense. I never really believed in those craps about the parent and child connection, but I know I felt it with Sam. There was this pull. This inexplicable feeling” Evelyn smiled faintly, understanding his shock. “I was surprised on when I realized you were the ‘Rek‘ Samantha always talked abour.” Derek’s brow furrowed. “When did you know about my friendship with berr”

“I always knew Samantha had a little friend called Rek. Evelyn said, her voice soft. “From the first day we arrived in Ludus, I knew she had met him in the hotel lobby. I always assumed he was a kid she had a crush on. I didn’t know Rek was an adult let alone you, until Saturday. That was when Maya corrected my impression and everything clicked.”

Derek frowned

“So, when we talked last night and I told you about my little friend, did you know I was talking about Samantha?”

Evelyn swallowed hard, guh flickering in her eyes as she gave him a nod. “Yes I knew.”

Derek’s jaw tightened, a mix of frustration and understanding swirling in his chest. “You could’ve told me then. Why didn’t you?”

Evelyn sighed, running a hand through her hair. “I didn’t know how. I was still processing everything myself. How was I supposed to say something like that in the middle of our conversation?” She asked, and Derek sighed

“I suppose you’re right

“And I

actually sold Samantha to stop hanging out with you, especially after she told me she asked you to marry her. Evelyn confessed, but to her surprise, Derek chuckled.

Now that Derek remembered Samantha’s innocent request, he smiled. “She put me in such an awkward position with that,” he said, shaking his hrad

“I’m sure she did. I was taken aback when she told me that.” Evelyn admitted and Derek walked over to sit beside her.

“You did such a wonderful job raising her on your own. Eve. I can’t imagine how tough it must have been doing it all alone especially considering how beanbroken you must have been at the time. Thank you for keeping the pregnancy even though you didn’t even know me. Thank you for taking good care of our daughter. Thank you for bringing her back to me. She’s such a beautiful and wonderful chuld, Derek said, and seats gathered in Evelyn’s eyel

“I’m in the picture now, so you don’t have to do it alone anymore. You won’t have to. And just so you know, you are stuck with me for life now You really can’t leave me anymore. Eve. We are going to be a family. I want you and Sam in my life. You’re going to be my wife, Eve. Im not asking Im telling you Derek said, and Exclyn’s lips riched with amusement

“And if I uy sol

Fm sure Sample you My no. And if you do, I’m just going to kidnap you to live with me case there’s no way out,” he said, and she giggled

take you to an island somewhere far away, and you’ll be forord

“Do you really think we can do that, Derek?” Evelyn asked, her doubts and worries swimming in h

in her green EL,

“We can. And we will,” he said, and then, his stile faded when he remembered something else.

the many always let people t

to Samanthus the way the let anse!” 11

He asked with a from

12-10 PM c d

Evelyn sighed again. “Honestly? I have no idea. Maya is a good nanny. She’s been with us since Samantha was a baby. But I was surprised when I found out how much access she allowed you to have. I scolded her for it, so I’m sure she won’t repeat it.”

Derek’s expression darkened. “Now that I know Sam is my daughter, I’m not okay with that We need to make sure no one has that kind of access to her unless we approve. I don’t even want anyone looking at her twice. Im going to have to talk with her

Evelyn nodded, a smile twitching her lips at his instant protectiveness. “You’re right. That has to stop”

Derek crossed his arms, his mind already shifting to the dangers surrounding them. “And until we deal with Sandra and Michael, we need to take extra precautions. I don’t trust them not to try something if they find out about Samantha. We can’t risk it.”

Evelyn’s face tightened with worry. “Tve been thinking of that too. I’ve been doing my best to keep her a secret.”

“How about I move you both to somewhere safer? This place is too open. Anyone driving by can see you. Let’s get a house in a more private environment. Probably an estate,” he suggested..

“We have been moving from one place to another since I returned to Ludus…”

“Running from me, Derek pointed out.

Evelyn winced. “Not totally. But Samantha needs to be stable.”

“And she will be. What I mean is, let’s get our home. You and Samantha can stay there, and I’ll stay in the hotel until we have resolved everything And then when we get married, I’ll move in with you,” Derek said, and Evelyn’s heart skipped a beat.

“Our home? Isn’t that too soon? I mean, aren’t we moving too fast?” She asked, and Derek looked at her incredulously.

“If you ask me, we are not moving fast enough. I’ve missed out on both you and Sam’s life, and I don’t want to waste more time than necessary. I don’t think you understand yet that I love you. You’ve been engraved in my heart from the moment I saw you six years ago, and I want you in my life. Not temporarily, Eve. I want you for life,” Derek said, his voice firm yet gentle.

“Now, back to the subject, I want you out of here,” he said, and she sighed.

“But her school is nearby and my

“She

yoffice…” she trailed off when she remembered she had lost her job.

can keep attending the school. I will get you a car, Sam will have a car and a driver to take her to school and bring her back daily. I don’t want to take any chances. I don’t know the length Michael and Sandra intend to go, but I want you both to be safe. Let me do it for Sam’s sake, Derek said, and Evelyn took a deep breath.

Before Evelyn could respond, the doorbell rang, and they both turned as the sound echoed through the room.