Back to Love: A New Beginning
Chapter 180

Chapter 180:.

As Derek entered the house, Sybil’s song boomed through the living room.

I wiped the coffee table with a towel and didn’t bother to look at him as the sound of approaching footsteps grew louder. I tried to remain calm even though my heart was pounding in my chest.

Derek plopped down on the couch.

I couldn’t help but wonder if Sybil’s emotional song would remind him of his past with her. I was sure it would have some effect on him, but I couldn’t imagine what it might be.

I finally took my eyes off the coffee table, which I had wiped again and again in an attempt to distract myself, and glanced at it.

“Does your stomach still hurt?”

Derek pulled out a cigarette and lit it as he smiled at me.

“Do you think my stomach is made of glass?” he joked.

I didn’t know if he was hiding his emotions well or if Sybil’s song wasn’t having an effect. “You’re right. It’s not made of glass. But, even if your stomach is made of iron, it will corrode if you don’t take good care of it,” I said.

Derek took a puff on his cigarette and tilted his head to smile at me, “Eveline, you seem very philosophical these days.” I shrugged and went to the kitchen to cook. Maybe life and all the lessons I had learned had made me wise. Soon Sybil’s song ended and a male voice filled the room. I knew it was Derek’s voice. After learning that he was the lead singer of Thorn Birds, I felt different every time I heard those songs. I could now distinguish the parts he had sung and the characteristics of his voice.

But I had never heard him sing in real life.

The song stopped halfway through. When I came to, I noticed the sink was full of water and quickly turned off the faucet. Derek walked into the kitchen and leaned against the door frame.

“Why did you turn it off?” I asked, shooting him a sidelong glance.

“It sounded terrible.” He laughed. He picked up the vegetables from the sink, drizzled oil into the pan and fried the eggs. The pan sizzled as the aroma of the eggs wafted through the kitchen. I turned to give him a look.

“No, that was nice to hear. To be honest, it’s the best song I’ve ever heard. It’s very moving.”

Derek walked over to me, smiling.

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“Wow, you seem to have great admiration for your husband, when did it all start? Tell me.”

I threw the eggs and put the pan on the stove before turning to look at him.

“I’m not the only one who admires you. You know how popular the Thorn Birds were back then. If you hadn’t given up on your dreams, you would have stepped onto a bigger stage and won the hearts of millions of people.” I stared into his eyes.

But seeing his blank expression, I couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“It smells like burning!” he suddenly exclaimed. I quickly snapped out of my reverie and hurriedly turned off the stove. But the eggs in the pans had turned black and were hopelessly burnt.

“Uh oh! Why have you offended the eggs? Look at their faces; they look dark and angry.” His warm breath blew against my ear, making my scalp tingle.

Although he sounded serious, I knew he was joking. I was angry and amused at the same time. I turned around and pushed him out of the kitchen. “It’s all your fault. You better stop bothering me when I’m cooking.”

“Oh no, it turns out I was the one who offended them.” He shook his head, pretending to be hurt. I burst out laughing. His humor made me forget the discomfort and pain in my heart, at least for a little while. When dinner was almost ready, Aaron returned. We talked while we ate, and I tried to change the subject back to Thorn Birds.

I said I loved the song “Live On,” so I looked at Aaron and asked him what inspired him to write the song.

Before Aaron could answer my question, Derek spoke up, “I know. It’s about a girl he’s always liked.”

Aaron continued to eat, staring at his plate neither accepting nor denying Derek’s statement. After a moment of silence, I asked, “Where’s the girl?”

Aaron finally gave me a look and smiled bitterly. I regretted having asked the question and having bothered him. Just as I was about to change the subject, Aaron said, “She’s married to someone else now.”

The terse response seemed to reflect the weight of his emotions. I could tell he was in pain.

Aaron was staring off into the distance, lost in thought.

I understood that he loved the girl with all his heart. Even though years had passed, his eyes still shone with affection when he spoke of her. First love is always special and hard to forget. Most people remembered and cherished their first love all their lives.

But I never had so-called first loves or crushes. I married Shane before I had a chance to experience love or romance. I had a difficult time growing up. I carried all the responsibilities before my peers. I had a hectic life in my youth and didn’t have the time to pay attention to boys or the energy to invest in an emotional relationship.

If I had to choose one person from the past whom I considered special, it would have been a boy who had taken care of me like an older brother. I was now twenty-six years old. I was not fortunate enough to receive much affection and care. So, I remembered everyone who had been good to me in my life. It was a pity that he moved away later in life. I never got to see him again.

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