Back to Love: A New Beginning
Chapter 87

Chapter 87:.

As I walked back to my post, I kept telling myself that Shane was just trying to sow discord between Derek and I on purpose. However, the truth was that I couldn’t calm down. His words kept echoing in my head.

“I slept with his wife in the past, Eveline. That’s why he also wants to do the same. It’s his revenge.”

So Derek had been faking it around me all this time? The warmth and affection we had shared? Were they all fake?

I couldn’t believe Shane’s words. I couldn’t bear to even try.

But then I remembered the picture of Sybil that was projected on the big screen during Shane’s wedding. I finally understood why it had looked so familiar.

I had seen a picture of Derek at his grandfather’s house, one in which he was with a girl. Now I realized that the girl was none other than Sybil. However, that old photograph was a far cry from the artistic images that appeared in the newspapers, so I had not been able to recognize her immediately.

And then another realization dawned on me. I went to my supervisor and asked for a leave of absence, saying that I was not feeling well. The moment I was granted leave, I fled the hospital and took a cab back to the villa…..

I went to the closet in the living room and took out the tape in the old player.

There was a cover photo on the tape. It was pretty grainy in quality, mostly because they had had to cram five people into one portrait, and the faces were a bit blurry

The Thorn Birds were a local band from about eight years ago. I had barely seen a poster of the group since their rise to popularity. The only thing I had to distinguish what they looked like was this battered old tape.

I used to think Derek bore a striking resemblance to the band’s singer. Now that I had an idea about his past, I knew that it was indeed him.

I pulled out my phone and looked up some information on the Thorn Birds, but couldn’t replace much. After all, they were a local band, and the Internet had not yet exploded during their time. Besides, they had disbanded early.

I should have made the connection when I had seen pictures of a younger Derek with long hair at his grandfather’s house. But the truth is, when I thought about the Thorn Birds, all I cared about were their songs, nothing else. I never imagined Derek had anything to do with the band at all.

Now, if Shane had been telling the truth, then Derek must have held a grudge against Shane for a long time.

No wonder Derek could call Shane’s name at the hospital when he first met him. According to Shane, he didn’t recognize Derek at the time.

𝓜𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓾𝓹𝓭𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓼 𝓲𝓷 𝓰𝓪𝓵𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵𝓼.𝓬𝓸𝓶

As the reality of it all began to sink in, I felt my heart shatter. My skin tightened around my body and I could feel a dull, throbbing pain in my hollow chest.

I ran outside and took a cab to Dere International. People stared at me as I walked across the lobby and into the elevator. I went straight up to the top floor.

One of Derek’s assistants recognized me. He pointed to the meeting room down the hall and said he was in the middle of a meeting. On impulse, I rushed to open the door, determined to settle the matter once and for all.

It wasn’t until I saw more than ten heads turn in my direction that I finally came to my senses.

At the head of the long table, Derek cocked his head and blinked in surprise.

“I’m sorry,” I said hurriedly. “Please continue.”

I closed the meeting room door and decided to wait for him inside his office. A few seconds later, his assistant came in to pour me a cup of tea.

Derek arrived twenty minutes later.

He had managed to calm me down while he waited, so when he walked toward me, he had a serene expression on his face. He was even smiling a little.

He tossed some papers on the coffee table and plopped down on the couch with a tired sigh. He pulled me into his arms before leaning back, and I didn’t resist.

“What are you doing here, did you miss me that much?”.

Derek had no idea that I already knew the truth. He spoke to me in his usual languid, intimate tone.

“Hmm,” I mumbled. My arms had stiffened at my sides. I felt no inclination to resume his embrace.

Then he sat up straight and loosened his tie with a mischievous grin.

“Since you’ve missed me so much, I should do the right thing and comfort you until you’re satisfied.”

Derek leaned in as he said this, and I quickly pressed my hands against his chest to stop him. For a brief second, I feared my smile would falter, but I made use of the facade.

“How about we go to Blue Sky tonight? I’ve been working a lot lately. I’d like to take a break and relax.”

Although he seemed surprised by my sudden suggestion, Derek didn’t seem suspicious of me. He smiled and stroked my cheek. “Honey, if you want to go out and have fun, of course I’ll go with you.”

The term of endearment rolled off his tongue so matter-of-factly, but all I could feel was a bitter sense of irony.

We headed to the Blue Sky just as night was falling.

I called Louise and Derek called his friends as well.

As soon as I sat down, I ordered two dozen stouts. Needless to say, everyone was quite surprised.

Derek’s face darkened slightly. He reached out and patted my forehead.

“Are you acting a little strange today?”

“Really?” I smiled innocently at him.

All this time he had been wearing a perfect mask to hide his true intentions. If he wanted to protect me, he had to do the same.

The night progressed and I proposed a game of truth or dare. I saw Louise turn to me as I did so, looking as if she had seen a ghost.

I realized that she had never expected me to participate in such a daring activity.

I reaffirmed myself by asking everyone’s opinion, and they all agreed. Finally, I fixed my eyes on Derek and raised an eyebrow.

He returned my gaze and pondered for a while before giving me a tight smile. “Okay.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. My heart ached at his flawless delivery of a generous and indulgent lover, knowing it was all an act.

I quickly averted my gaze and struggled to contain my emotions.

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