The Billionaire’s Unexpected Proposal (Evelyn and Derek)
Chapter 204

Chapter 204

Maya's heart raced as she walked down the blocks to meet Liam at the spot where he had parked his car. She felt both excited and nervous at the same time since this was the first time she was sneaking around this late. Liam opened the door and got out as she got close to the car. "I was beginning to think you weren't going to come out," he said, watching her approach.

Maya rolled her eyes playfully. "Why couldn't you just listen and wait until tomorrow?" She asked as she stopped in front of him.

"In case you haven't noticed. I'm a very curious person. I wouldn't be able to do anything else until I replace out what happened," he said, and she laughed.

"So, what would you have done if I didn't show up? Go back home and wait until tomorrow? Or come knock at the door?" She asked dryly as she rubbed her arms.

She had stepped out of the house wearing shorts and a tank top and hadn't realized that the evening air was chilly.

"Let's be glad you came and saved me the trouble of doing either of those," he said as he went around the car to open the passenger door for her to get in.

"You made me lie to Evelyn and sneak around like a silly teenager," she said with a scowl as she got in and sat down.

Liam raised a brow as he shut the door but said nothing until he went around and got into the driver's seat. "They came back, too?

Didn't you say they were traveling together, and you joined them?

Did you even board the plane at all, like you told me?" Liam asked once they were both settled inside.

"You have so many questions. Yes, they are back. Yes, they were traveling together, and I joined them. Yes, we boarded the plane, as I told you. Any other questions?" Maya asked, and Liam chuckled.

"Spill it. Tell me exactly what happened as it happened," he urged her.

Maya grinned, "Well," she started slowly, "after our phone call, I went to inform Evelyn that I was going on an impromptu trip to Husla..."

"Maya, you can skip that part. I know about that from the text you sent me," Liam pleaded, knowing she was dragging it out slowly to torment him.

Maya giggled, "Okay. So, I was on the plane. It was so beautiful.

This was my first time on a private jet, she said, and Liam groaned, making her laugh again.

"Okay. Sorry. So, while I was seated in the plane, I was looking at this" she said, reaching for the locket around her neck again. "I wanted to familiarize myself with my brother's face. I wanted to see if I would be able to recognize him easily when I meet the adult version of him," she said, and Liam nodded.

"I suppose either Evelyn or Derek saw the picture and knew the people inside?" He asked, and Maya grinned.

"Yes. But will you slow down and let me get to that?" She asked, her heart racing as she thought about how it happened again, reliving that incredible moment in her head.

"Okay. Fine. Get on with it," he said, and she smiled.

"When I looked up after staring at the picture for a long time, my gaze fell on Derek, and he looked like the adult version..."

Liam chuckled, "Don't tell me you went to him and told him that."

Maya laughed, "I didn't. But then a short while later... wait. I skipped something," she said, and Liam covered his face with his hands as he groaned.

"Relax" she said, giggling, "It's just that last night Derek seemed interested in my necklace during dinner," she said, and Liam frowned as he started to piece her words together.

"Is this going where I'm thinking?" He asked, not wanting to believe it.

That would be too much of a coincidence. What were the chances? No. It didn't even make any sense.

Maya smiled, and tears gathered in her eyes as she bobbed her head, seeing that Liam was figuring it out, "Yes, Liam," she said with a shaky smile, "Derek is my biological brother," she said, as the tears dropped from her eyes.

Liam's jaw dropped, and for a moment, he stared at her as she smiled and wept, unable to believe it. It was just too unbelievable.

"Maya, you're saying Derek is your brother?" He asked softly, and Maya bobbed her head.

"He is. He's this little boy in the picture. He saw it and said so himself," she said, her voice trembling with both joy and disbelief.

"I still can't believe it. It still feels as though I'm dreaming."

Liam leaned back in his seat, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

He exhaled deeply as if trying to process what she had just told him. "Wow," he said finally, his voice low. "That's... huge, Maya. I don't even know what to say."

Maya wiped her tears quickly with the back of her hand, her smile growing. "Neither did I, at first. I mean, imagine replaceing out like that. On a plane, of all places!" She laughed softly, the sound filled with a mixture of relief and excitement. Liam turned to look at her, his face still painted with disbelief. "So, what did he do? Did he hug you? Did you both cry like in those reunion shows? Was it awkward?"

Maya chuckled, shaking her head at his weird question. "For some reason, it wasn't exactly awkward. It was just shocking. And yes, he hugged me, and we cried," she said, her voice hitching.

Liam shook his head, his lips curved in a smile. "And Evelyn? Was she there for this whole exchange?"

"Not at first. But she joined us, and she wept, too. She was so happy. Can you imagine that they were both going to replace me and I was going to replace him? It's all just so..."

"Insane," Liam completed her sentence, shaking his head, "This is insane. It's like something out of a movie, he said, a small smile

tugging at his lips."

"I know!" Maya agreed, her hands waving animatedly. "I cried like a baby, Liam. I just couldn't hold it back, no matter how much I wanted to. I was so overwhelmed."

Liam softened, watching her with an affectionate smile. "I don't blame you. This is a life-changing moment, Maya."

Maya nodded, "It is. Of all people in the world, my brother just happened to be Derek Stone-Samantha's father. Like, I've been taking care of my niece this whole time. They're my family, Liam. Evelyn is going to be my sister-in-law, she said, giggling when Liam scowled at her playfully.

"I suppose you were right about Evelyn and Derek being meant to be, after all, he said, and she nodded.

"Yes. So, have you made up your mind to call Evelyn?" She asked, and Liam sighed.

"I planned on calling her this weekend. I will. But let's not talk about that right now. Let's talk about you. We should celebrate," he said as Maya grinned.

"Why do I feel like you're looking for an excuse to hang out with me?" She asked with a teasing smile.

"Because I am And I also want to celebrate with you. I'm glad you found your family, and I'm happy you've seen that all your worries

about your brother possibles et

not

t," he said,

wanting you were irrelevant," he and she nodded as her lips curved with a smile.

"I asked Derek why he didn't want to reveal his identity while searching for me. He said they didn't want a situation where word of it would get out and people would start calling and Claiming to be his sister she said, and Liam nodded.

"That makes sense. So, what happens now? Have you two talked about the future?" Liam asked, and Maya hesitated, her expression turning serious.

"What's there to talk about? We talked, but this is still sinking in for both of us. It is a lot to process, you know?" She asked, and Liam sighed. "Yeah. You're right," he said with a nod. He then reached over and gently touched her shoulder.

"I'm happy for you, Maya. I'm glad it turned out this way," Liam said, and Maya looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with gratitude. "Thank you, Liam. You've been so helpful. Thanks for being a friend I didn't know I needed," she said, and Liam waved it off.

"I actually need this friendship more than you," he said, and she smiled.

"Maybe you can be friends with my brother now," she suggested, and he groaned softly.

"He's so lucky to have you and Evelyn," he said, and she grinned.

"We are lucky to have him, too. I should head back now. If you want, we can hang out sometime soon. But instead of waiting until the weekend to talk to Evelyn, I think you should talk to her tomorrow," she suggested.

"Tomorrow is Friday, Maya. It's the weekend already. Don't worry. I will talk to her. I will drop you off, he said, looking her over.

Maya let out a deep breath, her heart feeling light. "No, I can go alone."

"I'm not letting you go alone. Apart from the fact that it's dark, it's cold, and you're not exactly covered well," he said, and Maya hesitated for a moment before giving him a nod.

As Liam started the car, he glanced at her again. "Maya?"

"Yeah?"

"This is the beginning of something incredible. Don't let anything hold you back, okay?"

Maya smiled, her chest swelling with hope. "I won't. Thank you, Liam."

He gave her a small nod before pulling away from the curb. As they drove through the quiet estate, covering the short distance, Maya leaned back in her seat, holding the locket tightly in her hand.

Once they got to the front of the

house, Liam parked the car and turned to her, "I would have come out to get the door, but I don't want

them to see me," he said as he leaned towards her to open

QUMS

Without thinking, Maya leaned forward and pressed her lips to his before he could lean back.

Liam blinked at her in surprise, but before he could say anything, she got out of the car quickly and ran off without saying a word to him.