Broken Dreams Stories

Chapter 117 Evelyn stepped out of the third house she had inspected for the day, her eyes scanning the tree-linesl estate as she took in the neighborhood. She sigheil, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the choices and the responsibility of finding the perfect hfor her family Sering the look out her face, the realtor could guess that she wasn't impressed, but Evelyn's phone buzzed in her pocket before she could say anything.

Evelyn felt a flutter in her chest when she saw Derek's non the screen, and her lips curved in a wide smile as she answered.

Although they had spoken earlier that morning, the call had not been for long since she was getting Samantha ready for school then, and he had mostly talked to Samantha, not her.

"Hello, D" she asked, her voice soft and warm as she stepped away from the realtor so she could speak comfortably.

"D. hal" Derek asked with an amused smile, and Evelyn giggled.

"You callEve, after all. And I've been meaning to call you that for a while now," she said, and he chuckled. "Well, you can callwhatever you want as long as it's not the annoying Mr Stone you always used in the e past.

"he said, and she e giggled "I can't exactly call you Mr Stone anymore, can I?" She asked, and be chuckled "You had better not. So, how's your day going? Found any houses you like yet!" He asked curiously Evelyn glanced back at the house she'd just toured. "I'm still working on it. I've seen a few nice places, but nothing that feels like hyet. I'm trying to be thorough, but I hope to find something soon.

"Yeah. You should be thorough. I'm sure you'll know the right one when you see it, Derek said encouragingly. "By the way, I never got the chance to ask you earlier when you called when did you leave last night?" Evelyn asked curiously.

Derek laughed, a low, comforting sound that seemed to spread warmth all over her. "I left after you u fell asleep. You were out like a light." She chuckled, recalling how the night had ended. "Well, I slept like a baby. After what you did, how could I not sleep well!" "I'm Glad to know I'm good for something. If you're having difficulties falling asleep in the future, inviteover, and I'll knock you out." Derek joked, his tone light, and Evelyn laughed softly.

"You're good for a lot more t than that," she assured him.

"So, how did it go with your parents?" He asked, changing the subject.

"Oh, it went well enough." Evelyn replied with a giggle and went on to tell him about the with Sandra. "Well, she has managed to clear up any doubts your parents might have had regarding her innocence, Derek said with a chuckle..

"Yeah. Enough about me. How did it go with your father? Did you go has planned?" She asked, and Derek laughed as he recalled his father's excitement, "He was happy to hear about Samantha. He said he had always wanted a daughter, and now he has a granddaughter. He's already looking forward to meeting her. I told him I'd arrange something soon, Derek said, and Evelyn smiled, "Well, I'm sure we can arrange that,” she said, glad that his father was happy about it.

"So, let's arrange for it. I want him to meet you and Samantha soon," he said, and Evelyn's heart skipped a beat. Meeting Derek's father felt like a significant step, one she wasn't sure she was ready for, but there was no denying the excitement and warmth that bloomed inside her at the thought. "Why don't you invite him over for lunch or dinner after we move? He can see the new place and meet Samantha "That's a good idea" Derek agreed, though she could hear a touch of hesitation in his voice. "But we don't know how long that's going to take, and my dad - he'd rather not wait that long. He's eager to see Samantha. Would you be okay withtaking her out this Saturday? Just the two of us!" Evelyn hit her lip, her thoughts racing. She trusted Derek, but the idea of him spending talone with Samantha was still new. "So, you're planning to spend the day only with Samantha? What about inc?" Derek's laughter was deep, rolling through the phone and making her smile widen. "Are y you Jealous? 11:46 AM Chapter 117 Evelyn laughed softly. "Maybe just a little. But don't worry, I've had her to myself for all these years. It's only fair that you have her for a day. It might actually givestto focus on this house-hunting without any distractions." Derek was about to respond when there was a soft knock on his office door. His secretary stepped in quietly. "Mr. Stone, Ms Sandra is here to see you," she said, her tone polite.

Derek's brows lifted slightly. "Let her in," he instructed, then turned his attention back to Evelyn. "I'm sorry, Eve, but I have to go. Sandra just arrived. I'll call you back after she leaves, alright?" a vou later." Evelyn's heart gave a slight pang at the mention of Sandra, but she pushed it aside. "Alright, D. I'll talk to you later." As soon as he ended the call. Sandra walked into the office, her usual confidence tempered with a slightly sheepish look. Derek stood up to greet her, a wide smile on his face.

"Hello, Sandra.” he greeted her warmly, though there was an edge of curiosity in his voice.

Sandra approached his desk, her expression a mix of guilt and playfulness. "Are you still mad atfor what I did?" she asked, her voice soft, almost apologetic.

Derek tilted his head slightly, feigning ignorance. "What did you do?" She let out a small sigh, fidgeting with the strap of her handbag. "For involving your mother the other day," she confessed, her eyes briefly dropping to the floor. "I thought you might be upset." Derek smiled, and he shook his head. "That's in the past, Sandra, I told Michael to let you know I wasn't mad, Didn't he do that?" Sandra's lips formed a slight pout, a tactic that might have worked on someone else but only made Derek smirk. "If you weren't mad, why haven't you calledsince then!" Derek chuckled and leaned back in his chair. "I've been busy, Sandra. Besides, you didn't calleither. But let's forget all of that. To make it up to you, how about we go out for lunch today! Sandra's face lit up at the suggestion, her earlier guilt forgotten. "I'd love that,” she said, her tone brightening Before they could continue, Derek's phone buzzed again, this twith a notification from the team monitoring Michael's phone. It was a recorded message. He couldn't hide the smirk that crossed his face as he saw it.

He knew the message was important and that it was most likely a conversation between Michael and Sandra. Not wanting to leave the office with Sandra without listening to it first and finding out if it had anything to do with the reason he was in his office, Derek held up a hand.

"Givea minute, Sandra. I need to take a message from an important client," he said as he connected his earbuds and played the message. His eyes narrowed slightly as he listened, and the smirk on his face deepened as he heard the conversation, confirming what he had suspected. Well, this was going to be the first of many pieces of evidence against them, Derek reasoned. When the recording ended, he quickly composed himself and turned back to Sandra, who was watching him curiously.

"Ready for lunch!" he asked with a wide smile, his voice casual as if nothing had happened.

Oblivious to the significance of the message he'd just heard, Sandra nodded eagerly. “Yes. Let's go.

As they left his office together, Derek's mind was already spinning with plans. The recorded message given plazhim accrucial piece of the puzzle; and he was determined to use it to his advantage. But for now, he would enjoy lunch with Sandra, play his part, and keep his cards close to his chest.

As they walked into the elevator, Derek's thoughts lingered on the phone call with Evelyn, her laughter still echoing in his ears. There were ve sp many moving pieces in his life right now, but one thing was sure- he wouldn't let anything, or anyone, cbetween him and the life he wanted with Evelyn and Samantha. Not his mother, not Sandra, and certainly not Michael X