Chapter 61 62

Chapter 61 62
Chapter Sixty two.

Tessa POV

“Tess?”

There was a note of surprise in his voice. We hadn’t spoken in almost a month, not since I left the him and started fresh. I hadn’t thought I’d ever call him again. 

“Hey……Derek,” I said, my voice sounding smaller than I wanted it to. “I, um... I need help.”

His tone shifted immediately. “What’s going on? You sound... off.”

I let out a shaky breath, trying to steady myself. “It’s complicated. I don’t know how much I can explain over the phone, but... There is something going on at the moment.”

There was silence on the other end for a beat, then his voice came back, low and serious. “Where are you? I’ll come to you.”

For the first time in days, I felt the tightness in my chest ease just a little. Derek didn’t ask questions, didn’t demand explanations. 

He just offered to help, like he always had.

“I’m in California now,” I said. “Can we meet somewhere? Away from people?”

“Of course, I know you're in California,” he replied without hesitation. “Tell me where exactly you're and when do you want to meet up?.”

“How about we meet now please? At the small park a little bit outside town.” I said.

He was silent for a while but then his voice came on again. “Alright, I will come down there, I just need to round up the work I am currently doing.” He said.

“Okay, don't tell anyone about the meeting please…it's more like a confidential meeting.” I said, making sure I was clear and understood.

“You can always count on me, I will be right there…in the next one hour.” He said.

“Thank you very much, I owe you one.” I said, trying not to sound overly emotional.

“That's fine, this is the least I can do for you and the baby.” He replied.

I smiled and let out a sigh. “Okay, see you soon.” I said.

“Okay Tess, he safe before then.” He replied.

“Bye.” I said and hung up the call.

I rattled off a place, a small park tucked away from the main streets, quiet enough to talk without worrying about being overheard. We agreed to meet in an hour.

After hanging up, I stood there, gripping the phone tightly. My heart was pounding, but for the first time since Helen began to threaten me, I didn’t feel completely helpless. 

Derek might be able to help me figure out a way out of this….something that wouldn’t involve running or giving up everything I cared about.

But I couldn’t tell him everything. Not yet. I’d need to see what I can do without having to risk his life.

The air was heavy as I waited at the small park, nerves twisting in my stomach. It had been years since I’d last seen Derek, and the gravity of what I was about to ask him weighed heavily on me. I wasn’t just reaching out to an old flame—I was asking him to step into a nightmare I wasn’t sure I could escape from.

Footsteps approached, and I turned to see Derek walking toward me. He looked the same as I remembered—calm, composed, with that unreadable expression he always wore when something serious was going down. He was dressed casually, but his eyes were sharp as they locked onto mine.

“Tess,” he said, his voice steady, but there was concern behind it. “What’s going on?”

I swallowed, unsure of how to begin. “It’s... complicated,” I started, feeling the weight of the situation settling over me. “There’s someone threatening me. She’s dangerous, and I can’t just leave. I can’t run.”

Derek’s brow furrowed. “Who is it?”

I hesitated. I couldn’t tell him everything. Not yet. “Her name is Helen. She’s... she’s marrying someone close to me, and she knows things about me—about my family. She’s blackmailing me.”

I didn’t mention the baby or Damien. That was a line I couldn’t cross, not yet. Derek didn’t need to know who the father was. It wasn’t important—not right now.

Derek frowned, his mind clearly already working to piece together the situation. “Blackmailing you with what?”

I looked away, biting my lip. “It’s... sensitive. I can’t go into all the details, but let’s just say it’s enough to ruin everything if she follows through on her threats.”

Derek studied me for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he nodded, slipping his hands into his pockets. “Alright. I won’t push for details. But I’m going to help you, Tess. You don’t have to run, and you don’t have to give up your life.”

I felt a wave of relief, but I knew that relief was fragile. “What do you have in mind?”

He glanced around the park before stepping closer, his voice low. “Helen may have power, but she’s not untouchable. Everyone has secrets. Even her.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“Can you give me a few minutes I want to rush back home and bring something that might of help.” He said.

I nodded, not having any idea what he was about to do. “Okay?” I replied and immediately he left, I sat on one of the beaches and pulled down my hoodie cap to cover my face, I can't afford anyone seeing me or recognizing.

“Oh my goodness, the bride looks so pretty.” A young woman that was seated with her friend said, while showing her a picture on her phone.

“The guy doesn't look bad himself.” The friend responded.

Something within me was telling me they were speaking about Damien and Helen but I was trying to be positive about the situation and hoped it wasn't.

“OMG, Damien is so handsome and Helen is so pretty.” The third person among them said. “This wedding is going to be the best in history.” She added.

“Oh, fuck me.” I said as I stood up and moved to another bench and sat down there, waiting for Derek.

After an hour, Derek came back, he kept looking back till he got to where I was waiting for him.

“Uhm, hey…what's wrong?” I asked, rubbing my palm together as I looked at him.

He pulled something out of his jacket pocket…a small flash drive. He held it out to me, his expression serious. “This. It’s proof that Helen isn’t as clean as she pretends to be.”

I took the flash drive, staring at it in confusion. “What’s on it?”