Chapter 62 63

Chapter 62 63
Chapter Sixty three.

Tess_

He hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Helen’s been seeing someone. A man named Jeremy. They’ve been involved for years, even back in high school, she’s kept it hidden, but this” he gestured to the flash drive. “is everything you need to expose her if she tries to come after you.”

My mind reeled. Helen had a secret lover? And Derek had proof? The weight of the flash drive in my hand felt heavier than it should have, as if it carried the key to Helen’s downfall.

“How do you know about this?” I asked, curiosity piqued. “And why would you keep something like this?”

Derek’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, I saw something flicker in his eyes…something unreadable. But then he shook his head, changing the subject swiftly.

“Tess, the important thing is that you have leverage now. Helen can’t hurt you if you use this against her. She won’t want her dirty laundry aired out for everyone to see, especially not with her wedding so close.”

I opened my mouth to press him further, to ask how he came across this information and why he had been watching Helen, but Derek was quick to redirect the conversation, his voice firm.

“This is your way out, Tess. You don’t have to run, and you don’t have to give up your life. You can fight back.”

His words hit me hard, and for a moment, the questions faded. He was right—this was what I needed. A way to fight back without losing everything. 

A way to stand my ground against Helen without putting my baby, my family, or myself in more danger.

I looked down at the flash drive, feeling a strange sense of power. “What if she finds out I have this?”

Derek shook his head. “She won’t. And if she does, it’ll be too late for her to do anything about it. Trust me.”

I nodded, still processing everything. The idea of having something to use against Helen felt surreal, but it was also terrifying. I had to be careful—one wrong move, and everything could come crashing down.

“Thank you,” I said quietly, meeting Derek’s gaze. “For helping me.”

He gave a small nod, his expression softening. “You don’t have to thank me, Tess. Just stay safe. And if you need anything else, don’t hesitate to call.”

As we parted ways, the flash drive clutched tightly in my hand, I felt a glimmer of hope I hadn’t felt in days. I had a weapon now—a secret that could bring Helen to her knees. 

But as I walked away, a nagging thought lingered in the back of my mind.

How had Derek found out about Helen’s lover? And why did he seem so determined to help me? After everything that went down between us 

I pushed the questions aside, telling myself they didn’t matter. Right now, I had something far more important to focus on…protecting my baby and my family. 

The flash drive sat heavy in my pocket as I left the park, my mind spinning. Derek’s involvement was unexpected, but I couldn’t deny the sense of relief that came with his help. 

It felt like, for the first time since Helen’s threats began, I had a real chance at turning things around. But the weight of everything still pressed down on me.

When I got back to the house, I sank onto the couch, pulling the drive from my pocket and staring at it. 

This little piece of plastic held Helen’s secret…her Achilles’ heel. I had leverage now. I could finally fight back and I didn't need any reason to run away. 

But with that power came the fear of what might happen if I used it. If I pushed Helen too far, ‘would she come after me even harder? And what if Damien got caught in the wildfire?’

The thought of him sent a fresh wave of pain through me. I hadn’t let him in earlier, but part of me wanted to. 

Every time I pushed him away, it tore me apart a little more. And yet, I couldn’t risk telling him the truth. 

He’d want to help, and I couldn’t drag him into this mess…especially now that I had a way to protect myself.

If Helen found out that I told Damien, my mom's life is at risk and I can't afford to make a mistake while dealing with her. 

My phone buzzed again, a reminder from Helen that I need to get ready to leave in the next twenty four hours.

I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts aside. Now wasn’t the time to get lost in emotions. 

I needed to figure out how to use the information Derek had given me, and I needed to do it soon.I took a deep breath and plugged the flash drive into my laptop. 

The screen flickered to life, and a folder appeared, labeled “J. M. - Helen.” I clicked on it, feeling a surge of nerves as the files opened. 

There were photos, emails, and even text conversations between Helen and a man named Jeremy Mason. It was clear they’d been involved for years—before Damien, before the wedding.

Some of the messages were recent, and it was obvious that Helen was still seeing him in secret, even as she prepared to marry Damien. 

I scrolled through the texts, my stomach churning. This was it. This was what I could use to finally stop her.

Something about it didn’t sit right with me. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to this story…more to why Derek had this information in the first place. 

Why would he have been keeping tabs on Helen all this time? And how had he known about Jeremy? Is there any connection between them? Or am I just overthinking it?