Chapter 250: Derby's plight

"I've lived with that truth my entire life."

Alex's own temper finally snapped.

"No. You've lived with Larissa's obsession."

His voice echoed through the room. "She poisoned you with her hatred, and because of it..."

He clenched his jaw. "...you've spent years chasing revenge against the wrong person."

Derby's breathing became ragged.

"Don't..." She warned. "Don't insult my aunt."

Alex laughed bitterly. "I'm not insulting her. I'm telling you she's manipulated you."

He sighed heavily.

"Derby, she has been using you to achieve her silly obsessive madness."

Silence followed.

For one brief moment, Alex thought she might actually listen. Suddenly, her voice turned ice cold.

"You're the one who's delusional. You don't deserve happily ever after, Alex."

Before he could answer…Beep.

The call ended.

“What the hell…she is as crazy as her insane aunty.”

Alex slowly lowered the phone. The room fell into complete silence.

Thomas and Dan watched him carefully. Neither dared to speak.

Alex remained motionless, staring at the dark screen in his hand. His anger had not disappeared.

If anything, it burned even hotter.

The worst, beneath the anger was confusion.

Who was Maurine? Why did Derby believe he had destroyed her mother's life? And more importantly...

What had Larissa been hiding all these years?

Alex looked up, his eyes hard with determination. "Find everything there is to know about Maurine."

He slipped the phone back into his pocket.

"I have a feeling, this story didn't start with Larissa, and it definitely doesn't end with her."

He looked around the room. "The operation here is over."

Turning to Thomas and Dan, he continued, "Most of us are leaving. I want a few officers to remain in the bar in case someone returns looking for Larissa or Zee."

"Yes, boss," Thomas replied.

Within minutes, the team dispersed.

Some of the officers headed back to their headquarters. A few undercover officers blended back into the crowd, continuing the surveillance unnoticed.

Outside, the cool night air did little to calm Alex's thoughts.

His phone buzzed. It was one of the surveillance officers.

"Report."

"Boss, Larissa left the bar and drove straight home."

Alex nodded. "Any unusual stops?"

"None."

"She's inside her house now drinking."

"Good. Maintain surveillance. I don't want her out of your sight."

"Yes, sir."

The call ended.

Alex leaned back in his seat as the vehicle drove toward the city. His mind kept returning to Derby's accusation.

You caused my mother's death.

It didn't make sense, not even remotely.

Less than an hour later… Dan hurried into Alex's office carrying a brown file.

"Boss. The background check on Maurine is ready."

Alex immediately settled for it.

"Let's hear it."

Dan opened the file and began reading.

"Maurine was Larissa's elder sister. According to witnesses, she was known as a kind and gentle woman.

Several years ago, she became romantically involved with Bruce Keaton. A man later identified as a drug pusher."

Thomas frowned.

"So she didn't know what he did?"

"Apparently not."

Dan continued. "She became pregnant. Before the child was born, the man was killed during a violent confrontation between rival drug groups."

The room fell silent.

"The news of his death devastated Maurine. She went into premature labour shortly afterward."

Dan lowered the file slightly.

"Unfortunately...he never recovered. She died from complications after giving birth."

Alex's eyes remained fixed on the report. Not once, not anywhere was his name mentioned. There wasn't even the slightest connection to him.

He let out a slow breath.

"So..." He murmured. I had nothing to do with her death."

Thomas folded his arms.

"Looks like Larissa rewrote history."

Alex closed the file.

"Or convinced herself of a lie until she believed it."

He looked toward Dan. "Scan the entire report. I want every page."

Dan nodded. "Right away."

Then send a copy to Derby."

Thomas looked surprised.

"Boss?"

Alex's expression softened slightly.

"She deserves to know the truth. Since she's spent her entire life hating the wrong person, someone needs to show her the facts."

Dan gave a respectful nod. "It'll be done tonight."

The following morning...

Fairbanks International Airport buzzed with travelers beginning their day.

Among them was Derby. She stood near the boarding gate, a tablet in her hands.

The investigative report Alex had sent the previous night remained open on the screen. She had read it, again and again.

Every sentence chipped away at the story she'd believed since Larissa’s lies.

Her fingers tightened around the device. "So..." She whispered.

"My father wasn't Alex.”

She swallowed hard.

"I was hating Alex wrongly."

A tear escaped despite her efforts to hold it back.

"And Mom never died because of him."

The boarding announcement echoed through the terminal. "Final boarding for passengers traveling to Anchorage."

Derby slowly wiped her tears away.

Her face no longer carried anger.

Only determination.

She picked up her carry-on luggage. "There are questions that need answers." Her voice was quiet but firm. "And Larissa..."

She stared toward the boarding gate.

"...you're going to tell me the truth."

Without another glance back, Derby walked onto the aircraft.

The afternoon sun hung low over the quiet neighborhood as a yellow airport cab turned into Larissa's street.

It slowed before stopping in front of her house.

The driver stepped out first, opening the trunk.

A moment later, Derby emerged from the back seat. She looked exhausted. Not from the journey, but from the sleepless night. Since she got the files about her mother, she was disorganized.

Yet there was a fierce determination in her eyes. She pulled out her suitcase, paid the driver, and stood for a moment, staring at the familiar house.

This was the place where she'd spent countless holidays growing up.

The place where Larissa had comforted her after every nightmare.

The place where she'd been told the story that had fueled her hatred for Alex.

Her grip tightened around the handle of her suitcase.

"No more lies." She whispered to herself. "I'm getting the truth today."

Taking a deep breath, she wheeled her luggage up the pathway.

She didn't bother knocking softly.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The front door swung open moments later.

Larissa frowned in surprise.

"Derby? What are you doing back so soon? I thought you weren't returning until…"

She stopped.

One look at Derby's face told her something was terribly wrong.

Without saying a word, Derby walked past her into the house.

Larissa slowly closed the door behind them.

Several streets away...

Inside an unmarked surveillance vehicle, one of the officers lowered his binoculars.

He immediately picked up his radio. "Target update."

"Go ahead."

"Derby has arrived. She just entered Larissa's residence."

A few minutes later...Alex's phone vibrated on his desk.

He answered immediately. "Report."

The officer's voice came through clearly.

"Sir, Derby has been sighted. She arrived by airport cab approximately five minutes ago. She entered Larissa's house. No one else has gone in or out."

Alex leaned back in his chair. A slow smile crossed his face.

"Good."

Thomas, who had been standing nearby, looked up from the file he was reading.

"News?"

Alex slipped the phone back into his pocket. "Derby's with Larissa."

Dan raised an eyebrow. "You think they'll start talking?"