Chapter 24 Revelation
"Whether it's a trap or not, we'll find out when we go there. I'm coming with you."
Adrian's voice was calm, but there was pain in his eyes.
He couldn't walk away from Eva again, not after everything they'd already survived together.
Whatever happened next, he needed to know she was safe. It mattered more to him than anything else.
"Adrian—"
"Don't try to talk me out of it. This isn't up for discussion." His expression was firm. "Wherever you go, I go. That's how it is now."
Eva wanted to argue, but she couldn't get the words out. She stared at her hands, twisting them in her lap, torn between pride and exhaustion.
She hated feeling weak, hated needing anyone, especially Adrian.
Part of her longed to prove she could stand on her own, that she didn't have to rely on anyone anymore.
But fear made her less sure. Memories of betrayal and loneliness returned, reminding her what it was like to face everything alone.
The truth was, she didn't want to face Derek alone. She wasn't sure she could.
So, she nodded.
"Okay. Let's go."
Derek was waiting for them at a small café on the outskirts of the city.
Eva barely recognized him.
The proud, calm man she had married was gone. Now he looked tired and unkempt, with dark circles under his eyes and shaking hands. He seemed like he hadn't slept in days.
"Eva." He rose when she approached, his eyes flickering nervously to Adrian. "Who's this?"
"Someone who will protect me. Someone who isn't going to let you hurt me." Eva's voice was cold. "Now, let's come to the point. Why did you call me here? What do you want, Derek?"
Derek sank back into his chair, running a hand over his face.
"I've made a mistake," he said hoarsely. "A terrible mistake."
"What's new about that. You've made plenty of those."
"But this one is different. I trusted the wrong person, and now it has cost me my life." Derek looked up, and for the first time, Eva saw genuine fear in his eyes. "Reena... she's not who I thought she was."
Eva exchanged a glance with Adrian.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, she's been playing me." Derek's voice grew tense. "All this time, I thought we were partners. I thought she was helping me get the Francis fortune so we could share it."
Eva clenched her fist, holding herself back from hitting him.
He was so casual about revealing his plans to take over Francis's company.
Derek, still staring at his hand, missed Eva's reaction and went on, "But last night, I found something. There were documents hidden in her apartment."
He reached into his jacket, pulled out a folder with shaky hands, and slid it across the table.
"She's been planning to take everything. Not just your family's money, but mine too. She has recordings of our conversations, proof of the stolen money, and papers that could send me to prison for years."
Eva opened the folder, her eyes scanning the contents.
Everything was there: financial records, transcripts, photographs. Most of what she needed to take Derek to court was now in her hands, given to her by Derek himself.
Looking at the papers, Eva realized one thing: Reena had been gathering proof, not to help Derek, but to ruin him.
"She was going to blackmail me," Derek continued, his voice breaking. "She wanted to force me to sign over everything: the money I've taken, the properties, even my shares in Fransis Corp. And then she was going to turn me in to the police anyway."
Eva looked up, her expression unreadable.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I'm not going down alone." Derek's jaw tightened. "Reena wanted to destroy both of us, Eva. She doesn't just hate you; she hates everyone. She wants to burn it all down and walk away with the ashes."
"And you expect me to feel sorry for you?"
"No." Derek shook his head. "Of course not. I know it's not easy to earn your forgiveness, I just want you to help me stop her."
A cold laugh escaped Eva's lips.
"Help you? After everything you've done to me? After years of abuse and betrayal and humiliation?"
"I know I don't deserve it." Derek's eyes glistened with what might have been tears. "But think about your children, Eva. Think about what happens if Reena wins. She won't stop at destroying me. She'll come after you, she'll come for them, for everything you cherish dearly."
Eva's blood ran cold.
She wanted to dismiss his words. Wanted to believe that Reena's vendetta was limited to her failed schemes.
But deep down, she knew he was right.
Reena was the kind of enemy who would destroy everything in her path.
If she lost, she would make sure everyone else did too.
If Reena got what she wanted, she could expose Eva and Derek to the authorities, drag their children into a public scandal, and destroy what little stability they had left.
Everything Eva cared about would be at risk—her family, her reputation, even her freedom.
"What exactly are you proposing?" Adrian spoke for the first time, his voice dangerous.
Derek looked at him carefully. "I'm suggesting we work together. Just for now. Only until we stop Reena."
"Neutralized how?"
"I know where she keeps her files. Her evidence. The real evidence, not just the copies in that folder." Derek leaned forward. "Help me get it, and I'll hand it all over to you. Everything she has on Eva, on me, on everyone. We can destroy her together."
Eva studied her husband, the man who had made her life miserable for seven years.
She should have refused. Should have let him drown in the consequences of his own choices.
But the children.
Always, it came back to the children.
"If I agree to this," she said slowly, "you give me the divorce. Immediately. No fighting, no games, no threats."
Derek hesitated.
"Derek." Eva's voice hardened. "Those are my terms. Take them or leave them."