Chapter 154 I'm Sorry
By the time Derek arrive the company, the atmosphere surrounding Derek’s company was anything but peaceful.
News spread rapidly.
The image of Derek and Celia, standing too close and appearing overly intimate at the event, had gone viral on social media overnight. Headlines began crafting their own narratives, twisting what they saw into far more scandalous stories than the reality.
By mid-morning, reporters had assembled outside the company office.
Cameras and microphones were everywhere.
Voices overlapped, as everyone waited for a statement from Derek or his company.
And Derek… had decided to give them one.
Inside the conference hall, the atmosphere was tense.
Rows of reporters filled the seats, whispering among themselves as they waited. Camera lights blinked softly, and a low hum of anticipation spread through the room as they waited for Derek to appear and deliver what they sought.
They were still murmuring among themselves when the entrance door swung open and Derek entered.
The noise stopped instantly.
He moved with controlled confidence, dressed in a sharp dark suit, his expression serious and unreadable. But beneath that calm exterior, there was something else. Something that seemed more personal to him.
He stepped behind the podium, placing both hands on it, steadying himself for a brief moment before lifting his gaze to face the room.
Flashes went off immediately, but he didn’t react.
"I’m sure everyone here already knows why this conference was called," he began, his voice calm but firm, cutting cleanly through the silence as everyone listened with rapt attention.
"The image currently circulating online… involving me and Miss Celia."
A subtle stir moved through the room.
"I want to address it clearly," he continued. "There is nothing going on between me and Miss Celia," he said, his voice firm and without hesitation.
"She is part of my past," he added, his tone unwavering, "and that is exactly where she remains."
Hands shot up almost immediately.
"Mr. Derek," one reporter called out, "if that’s true, how do you explain the nature of that photograph? It appeared very intimate."
Another voice followed quickly, before he could answer the first one.
"You’ve been seen with her on multiple occasions recently. Are those also misunderstandings?"
"Is your marriage currently at risk?"
"Has your wife responded to this situation? What was her reaction?"
The questions came quickly, layered, and relentless, it was as if they had all been waiting for the opportunity to ask him all these questions.
Derek raised his hand slightly and the room quieted again.
"I understand how it looks," he said. "But what you saw in that image does not reflect the full truth."
He paused briefly before continuing, his tone shifting, less formal now, more personal.
"A few weeks back, I lost my grandfather," he began, his voice breaking a little.
The room stilled as everyone listened. The business world had been deeply affected by the passing of Mr. Hemsworth, but this was the first time Derek was speaking publicly about his grandfather's passing.
"He was not just family to me," Derek continued. "He was the man who raised me, guided me, and influenced many of the decisions I’ve made in my life."
His gaze lowered for a moment, the memory clearly still fresh.
"And recently, I came to understand something he did… something that affected my past relationship with Miss Celia."
A ripple of interest spread across the room.
"He separated us," Derek said plainly. "At the time I just found out, I had been mad. I didn’t fully understand his reasons. But I now know that he did it because it was necessary for my future."
He exhaled slowly.
"Because I didn't know anything about what he did, Celia’s presence had affected ne. When Celia came back into my life recently, it brought back unresolved questions… emotions I thought I had already dealt with."
A reporter leaned forward.
"And that affected your marriage?“ She asked, curiously.
Derek didn’t hesitate, before answering.
"Yes."
The honesty was immediate.
"It affected my judgment," he added. "It created confusion where there should have been clarity."
Another question followed.
"So, are you saying your marriage has been strained because of her return?"
Derek’s expression hardened slightly.
"Yes," he said again. "And that is my responsibility."
A quiet murmur passed through the room.
Then came the question that changed everything.
"Do you still love your wife? Or are you both getting a divorce?" This time around, it was a male reporter that asked the question.
Silence fell instantly.
Derek didn’t look away; he stared straight into the cameras as he replied.
"Yes, I still love my wife and no, I'm not getting a divorce because I'll make sure it doesn't happen."
The answer was firm, certain.
"My wife," he continued slowly, "is the most important person in my life."
His voice carried weight now.
"And I hurt her."
He paused, his fingers tightening slightly against the podium.
"I allowed my past to interfere with something that should have been protected. And because of that… I caused her pain and I need to fix it."
Derek swallowed, knowing that it was no or never. "Rebecca…" he said, his tone softening.
"I’m sorry. If you're watching this, I just want to let you know that I'm very sorry."
The apology was raw and unfiltered.
"I’m sorry for the confusion, for the hurt, and for not standing firm when I should have."
He took a slow breath.
"But I need you to hear this."
His gaze sharpened, filled with determination.
"I am not giving up on us, I'm not giving up on the future I know we can have."
A murmur spread across the room.
"I will fix this," he continued. "No matter how long it takes. No matter how difficult it becomes."
His voice deepened.
"I will pursue my wife again. Properly this time. I promise I'll give you so much happiness that you'll forget the pain I caused.""
More flashes.
More whispers.
"I will earn your trust back. I will prove to you, with my actions that you are not just my present…"
He paused.
"…but my future."
The room was completely silent now.
"And this time," he added firmly, "nothing from my past will be allowed to come between us again."
He stepped back slightly.
"That’s all."
The room erupted into questions again, louder this time.
"Mr. Derek..."
"Does this mea
n you’re cutting ties with Miss Celia—?"
"Where is your wife now—?"
But Derek didn’t answer.
He turned and walked off the stage, leaving the room buzzing behind him.