Semua Bab REGRET UNTIL SHE SAYS GOODBYE : Bab 281 - Bab 290

THIRD PERSON’S POVDerek didn’t look back to see if Sara was following after him, he knew she was, even without hearing the sound of her footsteps.He adjusted Danielle’s weight in his arms, lifting each foot one after the other, as carefully as he possibly could to avoid waking her.The noght air that swept at him outside had been replaced by the warmth of the house within and his near frozen hands gradually thawed.As he moved up the stairs, his mind trailed back to a couple of minutes ago, when Sara had fallen back into him and how he had instinctively moved to catch her.He wasn’t thinking then, neither did he intend to move snd his mind only registered the step he had taken forward when she crashed into him.Her voice when she apologized to him still rang in his mind and recollecting it now made him sigh.For him, tonight had been a lot. It’d helped him find out much more than he already knew and he had come to register new things, not just about Sara but also about himself.When

THIRD PERSON’S POV Alyssa’s words replayed in Derek’s mind but it was the last of her statements that lingered most in his mind.A visit to the Ford’s family house.He couldn’t even recollect much of the last time he was there and this meeting Alyssa had mentioned, wasn’t something he was prepared for.It was very much unplanned and surprising. He didn’t like surprises, especially surprises like this that spun out of his control.He didn’t even have to think, he could already tell that it wouldn't be just a casual visit. Mr Ford wouldn't have specifically requested for his presence if it was.Thinking in that perspective made Derek begin to wonder what he could want to see him for. They didn’t have any business dealings and the one partnership with Alyssa had already been closed.The one thing he could point to, after further thought, was the business deal Mr Ford was looking forward to partnering with him on. The old man had proposed it to him the last time he was there but Derek ha

SARA’S POVI looked away first, without knowing why, maybe it was because I found the look in Derek’s eyes and the ambience between us too unsettling.Or rather, it was better to say I wasn’t used to it. It made it seem as though something untoward was happening and like I was committing a grave sin by smiling with him.My lips were starting to curl up to emulate his but the minute that thought came to mind, my surfacing smile waned instantly.When my gaze returned to him, I realized Derek was no longer smiling as well and if I didn’t know better, I would have thought I imagined the entire thing.The rest of the day, we barely talked to each other or cross paths. He was holed up in his room while I helped Danielle with her homework for the first half of the day and for the latter part of it, I joined her in watching a cartoon series then spent the evening sitting on the porch, designing.One of the reasons I loved my apartment was how well it stimulated my inspiration but while design

SARA’S POV I leaned forward slightly, hands falling to rest slightly on the table, staring searching at Derek, waiting to hear what else he had to add.“What would you change?” I asked curiously.Internally, I was still analyzing what he said earlier and had come to the realization that I was negotiating like someone bracing for abandonment, which had led to ridiculous requests being made in addition to our original agreement.“What do you think? I should push harder?” I added when Derek hesitated in responding.His response was direct, “I think you should stop shrinking your projections to make them more comfortable.”Those words hit me harder than I thought, because it was a reflection of what I had already inwardly connected.I looked up and my eyes met Derek’s. He was staring straight at me, unflinching.“I also think you should stop making yourself smaller. You have the leverage in this deal, Sara. Act like it.”The way he said it, firm and unyielding made something in my chest

SARA’S POVI stared blankly at Derek, unable to figure out what in the world he was doing here when he should be at the restaurant with Alyssa.That was what I assumed, that he would be there so to have him here, honking at me was surprising.Well, maybe I was exaggerating the entire thing. He wasn’t still honking at me, it was just once and now, he sat in the comfort of his car, staring at me like I was some random stranger on the street who’d caught his attention.Astonishingly, he didn’t look irritated, didn’t look angry, his face held no expression and all he did was stare at me after parking.I was almost tempted to ask what he wanted but I held back and decided to just keep walking.There was no way he was here for me and maybe that honk was just to get me off the road. I mean, what other explanation was there? It wasn’t like Derek Marshall would abandon what could be a lovely dinner with the love of his life to come after me.In no universe was that possible.I chuckled intern