All Chapters of He Chose His Assistant, I Took Back Everything: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

When the reply came in, Derek pushed the door open and leaned against the frame with a bowl of fried rice."Still mad?"I zipped up my bag."Took you long enough. I thought you couldn't tell.""Stop being dramatic and eat something. By the way, how's the car?"Rare of him to show concern for me. Or maybe he was just worried about his car getting dirty."I can pick it up tomorrow.""Good. Get it washed while you're at it. And tell your mom to stop bringing seafood."A text from Mom popped up on my phone."Viv, don't come out in this rain. And remind Derek I'll bring him more seafood next time."My mouth twisted."Don't worry. There won't be a next time."My answer caught him off guard. He was about to say something when a knock at the door cut him off.Megan poked her head in."Derek, Kitty doesn't have any food. I need to go buy some cat food."I grabbed my bag and stood up, but Derek held me back."I'll drop you off on the way.""But the pet store isn't in the same direction as Vivian

The ambulance cut through the rain.Mom had taken her medicine and was sound asleep.Rain drummed against the glass. I remembered the first time Derek came to our house. It was a stormy day just like this.He was scrawny and sun-darkened, half-starved, but his face was full of defiance.Nobody believed in him. Nobody except my father.He swore that once he made it, he would repay everything my parents had done for him.He had made it. And he'd forgotten every word.The next day, Mom was feeling much better. She held my hand before speaking."I want to make you both some of that marinated crab. Derek loves it."My nose stung. I realized how long it had been since Derek and I last shared a meal.He was always too busy. Too busy to eat.But never too busy to help someone else find a stray cat, go to the doctor, or shop for a massage chair."Mom, I want to leave him."Mom cupped my face. Her palm was warm."Whatever you decide, I'm with you."When I went home to get my things, Derek was al

When we returned to the hospital after lunch, Derek was there.He stood by Mom's bed. A fruit basket and a bouquet of lilies sat on the nightstand.The moment I saw the lilies, I rushed over and threw them in the trash outside the door."What are you doing here, Derek?""My mother is allergic to lilies. She just started getting better, and you're trying to make her sick again?"I hissed.Nathan called for a doctor to check on Mom.Mom's face was white as a sheet. Tears fell before I could stop them.Thankfully, there was no real harm done.Derek pulled me out of the room and softened his voice."Vivian, I really forgot. It's my fault. Completely my fault.""And about your father's painting. I already chewed Megan out. I told everyone involved in the exhibition.""No one else will ever set foot in your father's collection room again, okay?"I watched him coldly. His sincerity was flawless. A perfect act.So I tested him."I want to see the rest of Dad's paintings."Cold sweat beaded on

Three days later, I had just stepped out of my new apartment when I saw Derek.His eyes were bloodshot. He charged at me, grabbed my arm, and dragged me into his car."Vivian, ten years together, and you're really going to end it like this?""You're pushing me off a cliff."He scowled, his voice dripping with resentment, as if everyone else was to blame.I looked at him and almost laughed."Save the feelings talk. If you want to cut your losses, figure out how to get those paintings back."He slammed the steering wheel."Everything I've done these years, hasn't it been for your father and for you? Keeping this whole thing afloat, you think that's been easy?"I'd thought that with everything out in the open, if he just admitted what he'd done, I wouldn't push any further.But even now, he was playing the victim.When my father entrusted the gallery to him, it had been running perfectly.Now it had deteriorated to the point where he was pawning paintings to keep it afloat.And on top of

Two weeks later, I officially reclaimed the gallery.I went through every one of my father's paintings and put them back in order.This time, Nathan didn't ask me to come work with him.He knew I would never depend on anyone again.Still, it was thanks to his help that my father's exhibition went ahead as planned.On opening day, the turnout was huge.Industry professionals came out to show their support.Old friends of my father's.Former apprentices.And young artists who came to study his work.Seeing his paintings so well received, Mom and I were deeply moved.As the museum closed for the evening, I spotted a blurred figure not far from the entrance.A silhouette I could trace with my eyes closed.But he didn't dare come any closer.He stood under a sycamore tree across the street, soaked in the fading light.My hand paused on the lock. I didn't go to him.I locked the door, turned, and walked toward Nathan.Ten years. From eighteen to twenty-eight.The man I'd walked beside for a