Chapter 93

Clara's POV

I was reminded of what I had promised myself. I told myself I wanted to tell him the truth. The time wasn't the most convenient, but there he was. Maybe this was my only chance with him to sit down and tell him everything. That would be the gift I'd give myself to free him from all this.

I took a final deep breath before approaching him. Layla was not going to be happy about this.

I cleared my throat, grabbing his attention. "Could I please speak to you for a second?" I asked. A worried look swept across his face.

It wouldn't be easy doing this, but it needed to be done.

"How about we take some pictures instead?" He asked. His face was back to normal as if he hadn't heard anything.

He gestured at a photographer a foot away. Before I could respond, a camera flashed in my face as Derek wrapped his arm around my waist. It must have lasted for at least a minute.

"Excuse me, I'll be back in a second." Derek excused himself. He took his cell phone out of his blazer as he stepped out.

Was he avoiding me, or was I losing my mind?

I was startled out of my thoughts as someone cleared their throat beside me.

I turned to look up and saw Derek's grandfather.

Why was he here? I didn't think it was to celebrate my birthday.

Since he was here, I was surprised this whole thing hadn't already been shut down. He hated me.

"I hope you don't mind me stopping by. We were almost family, after all." He smiled.

I remained frozen. Was he being nice to me? I had figured he'd just be straightforward and start insulting me. Was his smile genuine?

"You may never believe me, but I am sorry about what happened to you." He continued. "Truce?" He smiled, holding out his hand for a handshake.

I reluctantly agreed to shake his hand. I thought there would be some trick, but it was just that, a handshake.

"I won't inconvenience you any further. I hope we will see more of each other." He said before excusing himself.

I couldn't believe it. Derek's grandfather was being nice to me. Did that mean he could tolerate me being around Derek without offering me a payout? It would take me a lot more time to believe him.

I looked into the crowd. Layla and my mom seemed deeply involved in their conversation. It was almost like we were all just one family, but I couldn't have all this based on lies. I needed to find Derek.

I needed to free myself from this guilt.

I noticed Derek in the crowd. Luckily, he was standing alone. I grabbed his arm, turning him to face me.

My heart was beating out of my chest. I could barely concentrate on anything. There were voices around us, with a man speaking on a podium to the guests.

"I was never pregnant," I finally confessed.

For a few seconds, it was as if the world had turned silent around me. It was just me and the blank look on Derek's face.

I wondered what he felt. Angry or perhaps confused? I wasn't going to cover anything up anymore.

"How about a message for the birthday girl? Derek, would you please come up on stage?" The MC called out on stage.

Everyone focused on us while waiting for Derek to walk to the stage.

What was I thinking? Of all places, why did I do it here? I could have pulled him aside to somewhere more private. That was the least he deserved.

Derek remained frozen as he stared into my eyes.

I waited for his reaction, that he would lose and let everything out, but the calm look on his face scared me even more.

Had he even heard me?

"I have to go," Derek finally responded.

I would have expected him to walk out of the venue, and rightfully so, but instead, he walked towards the stage. Calm and collective and as if nothing had happened at all.

I held my hands into a fist to keep myself from crying. You'd think that after all this time, I'd have prepared myself for whatever reaction he'd have, but I was more scared than ever.

Derek stepped onto the stage, accepting the mic from the MC, who then walked off the stage.

Everyone focused on him as he brought the mic closer to speak.

"Before I met Clara, my life was black and white. Till you brought so much colour and so many other things I will never forget and forever cherish." He paused. He stared at me intently from the stage.

This was his reaction?

I just told him the one truth that could shutter everything, and this was his reaction. Did he not care that I lied to him? Had he already known?

“Clara, could you please come up to the stage?" Derek called out.

I stood frozen and unable to respond. I could feel my heart beating out of my chest. Everything in me told me to walk away and run out of this venue and never return.

But the crowd began closing in on me and cheered, everyone yelling my name in unison as they clapped.

Before I knew it, my mother was behind me. Rubbing my shoulders, she encouraged me to walk to the stage.

The crowd cheered even louder. Without thinking, I found myself slowly moving towards the stage. I didn't know how my legs could even move.

Derek held out his hand for me, helping me onto the stage.

I stood beside him, still in shock and with everyone's attention now on us. I noticed some people taking out their phones.

Derek turned towards me before continuing his speech. "Before I met you, I did not trust anyone. But then you came along, and I will never forget this important lesson you taught me." He smiled. "Who would have thought that such a person with such an innocent face would conspire with none other than my very own mother? Thank you for teaching me how betrayal by the people you love and trust feels like." He paused.

There were gasps from the crowd as some people took out their cell phones. People turned over to look at each other, confused. Several cameras were already flashing in our direction.

He knew he knew about it all along. My mind was still processing that he had decided to do this, and here.

Derek turned to look at the crowd. "Dear mother, you must have been so bored in your self-absorbed life that you thought it would be such an excellent idea to fool your son and do something as low as fake a pregnancy. I could have never expected this from you, Clara. I would have thought this of everyone except you. I hope you will be happy now because you had me fooled." He continued.

Maybe it was the tears whelming in my eyes or the cameras flashing from all directions, but I could barely see. I could imagine what everyone in the crowd was thinking, the disappointed look on my mom's face.

"And mother, I hope you become a better human being because you were terrible at being a mother. I hope you know that because of this, you are dead to me." He paused. "And everyone, I hope you enjoy the rest of the party." He added. He then dropped the mic before walking off the stage.

A/N Thank you for reading 🥰🥰,I hope you enjoy this chapter, don't forget to tip me.