Derek was tired of the slow pace of the investigation, and there was now a faster way to confirm his suspicions.
On his way back from dropping Emily off, he asked Eric to get his hands on it.
"I want a DNA test for Rose and the two kids. And keep this a secret." Derek frowned. The thought of his speculation filled him with disgust for Rose.
Eric paused for a second, and then he quickly adjusted his expression.
He thought, 'When the kids got back, they had a DNA test, and they've been identified as being related to Derek. And now, Derek wants them to do a DNA test with Rose? Is he suspecting that she isn't the kids' mother?'
Eric was too frightened to raise his head at the sudden revelation of such a juicy mystery.
"OK."
"Also, find out what happened five years ago. I want to get to the bottom of it. Who gave birth to the babies? Who was the one with me that night?" Derek emphasized with a dangerous tone. He was like a predatory lurking in the darkness.
Eric left with Derek's order. It seemed that it was going to be a sleepless night for him.
It wouldn't be easy to investigate these two matters discreetly. Eric had a feeling that he would be so troubled, and he was about to suffer from hair loss again.
He wasn't alone. Rose was also tossing and turning tonight.
In the restaurant, Derek left her behind coldly. She wanted to follow him but was stopped by Eric.
When she thought about the scene now, she could still feel the others' eyes on her.
She thought, 'Ever since Emily got back, I've had bad luck every time I've run into her.'
The thought made Rose resent Emily even more.
Since they were little, she knew that Emily was her dad's favorite kid.
Bennett married Laura, but he never let go of his late ex-wife. He only married Laura for Emily's sake, since he was worried that Emily would grow up without a mother.
Rose was Bennett's daughter, too, but everything in the family was about Emily.
Rose would try to copy Emily's behavior in every way.
For the past twenty years of Rose's life, she was like Emily's shadow.
No matter how hard she tried, Bennett simply turned a blind eye to it, and Emily still got everything Rose dreamed of.
Until that day, Rose found out about the intimate relationship between Laura and Ash.
Since Rose couldn't get any attention from Bennett, she chose to get close to Ash.
Back then, Rose was grateful. At least there was one person who thought more of her than Emily.
With Ash, Rose had a lot of privileges. She could enter his office without knocking, and he would give her gifts that were more expensive than the ones he gave others. He would buy her gifts every time he went on a business trip.
She had to clean out a closet just to put Ash's gifts.
One day, she joined the cheerleading squad. After calling Laura and telling her the good news, she headed to Ash's office.
On the way, she had been thinking about what she should ask him for.
But she found out that Laura had already told Ash.
After that, she found out that whenever she went to Ash, Laura was always with him.
She thought maybe that was why Bennett couldn't treat her the way he treated Emily.
At that time, she had no idea what her thoughts meant.
Then she blurted it out while quarreling with Laura once. Laura shook her frantically as if she was in a big shock.
"It's Bennett's fault! He made me do it!"
Rose remembered Laura's words very well.
Years ago that night, as Rose watched Emily drink the tampered drink, she also said the same thing to herself.
That was when Rose really understood Laura. As long as Bennet and Emily were in the picture, Laura and she would never get the lives they wanted.
Rose tried to get a hobo to ruin Emily, and she didn't expect Derek to be there that night.
His security was so impeccable that she could only flee, leaving Emily behind.
Rose figured that Emily was the lucky one since she got to spend the night with Derek. Yet she wouldn't tell Emily about the truth and keep her in the dark.
Then Rose went to Laura because she couldn't handle it on her own.
She watched as Laura found someone to handle the surveillance footage from that night and took care of everything.
Laura always doted on Rose. But it was only that night that Rose realized how close they were. They bonded.
Therefore, Rose chose to turn a blind eye to the things going on between Laura and Ash. It was just that she couldn't treat him the way she used to.
Ash assumed that Rose had grown up, so she had stopped being a clingy little girl.
Rose didn't tell him the reason and let him feel that way.
She became the only daughter of the Hopkinson family, while Bennett lay in his sick bed.
Rose had both Emily's children and Derek under her control, and she was satisfied with her life during those years.
However, Emily's sudden appearance and the change in Derek's attitude toward her terrified her in a way she hadn't felt in a long time. After all, she wouldn't let go of what she had so easily.
Rose was so anxious that she rushed into the house without locking her car.
Laura knew better about men and was smarter than Rose, so she really needed Laura's help now.
"Ash?"
Rose had to try her best to stop herself from asking him why he was here at such a late hour.
Laura and Ash were alone in the living room. They asked the servants to leave. They chose to meet in the living room to avoid suspicion.
Rose was sickened by Ash, and she dropped her eyes.
"Laura, I still got things to deal with in the office. I think Rose wants to talk to you." Ash kissed Laura on the cheek as if they were married.
Laura had always been a gentle and elegant lady, and yet when she was facing Ash right now, her cheeks were flushed with excitement, and her voice was as sweet as honey.
"There's always something at the office. If you wear yourself out, who else can we rely on?"
Laura helped Ash straighten his suit, her hands tugging at his tie as she adjusted his collar.
Ash felt his heart tugged too.
Rose cleared her throat impatiently.
"I'm leaving. If it's not something urgent, you two can talk tomorrow. Don't keep her up late."
Before Ash left, he gently rubbed Rose's hair, as if she were still a little girl.
"I got a necklace at the auction today for you. You can ask Laura to show you later."
"Thank you, Ash. You too, try to get some rest," Rose said with her usual tone.
Rose and Laura watched Ash leave.
With Ash out of sight, Laura reverted to her ladyship and sighed wearily.
She thought, 'Ash is indeed nice to me, but it isn't just about feelings. More importantly, we share the same interests.
Besides, we have a daughter.' She glanced at Rose.
"Laura, I think Derek may be getting suspicious."
Rose spoke anxiously. She had no idea what to do. But there was one thing she was certain about. She wouldn't let Emily take anything from her.
"Calm down. Take your time. Didn't you go to dinner with Derek today?"
Being soothed by Laura, Rose told her about the night.