"Anything else?" Derek had a playful look on his face, but Emily didn't notice it at all.
"You have to announce that Rose isn't Aaron and Ian's biological mother. She must not exploit the Scott family for her own benefit."
"OK. I'll talk to her about breaking off the engagement now," Derek immediately took out his phone to call Rose.
Though Emily was the one who brought it up, she didn't expect Derek to act so quickly. She thought, 'Doesn't he need any preparation?
I figure that as the head of a family, he would weigh his interests and be fully prepped before making the next move.'
Rose, who was facing Laura and Ash's questioning, received Derek's call.
She interrupted, "Stop talking. It's Derek. He wants to talk to me."
She couldn't help but think, 'It's been a while since he last contacted me. I guess he's calling to tell me not to be fooled by the media's irresponsible reports.'
She clutched her phone with both hands.
In a calm tone that belied her excitement, she said, "Derek, I didn't expect you'd call."
Rose was still trying to maintain her image as a lady.
"I have something important to talk to you about. Meet me at the hotel where we got engaged in half an hour."
Derek blurted and hung up the phone, not caring about Rose's reaction at all.
"Go and book the entire hotel. I don't wanna see anyone when I get there," Derek said to Eric.
Deep down, Eric criticized Derek for constantly pressuring him. Meanwhile, he felt sorry for Derek, who had been fooled by Rose for a long time.
Eric left, his mind in turmoil.
Derek turned to Emily. "You..."
"I'll go home and pick up Chris and Diane. Then we'll go to your place. Are Aaron and Ian home today?"
Derek wanted to ask Emily if she wanted to go with him, but he felt that it would be fine if she didn't want to go.
"They're off today. Just wait at home. I'll be back soon."
In fact, when Emily found out that Aaron and Ian were the kids she had been pining for, her attention was completely off Derek. So she didn't sense that Derek wanted her to go with him.
Even if she got it, though, she wouldn't agree. After all, it was between Rose and Derek. She had no reason to meddle in it.
Plus, if she showed up with Derek, people would think she was the reason Rose was dumped.
In that case, the whole thing'd be messier.
She wanted the matter to be handled once and for all.
"You're emotionally unstable right now. I don't think you should drive. Let the chauffeur take you home."
Emily accepted Derek's kind suggestion with a nod.
She still hadn't figured out how to face him. They had a one-night stand years ago and even had four kids together. But facing the reality after so many years still made her want to run and hide.
Perhaps only fate could tell her what to do.
The two went in different directions, but they were working on the same thing.
The chauffeur took Emily home. Diane had finished shooting her modeling job and had been awaiting post-production. So these days, she had been hanging out at home with Chris.
Since Chris' toys were too complex for her, she wanted him to comb the doll's hair with her. Judging from the sweat on his face, it was a real challenge.
While Chris was fumbling with the doll, Emily opened the door and walked in.
Teresa walked out of the kitchen with surprise. "Emily? Aren't you going on a business trip today?"
"It's canceled. I'm gonna take Chris and Diane out."
Emily strode to the living room as she spoke. Meanwhile, Chris and Diane were rushing toward her.
"Mommy!"
Diane wanted to tell Emily that she was better than Chris, cuz she knew how to brush the doll's hair while he didn't.
Yet Emily picked her up before she could say anything. She even sensed Emily's tremors.
Bewildered, Diane looked at Chris. He was also in Emily's arms.
Chris shook his head at Diane.
Nestling in Emily's arms, they reached out and patted Emily on the back to comfort her.
Emily couldn't take her eyes off either Chris or Diane. The two biggest regrets in her life were about to be remedied.
Bennett and her kids were the mainspring of her life.
Her efforts for the past five years finally paid off!
"Do you want to see Aaron and Ian? How about let's go play with them?"
"Great! Ian must know how to comb a doll's hair. Chris' games are too hard. Only Aaron can play with him. In this way, we'll both have a friend to play with."
Diane said in a naive tone.
Chris held Emily's hand. "Let's go, Mommy."
He wasn't easily fooled, and he had guessed who Derek was. He knew they weren't just going to play with Aaron and Ian today. But no matter what, he wouldn't let anyone hurt Emily!
Emily took the kids to the Scott's, while Derek was sitting in the hotel, waiting for Rose.
Rose entered the hotel with excitement. This was where her relationship with Derek officially went public. So, when she heard Derek want to meet her here, she figured that something big was gonna happen.
She thought, 'Has Derek decided to marry me?
If so, the reports on those websites will be proven false. And I'll forgive them to show my kindness. By then, they'll praise me like crazy.
In this way, the Hopkinson Group will survive the crisis. And those companies that have stopped working with us will even offer us benefits to continue the cooperation. At that time, everything will be under my control.'
The hotel was empty, and the clank of her heels on the floor echoed. The more she walked, the more uneasy she became. She stopped feeling like a victor, her mind reeling.
Yet she still had a glimmer of hope deep down. She figured that perhaps Derek wanted to give her a surprise.
When she noticed Derek sitting there with a deadpan, she cracked a smile and walked over. The gloom in her heart dissipated the moment she saw him.
"Let's call off the engagement," said Derek, his voice as cold as his expression.
Rose froze.
"What? Did I mishear you? What about Aaron and Ian?" Rose asked with a forced smile.
"Let's call off the engagement," Derek kindly repeated.
"Accept the reality, Rose. Don't make me say it thrice. I'm running out of patience."
Derek didn't give a damn about whether Rose could accept it or not. He just wanted to head straight home. His kids and the woman he loved were there, but he was stuck here with Rose. It was so annoying.
At the thought, he grew restive.