Emily's eyes slowly opened to find Derek staring at her with an expression she couldn't place. Her head rested against Derek's chest.
"Does it hurt?" Derek asked, breaking the silence between them.
Emily blushed. "No."
"Good," Derek replied, then gazed at the ceiling. Emily expected Derek to leave soon. Instead, he lay next to her for a moment, then slid off the bed and headed for the bathroom.
Curious about Derek's actions, Emily sat up. When the sound of running water came from the bathroom, Emily saw Derek walk back in. Totally confused, she wondered, "What was Derek doing?"
But Emily didn't bother to ask. Derek picked her up and took her to the bathroom.
He put her feet on the floor and joined her. The hot water felt soothing on Emily's skin. Though she didn't understand what was happening, she refrained from saying anything to avoid ruining the moment, letting Derek do as he pleased.
Derek's hands brushed over Emily's skin with a wet rag and soap, cleaning every inch of her. His fingers lingered around Emily's core longer than she expected, and a sensitive gasp escaped her lips when his fingers played with her clit for a little longer.
Emily couldn't help but gaze at Derek as a small smile flashed across his face.
She wanted desperately to know what was going through Derek's mind, but the moment disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Derek turned the water off, walked out, and wrapped a towel around Emily.
She slowly returned to the bed, with Derek following her until she was settled under the blankets. Derek pulled the covers up, tucking her in.
"Get some rest, Emily," Derek's hoarse voice sounded gentle. However, Emily didn't want to sleep at that moment.
Just then, Derek's cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out, and his eyes instantly narrowed.
"Derek, I'm back!"
A woman's voice came from the phone, and Emily's body tensed.
Could that woman be Serena?
"I saw the news, Serena! What did you want to do when you called?" Derek glanced at Emily, reached out to touch her hair, then got up, turned off the lights, and walked out.
"What do you want?" Derek asked coldly.
"Derek, since you saw the news, you should know that I came back for you," Serena said in a soft voice on the other end of the phone.
"So what? It's all in the past, isn't it? It's been over between us since the moment you left for a foreign country without saying goodbye. Five years without a word!"
"But I thought you would wait for me. If I did anything wrong, it was that I believed too much in our relationship. I thought the power of love would make you wait for me."
"Serena, what do I have to say to make you understand? If you had told me back then that I would fully support you in your career endeavors, I would have waited for you. But you just walked away without saying a word. Then, for five whole years, you didn't make a single phone call! The one who walks away first is never entitled to ask another person to wait without complaint."
Derek rubbed his brow, clearly losing his patience.
He glanced over at Emily's room, his eyes much softer.
"If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up," Derek said indifferently.
"Hold on a second, Derek. Okay, I get it. I won't pester you. In fact, I'm calling just to tell you something. Is it convenient to come out and meet me?" Serena continued to plead on the other end of the line.
"It's late in the day, so if there's anything, you can tell me over the phone," Derek said.
"No, Derek, this is important. It's about your brother," Serena said hurriedly.
Derek's eyes widened instantly at Serena's words.
"Alright, send me the address. I'll be right there."
Hanging up the phone, Derek knocked on the door of Emily's room, full of apologies. "Sorry, Emily, I have something to take care of."
"I know. Go ahead and go about your business," Emily's muffled voice came from inside the room.
Derek wanted to say something but, in the end, left without saying anything.
Emily, unable to sleep at night, descended to the living room and poured herself a glass of red wine.
She was supposed to be in her room awaiting Derek's return, but she tossed and turned, unable to find rest.
The kids were all in bed under the babysitter's care.
The living room had grown cold and desolate, and there was still no response to the message she had sent to Derek.
Seated on the living room couch, gazing at the cellphone in her hand, Emily fell into deep contemplation.
Before Derek departed, he received a call from Serena.
Were the two of them together now?
Emily pondered, a sense of loss building in her heart. Quickly, she shook her head to dispel that feeling.
"Emily, you and Derek only get married because of the kids. Now that Serena is back, it's only right for him to see her and sort things out," Emily mumbled to herself. Despite rationalizing, an inexplicable uneasiness lingered in her heart.
Suddenly, the phone rang—it was Louise. "Hi, Emily. I'm at the Starlight Bar. Do you want to come over and join me?"
In an attempt to lift herself spirits, Emily replied without much thought, "Sure, send me the address. I'll be there soon."
Shortly after, Emily arrived at the Starlight Bar. "Emily, over here," Louise waved her over. She took her seat and ordered a cocktail. The two quickly engaged in lively conversation.
"Wait, is that Derek?" Louise exclaimed suddenly.
Emily followed his gaze and saw a man on the card table, his side facing her—she recognized Derek's outline. Seated across from him was a woman, a blonde with curly hair, undeniably beautiful.
"Wait, that woman... She's Serena!" Louise exclaimed in shock. However, her expression soon turned sulky.
"What the hell? This asshole! How dare he sneakily meet with another woman when he's already married to you!" Louise exclaimed, ready to confront Derek.
Emily quickly pulled Louise back. "Calm down. I know about Derek and Serena meeting; Derek told me before he came out."
Emily hadn't expected to coincidentally run into them here.
As she finished speaking, Emily looked up and realized Derek, who had been sitting there drinking, was gone. Only Serena remained, alone with a glass of wine.
"Where's Derek?" Emily wondered.
She walked over, scanning the area but finding no trace of him.
Serena, having recognized Emily, commented, "Emily, what a coincidence."
She set down her glass, gazing deeply at Emily with a smile playing on her lips.
Frowning, Emily asked, "Where's the person you were just drinking with?"
"Just now?" Serena raised an eyebrow. "I've been drinking here alone; there's no one with me."
Emily's frown deepened. Louise had seen it too, so it wasn't just a misunderstanding.
Before Emily could process it, Serena sipped her wine and said enigmatically, "Emily, I really envy you. You're only two years older than me, and you already have a happy family with four lovely children. Derek cares about you so much; you're the happiest woman in the world."
Emily sensed something off in Serena's words. She replied casually, "You'll meet the one you're meant to be with and have children of your own too. It's nothing to envy."
"Is it?" Serena lowered her head, drinking her wine with a bitter expression.
Suddenly, Serena announced, "I'm going to the restroom," and left.
Derek approached Emily from the other side at this time when Emily was still lost in thought. "Why are you here?" he asked.
Emily turned her head to see Derek coming the other way.
"Louise and I came to relax."
Emily frowned tighter.
She had just seen Derek drinking with Serena, so why was he appearing from the other side now?
Emily inquired, sniffing but not detecting any alcohol on Derek. She vividly remembered him drinking at least two glasses of whiskey.
Could she have been mistaken?