Derek sits back to ponder on this, it's gonna be true what Jaria is telling him, he believes it but reasons what he is gonna do to salvage the situation."What am I gonna do?" He raises his head to ask."I think you will have to make a proper audit of all the workers you have in this establishment, employ expert auditors, they will carry out the work for you. You don't need to stress yourself.""Wow, that's exactly what I'll do upon getting back to the company." He wasn't interested in returning soon but now the urge to go back has set in now. "I can't disappoint Jaria and her parents." He says to himself. He had told them that he would be staying for two days."But I can't go back now?""Yes, till we return. I also want to spend some time with my family. It's been long I saw them and I don't know the next time I'll see them again."Derek agrees to stay one more day with her family and would be leaving after tomorrow. She walks outside with him to join Emily and Albert who will take t
She had heard what he just said. She takes her hand and drapes it round his shoulders, then pulls her head to rest on his arms. She looks pleadingly into his eyes, she thinks Emily also needs help and wants to communicate about this with him."Emily is also grown up and is still working under my parents without having anything to do to earn her own money. I know that's what she is paid to do but fifty dollars a month is nothing to me."Derek gasps. "She's been paid fifty dollars?" He is surprised to hear this."Yeah," Jaria shrugs her shoulders, maintaining a serious face which should let Derek know that she is saying the truth. "My parents don't have enough money to pay her, that's why.""Oh that's bad naturally, I'm not blaming them either. They are trying their best." He heaves heavily. "But what do you think I can do for both of them?" He asks her. Albert is enthusiastic that she is going to mention something which will be really beneficial to him."For Albert, you could give him
For the night, Derek and Jaria books a meeting with Clara and Dennis to discuss about their plan of taking Emily and Albert with them. Clara's heart beats faster than usual, she wants to know what's happening as soon as possible while her husband is just relaxed waiting for them to speak.Derek speaks first, being the head. He sees himself as the boss, an indirect head. Though Jaria has come to play a vital role in his life as a friend, he is still her boss."We just wanted to help Emily and Albert, I'll be giving them work at my company, I don't know how you see it. They are grown and should be financially independent but I know that you have really tried for them."Clara nods in acceptance. Dennis is thoughtful. Jaria prays that her parents accepts this but there is no excuse for them not to accept. Also, she remembers what Emily claimed they said when she asked her of who will take her place when she is gone.She decides to bring up the question. "Mom, you have to accept. I think y
At midnight, Derek places a call to his lawyer, Bianca while sleeping with Jaria. He realized that sleeping side by side with her on the same bed and in the same room which was assigned to him gives him an amount of confidence no other thing can. Jaria was asleep before now but she immediately wakes up upon hearing him make a call. Being a highly conscious person, whatever happens while she is asleep wakes get up. Her eyes are spread open, she decides to pay attention to what Derek is going to say to the person on the other end."Hello Bianca."Just hearing this makes her jealous. She sits up on the bed and gives Derek an envious stare, she is disturbed, it's quite obvious on her face."What's going on, calling Bianca at this time of the night?" She mutters to herself but Derek asks her to calm down."Hello darling." She hears her respond from the other end. Her heart is shattered. "When did she start calling you darling?" She asks our aloud."Who's that on your background?" Bianca
In the morning, the fleet of cars that had dropped Derek and Jaria off here assembles, with all the security personnel who had booked the lounge and came from there for duty. They are right here to pick Derek, Jaria, Emily and Albert.Derek had ordered them to take their belongings into the car without minding anyone when they arrive. Bianca had called earlier, at around 4 AM concerning what he asked her last night.She let him know that the law was against Dennis' act, they weren't happy to be where they were, talking of Emily and Albert but they had no choice which automatically makes the situation a modern day slavery. Dennis would be getting a twenty-one years prison sentence if he should be convicted in a court of law.Her words gave Derek the courage to desire to take Emily and Albert away without seeking any further consultation. Clara walks into the room where Derek and her daughter are, supervising the packing of their stuff.It's been years she met her daughter because she h
After Dennis is gone, the packing goes on peacefully, until the guards who had taken him to the station returns. By now, everything is done and they would be departing. Clara is heartbroken that she will have to be living alone. She breaks down in tears and is only left for Derek and Jaria to comfort her.Derek looks for what to do which will make her happy. Money. He takes out his briefcase from his car, then counts thirty thousand dollars and hands it over to her. Thirty thousand dollars to him is a very small amount of money to him compared to what he has in his account but to Clara, it's a very great amount.She jumps up high in the air and hangs on Derek's neck. "Thanks so much for putting a smile on my face, I didn't expect this great luck for me today." She giggles, dances and jubilates. "With this, I can do a lot of things. I'm so happy."Jaria is so happy to see her mother's jubilation, she hugs her so tight and wants to remain like this with her for the rest of the day but t
Derek arrives at his estate with Jaria, Emily, Albert and his security after having a smooth and long journey. Along the way, the trauma of being ambushed by Jackson came up, upon returning, the first thing on his mind is to do what Jaria said, auditing the company and bringing him out from where he is hiding.Dawson, his grandfather whom he assumes as his father, visits unexpectedly. He arrives at the time Derek is guiding Emily and Albert on where to pack into. Dawson had gone away from the estate, to live in a separate estate, desiring to see Derek live an independent life. This happened, not too long ago.He calls him aside after Emily and Albert greeted him, he knows Jaria already as the secretary and fake girlfriend of Derek. In the inner room a little bit far away from here, Dawson tries to enquire who these people are and why they are packing into his estate.He has given the property to Derek and isn't asking like he is still in charge, but just out of mere interest. "They ar
"Well, I just came in for today. I don't really have anything doing, I'll be back to my estate." He observes a deeper grin lights up on Derek's face, he surely knows his son wants him back to his estate, he wants to live a life of privacy but there is nothing he can say about that. He can't obstruct him either, he's an adult.Finally, Emily and Albert are settled in. Derek invites his staff, including the security guarding his estate and gets them introduced to evade any harassment on them. Then he treats them, Jaria and his dad to a sumptuous meal, Eloine comes in to visit with an important news, which is supposed to be directed to Derek privately.Seeing him with lot of people, including his dad, he waits patiently for him to finish up with the meal, then he would go ahead and pass on his information. The meal is over within thirty minutes and each member at the table retires to their various rooms.Dawson says goodbye to his son and heads for home, while Derek goes over to meet Elo
Years passed, and the wounds of the past faded into distant memories. Derek and Tahlia emerged from their journey stronger than ever, their love a beacon of hope for others who had once lost their way. They shared their story with others, spreading the message that forgiveness, understanding, and commitment could mend even the most broken of relationships.Derek and Tahlia found fulfillment in their roles as parents and partners. They celebrated each milestone with joy and gratitude, cherishing the moments they had missed during their time apart. They created new traditions as a family, building a strong foundation of love, trust, and open communication.Over the years, Derek and Tahlia faced new challenges together, as life always presents its ups and downs. But armed with the lessons they had learned, they tackled each obstacle with unwavering determination and unwavering love for each other.As their daughter grew older, she witnessed firsthand the power of forgiveness and the beau
Derek stood frozen, his heart pounding in his chest as he stared at the woman lying on the hospital bed, her face contorted in pain. It had been years since he last saw Tahlia, his estranged wife, and now she was about to give birth to a child he never knew existed. The realization hit him like a tidal wave, washing away the carefully constructed walls he had built around his emotions.Tahlia glanced up and locked eyes with Derek, a mixture of shock and vulnerability flickering in her gaze. "Derek?" she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sounds of the labor room. "Is it really you?"He nodded, his voice caught in his throat. "Yes, it's me, Tahlia. I can't believe it's you. How did this happen?"Tears welled up in Tahlia's eyes as she struggled to find the right words. "Barbara... she approached me with a proposal. She wanted me to take her place in the agreement. She thought I could help her secure the money by pretending to be her, but I never imagined it would come to this
Derek, Emma, Tahlia, and Barbara sat together in their foundation's office, reflecting on their journey and the impact they had made so far. The room buzzed with excitement as they discussed their plans for the future.Tahlia leaned forward, her eyes shining with determination. "I think it's time we focus on youth empowerment. We have seen firsthand how forgiveness and reconciliation can transform lives. Now, let's empower the next generation to be agents of change."Barbara nodded in agreement. "Youth are the future, and by providing them with the tools and guidance to navigate conflicts and promote understanding, we can create a more peaceful world."Derek smiled, proud of the direction they were taking. "I've been researching youth leadership programs. We can collaborate with schools and organizations to develop workshops and training sessions that foster empathy, conflict resolution, and the power of forgiveness."Emma added, "We should also incorporate storytelling and art as med
Derek, Emma, Tahlia, and Barbara were invited to a prestigious international conference on forgiveness and reconciliation. It was an opportunity for them to share their story on a grand stage and connect with other change-makers from around the world.As they prepared for the event, Tahlia expressed her excitement. "Can you believe how far we've come? From our individual struggles to this moment where we can inspire others and be part of a global movement for forgiveness."Emma nodded, a smile playing on her lips. "It's truly incredible. And it's all thanks to the power of forgiveness and our unwavering belief in the potential for growth and redemption in every individual."Barbara chimed in, "I'm grateful for the chance to meet others who are dedicated to creating positive change. We can learn so much from their experiences and continue to evolve in our own journey."Derek, ever the optimist, added, "This conference is just the beginning. It will open doors for collaborations, partne
Their joint efforts not only helped others heal and rebuild their lives, but also allowed Derek, Emma, Tahlia, and Barbara to heal their own wounds, finding redemption and forgiveness in the process. They became a living example of the power of growth, second chances, and the ability to create positive change even in the face of past mistakes.Their collaboration expanded beyond their foundation, as they embarked on speaking engagements, sharing their story of resilience and redemption with audiences around the world. Their message resonated deeply, inspiring others to confront their own demons, seek forgiveness, and work towards creating a better future.In their personal lives, Derek, Emma, and Tahlia continued to thrive. Their family grew, and their children grew up witnessing the power of forgiveness and the importance of empathy. They instilled in them the values of compassion, understanding, and the belief that every individual has the capacity for change and growth.As the year
Derek, Emma, and Tahlia sat together in their cozy living room, basking in the warmth of their newfound peace. The evening sun cast a golden glow through the window, creating a serene atmosphere."So much has happened," Tahlia said, breaking the comfortable silence. "I can't believe we went through all of that together."Emma nodded, a soft smile playing on her lips. "It feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it? But we made it, stronger than ever."Derek reached out, gently taking Tahlia's hand in his. "I never thought we would come out the other side like this. Our love has been tested, but it has proven to be unbreakable."Tahlia squeezed his hand, her eyes filled with gratitude. "I'm so thankful for both of you. You've shown me what true love is, and I'll never take it for granted."Emma leaned in, her voice filled with excitement. "Now that the dust has settled, what do you think the future holds for us? We've overcome so much together. The possibilities are endless."Derek pondered
Officer Reynolds arrived at Derek, Emma, and Tahlia's home, accompanied by a team of investigators. The officers carefully examined the scene, taking notes and collecting evidence.Officer Reynolds approached the trio, his voice reassuring. "We're here to investigate the break-in and find out who is responsible. We'll do everything we can to bring them to justice."Derek nodded, his jaw set with determination. "Thank you, Officer. We just want to feel safe in our home again."Emma added, her voice firm, "We won't let this incident define us. We'll rise above it."As the officers continued their work, Tahlia's mind raced with questions. She turned to Derek and Emma, her voice tinged with concern. "Do you think this break-in is connected to our past? Could someone be trying to hurt us?"Derek exchanged a knowing glance with Emma before answering. "It's too soon to tell, Tahlia. Let's not jump to conclusions. We need to trust the authorities to investigate thoroughly."Just then, Detecti
Derek, Emma, and Tahlia sat together in their cozy living room, the warm glow of the fireplace casting dancing shadows on the walls. It had been a year since they embarked on their journey of healing and forgiveness, and they had come a long way.Derek looked at Emma, his eyes filled with gratitude.Derek said, "Emma, I can't thank you enough for standing by me through all of this. Your love and support have been my anchor."Emma smiled, her hand reaching out to intertwine with Derek's. "Derek, we've been through so much together. It hasn't been easy, but it has been worth it. Our love and commitment have grown stronger through these challenges."Tahlia, who had been quietly observing their exchange, spoke up with a soft smile. "I'm grateful for both of you and the chance you've given me. I've learned so much about myself and what it means to truly make amends."Derek turned to Tahlia, his expression filled with sincerity. "Tahlia, I've seen the changes you've made. Your dedication
Derek, Emma, and Tahlia sat in silence, the weight of the revelation hanging in the air. Each of them was lost in their own thoughts, contemplating the implications of this unexpected turn of events.Emma broke the silence, her voice filled with a mix of empathy and concern. "Derek, I know this is a lot to process, and I understand if you need time to think things through. We've come so far in rebuilding our lives together, and it's important that we navigate this revelation with care and honesty."Derek nodded, his gaze still fixed on Tahlia."Tahlia, why didn't you tell me sooner? Why keep it a secret until now?"Tahlia wiped away her tears, her voice filled with remorse. "I was afraid, Derek. Afraid of losing you again. I wanted to prove that I had changed, that I was willing to sacrifice everything for a chance at reconciliation. But I realize now that keeping this secret only caused more harm."Derek leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. "I need time to process all of this.