Chapter 11
“Why are you here?” I asked, calm, like I was talking to a stranger.
And maybe that’s what he was now.
He seemed to feel it too. His lips pressed into a line before he finally said, “I broke up with Molly. I’ve thought it through. I’m willing to give up everything and come to Inglane with you.”
“I know you’re still angry,” he kept going. “But I get it now. I was wrong. I’ll handle everything back in Arlencia-leave it all behind. We can start fresh.”
I looked at him–so sure, so determined-and couldn’t help laughing. “Handle it how? Or is the company about to go under?”
I hadn’t kept tabs on Derrick, but a few old coworkers still messaged me now and then.
Turned out, not long after I left, the project Molly was running completely imploded. The damages? Huge. Compensation?
Massive.
Derrick and Molly spent weeks groveling to their partners.
Eventually, they got one last shot-but only if they redid the entire project from scratch.
Funny enough, that lined up with when Derrick started video-calling me.
I didn’t learn the full picture until later.
I couldn’t tell if his apology back then was real or just another attempt to pull me back in-use me like before.
Didn’t matter now.
Later, Molly stepped up again, trying to redeem herself. Derrick gave her another shot.
And the project crashed. Hard.
Millions of users’ data got leaked.
Now Derrick had to pay damages to both the partners and the users-easily over a million.
Years of work, gone in smoke.
He clearly hadn’t expected me to know. He just stood there, staring, lips trembling as big, silent tears rolled down his pale face.
“I’m sorry, Yara. I was wrong. I should’ve listened to you. Please don’t shut me out. Come back. Let’s start over, okay?”
As he spoke, Derrick dropped to his knees.
Back then, that would’ve broken me. I would’ve caved. I would’ve done everything to save him.
Now? I felt nothing. Like I was watching someone else’s life play out.
Maybe he saw it on my face, because he didn’t stop. He rolled up his sleeve.
Ugly scars ran along his arm.
I recognized them instantly.
They spelled my name-[Yara.]
“I admit I failed you,” he said, voice cracking. “But after you left, I was hurting too. That empty house-every night-I couldn’t stop thinking about you. Every time I missed you, I carved your name into my arm.
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“Being with Molly… it was just to provoke you, to get you to come back. You’re the only one I ever loved. I never wanted us to break up. I never thought you’d really leave.
“I regret it. I swear, I regret everything…”
He collapsed completely, clutching my leg as if afraid I’d disappear. “Yell at me, hit me-whatever. I deserve it. Just… don’t leave me again. Please.”
I was about to shove him off-then paused.
“Alright. But only if you agree to one condition.”
“What condition?”
His eyes lit up-like I’d just thrown him a lifeline.
I pulled out my phone, dialed the police, and held it out to him.
“I have proof Molly embezzled company funds. Evidence of her financial crimes at Vantrel. You call the cops. Let her face what she deserves.”
