Married to the Devil

Chapter 49

"What took you so long?" Derek asked, annoyed.

I sucked in a breath, "I was talking to Josh."

He looked at me, dumbfounded, "You were what?"

"Talking to Josh," I said evenly, "And before you freak out it was only because it was important."

"It always is with him," He glared at me in a way that made me want to shrink back into a dark hole, "Look, if you're having second thoughts about us then-"

"No!" I exclaimed, "I only went because he wanted to tell me the real reason why you teamed up with Evelyn!"

Derek silenced.

"Is it true?" I pressed, trying not to explode at my sheer amount of curiosity.

He chuckled forcefully, "Is what true? You haven't said anything yet."

"He hired a private investigator Derek-"

"What the fuck?" His eyes clouded angrily and he looked ready to hunt him down and punch his lights out, "Why the hell does that bastard think he has the right to dig up information about me?"

His eyes swung back to me, "Don't tell me you put him up to this."

"No," The hurt in my voice showed, "And before you jump to any more conclusions I asked him the exact same thing."

"Sure you did." He growled.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what you think it means."

He was angry and breathing heavily. Even from across the room I could feel the intensity of his hatred for my ex-boyfriend.

"Look, I'm not the bad guy here-" I began.

He shot me a look,"Maybe you are."

How could he say that?

"You went behind my back, again after you promised me that there were going to be no more secrets between us." He marched over to me furiously, his figure towering over me,"What else are you guys doing? Screwing? 'Cause I don't want want to be your fucking sidechick."

"Is that what you think of me? Do you honestly believe that I would cheat on you a second time?" I spat, my voice ringing through the air.

He frowned and seemed to reassess the situation. After a minute he hung his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"No, I don't. And you're right, that's not what I think of you. I'm sorry."

Derek hung his head and punched the wall behind me. I flinched.

"So he knows then?"

"About your sister? Yeah. But he found a way to break the contract. Evelyn didn't go through with your promise. It counts as a verbal contract. We can threaten her with a lawsuit so that she drops the whole thing!" I said.

Derek shook his head,"You've got it wrong. Evelyn gave me money that I could give to Mark for my sister. I tried to negotiate a deal with the jack ass but he refused. He said he liked having her around too much."

"So what did you do with the money?" I asked, confused.

"I spent it on fixing up my mother's legacy. Carterfield Forest. I fixed up the barn, the roof, and made that archway we had dinner at during our second month anniversary."

My hand slapped against my forehead, "Jeez Derek, why didn't you tell me?"

He cracked a half-smile, "Which part? How I created a contract with your worst enemy that forced you to marry me after I killed your brother?"