Chapter 31

[Third Person’s POV]

While, of course, many people were glad to hear the joyous news of Mia and James’ sudden marriage...There were also those, much like Diana Derek, who was less than pleased with the idea.

Currently residing in the next city over, was David Durent. A man who ran his business with an iron fist and never settled for mediocre results. A man who was not to be trifled with in or out of the office...A man who cherished the idea of family as much as he cared for trumping the competition.

And although he prided himself on his stellar form of patience, there was absolutely nothing that could have possibly prepared him for the bombshell that was dropped on his desk that morning.

“What the fuck is this?” David grimaced.

He glared at the picture of the infamous press conference where Mia, his delecant niece was standing beside one of David’s most hated enemies—James Derek. In fact, David couldn’t stand the whole Derek family.

‘They’re nothing but self-entitled elitists that have never gotten their hands dirty a day in their lives,’ he thought bitterly. ‘How could this have happened?’

How on earth had his niece become saddled with the likes of a goddamn Derek??

David was certain there must have been some sort of mistake. But as he carefully read through the article, he felt his blood pressure rise higher and higher.

“Fucking hell,” he gritted through his teeth. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

It was true.

A swirl of emotions coursed through him, he wasn’t entirely sure what to make of the situation. Beneath the seething anger of staring at James Derek’s irritating face, his chest filled with deepened sadness for his niece.

‘She looks just like her mother,’ he thought solemnly.

There wasn’t much in life that David ever regretted, but the unjust death of his sister always weighed heavily on his mind. Deep in his gut, he knew that the Dereks had some sort of hand in the death of Mia and Chris’ parents.

He partially blames himself for not doing a better job protecting the family. He should have put more effort into keeping tabs on his niece and nephew over the years—perhaps things wouldn’t have progressed like this.

The mere thought was utterly ridiculous. Seriously, what in God’s name was his little Mia doing with the likes of a fucking Derek?!

Unlike her brother, David knew that Mia had always been less outspoken and shy. From what he could recall from years back, she normally kept to herself but she possessed a rare kindness that not many people had.

‘Yeah, and now she’s gone ahead and fallen victim to a damn Derek.’

David clenched his fists so tightly, that he caused his knuckles to turn white. A sudden knock on the door distracted him from his present anger.

“What?!” he barked out.

The door opened, revealing Michael, a young and tall, dark-haired man. Much of David’s anger suppressed itself when he saw his adopted son stroll into his office with not a care in the world.

Not having a wife of his own, nor literal blood-related children, David took the utmost pride in raising Michael.

“Geez,” Michael said with a slight unknowing smirk. “What’s got you so aggravated already?”

David glanced down at the newspaper and sneered before tossing it at the younger man.

“Why don’t you have a look for yourself?” he asked tightly.

Michael reached for the paper and was instantly struck with the same level of shock as David had a few moments ago. David watched the relaxed expression on his son’s face shift to that of unsettled disdain. Yet he remained silent.

Michael’s jaw clenched as he tried to keep his tone neutral as he spoke. “This is...Mia. Mia Johnson.”

“Yes,” David confirmed. “I know that I haven’t been the best at keeping in contact as I probably should have over these past years—hell if I knew that this was what was going to happen, I would have taken Mia and Chris under my wing the moment their parents were confirmed dead. I’m sure you can imagine my surprise when I unraveled this morning’s paper to find that my only niece had been snatched up by a Derek...”

Michael knew of his adoptive father’s intense hatred toward the Derek family. He’d tried asking him on numerous occasions about the real reason why the man couldn’t stand any of them and he was always met with the same redundant answer, ‘they’re just not good people’.

He glanced up from the paper, his brows furrowed in disbelief. “How could this even happen?” he questioned. “Mia and this guy, James...The two aren’t even in the same orbit and now, all of a sudden, this happens?”

David sat back in his chair and glanced at Michael with a smile. “Now you’re starting to sound like me,” he mused.

The older man gave a slight shrug and shook his head. “Honestly, if I can recall correctly, it was Chris who usually spent his time around the eldest Derek child. Mia, as you know, tended to keep to herself.”

‘Yes,’ Michael thought to himself. ‘The Mia that I can remember, was quiet and soft-spoken. She didn't have an abrasive bone in her body.’

However, seeing her stand next to James with such a fierce expression on her face, forced Michael to rethink such thoughts. The longer he stared at the picture of her, the more his long-suppressed memories started to rise...as well as a few secret feelings he kept locked away.

“I think, perhaps, it’s time someone ought to reach out to your cousin Christopher and get as much information on Mia’s supposed marriage,” David suggested. “If anyone should have the answers, it would be him.”

“Fine,” Michael said sternly.

Without another word, Michael stormed out of the office with the paper still clenched tightly in his hand. His head pounded while his chest ached from all the unwanted feelings that were flooding through him.

He knew he once cared for her deeply. Whenever he and David were around that side of the family, which was seldom fewer than he would’ve liked, Michael always gravitated toward Mia. It was as though she was the shining light within the family that everyone constantly overlooked.

But not him. As time went on, Michael forced himself to push his thoughts of interest aside in order to be the man that David needed him to be. However, time had come to a complete standstill. And Michael wasn’t willing to force his emotions down anymore.

‘Nothing is going to stop me this time,’ he said promisingly. ‘Especially, not someone like James Derek.’