Chapter 4 Derek Willis

Everyone turned sharply toward the door.

A man in a smart, tailored suit sauntered into the living room. He had a tall frame that was complemented well by his broad shoulders and tapered waist. His features were striking, as though he had been carved by the gods themselves.

His deep set eyes glimmered as he peered at the group of people gaping at him.

Melanie blinked in surprise.

This was Ashton's youngest uncle, Derek Willis. What was he doing here? When did he come back?

She was still wondering about these things when the man in question made a beeline for her. In one fluid motion, he took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

Melanie belatedly realized that she must look utterly disheveled. "Thank you," she muttered tentatively.

Derek's kind gesture took her aback, and a part of her felt inexplicably warm. It had been so long since someone had come to rescue her when she was in distress.

But she quickly stifled those emotions, and after expressing her gratitude, carefully stepped back to put some distance between them.

It was then that Ashton finally came back to his senses. "Uncle Derek," he said, his face flushed with embarrassment. "Why are you back? Aren't you supposed to be overseeing your business projects abroad?"

On paper, Derek had officially stepped down from the leadership, yet he remained the most powerful and most feared member of the Willis family. Even Ashton himself, despite having taken over the family business, was still wary of Derek.

Derek ignored his nephew and kept his eyes on Melanie. "Was Ashton bullying you?" he suddenly asked.

His question swept over Melanie like the caress of a summer breeze. That, coupled with the tender glint in his eyes, stirred something in her heart.

She didn't know what to make of the situation. She had hardly even seen Derek before. Why was he so concerned about her all of a sudden?

Melanie just shook her head, thinking that it would be best to refrain from saying anything.

They were still in the Willis residence, after all, and Derek was still Ashton's uncle. They were family, tied by blood. What was the use of airing out her grievances?

The only thing on Melanie's mind was that she needed to get out of there as soon as possible.

With renewed determination, she lifted her eyes and met Derek's. "I just want to leave," she said in a chilly voice. "Can't you just let me go?"

Derek tipped his head toward her and stepped aside, effectively clearing her path.

Melanie wasted no time. She grabbed her suitcase and all but ran through the door.

She never expected Derek to follow her outside, all the way to the gates.

"Please wait a moment, Melanie."

Melanie stopped in her tracks, inhaled slowly, and turned around. She did her best to keep her frustration from showing on her face.

Derek's appearance and subsequent intervention had caught her off-guard and made her cautious.

She squared her shoulders and tried to sound unperturbed. "What do you want?"

Her deliberate attempt at being aloof made Derek frown. "I feel the need to apologize for Ashton's behavior," he said sincerely. "He is definitely in the wrong, and as his elder, I take responsibility for failing to correct his behavior before it got out of hand."

Despite his heartfelt words, they only sounded like excuses to Melanie.

She smirked at him, pulled his suit jacket off her shoulders, and hurled it back at him.

Derek easily caught it with one hand, his expression morphing from baffled to uneasy when he heard her next words.

"I don't need your apology."

With that, Melanie straightened her clothes and turned on her heel, walking away without a backward glance.

Derek watched her go until she disappeared from sight. Only then did he snap back to reality and make his way back into the villa.

He had barely stepped into the hall when he overheard Jenifer and Stacey going on separate rants in their shrill voices.

"That bitch, Melanie! She's so ungrateful!"

"Next time I see her, I'll be sure to make her suffer!"

Derek's face instantly darkened.

"Enough." He walked up to them and loomed over the two women. "What right do you have to speak about Melanie that way?"

His voice carried an unmistakable authority, and what followed was a heavy, oppressive silence.

Jenifer and Stacey exchanged a nervous glance, their usual arrogance dissipating under Derek's glare.

Seeing this, Ashton stepped up to defend himself, and himself alone. "I was only trying to keep the peace, Uncle. Melanie was being unreasonable, you see, saying that she wanted to leave and..."

Derek held up a hand to interrupt him. "None of that matters. What you should have done is respect her decision. Melanie is set on leaving, so just leave her be. Don't even think about causing her trouble in any way, or I might just drop by the company and do the same to you."

Derek's piercing gaze seemed to bore into Ashton's soul, and his threat hung heavy over the latter's head.

Ashton gritted his teeth. As much as he hated it, he had no choice but to swallow his anger and yield.

Jenifer, on the other hand, tried to save face by bringing up an old agreement. "Derek, you promised that Ashton would take over all the domestic business dealings. You said you wouldn't interfere."

Derek turned his icy gaze over to her. "I did say that, and I have kept my word. But I also stipulated that you must treat Melanie well, didn't I? Tell me, have you upheld your end of the deal? Because if you failed to do your part, then my promises naturally become void."

The other three were rendered speechless, their faces ridden with frustration.

Derek had been trained religiously by his father, old man Marc Willis. As such, he had adopted a strict and traditional outlook in life. They knew he would never tolerate a divorce in the family.

Ashton wanted to do something to assert his position, but he had to admit that he was powerless against Derek.

Besides, he was certain that Melanie's talk of a divorce was nothing more than a childish fit.

He couldn't afford to invite even more problems into this tricky predicament. What he needed was to find a way to bring Melanie back.