Once Forgotten, Now Unforgettable

The bedroom, though modestly adorned, radiated an understated wealth. The atmosphere was charged with the soft sounds of a woman's moans intertwined with a man's deep grunts.

Stretched out across the plush bed, Allison Evans' fingers clenched the smooth silk of the sheets, her movements synchronizing with the man's deepening pace.

One of his hands firmly anchored her waist, the other pinned hers to the bed, channeling the pent-up desire from his recent a month-long business trip.

A muffled cry escaped Allison's lips as she bit down, prompting him to deliver one forceful, final thrust, releasing his long-held passion.

Lingering in the afterglow, they clung to each other, the echoes of their pleasure slowly fading.

"Derek, your grandfather is hinting about us having a baby again," Allison murmured in the dark, entwining her fingers with his, her voice soft and tender, laced with a lingering intimacy.

She could feel his hot breath against her ear, sending tingling sensations along her spine with each breath.

"A baby?" Derek Evans repeated, his lips curling into a playful smirk as he tenderly stroked her hair.

Allison could not see her husband's face, and the fact that he had not immediately dismissed the idea allowed a fragile hope to take root in her heart. "Yes. I am still young. Recovering from childbirth would be easier now. And if we decide we want more kids later, it would make sense to start early."

His fingers, which had been gently stroking her hair just moments ago, suddenly slid down to her face and clamped harshly around her chin, leaving a raw red mark on her skin.

"So you're planning to tie me down with a kid? How pathetic."

The chill in his voice cut through her, sharp and merciless. Without even pausing, he yanked himself away, leaving Allison limp and shivering on the bed.

A surge of panic seized her. She hurried to defend herself, saying, "It was your grandfather's suggestion, not mine..."

The silence stretched on unbearably long before Derek finally spoke again, his voice low and cutting.

"Don't even think about showing up at the family dinner tomorrow."

"Why not?"

Allison turned to him, confusion clouding her eyes. Was he really this angry just because she had mentioned having a baby?

Tomorrow was supposed to be their third wedding anniversary, a day when the entire Evans family would get together at his grandfather's place.

Only the faint outline of Derek's face was visible in the thick darkness.

"Kaylyn's back."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the overhead lights blinked on with a sharp glare.

Allison's first instinct was to yank the thin blanket higher, shielding her bare chest while she gaped at him in speechless disbelief.

Not even glancing her way, Derek climbed out of bed, his body completely exposed, and headed straight for the bathroom. A moment later, the steady splash of water echoed through the room.

An invisible weight dropped in Allison's chest, spreading a slow, numbing ache.

Still clutching the blanket loosely around her, she remained frozen, her ears filled with the rushing sound of water as old memories stirred back to life.

Three years earlier, she had been gravely injured. It was Glenn Evans, Derek's grandfather, who had stepped in and saved her.

When she finally recovered, Glenn had asked only one thing of her-marry his grandson, who lay trapped in a coma after a devastating car crash.

Grateful for Glenn's kindness, and desperate to keep her whereabouts hidden, Allison had agreed without protest, signing a marriage contract that would bind her to Derek for three years.

When the agreed time ended, the choice to stay together or part ways would fall to both her and Derek.

Since then, Allison had stepped into the role of Derek's wife and tended to him with unwavering dedication.

Due to her constant care, Derek had eventually opened his eyes.

Somewhere along the way, Allison's heart had quietly surrendered.

Even though they had been married for three years, their real time spent together only amounted to about a year and a half. And during all of it, Derek had never once pretended-his heart had been reserved for another, his first love, Kaylyn Stevens.

It was from Glenn that Allison learned that the moment Derek fell into a coma, Kaylyn wasted no time leaving the country.

She claimed she was chasing a dream of studying fashion design, but the reality was far different. She drifted from one man to another, never once looking back.

Now, by some cruel twist of timing, the end of their marriage contract lined up exactly with Kaylyn's return.

Three years of tender care, whispered words, and small acts of devotion still could not measure up against the space Kaylyn occupied in Derek's heart. No amount of love could melt the ice that sealed it shut.

The water finally cut off, leaving an eerie silence hanging in the air. A moment later, the bathroom door slid open, and Derek emerged, a towel slung loosely around his hips.

Every inch of him looked sculpted to perfection-sharp muscles, a lean and powerful build, long legs, and a body Allison had come to know in the most intimate ways.

His gaze flickered toward the bed, and a faint crease appeared between his brows when he noticed her lying there, unmoving.

Crossing the room, he opened the wardrobe and pulled out a crisp white shirt and a pair of fitted slacks. With slow, deliberate movements, he let the towel fall and dressed, fastening each button with practiced ease.

"Tell Grandpa you're not feeling well and won't attend the family dinner," Derek said, his voice flat and detached.

Despite the perfect lines of his face and the sharp angles of his profile, there was nothing warm about him. Every syllable seemed to slice through the room, leaving the air colder.

Pausing as if something occurred to him, he bent to rifle through the pocket of his jacket, tossed on the chair. From it, he pulled out a small box of pills and tossed it onto the bed without ceremony.

"Take your birth control."

Allison's eyes landed heavily on the box. When she finally spoke, her voice was scratchy and hoarse. "I know."

No matter how many times they were together, Derek always made sure she swallowed the pills afterward, leaving no room for even the smallest accident.

The reason why Glenn had been urging her to get pregnant was not only to bind Derek and her together, but also to keep her in the Evans family.

With most people, Derek barely concealed his lack of interest. Only two had ever broken through that wall: his grandfather and Kaylyn.

"It's about time this marriage came to an end." Once he finished buttoning up his shirt, Derek turned to the bedside table. He yanked open a drawer, pulled out a document, and dropped it onto the bed in front of her. "Sign it. After this, you and I are done."

At the top of the papers, the heavy words-Divorce Agreement-seared into her chest like a brand. Allison's hand shook as she reached for the papers, the edges cutting into her skin like they meant to wound her.

The moment to end their marriage had arrived, yet Allison hesitated to embrace it.

She raised her gaze to meet his, her eyes shimmering with tears in the soft light. Her lips trembled, struggling to form words until she managed to ask, "Are you truly set on divorcing me?"

Derek stood beside the bed, his striking features expressionless, as he looked down at her with cold detachment.

"You were never destined to be my wife. However, if you wish to remain close, I'm not opposed to considering you as a lover."

A subtle smile briefly played at the edge of his lips, his eyes twinkling with a hint of aloof amusement.

Their chemistry in the bedroom was undeniable. He was open to the idea of her staying, if she agreed.

Allison felt the impact of his words like a thunderclap, shattering all her remaining fantasies.

Their initial encounter had been unintentional, a night driven by alcohol and impulsive passion.

As morning dawned and clarity returned, his gaze bore into her with such intensity that she feared for her life.

She could still see the remorse and sorrow in his reddened eyes and knew he saw the night as a betrayal of Kaylyn.

Out of respect for Glenn, Derek had held back his anger. But from then on, he always found new ways to have his way with her.

They never really shared a home. Once Derek woke from his coma, he had packed up and left without looking back, leaving Allison behind in the empty villa to wait for him like a shadow clinging to a memory.

When he did show up, it was never for conversation or comfort. It was always for the same thing-his own satisfaction.

And honestly, how was this any different from being simply kept as a sex partner?

In the eyes of the Evans family, she had never truly been Mrs. Evans. Glenn and his wife were the only ones who had ever treated her like she mattered.

Fury rose in Allison, swift and searing, drowning out the last shred of sense she had left.

A bitter laugh slipped from her lips. "Given how many women are desperate for a chance to warm your bed, I doubt someone like me even makes the waiting list."

Derek's eyes darkened as they dropped to her. She was strikingly beautiful, the rims of her eyes flushed red, her mouth curled in a mocking, broken smile.

He would never deny it-Allison had been a good wife. Even though he hardly visited, every time he walked through that door, she greeted him like he was the only man in the world.

She made him feel like something rare, something sacred. A place he could run to when the weight of everything else became too heavy to bear.

Yet finding another woman was hardly a challenge.

Allison was replaceable. He still had Kaylyn, and countless others willing to fill the void.

"If that's your perspective, fine by me," Derek said dismissively. "Review the settlement. If it suits you, just sign."

Checking his watch, he realized it was past nine-time to leave the villa.

Pain radiated through Allison's chest as she shakily flipped through the papers to the settlement terms.

Thirty million, a car, two properties-such extravagant generosity.

Seeing the disbelief etched across her face, Derek's gaze hardened with contempt.

Greed-no matter how carefully hidden-always surfaced eventually.

"If it isn't enough, feel free to speak up," he said with languid disdain. "I might even toss in something extra."

After all, she had dutifully taken care of him these past years. A little extra expense meant nothing.

"It's enough," Allison whispered, her voice barely audible.

She took up the pen, flipping to the final page. Derek's bold signature glared up at her, each stroke sharp and decisive.

Slowly, deliberately, she added her name below his.

As soon as she set her pen down, a wave of weakness swept through her. She let her eyes fall shut. One tear broke loose and dropped.

Three years of hope and illusions-finally over.

Derek caught the tear in her eye, a sudden wave of inexplicable irritation prickling beneath his skin.

Now that she signed the divorce agreement, he should have felt relieved.

Instead, restlessness unsettled him, his brows knitting in frustration.

"Nine o'clock tomorrow morning. Meet me at the courthouse."

He did not linger for a reply. Snatching a copy of the divorce agreement, he turned and walked away, his retreating figure sharp and cold against the doorframe.

Silence settled in, heavy and unyielding. Allison hugged her knees to her chest as silent sobs broke through her.

As the last tear fell, she tucked away the broken pieces of her love for Derek, locking them where he could never reach.

Three long years had slipped through her fingers. There was no point clinging to grief over a man who had never truly been hers.

By eight fifty the following morning, Derek's car was already stationed at the curb outside the courthouse.

He sat in the back seat of a sleek black Lincoln, scrolling through emails on his laptop with his head bowed low.

His face betrayed nothing. A cold stillness settled over his features, making him seem almost untouchable.

From the passenger seat up front, Rylan Holt, his assistant, stole a quick glance at him through the rearview mirror, his heart pounding with unease.

The call from Derek had ripped him out of sleep that morning, and he had nearly dropped his phone in shock.

A divorce? Derek and Allison were splitting up today?

He had worked beside Derek since the latter was twelve, his loyalty unwavering through every storm.

Back when Derek had been lying in a coma after the accident, Glenn had stepped in and arranged a marriage for him.

Rylan had thought Derek would never wake up. He had felt sorry for the young woman.

To his surprise, Derek had woken up and his marriage had lasted all these years without a hitch-until now.

But Allison was the woman Glenn had handpicked for Derek. What would Glenn do when he found out the divorce?

"What's the time?"

Derek's voice, cold and firm, snapped Rylan out of his swirling thoughts. Checking his phone, he answered, "Eight fifty-five, sir. We've been waiting for about twenty minutes."

Silence crept back in, thick and suffocating, broken only by the shallow rise and fall of their breaths.

Unable to hold it back any longer, Rylan asked in a careful tone, "Sir, does your grandfather know?"

Derek's gaze dropped to his hands. No one understood better than him how deep Glenn's affection for Allison ran. If Glenn caught wind of it, it would ignite a firestorm.

That was why Derek had chosen to go through with the divorce without telling his grandfather.

The meaning behind Derek's silence sank in at once, and Rylan felt the tension inside the car tighten around him like a noose.

When Derek chose a path, nothing short of Glenn's command could force him to turn back.

Casting a restless glance out the window, Rylan searched the sidewalk, his eyes sharpening when he spotted a familiar figure. "Mr. Evans, your wife is here."

Upon hearing that, Derek lifted his head. Peering through the tinted glass, he caught sight of Allison stepping gracefully out of a taxi.

She wore a striking red dress that clung to her body like a second skin, stopping daringly above the knee.

The skirt, gathered into delicate rose-shaped folds, shifted and fluttered with every move she made.

A slender waist and a cascade of long, dark hair down her back gave her an effortless allure, each step turning the sidewalk into her personal runway.

Unable to help himself, Rylan let the words slip out, awestruck. "She looks like she just walked out of a dream."

Derek's sharp glare sliced through the space between them, warning him into silence before he turned his eyes back to Allison. Dressed like that, who was she planning to charm the moment she was free of him?

Before he could dwell any longer, his phone vibrated against the seat.

One swipe, and after a few clipped words from the other end, Derek's face hardened. A storm was already building behind his steady gaze.

"We are going to my grandparents'," he said.

Rylan's eyes widened. "What about Mrs. Evans?"

"She should come along as well."

Allison had already spotted the long Lincoln parked at the curb. Did he expect her to invite him out herself?

Approaching the car, she was about to tap on the window when the back door suddenly opened and a strong arm pulled her inside.

Immediately, the vehicle took off, its engine growling loudly.

The rapid acceleration pushed Allison forward, causing her to lose her footing and fall right into Derek's lap.

Her hand landed on something hard, and it moved beneath her touch before she could understand what it was.

Her cheeks turned red, and she hastily moved back, hitting her head hard against the ceiling. She grimaced, holding her head, as her normally graceful demeanor fell apart.

"I believed we were here to settle our divorce," she said, her voice strained with discomfort. "So, where are we actually headed?"

Rylan perked up in the front seat. Could Derek be having second thoughts? He knew it-Derek must have developed feelings for his wife after their years together.

Yet, Derek seemed unfazed by the earlier incident. With a brooding expression, he said, "You'll see when we arrive."

He reached into his jacket, extracted a mint, unwrapped it with deliberate slowness, and placed it in his mouth, pressing it to the roof of his mouth as if to quell his inner turmoil.

Allison, realizing he wouldn't offer more, kept silent, bowed her head, and began typing on her phone.

The journey lasted over an hour before they finally reached the estate.

The property stretched out over vast acres, marrying traditional architecture with sophisticated landscaping that included bridges, streams, gazebos, and complex paths.

Just after sending a text, Allison looked up and was struck by the familiar scenery outside.

"Why are you taking me here?" she inquired.

On this day, their third anniversary, it was customary for the Evans family to unite for a celebratory dinner.

Despite this, Derek had adamantly instructed her not to attend just the night before. Given that their divorce was nearing its conclusion, his decision to bring her here puzzled her.

Upon arrival at a lakeside villa, Derek promptly exited the Lincoln, took Allison's wrist firmly in hand, and led her past the concerned butler, heading straight to the upper floor.

Gasping for air, the butler hurried after them, explaining in haste, "Mr. Evans, your grandmother woke up this morning, only to collapse shortly after. She's been in a coma then. Thankfully, your grandfather discovered in time. Dr. Jackson is currently attending to her."

His voice cracked as he continued, fraught with worry, "This is the second time she has collapsed this way, exhibiting bleeding from her nose and mouth. According to Dr. Jackson, her organs are now failing. It's very troubling..."

The majority of the Evans family were already waiting outside the master bedroom on the second floor.

Glenn and his wife, Jane Evans, had three sons. Their first, Eric Evans, was deeply involved in military duties and rarely left his base.

Michael Evans, Derek's father and the middle son, had previously managed senior duties at Evans Group but was now enjoying his retirement.

The youngest, Roger Evans, the mayor of Oregend, was absent due to business obligations.

As Derek stepped into view, his stepmother, Pamela Evans, scowled and mocked, "There are those who show no compassion. They value money over kin and fail to appear even in moments of life or death."

Catching sight of Allison just behind Derek, she clicked her tongue disapprovingly. "Well, look who's here. Not divorced yet, and already acting like a stranger."

Her figure was draped in a silk dress, her arms crossed defiantly, and although her makeup was flawless, it did little to soften the hard lines of resentment on her face.

Turning to Derek with a weary sigh, Michael said, "Derek, your grandmother cherished you deeply. Had you arrived any later, you might have missed your chance to see her one last time. And all this empire building-what's it really for? Maybe it's time to let go of some of that burden."

Derek, tired of the constant squabbling, stepped closer to Glenn and quietly inquired, "How is she?"

The old man, his features drawn with fatigue and his white hair and beard more pronounced in his grief, seemed to shrink before the closed bedroom door, his hands quivering ever so slightly.

"Dr. Jackson isn't optimistic." Glenn seized Derek's wrist with a strength that belied his frail appearance and struggled to speak. "Derek, we're losing Jane."

The firm grasp of the old man conveyed a grave reality. Derek's expression hardened, his voice gritty as he responded, "No. Grandma is a fighter. She won't give up easily."

Allison greeted the people gathered near the door before positioning herself just behind Derek. She stood there, her hands tightly intertwined, gazing worriedly at the bedroom door.

Jane, like Glenn, had always shown her sincere warmth.

Derek would only involve her in family matters-despite their impending divorce-under dire circumstances.

A short while later, the door slowly opened and the doctor, Simon Jackson, emerged.

"It was a critical situation. We've attempted all possible interventions, but... I'm sorry. It's time to begin funeral arrangements."