Chapter 77: Chapter 77

Kathleen felt like she was sitting on a Ferris wheel as her head spun, "what are you doing here? She managed to gasp out and he looked at her mockingly, "visiting my family" she looked confused and stared at Derek who was also staring at her, his expression confused also, "you two know each other" they asked at the same time and Dave laughed out loud, amused at the situation, "well I can do the honor of clearing the confused air" he turned to Kathleen and smiled, "Derek Deloux here is my lovely bro and to you sweet brother, this lady here is my bride" he said simply and Kathleen flinched at his reference to her as his bride, "we didn't get married" she murmured and Dave laughed evilly, clearly enjoying the scene

"He's not my brother either and can never be one" Derek gritted out and Dave chuckled some more, wrapping his arms around Derek, "my mother is your father's wife, we're family" Derek shoved him away and Dave snarled " do you think you can keep my mom locked up forever?"

Derek advanced towards him, his face flushed with anger, "do you know what she did?" He gritted, "get out of this property right now"

"He's going nowhere" they both turned to see Marcella coming out of the house

"What the heck are you doing here? you're supposed to be in jail" Derek's face was dark in anger and Marcella smirked at him

"Yeah, I was supposed to be in jail but here I am, it was just your words, you had no evidence against me that I poisoned your father, it was your word against mine

Derek's face darkened as he took two strides towards Marcella but Dave intercepted, they stared at each other, the air crackled, Derek's hands formed a fist

"Haven't you created enough drama, All because of this bitch you married? She's done nothing but tear us apart and the Deloux family is now laughing stock of the century" Marcella said from behind Dave and Dave's eyes searched out Kàthleen, "you're nothing more than a gold digger ain't you? After taking enough from me, you figured it was not enough and sought out the heir of Deloux, smuggling your way in" his voice was laced with disdain

"After how you treated her, you deserved to be left on the alter" Derek threw at him and Dave's face darkened with anger

"Don't think she loves you, she loves your money and her leach of a parent just won't get off your back" Derek smirked at Dave's words, "I'm glad I have something that she loves" he threw his hand around Kathleen and Dave's eyes narrowed at the gesture, he felt a burning in his gut he couldn't decipher, Derek observed Dave's reaction and the corner of his mouth lifted, before he could say something, they heard noises outside and he frowned as a guard approached him, "what's the noise about?"

"Sir, it's the press, they refused to go away until they have a statement from you"

"Who called the press?"Derek barked agitated, he wasn't ready to give any damn statement but he also doesn't want them around, they must have gotten wind of Marcella's release, he had been carefully avoiding them, he quickly walked towards the gate, Kathleen, Marcella and Dave hot on his heels.

There was increased frenzy immediately he was sighted as questions were fired at him

"Is it true that Mr. Michael Deloux is addicted to drugs?

"Is his wife responsible for his addiction?

"Has she been released because she was innocent?

"Will you now permanently take over the Deloux business as the heir?

Derek's teeth gritted as he listened to the question being fired at him by various reporters, "do you all realize that this is private property and I could sue you all for trespassing?" He asked coldly and there was a moment of confusion as the reporters stared at each other and murmured among themselves.

Marcella stepped out from behind Derek, she had planned all of these, she would use the press as her weapon, she knew bad publicity is bad for the Deloux company, they could lose millions of dollars just for that but she had no choice, she had to make sure she remains in the Deloux mansion and she would do what she had to do to achieve that.

She smiled brightly as she came in front of the camera, the reporters gazed at her with interest, "you've got your information all wrong, Yes, I was apprehended by the police, I was only a suspect but there wasn't any physical evidence against me, so I was released. It's obvious I am innocent and I'm back home"

A muscle twitched in Derek's jaw as he stared at her.

Marcella's face suddenly crumbled as tears pooled in her eyes, "as for my husband being addicted, I don't know where you guys got your information from, my husband is just sick and not addicted to any drug, if he's not addicted, then obviously I can't be responsible for that, I love my husband so much and it breaks my heart to see him in such condition but I believe that he'll be fine very soon" she brought out a handkerchief and blew her nose, she wailed as she ran away and went into the house and Derek almost rolled his eyes at her drama.

"Take your cameras and get off my property" he gritted at the press before walking away.

"I've already told the press your father wasn't addicted, throwing me out will only prove that I just might be lying to them and they'll start digging, I don't think you'll want that" Marcella smirked at Derek as soon as he entered the house, her face was now tear-free.

"And I'm back home my super bro, we'll be once again one big happy family"

"Let's cheers to that" Marcella screeched and without another word, Derek left them and stomped upstairs.

Kathleen was dressed In a white simple flowery gown as she walked downstairs with Derek for dinner, they had no choice for now than to put up with Marcella and his son but she wouldn't hide away from them, this was also her house. Marcella was already seated at the table when they arrived and Kathleen gritted inwardly, she knew that Marcella was there to rub her presence to their face and she wouldn't give Marcella the satisfaction to see how rattled she felt, just as Derek was bringing out a chair for her, Dave decided to join them but to her utmost dismay, he wasn't alone, he was with "Tasha?" The name left her lips unconsciously, how many more shocks will she get today, she grabbed the chair in front of her to steady herself as her head swarmed, Dave smirked at her obvious reaction at seeing Tasha.

"I don't think there'll be a need for any introduction but for courtesy sake, I will do the introduction, this is Tasha, my wife"

Tasha smiled coldly at her, "Hello Kathy, long time, no see"