Chapter 23: Chapter 23

"I'm sorry." I whispered.

I want to get mad at him but I owe him a lot today. I can't imagine what happened to me if he did not came. I don't know how he found me but I am thankful.

However, when I remembered how he cheated on me anger consumed me and I forgot what he did for me now.

"But it's your fault, you cheated on me. You can't blame me, what you did to me was nothing compared to what he did." I said angrily afterwards.

"Seriously? What he did was more forgivable to you? If I did not came, do you even know what he would do to you after toying your body? There is a possibility he would kill you." he shouted.

"Yes, that's more forgivable. If he did killed me, I would even thank him for ending my misery because of you." I said.

I know I am being irrational and I am being ungrateful but all the pain that he caused me was unbearable. The last time I asked him to stay away from me was four months and three weeks ago. I don't want to see him anymore so it will be easy for me to forget him. He did stopped a week ago. It's been a week that I did not see him. I still have the pain in my heart and it's hard because I gone through the pain without Emily. It should have been easier if she was here. I did not tell her about it when we are on the call. I don't want her to worry especially that it was the time when she was laid off from the school where she was working. She got so much on her plate already and I don't want to add on her burden.

I found him naked with a woman in his room five months ago. He keep pestering me and following me every day, begging me to hear him out. That it was all a mistake, he keeps on saying that he did not cheated on me. I did not listen to him. It was very obvious, what was he thinking am I that stupid?

"If it was a misery to you, it's like hell to me. Kimberly, please listen to me. It is so unfair you did not let me explain. I'm begging you hear me out. Just this once, please." he said pleading.

I looked into his eyes and I see so much suffering. His eyes are reddish and it looks like he is about to cry. I can see so much sadness on it. He looked up, maybe to stop his tears from falling. I sigh deeply. I thought I should give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe four months and three weeks is enough time to decide.

"Okay, convince me." I said.

His face light up and he then held my both hands with his. Instantly I felt the familiar electricity and warmth whenever our skin touched. At that very moment I confirmed that my love for him did not even reduced even a single inch. I still love him, the same love and it even became stronger because of his absence. God, I just realized I do miss him so much. I want to hug him tight right now.

"I swear, I am telling the truth. Let's go, I need to show you something." he said and hurriedly ran towards his car while laughing and shouting for joy.

He seemed so happy that I finally give him a chance to speak and hear his side of the story.

"Hey, slow down." I said.

"Sorry, baby." he said.

"Don't call me baby. I am not your baby anymore." I corrected him.

"You are and you will always be." he said and winked at me.

"In your dreams." I said while rolling my eyes at him.

I can tell that his mood is now changed from gloomy to a happier one. Because he laugh after he heard what I said. We are finally in front of his car. He then opened the door of his car for me. I sat on the passenger seat. I held my breath when he come very close to me to put on the seatbelt.

"What are you doing? I can manage!" I said angrily.

"I know you can but I should do my obligations as a good boyfriend and future husband." he said smiling.

"Keep on dreaming!" I said.

But the next thing he did swept me off my feet. His face was just a half inch away to mine and then he touched my face.

"All my dreams already did came true but because of wrong assumptions it was crushed. But I swear after this baby, my dream girl will come back to me and make all my dreams come true again." he said huskily.

My heart was beating so fast. I am really still so much in love with this man. I am scared that he might see it in my eyes so I avoid his gaze and pushed him away.

"You're too close it's annoying." I said.

Derick just sighed heavily then move away. He gently close the door of the passenger seat and went to the driver seat. He then start the engine and we are on the way to his apartment. We went to the security's office which was located on the highest floor of the building. When we enter inside there are lots of monitors and the largest is at the center, everything that is showing on the screen are the parts of the apartment. From the entrance, ground floor, parking lot, the lobby, and the exits of the apartment. What was this man up to?

"Hi, boss." The man greeted Derick. I looked at his name plate it says head security below his name.

"Hey, is it ready?" Derick asked.

"Of course, boss." the man replied. Then Derick turned to me.

"Baby, this is Albert. He is the team leader of the security department. So it is his job to take care of the apartment's safety and it includes to trace the footages if there is something wrong that happens in the premises of this apartment." Derick explained.

The man reached out his hand to me.

"Nice to meet finally meet you, Ma'am." he said while smiling at me. I was about to accept his hand but Derick held my hand instead and give a warning look at Albert.

The head security laugh at Derick's action.

"I forgot you are a possessive boyfriend, boss. I do apologize." Albert said.

"Don't ever forget very important things, Albert." Derick said. Albert nod but still laughing.

"Let's go to my office then." Albert said as he led the way.

We went to a door beside the largest monitor in that office. We enter a small space with a table and two visitor chair in front. There is a filing cabinet in the side of the table and Albert's picture on top of the filing cabinet. He then sat on his swivel chair and turn on his laptop. He inserted a flash drive on the laptop.

"Here take a look at these, Ma'am." he said and put his laptop in front of me.

There, I saw everything. I saw the truth that made me burst out to tears. How can I be so stupid? I look at Derick who is now nodding and smiling but his tears did not stop falling. He does not mind at all. He did not even bother to wipe it. When I finished watching the footage I sat on his lap and wipe away his tears then hug him so tight.

"I think you two need privacy." Albert said after clearing his throat to get our attention.

I forgot he is just in front of us but I don't care. I am just so happy right now.

"Thank you so much, Albert." he said. Albert just salute and went outside.

"I'm so sorry baby. I am so sorry!" I said sincerely.

"Apology accepted my love. We need to talk to her if you are still doubtful." he said.

"I believe you baby. But I think we really need to talk to her, to know why she do it." I said.

"Baby, I want you to brace yourself of what you will hear." he said.

Derick take me to a small village today. Last night after seeing the footage, I sleep to his apartment and we made love all night. And now here we are in front of the woman whom I thought Derick's side chick. I could never forget her face before I want to crush and beat him to death but now I feel sorry for her.

"I am really sorry. I just did it for my mother. I hope you can forgive me." the lady is now crying senselessly in front of me begging for forgiveness.

She had told me everything. I can't accept the fact that my own cousin could do it to me after all that I did for her. I know she has a crush on Derick but not even in my worst nightmare I would thought that she is capable of doing such thing. It turns out that it was not a simple crush but a worse obsession already. She paid this woman to destroy our relationship.

"It's okay. I do understand your situation. I just hope that you will do the right thing next time." I said as I held her hand and press it gently. She then nod and wipe her tears.

"I will, Ma'am." she said.

Derick and I are in the car right now. We are on our way to my apartment to get my stuff. I am going to move in with Derick to avoid such situation to happen again that really ruined our relationship. I am so happy right now, lie I am in cloud nine. The man I love really loved me as well. He really is the man I expect him to be. He is not like the others, he is different, and he really loves me so much. I have proven and tested it myself.

"Are you sure you will just let this pass baby? You will not confront your cousin?" my boyfriend asked.

"No, just let her be. She can never ruin us again." I said.

"If you say so, my love. So be it.'" he said as he kissed my hand.

"I have a bigger problem than to deal with her." I said as I sighed deeply.

"Care to tell me?" he asked.

"It's my best friend, Emily. But let's talk about it some other time, love. I don't want to ruin our moment." I said while kissing his hand.

He then smiled for my simple gesture.

"I agree baby." he said.

After we get all of my things in the apartment, we then drive off to his place and that day we made love until the sun sets. Yes, I am happy but my heart is still weary and scared that I will lost the very important person in my life, the sister that destiny forgot to give me, my best friend Emily. It is bothering me that one of these days she might find out the truth and it will definitely ruin us.

=Sarsi=