“Detective, it's so obvious that this is all a set up. Can't you even see it,” Derek said quietly to the detective, after hours of questioning and threatening. “Well, the fact still remains that you were the last person she talked to_” Derek's phone interrupted the detective, as Derek excused him and picked up the phone. “Derek, I'm right there, which office are you?” Mr Lincoln's voice came in immediately, Derek took a quick glance at the detective, who nodded in affirmation. “Just walk straight from the entrance, the second office by your right!” He directed and ended the call. “Please detective, can I speak with him privately?” He begged him, and the detective agreed. “After talking with him, you will stay back. You will have to remain here as a suspect till everything is settled. Just keep hoping that she is found because if not, you will have to go to court!” The detective announced to Derek calmly, his voice low and calm. “Court! No detective, that can't be possible. I'm a

Maureen looked at Ella surprisingly, she said those words like she had been with her all these while. “Girl! What do you know? Is there something you're not telling me?” She said immediately, dragging Ella's seat close to hers. “Hey, it's not really like that. It's Just that I have had a series of encounters with him previously, that was even before I left. Honestly, I couldn't bring myself to tell you because we both want Derek out of the way, and you love Nicole way too much!” Ella narrated slowly, avoiding Maureen's gaze like she was hiding something. “What are you even saying _” “And please, before you ask me any more questions, because I know you would have a lot to ask, let's talk about you please. Maybe it's not as bad as I think!” She cut her off immediately, because she knew Maureen would dig out their little secret with her questions. Maureen exhaled deeply, rubbing her fingers on her eyes softly. She looked at Ella but she couldn't say a word. Just when she was about t

“I was patiently waiting for your call? Did you find anything?” Derek asked curiously on the phone, pacing up and down the room he was locked. “Not really, her phone location is not steady. Yesterday, it pointed at a deserted area but then today, it pointed at a giant building close by!” the man said politely, his voice low and calm. Derek exhaled deeply, running his hands through his hair in frustration. “Sir, I think It just pointed somewhere right now!” He said immediately, and Derek's face lightened up sharply, like there was a whole lot of hope. “Please, hold onto it and send me the location. I will make some arrangements!” He muttered slowly, ending the call immediately to call Mr Lincoln. Just then the door opened and the detective and Mr Alexander entered. Derek paused on the call, removing his phone from his ears. “Detective, why is he still making calls? You dare leave him with his phone? What if he tells his men to kill my daughter!” Mr Alexander fired immediately, r

Derek pretended like nothing happened while they prepared for the court the next day. In the early hours of the morning, Derek's phone began to ring. He hesitated before picking up the call. “You loser!” The voice called out immediately, he kept quiet, to be able to dictate the owner of the voice, but it wasn't familiar at all. “Let's see how far you can go from here!” He mocked him and laughed sarcastically before ending the call. Derek stood up perplexed by the call. “Who is this? I literally know the voice of all the people I have dealt with. This is not Jaden's voice!” He murmured silently, rubbing his neck roughly. After some few hours, the detective called out for him. “Mr Derek!” He heard the detective call him, so he went out to meet him. “It's time to go for the court's summon!” He said to him, as he picked up his phone. “No, I can't leave here without my lawyer. I'm sorry, but I will have to wait for them!” Derek insisted strictly, staring at the detective with raised

“Steph?!” Voices echoed, Maureen jumped up from her seat and rushed towards the door. She hugged Steph tightly with tears dropping from her eyes. Derek stood at that table, taking his deepest breath ever. Nicole froze at his position, his legs trembling as he stretched his head to see if Jaden was caught. “Shit! Was that why he ran off yesterday? I need to get out of here!” He murmured to himself, as he took a quick glance at Derek. He couldn't dare move because he was standing right in front of a huge crowd and the chief judge. Derek didn't even notice him, he was so engrossed at the scene before them. “Oh my goodness!” Derek murmured to himself, and a little fickle of smile and hope spread through his face. He saw Asher walk in behind Steph with two cops standing behind him. “Asher!” He whispered shockingly, and somehow Asher turned immediately like he heard him. He shrugged his shoulders with a weak smile. Derek responded to him with a satisfied nod, “But why was he not pick