The Man They Blame

Collapsed into her arms

“Thank you,” Derek said, glancing at Fae, who was sitting beside him.

Fae sat calmly, staring out the window before turning toward him with a hint of awkwardness. “I only did what you deserved.” She suppressed a faint smile.

There was a bitter undertone in her words, mindful of her status in that household as only an adopted daughter, while Derek was Jacob’s true son who had finally returned.

Derek nodded. “Still, thanks to you, I didn’t have to struggle to explain myself before them. As you saw, they only stay silent when someone with recognized power speaks.”

Fae agreed. She had seen for herself how viciously they had tried to cut Derek off, refusing to give him a chance. But once his identity was revealed to them, the situation shifted entirely.

She let out a long sigh. “It must be so exhausting for you to deal with them.”

“Yes, my life has become a bit more tiring because of them,” he said, turning toward Fae with a smile.

At that exact moment, their gazes locked at close range. Fae, not expecting it, suddenly felt nervous. Even though she was often at grand banquets surrounded by many handsome men, in her eyes, Derek appeared far more captivating.

The man’s calm, mesmerising gaze made her feel as though she were drifting into him. His face was beautifully framed: a high, slender nose, a sharp, defined jawline, and charming lips. To Fae, he was nearly perfect.

Fae whispered, “I don’t understand how that woman could do something so cruel to you.” Having looked into Erin’s infidelity, she truly condemned the woman’s behaviour.

To her, it made no sense to dump a man like Derek for someone like Dick. Slowly, Fae’s hand rose to touch Derek’s cheek gently, as if she were spellbound by his handsomeness without even realizing it. “She has no idea what she’s done. Letting you go is the greatest stupidity of her life.”

Derek observed the expression on her face in silence. He did not attempt to avoid her touch; instead, he tried to understand her words. “Because I am a West?”

Fae’s brow furrowed slightly, and she shook her head slowly. “Moss or West, that doesn’t change anything about who you truly are. You are an impressive man.”

Hearing this, Derek felt his heart skip a beat. Amidst the silence of the moving vehicle, they looked at each other intently. Their faces drew closer until they could feel the warmth of each other’s breath. But before they could make contact, the car came to a stop.

Fae realized what was happening and immediately looked away. She cleared her throat and looked out the window at the massive building looming before them. “Ah, we’ve arrived.”

Both of them stepped out and walked into the luxurious mansion. “This is the house you will be staying in, Derek,” Fae said, stepping inside as a servant held the door open.

Derek stepped in, looking up at the magnificent ceiling, far beyond his reach, with amazement. He had never imagined his life would change in just one night since that incident.

“I would have been fine with a house smaller than this,” Derek argued while following Fae, who served as his personal guide there.

Fae chuckled. “You are the heir to the West family from now on. Get used to the extraordinary,” she suggested.

They stopped in a room with a stunning view of the garden, featuring a fountain in the center. Fae approached Derek, who stood looking out the window.

She handed him the tablet she was carrying. “There are things you need to learn as the heir to the West family, Derek, and I’ve already arranged them for you.”

Derek took the tablet and began scanning the schedule Fae had put together for him. She impressed him with the structured curriculum of courses and training programs. However, he had already mastered a portion of the training listed.

“As the son of a billionaire, you need to prepare yourself for many things. You must possess vast knowledge, capability, and discipline,” she continued.

He raised his gaze toward Fae and smiled. “But it seems I’ll have a lot of free time if I follow this schedule.”

“Why is that?” Fae asked, looking confused with an adorable expression. She was certain she had made the schedule quite dense.

Derek pointed to several training courses he had already marked. “I hold certificates for these and have already completed my studies in these fields.”

Fae looked quite surprised. “Then, with those skills, why did you choose to become a firefighter?”

Derek handed the tablet back to her. “I moved to this city because of Erin.”

As Derek mentioned the woman’s name, Fae’s face immediately turned somber. “That woman really made you sacrifice so much.”

Derek laughed softly. He turned and walked away slowly, lost in thought. Then, he looked back at Fae, who was following him. “I’ve been thinking about one thing.”

Fae greeted him with a smile. “What is it?”

“Can I establish a non-profit company to support firefighters like William, my friend? He had an accident on duty, and now his family has lost their provider.”

The atmosphere around them became more relaxed. Fae understood what he meant and was about to answer, but before the words could leave her lips, the expression on her face stiffened, and she immediately ran toward Derek to catch him.

Derek collapsed into her arms, and the silence of the room was broken by Fae’s frantic voice calling his name. “Derek, wake up! Are you okay?”