The Man They Blame

Feeling of lost

“Damn it! Did he really leave because I kicked him out?” Erin slammed her phone onto the sofa in frustration.

She paced back and forth restlessly, biting her fingernails, her eyes darting to her dark phone screen. She had tried calling Derek repeatedly, but there was no answer to any of her calls, which only fueled her irritation.

Derek hadn't been home for days. If this were the past, Erin wouldn't have cared at all. She didn't even pay attention to what Derek was doing; she only reached out to him when she needed something.

But the situation was different now. She sat there, staring blankly at her phone, haunted by Page’s words: “How could you not tell me that Derek is the son of a billionaire?”

“What is he talking about? Why is Derek the son of a billionaire? What does that even mean?” Erin felt a mix of emotions—shock and disbelief.

Erin could not comprehend how the man she considered a useless dog could suddenly be the son of one of the richest men in the world. Meanwhile, Dick was nowhere to be found, and Erin was alone at home. For the first time, she realized how empty her life was without Derek.

Derek’s habits began to cross her mind. His absence made her realize there was no warm food waiting for her, no slippers placed by the door, and nothing in the refrigerator.

Her eyes drifted to the table. It was full of Michelin-star dishes—luxurious meals she had specifically ordered—but she had no appetite to eat them. She started to miss the simple home-cooked meals Derek used to make.

She shook her head rapidly, brushing the thought aside. “No. I’ve lost my mind for even wishing for that.”

Her hand went back to her lips, and her eyes lit up as a thought struck her. “If Derek really is a billionaire’s son, that means he will be very useful to me. Derek’s support could make my political career run smoothly.”

A blooming smile appeared on her face. She convinced herself that Derek was still under her control, that he would easily take her side again and would always belong to her. She eagerly tried to call him once more.

However, her smile faded again as the call went unanswered, making her scream, “Damn it! What is he actually doing?” She became increasingly frustrated.

“What’s going on?” Just then, Dick returned.

Erin turned toward him in surprise. “What are you doing here?” she glared at him with disdain.

Dick looked confused, and with an awkward laugh, he explained, “I came to stay over. What’s wrong with you? Why are you asking?” He felt that Erin was not acting like her usual self.

Erin stood up from her seat with a cold gaze. “No, go home. I want to be alone.” She grabbed her phone from the sofa and walked past Dick, leaving the room.

Seeing this, Dick froze in his tracks. Before he could respond to the situation, he realized Erin had already rushed out, leaving him behind without a chance to follow.

In a panic, Erin called hospitals all over the city to look for Derek. However, Victor had sealed his inpatient records, leaving her with no trail to follow.

“Ah, maybe I can call his friends.” She quickly opened her contact list, but then she stopped. It was only then that Erin realized that after three years of marriage, she knew almost nothing about Derek’s social circle.

She didn't know his close friends and had no one to call to find him. The only place she could remember was the fire station, so she rushed there in her car.

She stepped out of her car in a hurry and asked the firefighter on duty, “Have you seen Derek?”

The officer looked at Erin with a shocked expression, as she had approached him in a frantic state, appearing dishevelled with messy hair and wearing a nightgown.

Erin’s conspicuous presence at the front desk caught Brett’s attention as he passed by. He turned and approached her with explosive emotion. “Erin!” he shouted, startling Erin, who instantly turned toward him.

Erin approached him in a panic. “Brett, do you know where Derek is?” She asked, as if she didn't care about Brett’s anger.

Brett shoved Erin’s hand away. “What business do you have with him? You truly are an uncivilised human being. How could you treat Derek so contemptuously?” His anger boiled over.

He couldn't imagine the suffering Derek had endured while being with Erin. “You are truly a selfish person. You never stopped tormenting him with your treatment, and you even cheated on him?” His blood boiled, remembering the look on Derek’s face the day he asked him to come.

He grabbed Erin by the shoulders and shook her, as if that could make her come to her senses. “Derek sacrificed so much more for you than you could ever imagine, and this is how you repay him?!”

Erin pushed his hands away with all her might, freeing herself, her face fuming with anger. “I did what he deserved! Derek is just a firefighter and was merely a supporting player in my life!” Not wanting to be blamed, she became defensive.

Brett’s anger made her feel inferior to Derek, and she couldn't accept that. “If my company and foundation weren't at a critical stage, I would have divorced him a long time ago.”

“You are truly heartless.” Brett was disgusted by her response. He glared at her fiercely. “So, why are you looking for him? Right now, Derek is fighting for his life in the ICU. You won't be able to see him anymore because he probably won't make it. Congratulations, you’ve finally gotten rid of your burden.” He turned to leave.

But Erin quickly grabbed his arm, stopping him in shock. “Derek?” She stared at him blankly. Her hand was trembling.

Brett pulled her arm away. “Yes, he is about to die. So don’t look for him.”

Upon hearing this, Erin’s gaze went hollow. She didn't demand an explanation, instead walking to her car. She sat inside, frozen. She believed that Derek was truly dying, and she felt an unbearable emptiness within her. She was shocked by the possibility that she might actually have feelings for Derek.

She shook her head quickly. “No, I don’t have any feelings for him. I’m only devastated because I might lose access to his money. He’s a billionaire now, but I can’t enjoy it.” She told herself the reason that she wants to believe.

But she couldn't even stop crying, nor could she deny her feelings. Seeing Erin completely shattered, Brett began to feel a bit of pity.

The man let out a long sigh, thinking his words might have been too harsh, so he walked over and knocked on the window of Erin’s car.