Chapter 1636 There Is Nothing Shady Between Us
She regretted it. If she had known earlier, she would have preferred Maeve to grow up without a father. She could have raised the child on her own. She should never have married Michael, and she certainly shouldn't have accepted Michael just to give the child a complete family.
Derek held her back tightly, pressing his thin lips together.
Without her noticing, a flash of self-reproach and frustration crossed his eyes.
Tonight's incident was due to his miscalculation.
He just wanted to use Michael to make his relationship with Laura public.
He knew Laura's timidity too well. Although she loved him, she never had the courage to make their relationship public.
He was actually very afraid that if they dragged it out for too long, they would break up.
But he didn't expect Michael to be so crazy.
He used to think Michael was foolish because he was deceived by Megan, and that Michael cared too much about his first love. Now he truly understood that Michael had long since changed.
Michael was no longer the cousin and family member who used to joke around with Derek.
He had become a selfish person, even slowly turning bad to the core.
Derek remembered that Michael wasn't like this before. Michael used to be optimistic, sincere, generous, and cheerful with friends.
Maybe it was because Michael had been in contact with Megan for too long; he had changed too.
From now on, he would no longer have any softness or sympathy for Michael.
"This isn't your fault. When you chose to marry him, it was first for Maeve, and second because my dad was running for office at the time. You didn't want to bring disgrace to the Jude family, so you got married."
A deep pain flashed in Derek's eyes.
If anyone owed anything, it was the Jude family that owed her.
"By the way." Laura suddenly remembered something, moved slightly away from him, and panicked, "Michael knows. Someone like him will definitely tell your parents. The Jude family will all know."
"Are you scared?" Derek looked into her eyes.
Laura's eyelashes trembled, she lowered her head, and bit her lip, "Actually, I don't care what the rest of the Jude family thinks. It's just that your parents have been very kind to me. If they find out I seduced you..."
"No, it wasn't you who seduced me; it was I who seduced you." Derek held her hand tightly, "Laura, I told you, from the moment I started expressing my feelings for you, I was prepared for everything. I'm not afraid. I also firmly believe there's a way to get them to support us. But the process won't be smooth sailing; there will definitely be bumps. What I can guarantee is that the bumps won't affect you because I'll stand in front of you. I hope you won't be afraid for my sake, okay?"
Looking into his calm eyes, Laura felt lost.
Can she not be afraid?
She had experienced the pain of being pointed at and cursed on the street. She didn't want to go through all that again.
"Derek, I..." Her face turned pale, and she stammered.
"Are you unwilling?" Deep sadness appeared in Derek's eyes, "Laura, for my sake, you aren't even willing to make a little sacrifice? I said it would only be a little."
Laura felt very guilty. Derek was willing to give up his future to be with her. He loved her so much, but what about her? She was so timid and useless, "I'm sorry, Derek. I'm willing to try. I just hope you understand, it's not that I don't love you. It's just that it doesn't matter if people hit me. I'm afraid of people cursing me like Michael did just now.
"It was the same before. Nathan hit me and bullied me, but others, believing one-sided stories, said I seduced him. I was the victim, but I was pointed at and cursed on the street, pelted with rotten eggs. Even my parents couldn't hold their heads up. Later, I couldn't stay in the country anymore."
"I understand." Derek hugged her tightly, "Trust me, I won't let that happen again. When someone comes after you, contact me anytime. I'll rush over to stand in front of you. If the distance between us is a hundred steps, I'll take ninety-nine steps towards you. You just need to take one step."
Laura's eyes welled up again.
But this time, it was out of being moved.
"Laura, you don't need to be afraid. Our relationship is legitimate. You're divorced, I'm unmarried, we have no blood relation. A young man and woman being together and developing feelings over time is very normal."
Derek's gentle voice sounded in her ear, "We haven't done anything shameful. We're just like any other couple on the street. We fell in love freely. When the time is right, we'll get married. Or if we're not suitable for each other, we'll break up. It's all very normal, understand?"
"Understood." Laura nodded and finally lifted her head from his shoulder, her voice hoarse and resentful, "Alright, so you have thought about breaking up with me. I thought you only wanted to marry me, you liar."
"Of course, I want to marry you, but I can't control what you think."
Derek smiled bitterly, "If one day you desperately want to break up with me and nothing I do can change your mind, I can't keep pestering you. That would only trouble you. I hope our relationship is happy and joyful. If one day it brings you more pain than joy, I'll know when to let go."
"Thank you, Derek." Laura hugged his neck, suddenly feeling less panicked and upset, "You're right. We're in a normal relationship, getting to know each other. I have nothing to hide."
"Glad you understand. Given what happened today, let's not go to the mall. I'll take you home first," Derek pondered for a moment, "I'll visit your house later and tell your parents about us."
Laura was startled, "Isn't that too sudden? Aren't you afraid my parents will stop us from being together?"
"Your parents will definitely try to stop us." Derek said, "Although they have a good impression of me, they probably don't want to offend my parents. So when I go later, it's not to get their support. I'm just going to tell them I love their daughter. If my parents agree, I hope they will formally agree to our relationship."
Laura understood and had to admit that Derek was thorough in his actions. This way, his parents might be more accepting.
"Let's go."
Derek started the car.
Forty minutes later, the car drove into the Miller family villa.
Laura's heart started pounding wildly, "Oh no, I'm so nervous."
"There's nothing to be nervous about. I'll do the talking. Trust me." Derek's eyes were particularly reassuring in the dark.
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