Chapter 8 "Your wife?" His mother's tone was that of surprise as she blinked, "but.....but...." "But what mom?" Derek interrupted "I thought..." His mother stuttered and once again Derek cuts her off, "that's the problem with you mom, you're always thinking, I'm sorry I didn't inform you about her but right now my wife needs to rest" "Oh! Sure" his mother left the entrance so they could both go in, her voice wasn't sounding happy and the expression on her face was that of anger, she narrowed her eyes on Kathleen as she went in. "Your room has been prepared for you" his mother informed him "Thanks, Mom, right now I want to see Dad, where is he? "He's in his room" his mother replied him and he raised a brow, "I thought he's supposed to be in the hospital, why is he home?" "Well, I am trying to avoid too much publicity, the doctor is coming here to administer treatment, I think it's better that way" "Alright then, I'll see him shortly" he turned to Kathleen, "wife, this is the way to our room" he gestured for her to follow him which she promptly did. Mrs. Marcella Deloux stared at her retreating back and Kathleen could feel the heat of her gaze, she glanced back one more time before entering into the room and the expression on her new mother in law's face made her shiver, it was a look of pure hatred and once again, she wondered what she has gotten herself into. The room was spacious and well decorated, so this was how the room of royalties looked like, the price of the blinds alone should be enough to feed her family for the year, she wouldn't think about the porcelain vase and chandelier, the bed was massive with edges decorated with gold, she suddenly felt too dirty to even sit on it. "This is my room, now our room" Derek announced throwing his hands wide, "welcome home, Mrs. Deloux" he made a show of bowing to her. Mrs. Deloux, the name suddenly hit home, that was the name she would be answering henceforth, she glanced at him curiously, "doesn't seem like your mom like me that much" "Do not worry about her, she is just surprised, I'm sure she will come around" he looked at her, his eyes amused as he nodded at her, " are you going to stand all day worrying about my mother? You'll need to change and get some rest, if you need anything, the maids will help you out". Kathleen twitched her hands nervously, "I.....I...... don't have anything to change into" her face flamed as she uttered the words, she had fled with only her wedding gown on her which was now torn and dirty. Derek made a show of hitting his forehead with his palm, " oh yes! How could I forget? Something will be done about it right away" He brought out his phone punched some numbers, "I need you to come over to my house ASAP, and come with your catalog for female dresses, I have someone I need you to attend to" he dropped the call and looked at her, "done, the person I called owns a boutique, choose whatever you want when she comes, I'll be back" with that he left her still standing there in the middle of the room. Derek walked down the stairs and headed towards his father's room, he had mixed feelings about returning home, it's been two years since he was away, he remembered the incident that had prompted him to leave, he has had a heated argument with his dad, royalty and being an heir had come with it's own share of burden, he wanted no part of it, he wanted to live like an ordinary somebody without been tagged to the royal name and heir to a billionaire, he had told his father he wanted his own path in life, he dreamt of becoming an artist someday but his dad would have none of that as he made sure to tail him and destroyed his dream of becoming an artist, he loves drawing and painting, that was his passion, he knew nothing about business but his dad had shattered that dream, bittered about the whole thing, he had gone to Christine, his fiancee's house to seek comfort and had entered without knocking, he bought the house for her and it had been his little hideout whenever he had a clash with his dad, but that day, he hadn't informed her he was coming, she was on the phone when he entered, he was about to alert her about his presence when he heard what she was saying in the phone, "You know you're the one I love, I'm just following him because of his money" Derek couldn't believe what he just heard, maybe she was referring to someone and not him, he thought as he tried to defend her, "he bought such a big house for me and I dress in the most beautiful clothes, just wait for me okay, I am definitely not going to marry him, I'm planning to get more cash from him and then I'll be all yours baby" she blushed as her lover must have said some sweet things to her, "I won't allow him to touch me, I'm only yours, he's just there for the money I promise, he's just a fool only there for my needs. I love you too" she made a kissing sound as she hung up. " I see, so I am just your money-making machine" she jumped at the sound of his voice, her eyes widened in shock, she laughed nervously," how can you say that, you must have heard wrong, I love you" she made to wrap her arms around his neck but Derek had pushed her away, suddenly disgusted by her, he was indeed such a fool to have loved her the way he did, she shattered his heart and he vowed never to go through such pain ever again, he had left her house and his house behind and had gone away, a shattered soul.