Chapter 290: Liquid Pain
Derek had not been back to the penthouse in a long time. In fact, ever since the break-up, where Emily had just unceremoniously disappeared from his life. Derek had not set foot in the place. But after the encounter that he’d had with Emily earlier that day, Derek had been rattled.
He had tried his best to push it to the back of his mind. Going about his regular duties, and pretending to the rest of the world that he was fine. That seeing Emily, a version of her that was cold towards him. Staring at him as though she had no idea who he was. Had not bothered him, but it had really affected him.
Even so, he’d still attended more meetings, both virtually and in person. He had signed off on contracts, and had gone to oversee projects that needed his attention. But the moment all of the work was done, and he no longer had anything to keep him occupied.
It had really hit Derek.
Emily really did not want anything to do with him anymore, and that hurt a lot. It hurt so bad that Derek did not trust himself to be able to drive all the way to the manor safely. His mind was in and out, so he decided that his best bet was going to the penthouse where he currently was. But his decision to not go to the manor was not all about his driving capability. There was also the issue of his mother to consider.
He did not want her to see him, without his mask perfectly in place. After the first few days where he had spent most of his time moping, Derek had been working hard to keep up the facade of being perfectly fine.
It would be a pain for his mother, to see it all crumble, and realize that he had been lying to her. She had been acting strangely enough as it was. He did not want to give her more reason to become even weirder around him.
So now that Derek was back at the penthouse, and he was walking around like a stranger in his own home. Staring at everything as though he had never seen it before.
That was the couch where he and Emily used to cuddle, make out, and sometimes eat together. That was the carpet where he had gotten a taste of her for the very first time. Where the two of them had seen each other naked and vulnerable. He looked over at the kitchen and he remembered the meals they used to prepare there.