Chapter 819 Another Misunderstanding
Derrick came to a stop in front of Amelia, huffing and puffing. “What did you mean when you said Tiff had gone missing, Amelia? Wasn’t she with you the entire time? How could she have disappeared? Is this some kind of a sick joke?”
Amelia was similarly frustrated. “I wish it was a joke too. Tiff said she was going on a trip, but she hasn’t answered any of my calls or texts on WhatsApp. It’s as if she’s vanished from the face of the earth. I’ve filed a police report,” she replied agitatedly.
Panic assailed his thoughts, and he paced around, clasping his head with both hands. “Why didn’t anyone inform me she went on a trip? She could have yelled at me or hit me for making a mistake. Why did she have to punish me in such a cruel way?” Derrick said in a frenzy.
Rage seethed within Amelia as she looked at him. She spat, “Tiff wouldn’t have turned out this way if you hadn’t cheated on her. This is all your fault.”
He froze, his eyes filled with anguish and pain.
“Yes, it’s all on me. Tiff wouldn’t be in this situation if it weren’t for me.” He wrapped his hands around his head in distress.
If he could turn back time, he would keep his distance from Crystal and stay strangers from the beginning.
Amelia was taken aback to see him on the verge of a breakdown.
“Derrick, stop it,” she coaxed.
He started hitting himself on the head, and she called for Oscar.
Oscar came over with swift strides and grabbed Derrick by his collar, lifting him off the floor and throwing a few punches to his midriff.
Derrick let out a groan, the pain overriding the flood of emotions, and his sanity slowly returned.
He raised his hand to wipe the corner of his mouth and looked at Oscar. “Thank you for the wake-up punches, Mr. Clinton.”
Oscar loosened his grip and replied, “As a man, you should be thinking about how to find your woman after she has disappeared, not throwing a fit here. Learn to clean up your mess and quit blaming others like a wimp since you are to blame in this situation.”
Derrick smiled ruefully. “Got it.”
He used his resources to search for Tiffany but to no avail. Just as everyone was bracing for the worst, she appeared unexpectedly before them. In fact, she was fine, save for being a little tanned and slimmer.
Amelia stilled before blurting, “Tiff?”
Derrick lurched toward Tiffany unsteadily like an injured leopard, gathering her in his arms and crying, “You’re back, Tiff. Don’t scare me like that again, or you might send me into an early grave. Please stop doing this to me.”
Her body stiffened as he held her close, and she could even feel his tears soaking her clothes.
He tightened his arms around her as if he was trying to absorb her into his being.
“I’m sorry, Tiff. Please don’t ever scare me like that again. Punish me however you like, but please don’t disappear on me, or I’ll go crazy,” Derrick sobbed.
Men usually only cried when the soft spots in their hearts were triggered.
Tiffany was shocked to feel genuine tears from him. She slowly lifted her hand and hesitated before resting it against his back.
A shudder stole over Derrick’s body when he felt her touch, and he enveloped her tighter to him.
“Tiff, Tiff,” he mumbled in a low voice.
Both of them stood in each other’s embrace for a long time before pulling away.
Tiffany wiped her eyes in embarrassment under Derrick’s ardent gaze.
Amelia came forward to draw her in for a hug without prolonging the awkward moment. “Everything’s fine now that you’re back, but don’t do that again.”
Tiffany returned the hug and said, “I’m sorry. I won’t do that again.”
Four of them took each corner of the couches.
Tiffany began to tell them what had happened. Only then did Amelia and the rest find out that Tiffany had followed a guided tour into the forest and gotten lost. They went in circles for a long time before coming across a local just when they thought their fate was sealed. The local showed them the way out, and Tiffany bought a plane ticket home after bidding goodbye to her tourmates, hoping to reunite with Amelia as soon as possible. The rest was history.
Amelia shot Tiffany a wry look. “Why didn’t you call us after getting out of the forest? We almost went insane looking for you.”
“Sorry, I lost my phone in the woods. We had no signal in there at all,” Tiffany replied apologetically. “It won’t happen again.”
Amelia shook her head. “Nothing matters as long as you’re back safe and sound.”
Tiffany smiled.
Amelia signaled Oscar to leave the room with her, giving Tiffany and Derrick some privacy.
Derrick got down on one knee in front of Tiffany and raised his head, pleading, “Forgive me, Tiff. I’ll accept any penance, truly, but please don’t ever put yourself in danger. I can’t bear it.”
She gave him a perplexed look, revulsion still lingering in the pit of her stomach. Thus, she couldn’t agree with him at that moment.
“Give me two more days, and I’ll give you my answer,” she responded.
Delight shone in his eyes as he grabbed her hands and exclaimed, “Will you really forgive me, Tiff?”
She withdrew her hands and looked away, avoiding his intense gaze before giving him the boot. “You should go.”
Derrick didn’t want to risk upsetting her and quickly said, “Sure, I’ll take my leave, then. Get some rest, and I’ll look for you in two days.”
Having said that, he left in a hurry.
Tiffany pursed her lips and heaved a sigh.
She went downstairs and saw Amelia and Oscar watching TV with their hands around each other. Her heart clenched with envy at the sight of them.
She stood on the landing and quietly observed them for a long time before Amelia noticed her. “Why are you standing there, Tiff?”
Tiffany snapped out of her reverie and walked over to them.
“Sorry for making you worried, Babe.” She sank into the other couch.
“All’s good as long as you’re back safely.” Amelia poured her a cup of coffee and continued, “You should have given things some thought after disappearing for a few days. I see you still have feelings for Derrick. Do you intend to forgive him?”
Tiffany lowered her gaze and murmured, “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll have an answer two days later.”
Amelia tactfully refrained from asking more questions.
Tiffany drove to Derrick’s office two days later. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, his secretary intercepted her with a flustered expression.
“What brings you here, Mrs. Hisson? I haven’t seen you around in a while,” the secretary asked with a glint in her eyes.
Something clicked in Tiffany’s head as she looked at her. Tiffany’s gaze cooled, and she asked, “Is someone in Mr. Hisson’s office?” Specifically, a woman who was intimate with him.
“No, yes. Mr. Hisson is in a business meeting. Mrs. Hisson, would you like to wait a moment before going in?” The secretary rambled, “Or I could make you a hot cup of coffee. It’s nice, I promise.”
Tiffany nodded. “Sure.”
“I think you should come with me, Mrs. Hisson. I’m not sure what your preference is.”
“Okay.”
The secretary visibly sighed with relief and led the way. Tiffany snuck away toward the office while she was unaware.
“Mrs. Hisson…” Tiffany had pushed the door open before the secretary could finish her sentence, and the scene that greeted her made her burst out laughing.
Crystal was laughing heartily while sprawled atop Derrick. It was a scene straight out of a romance novel, and Tiffany didn’t think she would see it play out in real life.
“Excuse me for interrupting such a private moment. Carry on, I’ll leave now.” Tiffany waved her hand and very thoughtfully shut the door.
“Mrs. Hisson,” the secretary said in a panic.
“That was a pretty spectacular show, and I’m satisfied, but my novel doesn’t need such a scene,” Tiffany joked and left with the click-clack of her heels without looking back.
Derrick caught up with her as soon as she was inside the elevator and watched as the doors slid shut.
He could feel the blood coursing through his body, and his brain started pounding painfully. Running to the other elevator, he pressed the button and waited anxiously.
Crystal ran up to him with disarrayed clothes and seized his hand, begging, “Don’t do this to me, Derrick.”
Her mannerism and plaintive voice made him sick to the stomach.
Crystal’s disheveled state could cause anyone’s imagination to run wild. She even seemed like one of the typical second female leads who feuded with the female leads in television dramas. As melodramatic as it seemed, desperately bored viewers would still enjoy watching a catfight.
Derrick slapped her across the face and snapped, “I know you’re shameless, but know your limits. You disgust me.” The elevator doors opened, and he entered.
