Chapter 361: Not the Monster

For a supposedly dead person, Emily was in really good shape.

Time at Haven manor had done wonders for her.

Thanks to the fact that she was in hiding with Derek, she got to sleep as much as she wanted and enjoyed good meals in between. Being able to rest, and having her every whim catered to, had really sped up her healing process. Most of the aches, scrapes, and bruises were gone.In fact the only thing left that showed that her time at the manor was not just her choosing to pamper herself, was the sling that she still had her arm in.

But even that would be gone in a short while. All that she needed to do was keep up with her exercises and the arm would heal nicely. That was what the doctors had told her when she had been discharged.

A process that had been a production and a half. Complete with cars that had blacked out windows. Police officers in disguise sneaking them out of the hospital, and body bags filled with pillows. In the end they had made it to the manor, and Emily was grateful for that. She and Derek got to share their healing journey together. Being able to affirm with just a look that he was alright, and also slowly recovering from his injuries. Did wonders to quell Emily’s anxiety.

It would take him a little longer to be able to put weight on his foot. But in the end he too would be fine.

Everything was going good, it was going great even. The only thing that would have made it even better would have been for Sebastian Haven to be behind bars.

Despite the fact that he had been back in the country for weeks now. He was still a free man, out and about in the world, enjoying himself. Terrorizing people and drinking to his heart’s content, surrounded by dozens of scantily dressed young women.

"Think of it as a last hurrah for him, one that he does not even realise that he is having," Derek had told her when Emily had expressed her rage, at the fact that his uncle was still free. Every time that she saw pictures of him in the news, that was the only thing that kept Emily sane. Preventing her for doing things that would jeopardize the plan. Things like maybe getting into a car, and driving to the city just to run Sebastian over.

Sebastian’s days were numbered. She just had to keep reminding herself of that, and stay calm.

He was going to reap every single thing that he had sown. He just did not know it yet. That was what made the vengeance that they were planning for him even sweeter. While Derek and Emily had been hidden away at the manor to recover, and to keep them away from anyone who could spot them, and possibly identify them as the former CEO and his PA who had been declared dead. Their mothers were in the city, getting everything together. Working with Marge to make sure that this time when they got Sebastian there would be no wiggle room for him to try and slither away.

So far there were sexual harassment victims coming forward. Feeling secure enough to tell their story because Cassandra Haven, thee Cassandra Haven, was promising to back them up. There were people who had gone to jail for crimes that Sebastian had committed.

There were even waiters and waitresses who were coming forward with stories of having had wine bottles broken over their heads and being tossed around. Apparently a lot of people had problems with Sebastian, but they had always been scared to come forward because he had the haven name attached to him.

Something that he had used in order to get his way multiple times, but not anymore.

This time, when they went after Sebastian Haven, they would be coming at him with everything they had, and he would not be able to escape. Having had a physical therapy session that morning, Derek and Emily were just waking up from a nap. The two of them cuddled together in bed, but something was wrong. Derek was too quiet, a distant look in his eyes.

"Are you alright?" Emily asked. And he shrugged.

For a while she thought that he would not say anything. But when he finally did, she listened intently, realising that this was something that had been bothering him for a while.

"My uncle killed my father and your father. Then he tried to kill me and you. In fact, as far as he is concerned, he succeeded," Derek said. And Emily reached out, lacing their fingers together. Derek looked at her. His gratefulness for the touch, clear to see in his eyes.

"He did all of that, and he shows no ounce of regret, no remorse whatsoever. But the two of us are related by blood. What if whatever that cold-bloodedness in him, that allows him to hurt people like this, and not feel any guilt whatsoever, is in me too?" To say that she was shocked would have been an understatement. How could he think that. Before she could speak up, he continued.

"Emily, what if what my uncle is right now is what I will become in the future? What if it is just a matter of time before I turn into whatever he is?" Letting go of his hand, Emily sat up to face him. Then she turned his head towards her when she saw that he was looking elsewhere.

"Look at me Derek Haven and I want you to listen to everything that I say to you. You are a good man, a kind man. You have people who care about you and you care about them in turn, and I for one love you with everything in me. So don’t you ever compare yourself to Sebastian Haven. The two of you are nothing alike and will never be because you, Derek, are capable of so much love.

But Sebastian has never even been able to feel that for anyone but himself. Do you hear me?" He nodded and Emily cradled his face in her hands, and kissed him squarely on the lips.

The contact not meant to be sexual, but intended as a way of offering comfort. When she pulled back, he was looking at her in awe, like he could not believe it.

"Thank you for that. I needed it,"He whispered, and Emily settled down next to him again. How he could have ever thought that, how he could have ever thought such a horrible thing was beyond her. Derek was a hundred times the man that his uncle was.

And if he did not believe it, she would be sure to spend a lifetime showing him that he was a good man, a man that she loved.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read