The Billionaire’s Unexpected Proposal (Evelyn and Derek)

Ethan stirred in his bed, the rustle of sheets catching Rayna's attention. She sat in a chair beside him, a novel in her hand, but the moment she saw him move, she was on her feet.

"You're awake," she said, her tone more pleasant than she intended. Do you need anything? Water? Your lunch? An extra pillow?" Her words came out in a rush, betraying her concern. Ethan blinked up at her, his lips curving into a sleepy smile. "I'm fine. You've been fussing over me all morning. I'm sure that was the reason I was so exhausted. Sit down and relax."

"I'm not fussing," she retorted as she picked up his hospital-issued tray and inspected it before setting it back down with a frown.

"They should've brought your lunch by now. What are they waiting for?" She asked as she glanced at the clock.

Ethan's smile widened as he watched her, and then he chuckled, making her raise a brow as she glanced at him, "Is something funny?"

"Yeah."

She narrowed her eyes. "What's funny?"

"I thought you didn't care and wanted to move on?" Ethan teased.

"Shut up" she muttered, her cheeks pink.

"At the club that night, you said I wasn't your type," he reminded her, and she rolled her eyes.

"And you said I wasn't your type either," she shot back.

"I guess you lied," he said, ignoring her retort.

"Same way you lied too. And you lied about not liking that cereal and claimed it was for Sarah," she said, and he chuckled.

"I guess we both lied. You're very much my type," he said, and Rayna turned her back on him, but he didn't miss the way her lips quirked upward.

"Are you always this dressed up for hospital visits, or did you dress up specially for me?" Ethan asked, his voice light and teasing as he looked her over and noticed she had changed her clothes.

She wore a soft, lavender blouse that hugged her figure and a pair of dark jeans that looked freshly pressed. Her hair, usually in a casual ponytail, was swept into loose waves that framed her face and she had lipstick on. Rayna ran a hand self-consciously through her hair as she turned to face him. "What do you think?" She asked with a raised brow.

Ethan chuckled softly. "I think you dressed up for me."

"Yes, I did. And I had to wait hours for you to wake up and notice," she said with mock disapproval, and he laughed.

"Sorry. It's the pain relief medication. It's messing with my system.

And maybe it's a result of exhaustion, too. I'm probably getting all the sleep I didn't get during the duration of our problem," he admitted. "So, you had sleepless nights, huh?" She asked, pleased to hear that.

"Yes, I did. I had sleepless nights and restless days""" he said as he reached for her hand with his good hand, his fingers brushing hers lightly.

"That's good then. Very good actually 'cause you almost drove me crazy with your attitude..."

"Let's not talk about that" Ethan cut in as he pulled her closer gently, "let's talk about us instead, he said, and Rayna's pulse picked up.

"What about us," Rayna asked, her voice a little breathless because of the proximity between them and how her chest was pressed against Ethan's side.

"I want to kiss you," he said confessed, "Can I?" He asked, and in response, Rayna covered the space between them and kissed him.

Ethan kissed her back, but before the kiss could progress, the door creaked open, and Rayna immediately pulled away, her cheeks flushing crimson as she stepped back. She smoothed her blouse hurriedly as if to compose herself and spun around to face the door.

Evelyn and Derek stood in the doorway, their expressions a mix of amusement and curiosity. Evelyn arched an eyebrow while Derek smirked and shot Ethan a knowing look.

"Interrupting something?" Evelyn asked her tone light but with an edge of teasing.

Rayna cleared her throat, quickly retreating to the corner of the room and grabbing the novel she'd abandoned earlier. "Not at all. I was just... checking on Ethan's comfort. He said he had something in his eyes, and I was trying to get it out." She gestured vaguely toward the bed, avoiding everyone's gaze. "Of course"" Evelyn said smoothly, but the knowing smile she shared with Derek didn't go unnoticed by Ethan.

Ethan still reclined and entirely unbothered by the interruption, grinned up at Evelyn and Derek. "I'm glad you're here. I was about to ask her if she could leave me alone so I could rest. She's been nagging and nitpicking all day." Rayna whipped her head around to glare at him. "Excuse me?"

Ethan shrugged, "I've been begging you all day and trying to get you to talk to me, but you won't even look at my face. I don't know what to do anymore. So, maybe you need a break," he said, and Evelyn's eyes danced between them, her lips twitching as if she were holding back a laugh.

"You two are quite the pair," Evelyn said as her eyes lingered on Rayna, taking in her neatly styled hair and carefully applied makeup that was ruined a little because of the lipstick that had been smeared a little from the kissing. Her lips twitched, amusement dancing in her eyes. "Ray, you look nice today. Have a date?"

"No. I'm still too busy being his personal nurse to have time to myself," She said, scowling at Ethan.

Evelyn giggled as she turned to Derek, "I really want to act like we didn't see anything, but Ray keeps making it hard."NôvelDrama.Org: owner of this content.

"What do you mean?" Rayna asked, eyeing her, and Derek chuckled.

"What did you say you were doing when we walked in just now?" Evelyn asked, giving her a pointed look.

"I was taking something out of his eyes..."

"Are you sure about that? Because from the lipstick stain on his lips, it looks like you were taking something out of his mouth," Evelyn drawled, and both Ethan and Derek chuckled. Rayna blushed, and without another word, she left the room, shutting the door behind her with just enough force to make her exit known.

"I will go after her," Evelyn said as she hurried after Rayna.

The room fell silent for a moment before Ethan and Derek broke into a laugh. "She's something else," Derek remarked, sitting down in one of the chairs.

"Yeah, she is," Ethan said with a grin. "She's been great," he said softly.

Derek arched an eyebrow. "Oh? Sounds like someone's got a personal nurse."

"Having her as my nurse makes this broken arm worth it," Ethan said with a chuckle.

Derek folded his arms, his gaze on Ethan. "You love her."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You think?"

"Don't play dumb," Derek replied with a small smile. "It's obvious you're head over heels. I'm just so surprised that your crazy plan worked."

Ethan's expression softened, and he glanced toward the door as if expecting Rayna to return. "Yeah, I'm surprised too."

"You're lucky," Derek said, leaning back in his chair.

Ethan chuckled. "I know I am."

Outside the room, Evelyn caught up with Rayna, and before she could say anything, Rayna glared at her, "Shut up."

Evelyn giggled, "Why should I? You tried to fool me."

"No, I didn't, Rayna said, and Evelyn snorted.

"I don't blame you, though. I should have known better than to listen to anything you say when Ethan is involved. When it has to do with Ethan, you're always moving like a floundering fish," Evelyn said with a small laugh. "What's that supposed to mean?" Rayna asked with an embarrassed smile.

"It means you lose common sense when Ethan is involved. And it's actually cute. So, seeing as you both are not taking things out from each other's eyes and mouths..."

"Shut up," Rayna said with a giggle, and Evelyn laughed.

"I guess you're no longer playing hard to get? You're such a cheap girl, Rayna," Evelyn said, and Rayna laughed.

"I feel so embarrassed I can't even lie," she admitted.

"Well, there's nothing to be embarrassed about, my friend. It's good to see things working out for you," Evelyn said softly.

"Thanks, Evie," Rayna said as she leaned forward and embraced her, "By the way, what's up with your plan to find Derek's biological family?"

"About that. There has been a change of plans," Evelyn said, and then Rayna told Rayna about Michael's discovery and Derek's decision.

"Oh! That's good, then. I hope he finds her soon. And most importantly, I hope she's alive. It would be really sad if something had happened to her, Rayna said, and Evelyn shook her head.

"No negative thoughts, Ray. Positive thoughts only. I really want Derek to be happy," she said, and Rayna smiled.

"Me too. And most importantly, I can't wait for us to plan our weddings together, Rayna said in an excited singing voice, and Evelyn laughed.

"Are you certain you love Ethan, or do you just want to get married?" She asked with amusement.

"Both, darling. This is one of those cases where two truths exist. It goes without saying that I'm handling the cake and refreshments for your wedding, right?" Rayna said, and Evelyn laughed.

"Sure. But let's slow down. Both men are yet to propose," Evelyn said, and Rayna rolled her eyes.

"What proposal are you searching for when you're carrying baby number two in your belly? Besides, hasn't he made his intention of marrying you clear already? Ethan has done that, and it's okay..." "Nope. I'm not asking for anything big. All I want is a ring. A baby is not a ring," Evelyn said, and Rayna rolled her eyes.

"Like Michael didn't give you a ring," Rayna said dryly, and Evelyn gasped in shock.

"No, you didn't just say that," she exclaimed, and Rayna giggled.

"Yes, I did. I'm saying a ring and going down on one knee isn't that big of a deal, and it doesn't determine the success of a relationship or marriage. So, our focus should be the wedding, not the proposal," Rayna said, and Evelyn scowled at her.

"You could have made your point without bringing Michael up, she said, and Rayna smiled.

"I'm wondering how you're both going to face each other at family gatherings in the future," Rayna said with a giggle, and Evelyn laughed as they made their way back to join the guys.

As they walked into the room, Ethan and Derek looked up, and Ethan raised a questioning brow as he met Rayna's gaze, while Evelyn went to sit on Derek's thighs.

"You can drop the act. They figured it out already," Rayna said with a scowl and they all laughed.

"I guess things are not going your way," he said as he held out a hand to her.

"Maybe it's not meant to go my way. Just don't make me regret forgiving you so easily," she said as she took his hand and sat beside him.

"I won't I promise"" Ethan said as he kissed her hand, while Evelyn and Derek smiled happily as they watched their best friends.

"Why are you smiling, Evie? You know, I've been thinking, and you're the cause of our troubles," Rayna said, and Evelyn raised a brow.

"I am? How?" She asked with a curious smile.

"That night at the club, if you had not been playing hard to get and just let Derek take us to his table and let him introduce me to Ethan all that drama that ensued between Ethan and I would not have happened," Rayna said accusingly, and Evelyn's jaw dropped while both Derek and Ethan chuckled. "Really? You're going to blame your mistake on me? Like I asked you to accuse an innocent man," Evelyn retorted playfully.

"Whatever. You're lucky that Ethan and I are meant to be and we found our way to each other regardless of the fact that you refused to let the universe use you?" Rayna said, and they all laughed grateful for the gift of love and friendship.