Derek leaned back in his chair, sipping his whiskey. Across from him, Ethan nursed a beer, his gaze distant, fixed on the wall behind Derek. Their usual cozy lounge felt different tonight. Ethan, normally funny and chatty, was unusually subdued, and it was noticeable.

Derek studied his friend, searching for any sign of emotion. "So, what's going on, man? How are you really feeling about the whole Rayna situation?" he asked, breaking the silence that followed their pleasantries and work-related small talk. Ethan took a slow sip of his beer, his expression unreadable. "I'm fine," he said flatly. "I've moved on."

Derek raised an eyebrow. "Really? Just like that?"

Ethan shrugged. "Yeah. Just like that."

Derek set his glass down with a soft thud, leaning forward. "You don't just move on from someone you claimed to love, Ethan. You don't just flip a switch and pretend everything's fine." Ethan's jaw tightened, but he remained silent, his eyes still on the wall.

"Come on, man," Derek pressed, his voice softer now. "You're clinging to this grudge as if it will fix things. She's apologized, Ethan. More than once, to my knowledge. Is losing your 'golden sun' over this misunderstanding really worth it?"

Ethan's grip on his beer bottle tightened. For a moment, Derek thought he'd answer, but Ethan sighed and shook his head. "Can you stop calling her that? Or better yet, can we just talk about something else?"

Before Derek could respond, his phone buzzed. A message notification lit up the screen. He glanced down, his brow furrowing at the message from his source: "Urgent." He opened it to find an attached voice recording.

"Hold on a second," Derek muttered, retrieving his earbud and connecting it to his phone. He played the recording, his face paling as he listened. It was Sandra.

"It's time to get the job done," Sandra's voice said coldly. "Make sure it doesn't look like a kidnapping. When she leaves the reunion tomorrow, grab her before she reaches her car. She has a bodyguard, so find a way to distract him subtly. We need to ensure no one suspects foul play. I want it clean."

Derek's heart pounded as he listened to Sandra's further instructions. She wanted Michael kidnapped, then Evelyn. The plan was to make it seem like they'd eloped, then something tragic happened. Or, even better, to make it look like Michael, still obsessed with Evelyn, had kidnapped and killed her before committing suicide. It was a twisted, calculated plot, and Derek's blood boiled with each detail, including Sandra's plan to lure Michael with a phone call.

His mind raced. This wasn't just about removing Evelyn; it was a murder plot—a scheme to destroy both Evelyn and Michael.

"What's wrong?" Ethan asked, noticing Derek's shock.

Derek shook his head, unable to fully process the gravity of the situation. He yanked out his earbud and handed it to Ethan. "Listen to this," he said, his voice strained.

Ethan took the earbud, frowning as he listened. As the recording progressed, his face mirrored Derek's shock.

When it ended, Ethan slowly removed the earbud, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Are you kidding me?" he asked, his voice low. "She's really doing this? Planning to murder Evelynand Michael? I thought Michael was supposed to be her partner?"

Derek ran a hand through his hair, still reeling. "I can't believe this. She's completely lost it. This isn't petty jealousy or ambition—it's a full-blown criminal conspiracy."

Ethan nodded, clearly shaken. "What are you going to do?" he whispered.

Derek stared at the table, his mind racing. He couldn't ignore this. Evelyn and Michael were in danger. It didn't matter that Michael had betrayed him and the family; he was still family, and Derek would rather he faced punishment than death. He hesitated to involve the authorities yet; this could be his chance to catch Sandra red-handed. But how could he do this without endangering Evelyn?

"I don't know yet. I need time to think," Derek admitted after a long pause, his voice low. "I need a careful plan. But one thing's for sure—I won't let either of them come to harm."

Ethan leaned back, the weight of the situation evident on his face. "You have to stop her, Derek. No question. But be careful; thwarting this plan doesn't mean she won't try again."

Derek nodded, clenching his fists. He wasn't sure how he'd do it, but he wouldn't let Sandra get away with this. He would protect Evelyn, no matter the cost. First, he needed a plan—a solid, airtight plan to not only stop Sandra but expose her.

He drained his whiskey, leaning forward, his mind already strategizing. The family dinner couldn't wait until Sunday. They needed to bring it forward; perhaps they could all work on a plan together.