The CEO’s Unspoken Love (Eleanor and Derek) novel Chapter 224

The CEO’s Unspoken Love

Chapter 224

As we walked through Boston’s streets toward home, Derek spoke about Frontier Capital’s new direction, his eyes lighting with an enthusiasm I’d rarely seen before the accident. I listened, asking questions about his plans for sustainable investment portfolios, admiring the passion that had replaced his former detachment. The difference between this Derek and the man who had left for London two years ago couldn’t have been more pronounced.

“Mrs. Bennett has this elderly customer who comes in every Friday,” I told him as we waited at a crosswalk. “He buys the exact sam book of poetry each time-different copy, same title. Today he finally told me he gives them to strangers he meets who seem like they need beauty in their lives.”

Derek’s laugh warmed me more than the summer sun. “That’s either incredibly sweet or slightly concerning.”

“I’m choosing to find it charming, I replied, smiling up at him.

The light changed, and we continued our walk. As we approached the path that would take us through Boston Common, I glanced at Derek’s leg. “Are you sure you’re up for hiking this weekend? That trail at Blue Mountain isn’t exactly smooth terrain.”

“Stop worrying,’ he said, but his tone held no irritation, only affection. “Dr. Martin cleared me for all normal activity, remember?

Besides, I’ve been practicing on the treadmill at incline.”

At home, Sunny greeted us with enthusiastic barks and dancing paws. Derek and I exchanged smiles over her excitement-this shared joy in our pet’s antics another thread binding us together. While Derek checked his emails, I began organizing our camping supplies in the bedroom. I discretely tucked extra pain medication into a side pocket of my bag, just in case, careful to hide it where

I sent a silent prayer of gratitude to whatever force had given us this second chance. When Derek set aside his laptop and joined me on my end of the sofa, taking the book from my hands to read a passage aloud, his voice wrapping around the words with reverence,

I felt tears prick behind my eyes.

Sunny snored softly at our feet, and I realized that this space-once just my refuge-had truly become our home. Derek caught my emotional gaze and raised an eyebrow in question.

“Just happy,” I whispered, unable to articulate the fullness in my heart.

Later, as Derek carried me to bed despite my playful protests about testing his strength, I nestled against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. As sleep claimed me, my last conscious thought was anticipation for our weekend adventure-our first real excursion since the accident that had nearly taken everything, but had somehow given us even more.