Derek tried to think of different ways of protecting himself. Daniel could be harmful. He couldn't leave his mother, sister, and Emily alone after him. He would have to use a disguise if he wanted to meet Daniel. Something that would not reveal his true identity.

He knew the exact person who could know where he could get a disguise. He picked up his phone and placed a call to Rosaline. He was feeling bad to disrupt her peace because he knew she was not feeling well but he couldn't help it.

"Hello, Ms. Rosaline. Sorry to disrupt your peace. But I wanted to ask you if you knew a place where I could get disguises." He said as she picked up the call.

"Yes, sir. Umm.... actually I do know a place like that. I'll text you the details right away." She said as she sent him the details of the place

"Yeah, I got them. Thank you, Miss Rosaline. I'm really sorry for disturbing you. Get well soon. Have a good evening." He said as he hung up the call.

Derek sent James who was her mother's bodyguard and her driver to get the disguise. Derek's father trusted James with their lives. James had been his father's best friend and now Derek trusted him with the safety of his family.

Derek changed his clothes. He wore a black shirt with black denim jeans and black sneakers. James was back with a box. Derek saw the items in the box and asked James to put it in his car. He couldn't let anyone know what he was up to. He let James know that he was supposed to be with him on this mission.

James was an ex-marine and therefore had a fair knowledge of arms and martial arts which was always helpful for Derek.

Derek was getting ready to leave when a knock sounded on his bedroom door. The door was slightly open. He turned around to see Emily standing there.

"Emily, come in." He said as he held her hand and sat beside her on his bed.

"Derek, I hope I didn't disturb you." She said wringing her hands in her lap.

"No Emily. Family comes first. And you are my family too. Aren't you?" He said as he gently stroked her cheeks.

"Well, thank you. I'm glad you chose me to be a part of your life. I'm so lucky." She said as she looked out of the window behind him.

"I have something to give you." She said as she handed him a little roll of paper tied with a ribbon.

"What's this?" He asked as he took the roll of paper from her and examined it with curiosity. 

"Open it." She said as she laid a hand on his arm. Derek rolled open the paper and there were a few lines written that read as:

"If you promise to make me happy, feel safe, loved, wanted and protected like I am today for the rest of my life then YES I will be a part of your life.

                                      Yours only
                                             Emily "
"Emily, is it true? Do you want to be a part of my life? You really do?" He asked as he couldn't believe her words because she disagreed to be in a relationship with him.

"Yes, Derek. It's true. I want to be a part of your life. Will you accept me?" She said as she searched his eyes for an answer.

"Yes yes, yessssss!" He said as he picked her up and spun her around. She giggled and held his shoulders for support.

"Derek put me down. Please?" She said as she ran her hand through his hair. 

"Okay. Let's go and tell the good news to mother and Alice. I'm sure Alice will start jumping again. "He said as he took her hand and dragged her with him to his mother's room.  Maria was reading her book when Derek knocked. Alice was also sitting with her but she was busy typing on her laptop.

"Yes? Come in!" Maria said as she put her peacock feather bookmark in her book and laid her glasses on top of it after closing it. Alice also closed the laptop and sat straighter in her seat.

"Mother, we have something to tell you." He said as he held Emily's small hand in his big ones. Maria motioned him to say what he wanted. Alice looked at their intertwined hands.

"Mother, Emily said yes!" He said with a big smile. Alice got up from her seat and jumped up and down in excitement.  She engulfed Emily in a tight hug that nearly knocked her out of breath.
"I'm glad Emily you said yes. I'm so happy that I have another daughter and Alice has a sister she wished every Christmas when she was little." She said she took a thin silver band and asked for her hand. Emily extended her hand and Maria slipped the ring on her finger.

"There, this is the first ring Robert gave me as a promise that he'll always keep me happy. Welcome to the family, Emily. " She said as she kissed her forehead.

"Thank you so much, Maria. It's a beautiful ring and I promise that I'll take care of if more than my own life. It means a lot to me." Emily said as she kissed her hand.

"This calls for a celebration! Let's have ice cream!" Alice said as she clapped her hands excitedly and looked towards her mother for permission.

"Sure. Why not?" Maria answered as Alice ended her clapping. Alice ran off to the kitchen and returned with four bowls of ice cream. They sat together, talked, laughed and got on well with each other. 

Derek looked at the clock. It was 8:20 p.m. He was getting frustrated by every minute because he had to leave and he was getting late.

"I'm so sorry for leaving you all like this but I have to be somewhere." He said as he put his bowl of ice cream back in the tray and stood up.

Emily stood up from her seat and excused herself as well.
"Take care, Derek. "She said as she planted a kiss on his cheek

"Yeah, I will. Don't worry. Okay?" He said as he kissed her forehead and walked out of the main door before taking a long look at her.