All of them were still silent after Derek had told Evelyn he had forgiven her.

And in the silence that followed, Derek did something that surprised everyone.

Evelyn, especially was quite shocked.

He moved forward and hugged her.

It was a very warm embrace.

Her breath was caught as his arms wrapped around her warmly.

She could not move for a moment, but later allowed herself to melt into his embrace, as her face pressed against his shoulder.

The moment felt very strange.

The warmth of their embrace was not because they were rekindling their love, or maybe he was showing a token of his total forgiveness as he just...