Hey, guys! I'm so sorry for the short update of this story, but your questions on why it's short will be answered in this new Sterek story that I will post very soon. I decided on the style of writing that I will adapt from now on, and I hope you will openly accept my style without prejudice. I'm not going to lie to you, it's extremely difficult for me to write long passages, as I'm a very laconic kind of individual who prefers to be very succinct in my use of words. So if you guys wonder of my late update, and the short update of this chapter, check out the new story of REPAYMENT, which is in my profile, and you will find the answer to not only my short updates, but also my so called disappearance.

1.3

Derek walks alone to work without his car, and goes on to cross the street before reaching the huge building. The day with Paige is extremely harrowing, especially with moments where he's not sure why Paige would cling onto selfish hope that she will be the one with Derek, and by extension, even as to let their marriage be certified without his consent. Sure, he was head over heels for the young girl, but things have changed. His parents are now gone, and he had moved on.

Just why won't she see that?

"Derek!" calls out a voice. Derek turns to see Paige all dressed up nicely walking to him. Derek huffs before walking on, not bothering to stop for her. He really doesn't want to deal with this, and to see Paige once more makes him feel a little aggravated that she doesn't seem to make Derek more distressed than before. Paige catches up to Derek, who doesn't seem surprised that Derek is mad at the lady.

"Derek, you can't run away from this forever!" shouts out Paige. Derek ignores her, hoping that just by ignoring her will allow her to stop this theatricality. She doesn't; as she walks on and finally catches up with the man. "Derek, why are you being like this?"

"The question is: Why are you being like this? What we had, it was in the past," says Derek with a frustration and desperation breaking through his façade. Paige shakes her head and goes on to touch Derek's hand, to which Derek flinches at the contact. It's almost as if he's afraid of the lady, but more towards the disgusted kind of fear. For someone who has been described beautiful, Derek has never expected her to be the kind that will get under your skin.

"My parents will be here in a few days, and we will be married,"

"You clearly weren't listening. You're not making me choose between the two of you,"

Paige closes in on Derek, "Come on, Derek. Stiles has only been what, your boyfriend for less than a year? You've been doting on me for nearly a year in school and now you want to ditch your dreams for some guy whose way beyond your league?"

"He's not," snaps Derek, "And don't call him that, Paige. I swear, this isn't like you,"

"Well, a lot has changed and you don't really know me," retorts Paige, "Just think about it. This is what you've wanted, right? The girl of your dreams to be with you for the rest of your life, just like you've asked?"

Derek has once thought of that; that Paige will be the girl of his dreams and almost undoubtedly declared that he wouldn't dared to date nor cheat with another person. Thankfully, he didn't but with her words cutting through him, and his face flashing hurt all over, it almost seems that Derek is out his wit's end, and trapped knowing that both of his family has acknowledged that their relationship will blossom to the day they tie the knot.

"I really hope you take it into consideration, Derek," says Paige before placing an object onto his hand. She gives the man a kiss, and then walks away into the New York crowd. Derek watches her walk away without giving him to argue vehemently that Stiles is his only one, and when Derek opens his hand to see the object, it only solidifies the doubt that Derek never thought he'd be his own personal devil's advocate.

A gold band.

A/N: I will post the next chapter of Return real soon, and it is almost ending.