Once Forgotten Now Unforgettable Allison Evans and Derek Evans

The bedroom, though modestly adorned, radiated an understated wealth. The atmosphere was charged with the soft sounds of a woman's moans intertwined with a man's deep grunts.

Stretched out across the plush bed, Allison Evans' fingers clenched the smooth silk of the sheets, her movements synchronizing with the man's deepening pace.

One of his hands firmly anchored her waist, the other pinned hers to the bed, channeling the pent-up desire from his recent a month-long business trip.

A muffled cry escaped Allison's lips as she bit down, prompting him to deliver one forceful, final thrust, releasing his long-held passion.

Lingering in the afterglow, they clung to each other, the echoes of their pleasure slowly fading.

"Derek, your grandfather is hinting about us having a baby again," Allison murmured in the dark, entwining her fingers with his, her voice soft and tender, laced with a lingering intimacy.

She could feel his hot breath against her ear, sending tingling sensations along her spine with each breath.

"A baby?" Derek Evans repeated, his lips curling into a playful smirk as he tenderly stroked her hair.

Allison could not see her husband's face, and the fact that he had not immediately dismissed the idea allowed a fragile hope to take root in her heart. "Yes. I am still young. Recovering from childbirth would be easier now. And if we decide we want more kids later, it would make sense to start early."

His fingers, which had been gently stroking her hair just moments ago, suddenly slid down to her face and clamped harshly around her chin, leaving a raw red mark on her skin.

"So you're planning to tie me down with a kid? How pathetic."

The chill in his voice cut through her, sharp and merciless. Without even pausing, he yanked himself away, leaving Allison limp and shivering on the bed.

A surge of panic seized her. She hurried to defend herself, saying, "It was your grandfather's suggestion, not mine..."

The silence stretched on unbearably long before Derek finally spoke again, his voice low and cutting.

"Don't even think about showing up at the family dinner tomorrow."

"Why not?"

Allison turned to him, confusion clouding her eyes. Was he really this angry just because she had mentioned having a baby?

Tomorrow was supposed to be their third wedding anniversary, a day when the entire Evans family would get together at his grandfather's place.

Only the faint outline of Derek's face was visible in the thick darkness.

"Kaylyn's back."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the overhead lights blinked on with a sharp glare.

Allison's first instinct was to yank the thin blanket higher, shielding her bare chest while she gaped at him in speechless disbelief.

Not even glancing her way, Derek climbed out of bed, his body completely exposed, and headed straight for the bathroom. A moment later, the steady splash of water echoed through the room.

An invisible weight dropped in Allison's chest, spreading a slow, numbing ache.

Still clutching the blanket loosely around her, she remained frozen, her ears filled with the rushing sound of water as old memories stirred back to life.

Three years earlier, she had been gravely injured. It was Glenn Evans, Derek's grandfather, who had stepped in and saved her.