Love Conquers All
by Dani
CHAPTER THIRTY ONE
"Well, Derek, are you going to explain now?
We're twenty minutes away from Sunset Beach and I
haven't heard one word about your brilliant plan.
Come on... You've got to explain before I can do
through with this."
"Tess, we're going to Sunset Beach for one
purpose and one purpose only - to seek revenge on my
dear, dear brother. And we're not leaving until I've
settled a score or two with him."
"Brother? You never told me that you have a
brother."
"I'm telling you now. Tess, I have a brother...
A twin brother... A very wealthy twin brother... And
I'll claim the credit for his good looks," he smirked.
"Wow... A twin brother..." she replied in
amazement. "And I thought I was the only woman in the
world lucky enough to have a chance with a guy as
handsome as you," she smiled.
"Tess, Benjamin is SO much different than me.
You'd never believe how much of a contrast old Benny
Boy is to me."
"What do you mean - different?"
"I mean just that. Ben's mister perfect. He's
got money, he owns a couple of businesses, he has a
gorgeous oceanfront house, and he has a brand new old
lady."
"Old lady? He's married?" she asked.
"Yeah. Some girl named Meg Cummings. I checked
up on it. Sounds like the old boy knocked her up."
"Really," she replied. "So what are we gonna do,
Derek? What's the plan exactly?"
"Well, Tess, we're going to take over his life.
Everything. I want his money. I want his house. I
want everything, Tess."
"Everything? What about her?"
"Her?"
"Yeah, the wife. Do you want HER, too?" she
asked angrily.
"Hey, hey, hey..." He eased his arm behind her.
"Why would I want some fat, pregnant idiot when I've
got you, baby?"
She smiled at him. "Sorry. I got a little
carried away."
"That's alright. We're going to take care of
everything," he grinned.
"And what exactly are you going to do with them?"
"Who?"
"Them, Derek. Your brother and his wife. Who
did you think I was talking about?"
"I wasn't thinking... Let's just say that by the
time we're through with those two, we'll be living a
life of luxury."
His statement was followed by an awkward silence.
"Um, Derek?"
"What?"
"Do you really think that you can pull this thing
off?"
"Come on, Tess. Have a little faith in me. Of
course I can pull this off. No problem whatsoever..."
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO
"Ben, you promised that you'd go and see a doctor
if those headaches didn't ease off, and they haven't
in the past month. Ben, you've always kept your
promises to me..."
"I know, I know. Meg, I'm more worried about you
and the baby. A little headache's nothing right now."
"A headache IS something if you can't get rid of
it. Maybe you're having migraines or something..."
"I don't think so. They're really not that bad,"
he lied.
"Ben, you're not going to be any good to me or
the baby if you're still having these headaches. Why
don't you go and see Dr. Robinson? Do it for me,
sweeheart," she begged.
He looked at her pleading eyes and could no
longer put it off. "Alright, alright. I'll go, but
it's really nothing, Meg. I'll be okay..."
"Have you ever had headaches like these before,
Ben?" Tyus asked.
"Yes, but the circumstances are completely
different this time. I really shouldn't be having
them."
"What's so different about the circumstances?"
"The last time I had these headaches was around
the time that Maria died. I was upset then, but Meg
has made me so much happier then I've ever been."
Tyus changed the subject. "How has Meg been
lately?"
"She's been a little sick lately, but nothing
that isn't supposed to come along with pregnancy, I
suppose. Do they still have morning sickness at five
months?"
"Sometimes. Don't worry. She should be fine...
Well, Ben, I'm going to get the results of these
tests, and I'll call you when I find out what's going
on."
"Thanks, Tyus. I really appreciate this."
"No problem. And make sure Meg takes it easy,
alright?"
"Of course."
"He says there's nothing out of the ordinary,"
Ben said as he hung up the phone. "I told you it was
nothing to worry about." He walked over to her and
sat down.
"I don't care what he said. There's got to be
something he can do to stop them, Ben," Meg replied.
"It's fine, Meg. Stop worrying about me so
much."
"I have to worry about you. I can't help it. I
love you too much."
"I love you, too." He kissed her softly. "And I
also love you." He bent to kiss her bulging stomach.
"Our little family is just..."
"Perfect. I can begin to put this plan into
motion soon, Tess. It won't be long now," he grinned.
"Great. I'm getting pretty tired of hiding out.
We've been waiting for a month."
"Well, it's just a little longer, baby. Then it
will all be ours..."
CHAPTER THIRTY THREE
"Meg, you look fabulous. Stop worrying about it.
You look very sexy..." He walked over behind her at
the dressing table and bent to kiss her.
"Ben, I stopped looking sexy when I put on all
this weight," she frowned.
"Come on, Meg. You're very beautiful, and I
don't want to hear you say otherwise ever again."
She began to speak, but he quickly put a finger
to her lips. "I said I don't want to hear it," he
teased and then kissed her.
"Alright. I think I'm ready now," she said when
she could get in a word edgewise. "How about you?"
"Yeah, I'm ready. Our reservations are for
seven, so we'd better get going if we're going to make
it."
"Okay, let's go," she replied.
Ben helped her downstairs; she had become a
little clumsy after six months of pregnancy. "I'm
going to go out and start the car. I'll be right in
to get you," Ben said and then headed outside.
Meg sat on the sofa, waiting patiently for him to
return. Moments later she heard the doorbell.
"Who could that be?" she wondered aloud as she
got up to answer the door.
She opened the door to meet Ben's face. "Ben,
why on earth did you ring the bell?"
"Meg, that's you're name, right? I'm not Ben."
Meg looked at him, totally confused. "What do
you mean you're not Ben?" she asked. Suddenly she
noticed that this Ben was not wearing the same suit he
had been wearing earlier. "Who are you?"
"I'm your worst nightmare." He entered the
house, leading Meg with him, and was followed by Tess,
bringing the real Ben in at gunpoint.
"Ben, what is going on here?" Meg asked as she
looked at her real husband.
Derek pushed Meg onto the sofa.
"What do you think you're doing to her, Derek?"
Ben demanded. "She's pregnant," he fumed.
"I can see that my dear, dear brother. She'll be
alright - for now," he smirked. "Now, sit down," he
demanded of Ben.
"I thought you were dead."
"Well, obviously, brother dear, you thought
wrong. I survived that little accident a few years
ago. Now you've got to deal with me again, don't you?
And this time I'm going to win it all..."
CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
"Derek, you've got to be out of your mind if you
think I'm going to sit back and let you do this to
us."
"Oh, Benjamin, YOU have to be out of YOUR mind if
you think I'm going to let YOU do this to ME again.
You've already ruined my life. I'm not letting it get
any worse than you've made it."
Meg sat beside her husband, completely horrified
at the sight she was seeing. Beside her was her
loving husband and in front of her was his twin
brother - an obvious contrast to her kind, loving,
wonderful Ben.
"Der-"
"Shut up, Benjamin." He took out a gun and held
it in Ben's face. "Don't mess with me."
Ben quickly obeyed, unsure of what his demented
brother was up to. He held onto Meg tightly, fearing
for both her life and the life of their unborn child.
"Excuse me, Derek, but I need to speak to you for
a minute please," Tess urged.
Derek looked at his two prisoners and decided
that they would be fine if he just stepped aside - as
long as he kept them at gunpoint.
"Alright. Over here."
When Derek and Tess were deep in conversation,
Meg got the nerve to speak - but only to Ben.
"Ben, who is that? Why didn't I know you had a
brother - a twin brother, at that?" she whispered.
"Meg, darling, I thought he was dead. I didn't
think you needed to know about that - "
"And what were you saying about me, brother dear?
I hope it was nothing undignifying. I wouldn't want
your precious wife - Meg, is it? - to think badly of
me," he smirked.
"Derek, just stop the bloody jokes and tell me
what you want."
"Well, like I told my dear Tess... Oh, you
haven't met Tess, have you? My apologies. This is my
very good friend Tess."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," she smiled as she
waved her gun.
"Yeah, same here," Ben frowned. "Derek, just
tell me what you want."
"Well, well, well. You think it's going to be
that easy, do you? I don't think so, Benny Boy. I've
got a plan for you and this little mother... So when
is this little one due?" he asked as he grazed the
point of his gun over her stomach.
Meg remained silent, afraid to move at that
moment.
"I asked you a question!" Derek yelled.
"In three months," Meg answered timidly.
"Ah, three months." He removed the gun from her
stomach and used it to scratch his chin. "Too bad you
may never meet that little brat..."
"Derek, stop it. Just stop. You're scaring
her," Ben demanded as he held onto Meg even tighter.
"Now just tell us what your magnificent plan is," he
mocked.
"So you really want to know? Oh, I'll tell you
all about it then," he smirked. "Well, first of all,
you and Meg have just decided to take a little trip to
the mountains. On your way there, you're going to
have a little accident. Unfortunately, your beautiful
wife will not survive..."
Meg sniffed back tears as Derek stroked her chin
and continued.
"Ahem. You, brother dear - well, me, actually -
will become a grieving widower, having lost your wife
and child. But, soon, you'll get over it. You'll
eventually meet and fall in love with this young
lady..." He pointed to Tess. "And all of your
troubles will be forgotten."
"And just how do you think you're going to pull
something like that off?" Ben questioned.
"Oh, don't get me wrong. It won't be easy to
kill you and your wife and then take over everything
you have, but I'll do it. Just wait and see..."
CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE
"Derek, you're crazy. You can't do this. It's
impossible." Ben tried to convince himself - and Meg
- that his brother could not follow through with his
plan, but he knew that, in reality, Derek was quite
capable of everything he had said.
"Oh, brother dear, nothing is impossible," Derek
laughed. "I mean, I'm back from the dead, aren't I?"
"Derek, can we just get this over with?" Tess
asked.
"All in good time, Tess," he replied. "First,
the new Mrs. Evans is going to have to fill her sister
in on the travel plan. Get the phone for her, Tess."
Tess obliged and brought the phone to Meg.
"You're gonna have to stop your crying to do
this!" Derek yelled. "I'm sick of hearing it!" He
continued.
"Derek, she's scared of you. Don't you realize
that you bloody idiot?!" Ben screamed.
"Shut up, Ben! I don't remember asking for you
opinion in this matter."
"And I don't remember inviting you to destroy my
life!" Ben countered.
Derek raised his gun again and pointed it at Meg.
"Now shut your bloody mouth or she dies now!" he
demanded.
Ben immediately stopped talking, trying
desperately to remain as calm as possible given the
situation.
"Now then. Meg, I want you to call your sister
and tell her that Ben has decided to take you on a
little trip to the mountains. Tell her that you're
not sure when you'll be back and if she asks any
questions, just tell her that it was all a surprise
from your wonderful husband," he mocked. "And make it
sound convincing!" he added.
After gaining a little self control - just enough
to be able to dial the number - Meg called Sara and
waited for her to answer.
RING! RING!
"Hello?" a male voice answered.
"I'm sorry. I must have the wrong number. I was
looking for my sister."
"Meg? This is Casey."
"Casey? What are you doing there?" Meg asked,
shocked that he would be there at that hour.
"Um, nothing. Let me get Sara for you... Sara!
Meg's on the phone!"
Meg waited for someone to return to the phone
while Derek held a gun to her stomach. She was a
bundle of nerves as she spoke to her sister.
"Meg?"
"Yeah, Sara, it's me. Um, I was just calling to
let you know that Ben and I will be out of town for
awhile. He's taking me to the mountains."
"Really? That sounds romantic," she sighed.
"Yeah..." Meg tried to think of what she was
supposed to say next. "I don't know when I'll be
back. It could be weeks."
"Weeks? Meg, you have to be in town for your
appointments with Tyus every week. He said that
they're very important after that incident a few
months ago. You can't miss those appointments, Meg."
"Exactly." Meg was trying her best to give Sara
some kind of clue that things were not right at the
Evans household. "So, it could be weeks, Sara, weeks,
before you see me again," she emphasized. "I don't
know when I'll be back."
"Okay, but, Meg - "
Derek motioned for Meg to wrap up the
conversation quickly.
"I've got to go, Sara. Remember, I'll see you in
a few weeks," Meg said and hung up the phone.
"That was odd," Sara said, puzzled. "Meg would
never do anything against the doctor's orders."
"What's going on, Sara?" Casey asked when he came
out of the bathroom.
"Something strange is going on with Meg. She
didn't sound right on the phone and she definitely
wasn't making sense."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know, but I think we ought to go over
and check on them... I'm going to go get dressed."
"Good. Very good," Derek smiled. "Now your
family's all informed and we can get on with this.
Let's see. I need to go upstairs for a minute. Tess,
do you think you can handle them while I'm up there?"
he asked.
"Of course. They're in good hands..."
CHAPTER THIRTY SIX
Ben and Meg sat quietly on the sofa, being held
at gunpoint by Tess. Ben decided that his best chance
at getting them out of the mess was to try with
Derek's accomplice.
"Um, Tess... That's your name, right?" he began.
"Yeah, what do you want?"
"Um... How long have you known my brother?"
"A couple of years. What do you care?"
"Oh, I was just wondering. Trying to make
conversation," he replied as calmly as possible.
"Right, right. Conversation. You're trying to
make conversation with the woman who's holding you at
gunpoint?"
"Well, I was trying to do something to ease the
tension."
"Yeah..." Tess stood over them, beginning to
become impatient.
"Derek, are you coming down anytime soon?!" she
yelled upstairs.
"In a minute!" he responded.
"What's this? Whose car is in the driveway?"
Sara questioned as she and Casey pulled up to Ben and
Meg's house.
"I don't know. Let's go check it out," Casey
responded as he got out of the car.
They walked up to the door and realized that it
was opened. "The door's cracked. That's strange."
"Wait, let me go inside first," Casey cautioned.
He led Sara into the house and found an
unfamiliar woman in the living room holding a gun over
Ben and Meg.
"Oh my - What's going on here?" Sara asked
puzzled.
Immediately, Tess turned around to see who had
invaded her territory. "What the - Who are you?" she
asked angrily as she turned the gun on them.
As soon as Tess' back was turned, Ben quickly
stood and grabbed her from behind, taking the gun from
her.
"Ben, be careful!" Meg urged anxiously.
"Casey, take her," Ben ordered as he handed Tess
to him. "Sara watch out for Meg. I've got something
to take care of upstairs..."
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
Ben walked up the stairs, as quickly as possible,
holding onto Tess' gun, prepared to use it if needed.
He walked down the hallway and found Derek in the
master bedroom. He cautiously made his way inside
while Derek's back was turned. Slowly, he headed
toward his brother and pushed the gun into his back.
"So, Derek, what are you up to now?"
"What's going on, Meg?" Sara asked.
"To be honest with you, I don't know. Ben has a
twin brother - a demented twin brother. He's
upstairs." Meg turned to Casey. "Casey, you've got
to do something. He wants to kill us - all three of
us," she continued, holding her hand on her stomach.
"I think I can handle her, Casey. You go up and
help Ben, okay?" Sara injected, referring to Tess.
"Well, I'm going to tie her up before I leave her
down here with you two, alone. Sara, call the police.
We need them here as soon as possible."
"Well, here we are, Derek. Just me and you. Now
what are you going to do?" Ben asked sarcastically.
"How did you get away from Tess?" he asked
angrily.
"Let's just say that your little helper wasn't
much help, was she? Anyway, I think we have something
to do."
"Yeah, we've got something to do alright." Derek
swiftly turned, pulling away from Ben, taking Ben's
gun at the same time, and faced his brother. He held
up the gun and aimed it at Ben.
"I didn't really want to do this - it's too messy
this way - but you've left me no choice, brother dear.
But before I take care of you, I think I'd like you
to watch your wife die. Why don't we go downstairs?"
Derek grabbed Ben's arm and led him downstairs.
"Oh, we have company. This is interesting." He
pushed Ben onto the sofa beside Meg and walked over to
Sara. "And who are you?" he asked as he grazed the
gun under her chin. When it took her a little too
long to answer, Derek prompted her. "Maybe you didn't
here me. Who are you?!" he yelled.
"I'm Sara, Meg's sister," she answered nervously.
"Oh, a little family reunion, I suppose. I see
you've managed to tie up my accomplice," he continued
when he saw Tess in a chair across the room. "Well,
this wasn't exactly what I had planned, but I guess
I'll have to improvise."
He took Sara's arm and pushed her down beside
Ben. Now, one more person to meet. And you are..."
"Your worst nightmare," Casey replied, bitterly.
"Oh, a smart one." He grabbed Casey's shirt and
pulled him in close. "Let's try that one more time.
And you are..."
"Casey."
"That's much better. I won't have to use drastic
measures - yet... I guess I should introduce myself,
in case you haven't figured it out already. I'm Derek
Evans, Ben's twin brother."
"My very sick and twisted twin brother," Ben
added.
"Nice, Benjamin. I didn't think you cared enough
to say something so nice about me. Now, shut up!" He
snapped. "If I'm gonna finish this plan, I've got a
lot of alterations to do..."
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
Derek sat, deep in thought, in a chair near his
hostages. Ben, Meg, Casey, and Sara were all crammed
on the sofa, sitting quietly as they watched Derek.
Tess had been released from her bonds and was standing
beside Derek.
"Well, I'm going to have to get started now,
aren't I?" Derek smirked. This should be very
entertaining. Now. Who should I take care of first?
Let's see... I could do away with you first, brother
dear. You're my whole reason for being here. But
that wouldn't be much fun. Then you wouldn't be able
to watch your precious wife die, would you?"
Meg sniffed back tears as she listened to the
lunatic in front of her planning her death. Ben
placed his arm around her shoulder and she leaned into
his chest, crying.
Ben finally got up enough nerve to challenge his
brother. "Alright, Derek. That's it. I'm not
letting you do this anymore." He stood quickly and
faced Derek who immediately pointed his gun at Ben.
"If you want something, the only person you're going
to get it from is me, so just leave my wife alone.
She has nothing to do with this. She didn't even know
about you until you showed up this evening. Leave her
out of it. And, for that matter, leave Casey and Sara
out of it as well. If you want to get even with
someone, it's me."
"Yes, you're right, Benny Boy. For once you
actually have a point. Meg doesn't have a thing to do
with this... Oh, wait. I nearly forgot," he smirked.
"She's your wife. She has EVERYTHING to do with
this. I want to get even with you, and that's the
easiest way I can do it - killing not only you, but
your beloved," he mocked.
Suddenly, the sound of sirens was heard in the
distance. Derek looked around, shocked at what was
happening. "You called the bloody police?! I've got
to get out of here..." Ben tried to grab his brother
before he could escape, but was stopped by a sudden
gunshot.
"NO!!" Meg screamed as she saw her husband fall
to the floor. She began to go to him, but was stopped
by her sister. Casey rushed to Ben's side as soon as
the shot was fired.
"Come on, Tess!" Derek demanded. With the gun
still in his hand, he walked outside to his car.
Before Casey could make it to the door, Ben's demented
brother was long gone...
CHAPTER THIRTY NINE
"I can't believe this is happening," Meg cried as
she sat in the hospital waiting room with Sara and
Casey.
"Meg, he's going to be fine. Just take it easy,
okay? I'm sure if Ben were out here, he'd want you to
take care of yourself," Sara replied.
"I know, I know... But I'm so scared, Sara."
"Meg, it's going to be alright," Sara soothed.
"Here comes Dr. Robinson. Maybe he can tell us
something now," she said as she watched Tyus come down
the hallway.
"Tyus, what's going on with Ben?" Meg asked,
anxious for news on her husband.
"Meg, Ben is going to be fine. The bullet just
hit his shoulder and it didn't do much damage. He's
going to be fine. All he needs is a little rest."
"Thank goodness," Meg sighed with relief. "Can I
see him now?"
"I don't know, Meg. It looks like you need some
rest yourself. You've got to take care of yourself
and the baby," Tyus responded.
"Tyus, if I don't see Ben, there's no way I'm
going to be able to rest tonight. Please..." she
pleaded.
He looked at her for a brief moment. "Alright -
but just for a few minutes."
Tyus led Meg to Ben's room and took her inside.
"Remember, just a few minutes."
When Tyus had left the room, Meg walked over to
Ben's side. She sat beside the bed in a chair and
took Ben's hand. "Hi, sweetheart," she whispered.
He stirred slightly and looked over at her. He
smiled brightly. "Hello, darling."
"You scared me to death, Ben Evans," she said,
referring to the earlier problems with Derek.
"I'm sorry, Meg." He reached over to kiss her.
"I love you."
"I love you, too," she replied.
"Did they find Derek?" Ben questioned.
"No, not yet. Ricardo questioned the three of us
about the whole thing and then went back to help out
with the search. I guess he'll be speaking to you
about it later."
"Probably... Meg, I'm sorry. I thought that he
was dead, honey. I never wanted you to be in any
danger."
"Ben, it wasn't your fault. I know you wouldn't
put me in danger if you could help it at all. I don't
blame this on you. I blame it on your brother."
They sat in silence for a while.
"Ben, how's your shoulder?"
"It's fine. Just a little sore... I'll be
alright," he assured her. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm much better now that I know you're okay."
"Meg, you really need to get some rest. All this
is not good for you and the baby." He placed his hand
on her stomach.
"I promise I'll rest some, but I just want to be
here with you for now."
He looked at her and smiled. "Well, if you're
going to be here for a while, you might as well lie
down." He shifted over and made a space for her on
the bed.
"If you insist," she smiled and got onto the bed.
She laid down beside him and looked into his eyes.
"I love you, Ben," she yawned.
"And I love you," he replied as he kissed her
forehead. Soon they were both sleeping very
peacefully...
CHAPTER FORTY
"Meg, are you sure that you don't want me to stay
around for a while? You know that I'd be glad to help
you take care of Ben," Sara offered. "You look really
tired."
"I think we'll be alright. If I really need you,
I'll call," Meg replied.
"Okay, but don't forget. I'm here if you need
me."
"Yeah, I know... Um, Sara?"
"What is it, Meg?"
"I was just wondering... What's the deal with
you and Casey?"
"Me and Casey? What on earth are you talking
about, Meg?" Sara asked, smiling widely.
"You know exactly what I'm talking about. He was
with you that night when I called. It was pretty
late, Sara. What was going on?"
"Well..."
"Nevermind. I don't want to know," Meg replied
quickly. "How long has this been going on?"
"Do you remember when I told you that I had my
eye on someone before the wedding?"
"Yes, I remember... It was Casey?"
"Yeah. It started a couple of weeks after the
wedding. I think I'm in love with him, Meg."
"Oh, Sara. I'm so happy to hear that. Casey's a
great guy."
"Yeah, I know... Well, I guess I'll leave you
two alone. Remember, if you need anything..."
"Of course, Sara. I'll call you."
"Okay... Casey, are you ready to go?" she yelled
into the living room where Casey had been talking to
Ben.
"I'm coming. Bye, Ben. Take care."
"Sure. Thanks, Casey."
"Anytime."
Soon, Casey and Sara were gone, and Ben and Meg
were sitting quietly on the sofa.
"How's your shoulder, honey?"
"Much better... What was that all about?" Ben
asked suddenly.
"What are you talking about?" Meg asked,
confused.
"Casey and Sara. They kept looking at each other
the whole time they were here. Is there something
going on that I don't know about yet?"
"Apparently so. He was with her that night when
I called. They've been seeing each other for some
time now... I think they make a cute couple."
Ben smiled. "I guess so... Almost as cute a
couple as we make."
"Exactly... I love you, Ben."
"I love you, too... I just hope they find Derek
soon so we don't have to worry about him ruining our
happiness anymore."
"So do I... Ben?"
"Hmmm?" he answered as he ran his fingers through
her hair.
"We've got a lot of work to do in the next two
and a half months," she said as she placed her hand
over her stomach.
"You're absolutely right, Meg... I can't wait to
meet our baby."
"Neither can I," she whispered...
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