Chapter 12
The car slowly made its way back to Riverbend Manor. Derrick carried Katherine up the stairs, his steps heavy as if he could barely lift his feet
Maeve stood below, watching Derrick’s distant expression with growing concern. She thought, ‘Could it be that the results of the checkup aren’t good?”
A few days ago, Maeve had wondered why Katherine’s morning sickness was so severe. Other pregnant women might struggle with the smell of meat or greasy food, but Katherine didn’t seem bothered by smells–she just couldn’t eat anything.
Soon, Derrick came downstairs and saw Maeve waiting for him at the foot of the stairs. He wasn’t surprised. As he walked outside, Maeve hesitated for a moment before following him.
It wasn’t until they reached the far end of the garden that Derrick, looking defeated, crouched down. He covered his face with his hands and took a deep breath, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his thoughts.
Seeing him like this, Maeve understood everything. Her heart tightened, and tears welled up in her eyes. “Oh my goodness, what have you done to deserve this?” she cried.
Derrick wanted to ask that same question. He thought, Though I haven’t always been good to my relatives, I’ve done my share of good deeds. I donate to disaster–stricken areas every year and created a fund for children in poverty that has helped countless kids.
“But why is it that the universe is so cruel to me? The woman I love doesn’t love me back and even despises me. And the child I’ve finally gotten is in this situation.
Derrick gripped his hair tightly, his eyes bloodshot “Maeve,” he said, his voice trembling. “Do you think a person like me is destined to be alone for the rest of my life? Should I just let Katherine go?”
Maeve couldn’t bear to hear him speak like this. She pulled him up
Standing only at his chest, she had to strain to pat his shoulder. “It’ll be okay. Everyone faces tough times, but they always pass. And Mrs. Graham has already changed, right? She loves you, too. Don’t talk like that
Derrick’s eyes were red, the tips of his lashes still wet with fears. He bit his lip and remained silent.
He thought, I won’t get through this. Katherine is only giving me a chance because of the baby. But right now, I’m thinking of getting rid of it before she even knows. If she finds out, there won’t be any chance left for us.
Derrick didn’t have anyone else he could rely on, and he could only trust Maeve.
He told Maeve about what the doctor had said and asked her what he should do.
Even though he had already made his decision in his heart, he still wanted someone to point him in the right direction, a path that wouldn’t end in too much pain.
After hearing the doctor’s findings, Mueve was silent for a while, thinking, ‘But if we don’t terminate the pregnancy, who knows if the baby’s position will ever be corrected? What if it won’t?
In that case, neither the baby nor Mrs. Graham will survive. Giving up on the baby is the only way to save Mrs. Graham.
Maeve took Derrick’s cold hands and squeezed them tightly. “Mrs. Graham’s life is at stake. You’ll have other children one day.”
Derrick’s heart jolted, his eyelashes fluttered, and he lost all hope. He thought, I know, after this, Katherine and I won’t have any more children. She will hate me and stay far away from me!
Katherine didn’t sleep for long. Soon, she woke up from the sharp discomfort in her stomach, hunched over the side of the bed, gykking. Her stomach felt empty and it burned painfully
“Derrick. Derrick?” she called out. When she didn’t hear a response, she instinctively reached for her phone on the nightstand.
Her phone hadn’t been used in a while, but Derrick made sure to charge it and place it on the nightstand every day. He was worried that something might happen to Katherine when he wasn’t around.
He even wished he could install a bell by her bedside, so if Katherine didn’t have the strength to call, she could just pull the string and
Ta
Chapter 12
everyone at Riverbend Manor would hear the alarm. But Katherine stopped him from doing that
She had told him before that she wasn’t in a life–threatening situation, so there was no need for it. Derrick didn’t dare argue with her and just went along with her wishes.
Katherine was relieved that her phone was still by her side. She picked it up, planning to call Derrick.
To give Derrick a sense of security and make it easier for him to check her phone. Katherine had even disabled the screen lock.
However, when she picked up the phone, she was suddenly prompted with a facial recognition unlock screen. It was then that Katherine realized she was holding Derrick’s phone.
On the day she had disabled her own screen lock. Derrick had also recorded her face on his phone’s facial recognition, so she could check it anytime. But Katherine had never felt the need for it. She trusted Derrick completely.
But that was before. Right now, Katherine was looking at the pregnancy checkup report on Derrick’s phone, an open window that he hadn’t closed.
There were long strings of data she couldn’t understand, but the doctor’s diagnosis at the end hit her like a punch to the gut. The baby was in the wrong position, and the recommendation was to terminate the pregnancy.
Katherine thought. Terminate? Derrick already knew. He’s been hiding it from me. He said everything was fine, just that a few numbers were off. Is this the so–called a few numbers off he was talking about?
Katherine’s heart sank as she suddenly recalled the words Derrick had said in the car. “It’s okay. You’ll feel better soon. I’ll ask Dr. Hill to prescribe some medicine, and you’ll be fine in no time.”
She thought, Tll be fine after taking the medicine? That’s bull. Derrick wants to terminate my pregnancy when I had no clue about what was really going on. Damn it. What a jerk.
At this moment, steady footsteps could be heard outside, each step growing closer. Derrick hadn’t closed the door, afraid that if Katherine called out, he wouldn’t hear her.
He had just returned from the garden, and the scent of flowers still lingered on him. Seeing Katherine bent over the bed, her face pale, Derrick quickly rushed forward, worry etched on his face.
Suddenly, something flew toward him. Derrick didn’t dodge, and the phone hit him on the forehead before dropping to the ground, the screen cracking
Among the countless cracks, Derrick saw the pregnancy report that had dragged him from heaven to hell. Katherine saw it too, and now she knew that Derrick knew everything.
He tried to explain, “Listen, terminating the pregnancy now is better for
“I don’t want to hear it. Shut up,” Katherine shouted, throwing everything within arm’s reach at him. “Get out. Get the hell out of here.”
Derrick looked at Katherine with concern, instinctively taking a step forward. But just seeing him made Katherine think of him wanting to terminate her baby, and she shouted even louder, “Get out. Leave
Derrick quickly stepped back, holding up his hands in surrender. “Okay, I’m leaving. Don’t get upset. Calm down. I’ll leave right now, He left, but he kept turning back every few steps.
Maeve heard the noise and hurried up the stairs. “What happened? What’s going on?”
She looked anxiously towards the room, but Derrick shook his head at her, Only when they were a little farther away did he whisper, Katherine saw the report.”
Maeve paused, letting out a sigh. “Mrs. Graham doesn’t want to lose the baby, does she?
She had been through childbirth herself and understood that kind of pain–the kind where a mother would rather endure anything. even at the cost of her own life, just to ensure her child’s survival.
Derrick gripped his hair in agony, thinking, ‘I can’t gamble on trying to adjust the baby’s position. Dr. Hill said it might not work.
‘More importantly, Katherine is already nearly three months pregnant. The embryo’s getting bigger every day, and once there’s a heartbeat it be even harder to make the decision to terminate.
Tonight, Derrick found himself locked out of the room for the first time in a long while, and even Marve wasn’t allowed inside.
Chapter 12
Ethan had also been called over, as Derrick was worried Katherine might suddenly feel unwell. The three of them sat in the living room on the first floor, their faces solemn and grave.
Ethan felt guilty. “I should’ve noticed something was wrong. If only I had caught it e
Ethan even wondered if, back when Katherine didn’t want the baby, they had noticed sooner, maybe things wouldn’t have turned out like this.
Katherine had only just started accepting her pregnancy. She’d carefully taken care of her baby for so many days, only for her to be told that the baby couldn’t be saved. Anyone would be devastated in her place.
Ethan glanced at Derrick with concern. Derrick sat still, his posture unchanged, as though his soul had already left his body.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of a lock turning upstairs. The three of them immediately stood up and looked toward the staircase. Derrick even quickly went upstairs with long strides.
Katherine had locked herself in her room for the afternoon, and she looked even more worn out. Her face was pale as she called out, “Derrick get your ass in here.”
Ethan sucked in a sharp breath, thinking, “What? Mrs. Graham sure doesn’t hold back”
Derrick didn’t say a word. He obediently walked in and shut the door behind him.
AD
