Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Derrick left under Richard’s watchful, heavy gaze.
O
Sitting in the car, he stared out the window at nothing in particular, his hand gripping his thigh so hard that the fine fabric was wrinkling under his fingers.
He had to fight the urge to tell the driver to turn around and throw Richard out of the house.
He thought to himself, ‘Last night, I admitted that I forced Katherine to be pregnant. What if Richard takes Kit away while I’m away? Has she just been playing nice with me, waiting for this exact chance?‘
The thought just wouldn’t leave his head once it popped up. His face was getting darker by the second, and his hand was halfway to the door handle when his phone rang–Katherine’s custom ringtone.
He answered right away, his heart lurching. “Hey, something is wrong?”
Katherine’s voice came light and teasing. “What? Are you scared I’ll run away?”
Katherine was sitting on the edge of her bed, using the excuse of changing clothes to sneak in the call.
Derrick didn’t answer, yet he didn’t deny it either.
Katherine let out a soft sigh. “I knew it. I’m calling you. Can you relax now?”
Her voice was warm, practiced in soothing him, sliding right along that spot where he was most sensitive. “We can stay on the phone. This
way, you’ll know exactly what I’m saying to my dad, and where I am.
“Besides, you’ve got cameras all over the house, right? Check those whenever you want.”
Derrick pressed his lips together, feeling tense. He didn’t even dare ask if she was mad at him.
‘She probably is… Who wouldn’t be angry living under constant surveillance?‘ he thought.
But Katherine’s tone stayed light, showing no hint of anger.
Derrick felt like he was standing on clouds, but he didn’t dare relax, because at any second, he could step wrong and fall to his death.
He just stayed on edge, guarding against anyone who might get near Katherine and anyone who might take her away.
Katherine then said, “Alright, gotta hang up now. Dad’s waiting for me downstairs.”
When Katherine came down, Maeve handed her a little blue handheld fan.
“Dad, you want one?” Katherine explained, “Ever since I got pregnant, I can’t stand the heat.”
It was pretty hot to take a walk outside in the sun.
Richard shook his head, noticing Katherine’s hair was a little messy. He reached out to fix it for her, yet she spotted the white bandage
under his cuff.
“What happened to your land?” she asked.
Richard glanced at it and waved it off. “Nothing. Just tripped and scraped it.”
Last night, he slept on his wrist, and it went numb. This morning, Derrick had Ethan come by and wrap it in a bandage.
Katherine held his wrist, checking it for a long moment. Only when she saw no blood did she let out a breath. She scolded, “Honestly, you have to be more careful, you know?”
Richard took the lecture with a growing smile. “Got it. I’ll be careful.”
They walked side by side toward the garden. Maeve watched their backs and felt her stomach twist for Derrick.
Maeve thought, ‘Mrs. Graham really had it rough in the past three years. If her father decides to dig into that… Oh boy, what a mess.
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Chapter 30
In the garden, Richard finally told Katherine why he had paid a visit here. His eyes kept dropping to her belly as he said, “Last night, Derrick admitted everything about your pregnancy.
“Sweetie, tell me what really happened. If you don’t want to stay here, I’ll get you out, even if I have to give up Lawson Corporation.”
He didn’t believe Riverbend Group could still stop that. Worst case, he’d take his daughter to another city or another country, where Derrick couldn’t reach her.
Katherine could only sigh. Things had been complicated before, but now, she was actually happy with her life.
She reassured Richard, “Dad, relax. It’s not like that.”
Then she remembered the bruises she’d seen on Derrick’s face earlier in the morning. She sighed, “Dad, why did you hit him in the face?”
Not wanting Richard to take it the wrong way, Katherine immediately explained, “I’m not blaming you. You did the right thing. He’s done plenty in the past that deserved a punch.
“But Dad, Derrick’s just sick. He thinks I’m his and his alone. He gets a little extreme. I’m really good now.”
She knew what she was signing up for and didn’t mind being kept close by Derrick.
In this life, she didn’t want much–just for the people she cared about to be okay, and for the ones who loved her to stay close. That was enough.
Richard stared at Katherine for a long time before speaking, “Kate, you’ve changed a lot. You’ve grown up.”
It was something everyone had to go through sooner or later. But right now, Richard wished she hadn’t. He knew growth meant she’d gone through more pain than he wanted to imagine.
“Yeah,” Katherine said, glancing down to touch her belly. “I have grown up.”
She was going to be a mom now–no room left for reckless behavior.
Katherine came back to the topic. “Dad, you came here for Mia, right?”
Katherine didn’t know Derrick had already told Richard everything the night before.
She told him everything in detail, including how Mia had tried to push her toward cheating, and even tried to convince her to tell Richard to have a son with Miranda as soon as possible.
“Guess she figures that once I have my baby, you might leave Lawson Corporation to my child, so she panicked and wanted a way out,” Katherine said evenly, without any real sadness in her tone.
Richard had no idea how many times in the last three years things like this had happened to turn Katherine into the person she was
now.
All Richard cared about was Katherine, so he simply said, “If that’s the reason she’s being kept here, let it be. Even Miranda doesn’t dare to call the cops. Just let Mia stay locked up for some days. Consider it her punishment.”
To him, keeping Mia for a few days was no big deal–she needed to learn her lesson.
Katherine gave a wry smile. “I’d rather she not be here. What if she sneaks out at night, loses her mind, and tries to hurt me or the baby?”
Honestly, if Derrick hadn’t refused to let Mia go, Katherine would’ve kicked her out already. For her, two powerless women were easy to handle.
Meanwhile, Derrick had just reached the office with his earpiece in. He listened to every word Katherine said.
He made a quick mental note that when Richard left, he’d have him take Mia along. He also agreed that keeping that troublemaker at home was just asking for trouble.
Morning, Mr. Graham Employees greeted Derrick along the way, but one look from Derrick and a quick hush gesture shut them up.
Then they noticed the bruise on Derrick’s otherwise perfect face and blinked, thinking. Boss got punched? Man, I wish I knew the story
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Chapter 30
However, no one dared say it out loud.
*****
20
Back at the house, Richard and Katherine kept talking in the garden. They caught up on all the words left unsaid for years, like they were cramming them all into one morning.
After almost an hour, Katherine sat down on the swing bench that Derrick had workers put up overnight. It had a little canopy, perfect for her to rest halfway through her walks.
“Dad, let’s take a break,” Katherine suggested.
Her calves were trembling as she sat down. She’d gotten too caught up in talking and forgotten to pace herself.
Richard frowned, seeing how weak she looked. “You used to be fine. How does pregnancy alone knock you down like this?”
Katherine knew exactly where the conversation was going.
Sure enough, Richard continued, “Derrick’s not taking good care of you, right? Why don’t you just come back with me? If you don’t wanna see Miranda and Mia, I’ve got other places we can stay in. I’ll hire extra help for you.”
Derrick’s hand curled into a fist on the desk upon hearing those words.
Then Katherine’s voice came through the earpiece, calm and sure. “That won’t be necessary, Dad. I don’t want to move around. Just come and visit me often if you can, okay?”
Most importantly, Katherine knew full well that Derrick would never let her leave this house.
Richard studied Katherine’s face, looking for any sign she was forcing herself to say that. But all he saw was contentment and genuine happiness.
“Fine, if you’re comfortable here,” he finally said.
In his office, Derrick’s fist slowly loosened. He let out a long, controlled breath.
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