Chapter 13 The room was unnervingly quiet . The floor lamp was off , and the curtains were only half - drawn . The dim , yellow light from the garden outside barely filtered through , just enough to make things visible . Katherine stood in the center of the room , her arms crossed , coldly watching Derrick at the door . Derrick's heart skipped a beat . As someone who could keep his cool in the cutthroat world of business , he rarely felt this kind of anxiety . His palms were clammy with sweat . " Baby- " Derrick began , But Katherine immediately interrupted him with a cold tone , " You're calling the wrong person . " She pointed to her stomach . This is our baby , and you want to get rid of it When they first got married , Derrick used to call her " baby " softly . He had tried to be close to her , but Katherine had rejected him , completely . Later , she'd even started attempting suicide , so Derrick had given up . That endearing nickname never came up again . Derrick had chosen the nickname " Kit for their child , Katherine had no idea what his intentions were at the time ... But now , Katherine thought she probably understood . Because she didn't like it when Derrick called her in such an intimate way , he had suppressed it for many years and named their child something that was similar to her nickname . Katherine thought . This jerk is using our child as a substitute . Especially now , knowing that Derrick still wanted to get rid of her baby behind her back , Katherine felt her anger building to the point of explosion . She clenched her fists . The baby was probably the only weapon she had to hurt Derrick right now . After she spoke , he immediately fell silent . His lips were tightly pressed , his eyebrows furrowed , and his eyes darkening . Seeing him silently defeated , Katherine felt like her anger suddenly seemed to lose its edge . Her stiff expression softened a bit , and she raised a hand toward Derrick . " Come here . Help me to the bed . Derrick looked up and immediately complied . As he approached Katherine , he instinctively extended his hand , his palm up . Katherine glanced at it , held back a smile , and placed her hand gently on his . She felt like a queen , and Derrick , a servant . The pillow and blanket were on the floor , the ones she had thrown at Derrick earlier . When Katherine sat down , Derrick stood to pick them up , but she stopped him . I'm not cold . Let's talk about the baby first , " she said . Derrick paused for a moment . Instead of bothering with the blanket , he stood by the bed , took off his coat , and draped it over Katherine's legs . He crouched down slightly , looking up at her . " Alright , go ahead . " It was rare for Katherine to be this calm , and Derrick felt like it was a good time to have a conversation . Katherine looked at the coat resting on her knees , then at Derrick , who seemed so much shorter than her now . Suddenly , her eyes reddened with unshed tears . She thought , "He really doesn't seem that smart , does he ? He's the one who's supposed to be above me , but now he's acting like my Mervant . Katherine turned her head away , taking a deep breath to hold back both her tears and the overwhelming emotions . She knew she couldn't break down now , and she couldn't let herself hold him . The baby's situation was more important . " Derrick , feel it . " Katherine took his hand and pressed it against her stomach . The warmth of his palm eased the tension in her belly Even so , Derrick could still feel a small bump . It wasn't obvious , but it was there , a contrast against the soft flesh surrounding it . " Do you feel it ? Your seed has already taken root here ," she muttered Derrick's eyelashes fluttered slightly . He definitely felt it . On countless nights , he couldn't help but touch Katherine's belly , feeling the tiny baby inside , still just an embryo . If he could choose , he wanted to see the baby born safely . But he knew someone had to make the difficult decision . " Trust me this time , alright ?" Derrick's gaze never wavered from Katherine's . For the first time , the agony and torment in his eyes were . 1/2 Chapter 13 laid bare before her . " We're not keeping the child . Just listen to me this time , and I'll promise you anything you want . " It was as if he had made up his mind . Derrick closed his eyes , letting out a deep sigh . " You've always wanted to go back to Windridge Villa and be free again , right ? I'll give you that ." " As long as you ... Derrick inhaled deeply , his voice rough now . " As long as you're safe and sound . I'll give you anything . Katherine didn't move . As she saw Derrick lower his head and give in , her tears couldn't be stopped any longer . She cried silently . suddenly understanding why , in her previous life , she had been so fixated on hurting herself . Katherine probably also realized that Derrick was willing to compromise on everything when it came to her safety . She thought , ' Derrick is so stupid , exposing his weaknesses and vulnerabilities so easily . " Feeling the tears drop one by one onto the back of his hand , Derrick suddenly looked up . Katherine's eyes were brimming with tears , and even in the dim light , they were impossible to miss . Derrick felt a pang in his heart . He raised his hand and gently wiped away her tears . " Don't cry . You're pregnant . You can't get too emotional It's all my fault . L ..- " Derrick struggled for the right words . He wasn't good at comforting people , and he certainly wasn't good at calming down a pregnant Katherine , whose emotions were all over the place . He glanced around : then spotted a fruit knife by the bedside . He placed it in Katherine's hand . " If you're really upset , just stab me . I won't dodge . " Katherine gripped the knife's handle , feeling like she couldn't breathe . Her tears fell faster , each one heavy with sadness , and her heart ached unbearably . Suddenly , she threw the knife aside and threw her arms around Derrick's neck , crying out loud , " Derrick , you jerk . " How can you do this ? If I stab you , what will I get out of it except more pain ? How can you do this to me ? You're the one who got me pregnant . How could you ? " As she cried , she punched Derrick's shoulders and back . Her fists were soft , lacking strength . But to Derrick , it felt like his bones were being shattered , the pain almost unbearable . " I'm sorry . It's all my fault , Derrick said . He thought , ' If I could choose , of course I would want my wife and child to be safe and sound . " He then spoke , " Please , just listen to me once , okay ? In the future- But Derrick couldn't finish his sentence . Katherine suddenly cupped his face in her hands and kissed him . At first , Katherine thought there was no rush . She believed that they would have plenty of time in the future . But now , Derrick was still thinking about setting her free , still thinking about " returning her to some other man , She thought , T'm pregnant . Can this really just be brushed off like nothing happened ?" Katherine's lips silenced Derrick's , invading his mouth and stirring up a wave of passion inside . Derrick froze , as though his soul had been yanked out of him . He didn't move at all . His body followed Katherine's force , and he found himself kneeling on the floor , his knees feeling completely numb , as though they no longer belonged to him They'd been intimate twice before . The first time , they both had been drugged and out of their minds . The second time , when Katherine was escaping by boat with Charles , Derrick had forced himself on her in a fit of rage . No matter when it was , Derrick had never felt like this . His body felt weightless , and his mind seemed unable to work . He thought , ' So this is what it feels like to be kissed by the one I love ! Den hed 2/2 Comment d at Ka r with at it AD