67

67
Chapter 67

Derek Woods

'Hey, Mom. I'm on my way'
I dropped a text for mom as I strode to the parking lot.

"Excuse me, Sir." I was just about to hop inside the car when Rob called my attention as he walked over to me.

"Sir, Mr. Woods asked to remind you about your dinner today at his villa."

"Tell him that I'm not interested." I dismissed him and hopped inside the car.
My dad wanted us to have dinner together, but his face was the last thing I wanted to see. I didn't want something that'd ruin this happy moment for me.

I arrived at mom's apartment in less than forty minutes' drive.

"Darling." Mom was already waiting in front of the door by the time I pulled over at the parking lot. She walked down to me.

"You are so late. Don't you know it's dangerous out there at this time?" She hugged me briefly.

"I'm sorry, mom. I had something to take care of. Shall we?"

"Sure, darling."

She led the way while I trailed behind her.

"The banana bread is so delicious. I bet you are going to love it. I made it just the way you would love it." She chuckled as we stepped inside the living room.

"I can't wait to have a taste of it." I chuckled.

"Let me help you with that." She helped me out of my jacket.

"I'll keep this here." She smiled as she carefully dropped it on the arm of the couch, then turned to me.
"Come on, let's go to the dining room." She held my hand and led me to the dining room while I followed her.

"Looks like your boyfriend is not around." I asked as she pulled out a chair for me to sit.

"Oh, yes, darling. Ronnie traveled on a business trip." She smiled at me softly, and my eyebrows creased.

"A business trip?" I raised my eyebrows as I watched her serve my food. Is that what he told her? Is he really on a business trip?

"Yes. He has been away since yesterday..." she paused and sighed. "It's so hard being here all alone. I can't wait to have him back." She chuckled, and I forced a smile.

"Right." I nodded.

My phone screen lit up with a text at that moment, and I excused myself to check the text.

'Relationship status confirmed. They are seeing each other, boss'.
My jaw clenched tightly, and my grip around the phone tightened as I read through the text. That bastard dares cheat on my mom?

"Is everything alright?" I lifted my gaze to mom when I heard her ask worriedly, and I was met with her worried eyes.

"You look tense. Did something happen?"

I stared at her, my heart twisting tightly inside my chest. Why does she keep getting hurt when all she ever did was give her all? She is a good woman who doesn't deserve this treatment.

"Hmm. I'm fine." I managed to smile at her, putting my phone away.

"Let's eat, mom." My voice came out in a whisper as I forced a smile at her.

"Are you sure you are fine, Derek?" She held my hand, her eyes boring into mine with worries.

"Yes, mom. I'm fine." I nodded, and she exhaled.

"I was scared for a moment, thinking something happened. I'm glad you are fine." She ruffled my hair teasingly before going to sit across from me.

I stared at mom as she ate cheerfully with a smile on her face. I could tell she was happy to have me around.

"So, I was wondering if you have a girlfriend yet. You are twenty-six already, and you'll soon be out of college." She looked at me briefly, smiling.

"No, mom. I don't have a girlfriend."
Her smile faded, and her eyes flashed with disappointment.

"Why is that?"

"Actually, I have someone that I'm in love with, but I don't think she feels the same way for me." I bit my lip.

"Oh, my poor baby. That must be really sad." She whined.

"Is there anything I can do to help? Do you want to introduce her to me? Maybe she is just finding it difficult to trust you. I could help." She offered.

"I will handle it, mom." I smiled at her.

"Are you sure about that?"

"Yes, mom. I will handle it." I assured her, and she nodded.

"Just let me know if I need to step in to help in the future. I will help out." She held my hand and squeezed it gently as she smiled at me, and I nodded.

"Do you trust him, mom?" I asked after a long silence, and she raised her gaze to me.

"I mean, Ronnie. Do you trust him?" I looked straight into her eyes.

"Hmm." She didn't hesitate before nodding her head with a smile.
The look on her face showed that she trusted him so much, probably with her whole existence. Did she know about his cheating or was he so smart and good at covering his tracks? How long has he been cheating on her or did he just start it recently?

"I trust Ronnie." She added confidently.

"You are not worried that he is seeing another woman?" I asked after a long silence, and she shook her head.

"Ronnie is not that kind of man, darling. We've been together for quite some time now, and he has never cheated on me." She assured me. I couldn't even bring myself to imagine how broken she would be when she finds out that the same bastard she's here, vouching for, is on all women's business, fucking every pussy he sees.

"What will you do if you ever find out he cheated, mom?"

Her eyebrows squinted this time, her eyes flashing with confusion.

"Why are you asking me all these, darling?"

"Nothing, mom. I was just wondering." I avoided her gaze. It hurt that I couldn't tell her the truth.

"You are just being paranoid, Derek. Ronnie is not seeing another woman." She defended him. She was so confident in her answer that it made me feel bad for her. This is just mom. She trusts with her whole heart, and that is why she always ends up on the losing side. This happened with dad too. She was the one who eventually got hurt.

"Actually, I need to tell you something, sweetheart." Mom reached for my hand and squeezed it gently, her eyes piercing into mine, a smile playing on her lips.

"What is it, mom?"

I watched as she placed a hand on her stomach, and my heart skipped a beat. It isn't what I'm thinking, right?

"You are going to be a brother, darling. I am expecting a baby." The next words that rolled off her tongue made me freeze on the spot, my jaw dropped to the ground. What!