69

69
Chapter 69

Derek Woods

"I...I..." she stuttered, turning her face away from me.
A scoff tore through my throat, my fingers slowly clenching tightly into a fist as I stared at her. I didn't want to believe she knew about it even though I could already tell from her reaction.

"Wait..." I closed the distance between us, and it was then I noticed the bruises on her arm which she tried to cover up.

"Mom... what is this?" My voice came out in a whisper, my lips trembling as I reached for her hand, but she snatched it away from me, covering it up with her hand.

"It's...it's nothing, darling. I'm fine." She forced a smile, avoiding eye contact with me.

"That bastard... has he been abusing you?" My stomach riled up with anger, my heart pulsated in my chest, and my blood boiled as I asked her.

"No, darling. Ronnie... he is not abusing me." She quickly shook her head, and I scoffed in disbelief. Still defending him even though it was obvious, yeah?

"You told me he was on a business trip. Was he really? Did you know he was going to see another woman?" I raised my voice at her this time as I was already losing it even though I tried to hold myself together. It was difficult.

I huffed. The way she defended him back at the dining room. The way she smiled so sweetly like everything was fine. How was she able to hide her pain from me back there? Or was I not paying enough attention?

"You don't have to worry about me, Derek. I will be fine. You should go to bed." She walked over to sit on the bed.

"Go to bed? And you think I will be able to sleep?" I huffed, and she lowered her gaze.

"Get your things, mom. We are leaving this place tonight." I said after a long silence, and she snapped her head to look at me, her eyes narrowed.

"There is no way I'm letting you spend another night here. Get your things. I am taking you out of here." I added.

"No. I'm fine." She shook her head as she shot to her feet.

"I'm not leaving, Derek. I'm fine here-"

"Have you checked yourself out in the mirror lately? Did you see the bruises on your body? Are you really fine?" I placed my hands on her shoulders.

"I am fine, Derek. I am really fine." She assured me, as if I would listen to her.

"I will help you pack." And without wasting another second, I headed to the closet inside the room, but she got there for me, standing in my way.

"I told you not to worry about me, son.. I'm fine!" She insisted.

"You are not fine, mom! I am not leaving you here. You need to come with me-"

"And do what? I am pregnant, Derek. I am carrying his child." Her eyes welled up with tears that soon found their way down her cheeks.

"That doesn't matter!" I snapped at her this time, and she flinched.

"I'm sorry, mom. I didn't mean to yell at you." I quickly apologised, and took a deep breath to calm myself.

"Mom..." I held her shoulders, my fingers digging slightly into them, and my eyes boring into hers. "It doesn't matter if you are carrying his baby or not. You can start all over again. You are not alone. You have me. I will be here with you, I promise." I tried to convince her, hoping she would listen to me, but she shrugged my hands off, shaking her head.

"I'm sorry, darling. But I can't." She turned her back on me.

"Why?" I scoffed.

"You love him? Is that what you are going to tell me?" I ran my fingers through my hair frustratingly.

"I'm sorry, Derek." She wiped her tears with the back of her palm, not looking at me this time.
How could she still be in love with a man who abuses her? A man who didn't even care about her even though he knew she was carrying his child? What is her definition of being in love? Love is not supposed to be like this.

"Mom-"

"I'm not going to change my mind." She glanced at me, and I knew I had to respect her decision this time.

"Call me if you change your mind. I am not spending the night here." I turned around and walked out of the room, heading back to the guestroom to get my phone before leaving.

I dialed Russ's number as I walked briskly toward the parking lot, and he picked on the first ring.

"Yes, boss."

"Bring me Ronnie. I give you twenty-four hours to do that." I spoke on the phone as I hopped inside the car.

"Alright, boss. I will do just that."

Once the call ended, I tossed my phone on the car seat beside me as I exhaled deeply, running my fingers through my hair.

I had started the car in a bid to leave when my heart weakened at the thought of mom being alone.

"Fuck!" I cursed.

Going back into that apartment was the last thing I'd do, so I just stayed back inside the car and waited.

My mind wandered off to Ronnie, and I huffed. He shouldn't have messed with me. He should've heeded my advice, because I'm not going to let him go freely. He will regret ever messing with my mom.



My eyes were already feeling heavy as dawn approached. I haven't slept a wink since last night. Was just here, making sure that my mom was fine.

My attention was drawn to the entrance door that had just opened, and I spotted mom stepping out of the apartment. I quickly alighted from the car and walked over to her.

"Mom... are you okay?" I held her in my arms as she was almost collapsing. She looked pale and sick.

"Did you fall sick overnight? Why do you look so pale?" I cupped her cheek in my palm as I gazed into her eyes.

"I'm fine." She managed to smile at me.

"I'm sorry I left you to sleep here. I knew you wouldn't want to come inside, that's why I didn't come to you." She apologised, and I nodded.

"It's fine."

"What would you like to eat? I'm making break-"

"You don't have to worry about me, mom. I was just about to leave." I cut her off calmly.

"I have something to attend to. It's really important, so I won't be able to stay for breakfast." I apologised, and she nodded.

After I made sure that she was fine, I headed back home.

My head was already banging, and my eyes were spinning by the time I got home. The only word that kept echoing in my head was 'sleep', and I just couldn't wait to have it.

However, as I alighted from the car, I noticed the familiar car parked at the parking lot. It was my dad's.

Is he here or something?