Chapter 36 What If?
Derek moved to the couch and sat down. "Things were fine yesterday after the wedding or at least manageable. But last night and this morning? She suddenly got angry and I don’t even know why."
“How can you not know why?” Ryan asked with a raised brow.
“I really don't. And she won't even say,” Derek hissed.
“Maybe you've said something to her that she didn't like or something,” Ryan suggested.
“Like what?” Derek asked, trying to remember all he said to her.
“You know what? Tell me everything you both talked about. I'm sure you must have said something,” Ryan said and went quiet, allowing Derek to recount everything he and Rebecca had talked about.
"She asked me if I believed she was innocent of all those accusations from her ex," Derek said. "I answered honestly. I told her I didn’t really care about the accusations. I defended her because I didn’t want to start looking for another wife and then she——"
Ryan whistled softly, making Derek stop whatever he was saying.
"Derek…"
"What?" Derek snapped. "That’s the truth. We agreed this was an arrangement and nothing emotional."
“Agreed? When? I thought you didn't get to see her until yesterday,” Ryan asked, feeling slightly confused.
It wasn't until Ryan asked that did Derek remember he hadn't told Ryan about “His wife” being the pregnant Rebecca.
Derek sighed as he went on to tell Ryan everything he needed to know.
“What a discovery. Who would've thought?” Ryan said after Derek was done. “Was that why you looked really shock when she stepped into the hall? I had thought you looked shocked because you didn't know she would be that gorgeous.”
“Yeah. That was precisely why I was shocked,” Derek sighed.
“So, you told her you should both carry on with the deal since it was her?” Ryan asked, returning to the subject.
“Shouldn’t I have done that?” Derek asked irritably.
Why was no one understanding his point? Rebecca was the one who said there was nothing between them, so why was she, and everyone else, blaming him for his answer?
Ryan sighed. "And how did she take that?"
"She got upset," Derek replied. "She said something about her being just a business transaction. Then she told me to leave her alone and went to bed."
There was a pause as Ryan tried to put everything together so he'd know what to say to his best friend.
Then Ryan said slowly, "Have you considered that maybe she just wanted to know what you think of her as a person?"
Derek frowned. "Why would she want to know that?"
Ryan raised an eyebrow, even though Derek couldn’t see it. "Because she’s human, Derek. And pregnant. And stuck in a marriage she didn’t choose."
Derek leaned back against the couch. "Neither did I choose this. Besides, why ask me like that? The way she asked felt like she expected something else. Like we’ve met before, or like there’s some kind of history."
Ryan shrugged. "Maybe she just wanted reassurance."
"Reassurance? From me? Why would she want reassurance from me? It's not like I'm her baby daddy. It's either she's crazy or maybe there’s something she’s not telling me," Derek said slowly.
Ryan raised an eyebrow. "Do you think you knew her before all of this?"
Derek frowned. "I don’t know. That’s the thing. I don’t remember. I also told her last night that I’ve been with too many women. If I had met her before, I would’ve forgotten her."
Ryan sighed. "That comment right there might be part of the problem."
Derek frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You said you’ve been with too many women. Maybe she didn’t like hearing that. After all, she's now your wife whether just in paper or not."
Derek scoffed. "That’s not my fault. It’s the truth."
"Truth doesn’t always need to be said the way you say it," Ryan replied.
Derek went silent after hearing that. E en though he was yet to get the logic, he kept shut so he could listen to understand. Whether he liked it or not, she was his wife now and anything she does would affect him one way or the other.
Ryan continued, "And maybe she just wants reassurance. Or maybe she’s scared, or maybe she feels judged."
"I’m not that kind of person," Derek said firmly. "I don’t do emotions. I don’t do reassurance. The earlier she understands that, the better it will be for both of us."
Ryan shook his head; his friend was just so naive sometimes. "You don’t have to be romantic to be decent. Go talk to her. Apologize. Set boundaries if you want. Establish rules. But don’t shut her out."
Derek hesitated. "I can’t do that now."
"Why not now?" Ryan asked with an exasperated sigh.
"Because we’re not in a romantic relationship," Derek replied. "If I talk to her like that, she might start expecting more."
Ryan sighed. "Then talk later. But don’t ignore the problem."
"I will," Derek said. "Just not now."
They ended the call shortly after. Derek dropped his phone on the couch and stared at the ceiling.
Why did she get angry so suddenly? His mind replayed the moment in the bedroom, her stiff posture, her sharp tone, the way she refused to look at him. It wasn’t just anger; it felt deeper, and more personal than he cared to admit.
He sat up slowly. What if they had indeed met before?
The thought had been nagging at him for days, ever since the hospital. He noticed how familiar Rebecca's presence felt; calm yet unsettling.
Every time he looked at her, something stirred within him, like déjà vu or a memory without images and even though she'd denied it, it still troubled him.
He had always prided himself on his control and logic. Feelings without explanations annoyed him, and Rebecca was beginning to feel like a puzzle he couldn’t solve.
Standing up, he walked to the window and stared out at the quiet street.
What if she knows something he doesn’t? What if she remembers something he has forgotten?
He clenched his jaw. If she didn’t want to tell him the truth, he would find it out himself. He had to test her because he knew deep down that there was something she wasn’t revealing.
Whatever connection existed between them didn’t start at the wedding or even at the hospital; he was certain of that now.