Legally Bound: Pregnant with my Rival's Baby

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

The cramping started in the middle of a deposition. At first, I tried to ignore it, focusing on grilling the witness about MegaCorp's financial records. But as the pain intensified, a cold fear gripped my heart. This wasn't normal. Something was wrong.

I somehow managed to call for a recess, my voice steady even as panic threatened to overwhelm me. As soon as I was alone in the conference room, I fumbled for my phone, my hands shaking so badly I could barely dial.

"What is it, Chen?" Derek's voice, cold and irritated, filled the line. "I'm in the middle of something important."

"Derek," I gasped, clutching my stomach. "Something's wrong. I'm having these cramps and I... I'm scared."

There was a beat of silence, then Derek's tone changed completely, becoming concerned and urgent. "Where are you? I'm coming to get you right now."

I rattled off the address, barely aware of what I was saying. All I could focus on was the pain and the terrifying possibilities running through my mind.

"Stay where you are," Derek said firmly. "I'll be there in ten minutes. Have you called Dr. Foster?"

Dr. Foster. Of course. Why hadn't I thought of that? "No, I... I called you first," I admitted, surprised by my own actions.

There was a pause, and when Derek spoke again, his voice was softer. "Okay. I'm going to hang up and call Dr. Foster. Then I'll call you right back. Just breathe, Sophia. Everything's going to be okay."

As soon as he hung up, I felt bereft, wishing I hadn't let him go. But true to his word, my phone rang again moments later.

"Dr. Foster says to meet her at her office," Derek said without preamble. "I'm almost there. Just hang on, okay?"

I nodded, then remembered he couldn't see me. "Okay," I whispered.

The next few minutes passed in a blur. Somehow, I managed to gather my things and make my way to the lobby. When I stepped outside, Derek was already there, jumping out of his car and rushing to my side.

"Sophia," he said, his grey eyes filled with concern as he took in my pale face and the way I was hunched over. Without hesitation, he wrapped an arm around me, supporting my weight. "I've got you. Let's get you to the doctor."

The drive to Dr. Foster's office was tense, filled with a silence broken only by my shaky breathing. Derek kept one hand on the wheel, the other clasped tightly in mine. I should have felt awkward about the intimacy of the gesture, but all I could focus on was the warmth of his skin, the steadiness of his grip anchoring me.

Dr. Foster was waiting for us, her face a mask of professional concern. "Sophia, Derek," she greeted us. "Let's get you into an exam room right away."

As Derek helped me onto the exam table, I found myself reluctant to let go of him. He seemed to sense my hesitation, because he immediately took my hand again, squeezing it reassuringly.

"I'll step out for the exam," he said, but I tightened my grip on his hand.

"Stay," I said, surprising myself with the request. "Please."

Derek's eyes widened slightly, but he nodded. "Of course. Whatever you need."

As Dr. Foster began her examination, asking questions and gently prodding my abdomen, I focused on Derek's presence beside me. The strength of his hand in mine, the steady rise and fall of his chest, the intense look of concern in his eyes every time I winced in pain.

"Alright," Dr. Foster said finally, her voice gentle. "I'm going to do an ultrasound now, just to make sure everything's okay with the baby."

I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. Derek's hand tightened around mine as Dr. Foster spread the cold gel on my stomach and began moving the wand.

The seconds stretched into an eternity as we waited, the silence in the room deafening. Then, suddenly, a strong, rapid heartbeat filled the air.

"There we go," Dr. Foster said, a smile breaking across her face. "That's your baby's heartbeat. Strong and steady."

I felt tears spring to my eyes, relief washing over me in a tidal wave. "The baby's okay?" I choked out.

Dr. Foster nodded, pointing to the screen where a tiny, fluttering shape was visible. "The baby's perfectly fine, Sophia. What you experienced was likely round ligament pain. It's common in the second trimester as your body adjusts to the growing uterus."

I turned to Derek, finding his eyes already on me. The look on his face – a mixture of relief, joy, and something deeper that I couldn't quite name – took my breath away.

"Our baby's okay," he whispered, bringing our joined hands to his lips and pressing a kiss to my knuckles.

The tender gesture, so unlike the Derek Hawthorne I thought I knew, made fresh tears spring to my eyes. "Yeah," I managed, my voice thick with emotion. "Our baby's okay."

As we left the office, Derek kept his arm around me, as if afraid I might collapse at any moment. Part of me wanted to bristle at the protectiveness, to assert my independence. But a larger part, one I was only just beginning to acknowledge, reveled in his care.

"Thank you," I said as we reached his car. "For coming. For... everything."

Derek's eyes softened as he looked at me. "You don't have to thank me, Sophia. I'll always be here for you. For both of you."

The sincerity in his voice made my heart skip a beat. This was a side of Derek I'd never seen before – caring, protective, almost... tender. It was a far cry from the arrogant, ruthless lawyer I'd spent years battling in court.

As we drove back to my apartment, a comfortable silence settled between us. I found myself stealing glances at Derek's profile, noticing things I'd never allowed myself to see before. The strong line of his jaw, the way his brow furrowed slightly in concentration as he navigated the busy streets, the gentle way his thumb absently stroked the back of my hand where our fingers were still intertwined.

When we arrived at my building, I turned to face him, suddenly feeling shy. "Derek, I... thank you again. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there."

He smiled, a soft, genuine smile that made my heart flutter. "You don't have to keep thanking me, Sophia. I meant what I said. I'll always be here for you and our baby."

As I watched him drive away, I leaned against the entrance to my building, one hand resting on my stomach where our baby grew. The events of the day had shaken me, forcing me to confront feelings I'd been trying to ignore.

Derek Hawthorne, the man I'd spent years viewing as my nemesis, had become something else entirely. A partner. A protector. Maybe even...

No. I couldn't let myself go there. Not yet. There was still so much standing between us – our careers, the case, our complicated history.

But as I entered my apartment, the memory of Derek's arms around me, his unwavering support, and the look in his eyes as we heard our baby's heartbeat lingered. And for the first time, I allowed myself to imagine a future where Derek was more than just the father of my child.