Legally Bound: Pregnant with my Rival's Baby

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

The city lights blurred past my window as I sat in the back of the car, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. The events of the day – Sophia's panic, the rush to the doctor's office, the relief of hearing our baby's heartbeat – played on a loop in my head. But it wasn't just the scare that occupied my thoughts. It was Sophia herself.

The way she'd clung to me, vulnerability replacing her usual fierce independence. The look in her eyes when she asked me to stay during the exam. The softness of her skin beneath my lips when I'd kissed her forehead.

I groaned, running a hand through my hair. When had everything become so complicated? When had Sophia Chen, my sworn rival and nemesis, become the woman who occupied my every waking thought?

"Everything alright, Mr. Hawthorne?" my driver's voice cut through my reverie.

I straightened, schooling my features into a neutral expression. "Fine, Thomas. Just been a long day."

As we pulled up to the office, I steeled myself for the questions that would inevitably come. I'd left in the middle of a crucial meeting, after all, with no explanation beyond a hastily muttered "family emergency."

The moment I stepped off the elevator, I was accosted by James, his face a mixture of concern and curiosity. "Derek! Where the hell have you been? The Anderson meeting-"

"How's Sophia?" I interrupted, surprising both of us with the urgency in my tone.

James blinked, taken aback. "Sophia? I... what?"

I sighed, realizing I'd have to explain. "There was a scare with the baby. She's fine now, but... I had to be there."

Understanding dawned on James's face, followed quickly by a knowing smirk. "Of course you did," he said, his tone teasing. "Because you're just so devoted to your role as baby daddy, right? It has nothing to do with your feelings for Sophia herself."

I felt heat rise to my cheeks, cursing my brother's perceptiveness. "It's not like that," I muttered, but the protest sounded weak even to my own ears.

James's expression softened. "Derek, come on. It's me. You don't have to pretend with me. I've seen the way you look at her, the way you talk about her. This is more than just co-parenting, isn't it?"

I leaned against the wall, suddenly feeling exhausted. "I don't know, James. I don't know what this is. All I know is that when she called me today, scared and in pain, nothing else mattered. Not the case, not the firm, nothing. I just had to get to her."

James nodded, a small smile playing at his lips. "Sounds like love to me, big brother."

The word hit me like a physical blow. Love? Was that what this was? This all-consuming need to protect Sophia, to be near her, to make her smile?

Before I could respond, a group of junior associates rounded the corner, their excited chatter dying down as they spotted me.

"Mr. Hawthorne," one of them – Johnson, I think his name was – stepped forward. "We heard you left the Anderson meeting. Is everything okay?"

I straightened, slipping back into my role as the firm's golden boy. "Everything's fine. Just a personal matter that required my immediate attention."

Johnson nodded, but I could see the curiosity burning in his eyes. "Of course, sir. It's just... well, we've never known you to leave a meeting for anything less than a national emergency."

I felt a flash of irritation at the implied accusation, but before I could respond, James jumped in. "My brother's priorities have... shifted recently," he said, clapping me on the shoulder. "Sometimes personal matters do take precedence, even for the great Derek Hawthorne."

The associates exchanged glances, clearly dying to ask for more details but not daring to pry further. I seized the opportunity to escape, muttering something about needing to catch up on work before retreating to my office.

Once inside, I collapsed into my chair, loosening my tie as I tried to gather my thoughts. My eyes landed on the framed photo on my desk – a group shot from last year's company retreat. I was in the center, of course, my trademark cocky grin in place as I stood surrounded by adoring colleagues.

But now, looking at that photo, I barely recognized myself. That Derek Hawthorne, so sure of his place in the world, so focused on winning at all costs... he felt like a stranger.

A knock at the door interrupted my introspection. "Come in," I called, expecting James or maybe one of the partners.

Instead, it was Sarah, my assistant, looking uncharacteristically nervous. "Mr. Hawthorne," she said, hovering in the doorway. "I just wanted to check if you needed anything. After... whatever happened today."

I blinked, surprised by her concern. Had I really been such a tyrant that a simple act of kindness from my assistant felt out of place?

"I'm fine, Sarah," I said, offering her a small smile. "But thank you for asking. Actually, there is something you could do for me."

She straightened, notepad at the ready. "Of course, sir. What do you need?"

I hesitated for a moment, then plunged ahead. "Could you find out what Sophia Chen's favorite flowers are? Discreetly, of course."

Sarah's eyebrows shot up, but to her credit, she didn't comment on the unusual request. "Certainly, Mr. Hawthorne. I'll get right on that."

As she turned to leave, I called out, "And Sarah? Thank you. For everything you do around here. I don't say it enough, but I appreciate it."

The look of shock on her face would have been comical if it didn't make me feel like such an ass. Had I really been that bad?

Once Sarah left, I pulled out my phone, staring at Sophia's contact info. Before I could talk myself out of it, I typed out a message:

"Just checking in. How are you feeling? Do you need anything?"

Her response came quickly:

"I'm okay. Still a bit shaken, but better. Thank you again for today, Derek. I don't know what I would have done without you."

I felt a warmth spread through my chest at her words. Without overthinking it, I replied:

"You don't have to thank me, Sophia. I'll always be here for you. Both of you."

There was a longer pause before her next message appeared:

"I'm starting to believe that. It's... nice. Scary, but nice."

I stared at her words, feeling a mix of hope and trepidation. We were treading into dangerous territory here, blurring the lines between co-parents and... something more.

Before I could formulate a response, another message from Sophia popped up:

"I have my follow-up appointment with Dr. Foster next week. Would you... would you like to come?"

My heart raced as I read her invitation. This was more than just a doctor's appointment. This was Sophia letting me in, allowing me to be a part of this journey in a real, tangible way.

"I'd love to," I typed back, unable to keep the smile off my face. "Just tell me when and where."

As I set my phone down, I caught sight of my reflection in the window. The man staring back at me was different from the one in that framed photo. Softer around the edges, perhaps. Less certain of his place in the world, but somehow more grounded.

This new Derek Hawthorne – the one who dropped everything for a pregnant woman he once considered his rival, the one who thanked his assistant and asked about favorite flowers – was unfamiliar territory. But as I thought of Sophia, of our baby, of the future that suddenly seemed full of possibilities, I realized something.

I liked this new Derek. And I was pretty sure Sophia might like him too.

A knock at my door pulled me from my thoughts. James poked his head in, a knowing grin on his face. "So, big brother, ready to admit it yet?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Admit what?"

James rolled his eyes. "That you're head over heels in love with Sophia Chen, of course. That this whole rivalry-turned-co-parents thing has become something much, much more."

I shook my head, exasperated. "I’m not in love with her, okay? We have a complicated situation, and it's stressful. Stop trying to turn it into something it's not." But when I turned away from James, I wasn't sure anymore.