Chapter 11
925 Words
Chapter 11
My phone buzzed with a new message as I was leaving the office. Glancing at the screen, I saw Derek's name. My heart skipped a beat, a mix of dread and anticipation washing over me.
Derek: Dinner tonight? Le Jardin at 7 PM. We need to talk.
I stared at the message, my mind racing. Dinner at Le Jardin? That was one of the nicest French restaurants in the city. What was he thinking? After our last encounter, the idea of sitting across from Derek in such an intimate setting was almost unbearable. But we did need to talk, and maybe this was his way of extending an olive branch.
With a deep breath, I typed out a reply.
Sophia: Fine. I'll be there.
Le Jardin was everything I expected and more. Soft lighting, elegant decor, and a romantic ambiance that made my stomach twist with anxiety. I spotted Derek at a corner table, looking unusually pensive. He stood as I approached, pulling out my chair for me.
“Thanks,” I muttered, sitting down and avoiding his gaze.
We ordered quickly, and once the waiter left, an uncomfortable silence settled between us. Derek was the first to break it.
“Sophia, I’m glad you came. We need to talk about what happens next.”
I looked up, meeting his eyes. “You mean what happens with the baby,” I said flatly.
He nodded, his expression serious and pained. “Yes. And how we handle this. It’s going to impact both our careers.”
I couldn’t help the bitter laugh that escaped. “Of course you’re thinking about our careers. Derek, this is so much more than that.”
He reached across the table, his hand almost touching mine before he pulled back. “I know, Sophia. But we need to be realistic. This changes everything.”
I felt the anger rising, a hot, choking wave of frustration. “Realistic? You want to talk about being realistic? I’m the one who’s pregnant, Derek. I’m the one whose life is going to change the most.”
His jaw tightened, and I saw a flicker of something—guilt, maybe—in his eyes. He pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly struggling. “I’m not denying that. But we need to discuss options. Maybe... maybe termination is something we should consider.”
The words hit me like a slap. I felt my breath hitch, my vision blurring with sudden tears of anger. “How dare you?” I hissed, my voice low but trembling. “Do you think I’d come to you with this if I hadn’t already made up my mind?”
Derek’s eyes widened in shock. “Sophia, I’m just trying to be practical. We need to think about what’s best for both of us.”
“What’s best for both of us?” I echoed, my voice rising. “Did you ever stop to think about what’s best for the baby? Or for me? Or maybe what I want?”
He looked taken aback, and I could see him struggling for words. “I just... I didn’t think...”
“You didn’t think, period,” I snapped. “I’m keeping the baby, Derek. Whether you’re in the picture or not.”
The table fell silent, the tension between us palpable. Derek’s face was a mix of confusion and something else—maybe fear.
“Sophia,” he said quietly, “I didn’t know... I didn’t know you felt so strongly about this.”
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions. “Of course I do. This isn’t just a situation to manage, Derek. This is a life. A life I’m responsible for now. And I refuse to let you, or anyone, make me feel like that’s something to be ashamed of.”
He leaned back, running a hand through his hair, clearly at a loss. “I’m sorry. I just... I don’t know how to do this.”
“Neither do I,” I admitted, my voice softening. “But we’ll figure it out. Just know that I’m not backing down. I’m keeping this baby. And I’m not going to let you or anyone else make me feel like that’s a mistake.”
Derek pinched the bridge of his nose again, his face etched with pain. “Okay,” he said finally, his voice resigned. “I understand. We’ll figure it out.”
I nodded, feeling a mix of relief and lingering anger. “Derek, there's something you need to know. This isn’t just a decision I made lightly. I have low fertility. The doctors told me it would be difficult, maybe even impossible, for me to get pregnant. This might be my only chance to have a child.”
His eyes widened, the realization sinking in. “Sophia, I had no idea...”
“I know,” I said, cutting him off gently. “But now you do. This isn’t just about our careers or our plans. This is about something much bigger.”
Derek looked down, his expression one of deep contemplation and regret. “I get it. I’m sorry for suggesting otherwise. I just... I don’t want to mess this up.”
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions. “We’ll figure it out, Derek. It won’t be easy, but we will.”
As we sat in silence, waiting for our food, I couldn’t help but wonder what the future held for us—and for the life growing inside me.
- Writer
