Hidden Mask of a betrayed son-in-law

Chapter 2.

Jaden nodded at Derek's request. There was a huge silence between them. A lot was running through Derek's mind. 

Derek's phone rang, he ignored the call. He already saw the caller Id. “Why is she calling,  after speaking so rudely to me,” he thought to himself. 

After a few moments, a message flashed through his phone. 

“I want a divorce!” 

Derek's eyes widened, his fist tightened around the phone. Jaden noticed his mood and took the phone from him. 

“Shit!” Jaden screamed. He looked up to Derek who was lost and shattered. 

“How could she! After everything I have done for her!” Derek lamented, holding back his tears. “I gave her everything, I cherished her, saved the family company from going bankrupt,” he cried out fuming in anger. 

“Jaden! Get me all the information on that damn guy, this is his number!” He said standing up from his chair. He searched for the unknown number and sent it to Jaden. “I need his details by tomorrow evening!” I will contact you if I need something else. He mumbled to him and left angrily. 

Derek reached home very late that night, heading straight to Maureen's room. She was already fast asleep, he stared at her, opened the message she had earlier sent and tightened his fist in anger. 

“Let's talk about this tomorrow morning, when you wake up,” he muttered quietly, covering her up with a blanket. He moved to his room, they had always slept separately except on few occasions where she came home drunk or on days she is seriously sick. 

Maureen woke up the next morning, to Derek sitting on one of the couch in her room. “Hey! Why are you up so early,” she murmured quietly, wiping her eyes with the back of her palm. 

“You ask so innocently like everything is okay between us?” Derek threw back at her, trying to initiate a calm conversation and not a violent argument. 

“Ohh Derek! It's too early for this, must everything be a conversation with you. Can't you accept some things the way they are?” Maureen dragged nonchalantly, pressing her forehead softly. 

“Accept some things? What do you even mean by that. I should accept the fact that you almost sent me to an early grave yesterday?” He inquired curiously, glaring at her bitterly. 

“What exactly is the meaning of the message you sent me, yesterday?” He asked her, showing her the message on his screen. 

“That? C'mon Derek! You and I know that this isn't a marriage afterall, so why dragging it?” She groaned, hissing under her breath. 

Derek's face went pale, his mouth dropped open. The shock and anger on his face was enough to scare a child away. 

“Okay!” Derek muttered bitterly, he didn't press further and stood up from the couch, Maureen's eyes widened in shock, like she wasn't expecting such an easy response. He had a lot on his mind but he was tired of talking and seeking for approval. 

“I think it's actually time to let go, I have never been accepted even for once. So it's not as if I'm that surprised” he whispered to himself as he staggered towards the door. 

“I will be waiting for the divorce papers so I can sign them,” he mumbled through clenched teeth, his hands tightened to the door knob. 

Just as he stepped out of her room, he heard a sharp cry, and ran back inside to see Maureen holding her stomach in pain. 

“Hey! What's the problem?” He asked as he jumped on the bed to carry her up. “Shit! You have fever too. Your body is fucking hot!” He screamed in shock. Maureen didn't say a word, she was just breathing heavily. 

Derek carried her up like a baby, and stormed out of the house. “To the hospital!” He said to her driver hurriedly. “Fast!” He screamed at the driver in anger. 

“Hey! Maureen?” He called her gently, rubbing her back as she placed her head on his shoulder. “You will be fine, how can you be sick and acting all strong and stubborn!” He muttered furiously. 

They reached the hospital and Maureen was admitted, Derek reached out to his father and before seconds, all her family members were in hospital. 

“What on earth have you done to my daughter?” Mr Alexander, Maureen's Father, questioned Derek publicly in the hospital. Derek's heart skipped, his eyes furrowed in anger, as he tried to maintain a steady atmosphere. 

“Are you trying to ruin her life because she said she wants a divorce?” He added in a whisper and Derek's face went blank. His jaw dropped at his words. 

Derek wore a sad smile, exhaled heavily and ignored him. “So they all know about the divorce already,” he mumbled bitterly to himself, tucking his hands in his pockets. 

“Maureen is my wife! I can't possibly do anything to hurt her no matter what,” he retorted calmly, but loud enough that they could all hear him. 

“Soon to be ex-wife! correction though!” Mrs Elena, Maureen's mother muttered sarcastically, loud enough for him to hear. 

Derek scoffed hearing those words, “they are all prepared for the divorce!” He thought to himself as he exhaled deeply. 

“Once Marie wakes up, and I make sure she is okay, I will pack up and leave. I can't be humiliated twice!” He said to himself with a painful nod and walked a little farther from where they were all sitting. 

“Mr Derek?” The Doctor called out, and Derek jumped up from his seat. 

“Yes doctor! Is she awake?” He asked curiously, rushing towards the doctor. Despite all the dramas happening between them. Derek was ready to make sure Maureen was okay before he leaves. 

“Doctor! If there is anything you can talk to me, she is my daughter,” Mrs Elena said immediately, trying to move Derek out of the way. 

“No problem ma'am, I would like to talk to the husband privately,” the doctor requested and Maureen's mom stepped back angrily. 

“Please follow me,” the doctor said to Derek and left to his office. 

“Your wife is one month and three weeks pregnant!” The Doctor said with a smile. 

“What?!” Derek screamed.