Hidden Mask of a betrayed son-in-law

Chapter 8.

“Dad! I have to go, I will be back tomorrow morning,” Derek said to his father in a rush, he didn't want to bother his father with the details. 

“Derek, is there a problem,” his father questioned curiously. Derek touched his shoulders, assuring him it was nothing serious. 

“Not a problem that I can't handle, I will be right back. Take care Dad,” he said and left for his car. He drove roughly like he was being pursued. 

Derek dialed Jaden's number again, “which hospital was she admitted into?” He inquired, placing his phone on a loud speaker while driving. 

“The formal hospital! I forgot to tell you, I checked the area's footage cameras. I think she was intentionally attacked but the intention was not to kill her,” Jaden reported to Derek, who raised an eyebrow. 

Derek knew that Maureen had no enemies, and she had never been attacked before so that means that anyone who attacked her did it because of him. 

“Did you see the car clearly or anyone in the car,” Derek asked, running his hands through his hair. 

“It wasn't clear enough, but the attacker waited patiently for her to be at aim and then attacked.  I think they wanted to just put her under pressure or something, it wasn't too brutal but she passed out due to shock,” Jaden narrated calmly. 

“Pressure?” Derek muttered, but then Ella's call came into his phone. “Hold on Jaden, let me answer this call,” he said quickly and picked up Ella's call. 

“Derek! Is this how you are going to take care of your pregnant wife? By leaving her all alone in the hospital,” Ella lashed out at him, but Derek didn't reply to her. He just listened without a word. 

“You've gone dumb, right!” She yelled and ended the call. Derek was just busy driving like a mad man, he pulled at the hospital packing slot and stormed out. 

Derek rushed in and met Ella at the entrance, she was still with her phone placed in her ears. Ella was surprised to see him rush like that, she thought he was a bit far away. 

“Fuck! I thought he was still far away. I was about to call Maureen's parents to report!” Ella hissed sarcastically, biting the edge of her phone. 

Derek rushed past her and made way to the room, he entered to meet Nicole and his wife chatting and laughing. He fumed in anger but at the same time, exhaled deeply in relief. 

He came close to her on the other side, opposite to where Nicole sat. “Are you okay?” He muttered gently to Maureen, she looked at him, rolling her eyes at him. 

“As you can see, I'm perfectly fine,” she replied nonchalantly, and continued her conversation with Nicole. 

Derek nodded sadly, and stepped out. “Going already, why bother coming in the first place?” Maureen muttered from a place of mockery. 

Derek paused, exhaled and moved to the doctors office. “Don't mind him, I'm always here for you okay,” he heard Nicole say to her. He just waved his head and walked into the Doctor's office after a knock. 

“Hello Doctor!” Derek greeted, pulling a chair to sit down. 

“Hello Mr Derek! You are here. I almost thought you wouldn't come,” the doctor responded calmly, looking at Derek's exhausted face. 

“Doctor, I was really far away but I managed to pull through. How is her health, are there any complications I should worry about?” Derek asked worriedly with a pale face. 

“I think she should be hearing whatever I want to say, so that she can be careful with herself. Her pregnancy is at a critical stage,” the doctor replied casually, searching for some files on his table. 

“No problem, let's get going, I prefer she hears it herself too. And please, dismiss everyone else inside her room, they can come back later,” Derek instructed the doctor calmly. Knowing that Nicole might want to stay and know what happens. 

They reached the room and Maureen's face lightened up, Derek walked in just some moments after the doctor came in. 

“Please can I get some privacy,” the doctor said, ushering Nicole to leave. 

“He can stay if he wants,” Maureen said sharply with a sweet smile but the doctor insisted. Nicole stared at Derek for a while and then moved out. 

Maureen was so furious at both the doctor and Derek, she held herself from uttering anything absurd in front of the doctor. 

“Mrs Maureen, I'm afraid you have some little complications with your pregnancy, due to pressure from the previous attack,” Derek's face went blank, his expression was dark. Maureen noticed but she didn't think it deep, she felt a bit too reluctant at what the doctor was saying. 

“You need to pause movements for now, for your body's relaxation!” The Doctor stated and Maureen's jaw dropped, she glared at Derek and then back at the doctor. 

“Doctor! I can't pause movement, I have works to catch up with,” Maureen said angrily, shrugging her shoulders. 

“This is a life threatening situation, you might not only lose the child but it may affect your life as well,” the doctor replied calmly, trying to explain things to Maureen. 

Maureen hesitated for a moment, a sharp smile crossed her lips as she nodded her head. “Okay, fine, but just for a few days though,” she muttered quietly. 

“It's actually for your own good, not for me actually. So don't think you are doing this for anyone,” the doctor said nonchalantly, he was already pissed off with Maureen's sarcastic attitude. 

Maureen rolled her eyes at the doctor's words, she didn't care. “Please, if you are done, can my friends come in then?” She asked glaring at Derek. 

“Yes, sure!” The Doctor said and left the room. Derek sat down in a long seat a bit far from the hospital bed just to rest his head. 

“Some poor men don't actually know when to get involved in some matters!” Ella said sarcastically as she entered the room. Nicole followed her behind quietly, he sat very close to Maureen's bed while Ella stood behind Nicole. 

“What is the doctor hiding,” Ella teased Maureen, turning back to look at Derek whose eyes were closed in sleep, though he could hear all they were saying. 

“Nothing serious, just resting tips. Someone is trying to be a good ex-husband,” Maureen mocked and they all laughed. 

“Actually I will be taking some days off work,” Maureen said bitterly, sighing. 

She pulled close and whispered to them, “I would ask my Dad to allow Nicole to handle my position while I'm away!” 

“What?” Derek's eyes opened.