Chapter 6 A Dinner Date And Conflicted Dreams

Delina was now seven months pregnant, her baby bump prominent and always a source of shyness for her. Despite the changes, she remained beautiful; her pregnancy hadn't diminished her charm. For the past five months, she had been immersed in learning about fashion design, showing significant improvement and also having great interest in studying law .

Karen had advised her to take it easy, but Delina insisted on pursuing her interests, determined not to be a liability.

Their bond had deepened over the months, resembling that of a mother and daughter. Delina often called Karen "Mum," and she felt that the title was well-deserved.

One cool evening, Delina's phone rang.

"Hello, Derek. How are you?"

"I'm fine. What about you?" Derek asked, his tone smooth and inviting.

"I'm good, thanks," she replied with a smile.

"Um... I wanted to see if you're free tonight. Let's grab dinner at a seafood restaurant."

Delina's mood brightened at the mention of seafood; she had been craving it lately. "Yeah, I'm free!"

Derek's sweet smile radiated through the phone. "Okay, I'll pick you up at 7."

"Sure," she replied before hanging up.

She got up from her bed and walked to her wardrobe, scanning her clothes but struggling to pick an outfit. They were all her favorites. With a sigh, she returned to her bed, feeling a bit defeated. Just then, she heard a knock at the door.

"Lina, are you awake?" Karen called.

"Yes, Mum! Come in," Delina replied.

Karen entered, noticing Delina's worried expression. "Are you feeling okay?"

"Yeah, it's just that I have a dinner date with Derek, but I don't know what to wear," Delina admitted, feeling helpless.

"Oh! Should we go shopping?" Karen suggested.

"No," Delina laughed. "We went shopping just yesterday! Don't spoil me too much, Mum!"

Karen chuckled. "Of course, if I don't spoil you, who deserves it, huh? Alright, if you don't want to go shopping, I'll help you choose."

"That'll be better," Delina said, feeling relieved.

Karen selected a stunning red flared gown adorned with sparkling stones and picked out matching shoes and a handbag. With a keen eye for fashion, she put together a perfect ensemble.

"Yay! Mum, you're a genius! Just look at this combo!" Delina praised, beaming.

Karen smiled at the compliment. She wanted Delina to look her best tonight. She had high hopes for Derek and wished to matchmake them, but didn't want to pressure Delina.

Derek was a responsible young man working at the hospital where Karen would soon be the boss. His dedication to his work made him endearing to Karen. From his behavior, it was evident that he cared deeply for Delina, even accepting her pregnancy with grace. However, Delina viewed him as nothing more than a trusted friend.

At 7 PM, Derek's car pulled up at Karen's manor, and Delina emerged, walking gracefully. The gown beautifully complemented her fair skin. Derek's heart raced as he watched her approach. He opened the door for her like a true gentleman, and she slipped into the car.

"You look so beautiful, Delina," he said sincerely.

"Thanks," she replied, blushing.

As they drove to the restaurant, they chatted comfortably.

In the high-end restaurant, Derek served Delina, continuously adding more veggies and shrimp to her plate, which made her shy.

"You'll feed me to death, Derek," she joked, her tone pleading.

"Of course not! I just want you to eat well and have a healthy baby," he replied, eyes sparkling with care.

"Derek, you care too much about my baby. If an outsider saw your actions, they might think you're my husband," she teased, but Derek seemed pleased by her words.

"Sure, they can think whatever they want," he replied lightly.

"Don't be silly; you can't marry me," she said, pushing the idea away.

"Want to give it a try?" he asked seriously.

"Hey! Stop talking about marriage! I'll leave if you keep it up," Delina warned, irritated. She had no desire to discuss love or marriage, but Derek often brought it up, which frustrated her.

Sensing her displeasure, he quickly apologized, "Oh no, don't do that, please. I'm sorry."

"Better. Let's finish our meal before it gets cold," she said, relieved.

He nodded, and they ate in silence for a while. After finishing, Delina said, "Thanks for dinner. You don't have to take me back home. My driver is on the way."

"Oh, okay. I'll wait until he arrives," he said hurriedly, but Delina refused.

"No, it's fine. Go ahead; I'll be alright."

An older man at a nearby table overheard them and decided to intervene. "Young lady, allow your husband to accompany you home or stay until your driver arrives. Building a strong bond with your husband is good for the baby."

Delina was taken aback. "Why would the old man jump to conclusions like that?" she muttered under her breath.

Sensing her discomfort, Derek spoke up, "Thanks for your concern, sir. We're doing fine." The old man left, embarrassed by the misunderstanding.

"Sorry about that," Derek said.

"It's okay. Just stay for a while, and if the driver doesn't come soon, you'll have to go back," Delina suggested.

"Okay, okay, I agree," he said, smiling.

A few minutes later, the driver arrived. Delina bid Derek goodbye and got into the car, heading back to Karen's manor.

Karen was at the door to welcome her. She kissed Delina's forehead and asked, "How was dinner?"

As they walked to Delina's room, Delina recounted everything that had happened, leaving nothing out. Karen felt a pang of sadness at Delina's rejection of Derek but kept her composure.

"Well, next time, just give him some space and be a bit nicer to him. You know he cares about you a lot," Karen advised gently.

"Mum, are you trying to matchmake me?" Delina guessed, teasing.

"Ah! Silly child, don't think such things. Mum just wants the best for you," Karen replied, trying to ease the tension.

Delina entered her room, showered, and fell asleep immediately. She had a dream in which her child, now a little older, called out to her, "Mummy! Mummy!!"

She woke up with beads of sweat on her forehead, troubled by how much the child resembled Devon. "Why does my baby look like that bastard?" she muttered. "It's just a dream!"