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Dina had an emotional response. “I swear Dereck, I didn’t know about that. As much as I want Alina out of your life, I wouldn’t hurt you like that. You know that. I would never send Amanda behind your back like that.”
“You really didn’t know?” Dereck’s tone was soft now.
“No, I didn’t. The night we had dinner was the last time I spoke to Amanda.” There was something in Dina’s voice that said she was telling the truth. So Dereck gave his sister the benefit of the doubt.
“I know you wouldn’t.” Dereck sighed and passed his hand through his hair. “I just can’t believe Amanda would go that far. Why would she even do this?”
“Don’t tell me you don’t know Amanda has a crush on you?” Dina couldn’t believe her brother could be that naïve. “You were all she could talk about when I called her.”
Dereck squinted his eyes. “Wait, she knew we were related?”
“Yea.” Dina sang her response. “I had a picture of us in my dorm. She must have seen it a million times.”
“Oh,” Dereck sat on the bed to accuse his sister, but there was laughter in his voice. “So this is your fault, after all.”
“If anything, it’s yours for being so incredibly handsome.” Playing at Dereck’s ego was always a full-proof way to gain her favor. “I think it was love at first sight.” Dina chuckled before saying, “I will talk to Amanda.”
“No,” Dereck blurted out. “I will deal with Amanda myself as soon as I return to New York.”
“Return?” Dina squealed. “Where are you?”
“Maryland.” Dereck was in no mood to reveal Alina’s pregnancy to his sister now. “I had some urgent business to attend to.”
Dina didn’t drop the conversation easily. “What business could you possibly have in Maryland? You’re a doctor.”
“Doctors are needed everywhere,” Dereck said hurriedly. “Listen, I have to go now. I’ll call you soon.” Dina was in the middle of a sentence when he ended the call, but he knew exactly what she was asking. Dereck didn’t have time for that. He had managed to get Alina to take him back, but his work was just starting. Now he had to ensure that she would never leave him again. He had a lot of making up to do.
When Dereck went to Alina’s house later in the evening, it was her sister that opened the door.
“Hello, Casey. Is Alina ready?” He shifted his stance, uncomfortable with Casey’s unrelenting stare. It was obvious she did not trust him.
“She’ll be down in a minute,” Casey told him as she stepped outside and closed the door behind her. Dereck watched the younger woman as she pushed her chin upwards. “That’s twice already. How do I know you won’t hurt my sister again?”
He definitely had some convincing to do. “I love Alina. And I know I’ve made a mistake. Actually, I’ve made a couple of them, but I can assure you I will never make those mistakes again.”
“So you’ll just make new ones, then?” Her arms were folded across her chest, and she obviously was unafraid to speak her mind.
Dereck chuckled at the feisty woman. “I’m not going to make any. From now on, I promise you I’m going to do my best to keep Alina happy. She is the most important thing in my life and I will do anything to make things right again. Rest assured, your sister will never complain to you again.”
Casey looked at him from head to toe with a raised eyebrow. “I’ll be watching you closely. Everything you do.”
“That is fine by me,” Dereck raised his arms. “The more people Alina has on her side, the better.”
Casey turned around to reenter the house, but before she did, she warned Dereck. “And control that sister of yours.” She pushed up her nose. “I may not be as rich as you people, but Alina has a sister who would fight for her, too. Deliver that message.”
Dereck’s face didn’t turn unpleasant from the threat. He was happy Casey was this bold for her sister. “I will. Is there anything else you want to relay?”
She looked at him now, a slight twitch on her lips. “Nope. That’s it. Enjoy your date,” she said and crossed the threshold just as Alina approached.
“What was all that about?” Alina asked Dereck as they walked towards Dereck’s car.
“Just some sisterly bonding,” he said, opening the door for his girlfriend and the future mother of his child. “Nothing for you to worry about.”
It seemed to appease Alina because she changed the conversation as soon as Dereck secured his seatbelt. “So, where are we going?”
He gave her a slight smile before starting the engine. “It’s a surprise.”
Dereck took Alina into the city to a restaurant at a high-rise building. The hall of the restaurant was beautifully classic, with an uncovered wooden table and wooden layers covering three-thirds of the walls. The chairs were light gray with a soft covering and were placed evenly across the room.
