002: Surrogate

~ CASSANDRA ~

My legs carry me down the hallway on autopilot, my heart still hammering from the confrontation in the bedroom. The divorce papers are signed, and I am done. But I need my son. Honestly, Scott is the only reason I have stayed this long in this poisoned house. I push open the door to his room, a soft smile already forming on my lips.

Almost immediately, the smile thins out as I freeze taking in the sight before me.

Scott is standing in the center of the colorful rug, a tiny toy car clutched in his chubby fist, making soft vroom-vroom noises. Toys lie scattered around him like colorful casualties. The moment his blue eyes, eyes so much like Rhett's—lift to mine, a deep frown mars his face.

He is staring at me with open resentment, the words written boldly across his face that he has absolutely no intention of running into my arms.

And sitting cross-legged on the floor beside him, looking far too comfortable in my son's space, is Daisy. Her lips curl into a slow, smug smile the second our eyes meet, as though she has rehearsed this exact moment in her mirror.

"Scott," I call softly, crouching down and opening my arms wide. "Mommy's home, sweetheart, come here."

His long lashes blink in terror as he shrinks back, pressing himself against Daisy's side as though my presence physically repels him.

The rejection hits like a blade to the chest.

"You're not my mom," he whispers in his small, two-year-old voice, clutching Daisy's shirt. "This is my mom."

Air knocks out from my lungs. For a second, the world tilts as my mouth hangs open, my brows knitting together while I blink once, twice, three times. Did I hear him correctly? Did he just say that?

"Scott… where did you hear that?" I ask, my voice comes out as a stutter despite my attempt to stay calm.

Daisy's fingers stroke through his soft hair with possessive tenderness, a mocking smile spreading across her lips.

"Daddy told him," the thief says sweetly.

Footsteps sound behind me, and I spin to see Rhett striding into the room.

"You heard him, Cassandra. You're not his mom."

Rage explodes through me. I shoot to my feet, closing the distance between us in three furious strides. My palm connects hard with his jaw, the slap echoing sharply in the nursery.

"Have you no shame at all?" I hiss, my voice trembling with fury. "Is this what you've been feeding a two-year-old? Lies so your fucking mistress can steal my place, and steal my child?"

Rhett barely flinches. He rubs his jaw slowly, almost thoughtfully, then lets out a low, chilling chuckle that sends ice down my spine.

He walks past me without sparing me another glance, crouching down to ruffle Scott's hair. "Darling, why don't you go play outside with your real mom for a bit? Daddy needs to talk to this woman."

This woman. The casual dismissal makes my stomach churn.

Once Scott is reluctantly led out by Daisy, Rhett straightens and turns to face me.

"It's not a lie, Cassandra," he says, his voice devoid of any emotion. "It's the truth. That child belongs to Daisy and me. You were never his mother. You were only the surrogate—the woman who carried him for us. Nothing more than a rented womb, if we're being honest."

The words slam into me like a physical blow. I stagger back a step, gripping the edge of the dresser for support.

IVF. I endure endless doctor appointments, painful injections, and fertility drugs that make my hormones rage like wildfire. I go through implantation procedures, battle constant nausea and bloating, and live with the terrifying fear of losing the pregnancy. My body stretches and changes forever, and the labor nearly breaks me.

All of it… for someone else's child?

"You used Daisy's eggs," I whisper, the realization dawning like poison in my veins.

Rhett shrugs, completely unconcerned. "Obviously. Did you really think I'd settle for your broken, defective body producing my heir? I need results. And Daisy… well, she is always the better option. Younger, healthier and more attractive."

A devilish smile crooks across his face.

"You served your purpose, Cassandra. You carried him, and you even managed to deliver him without too much drama. I suppose I should thank you for that. But let's not pretend you were ever anything more than a temporary solution."

Tears burn my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall in front of him. "You watch me suffer through all of that… knowing the entire time?"

"Emotions are irrelevant when it comes to legacy," he replies coldly. "I need a strong son for the pack. You are… convenient. And now that convenience has expired."

He pulls the signed divorce papers from his back pocket and waves them lazily. "You won't be getting any alimony or settlement, Cassandra. You'll leave exactly as you came, empty-handed. I've funded your family, paid their bills, and even put your sister through college, and this is how you choose to repay me. So go back to your parents' house with nothing but the clothes on your back."

His eyes sweep over me with that same disgusted sneer from earlier. "Maybe they'll take pity on you. Though I doubt it. Who wants a used, fat surrogate who couldn't even keep her husband satisfied?"

Realization dawns on me as I force myself to think everything through. If Rhett used Daisy's eggs, then it was never about my body. It never was. He only body-shamed me to make me believe I wasn't enough while he used me for his own selfish gain. And he did. Daisy had always been in the picture. I was just too blind to see it until now.

I stare at the man I once love, once sacrifice everything for.

"You're a monster," I breathe.

Rhett's smile widens. "Call me whatever you want. I'll be right here when your parents show up on my doorstep, knocking and begging me to take you back. Now get out of my son's room. You don't belong here anymore."