Between Lust and Lies

RHEA*

I knew something was wrong the moment I walked through the door.

That suffocating floral scent that always made my stomach turn hit me first.

Oh god, not today. Not today that I just came from another failed IVF consultation, another appointment where I cried in the car for twenty minutes before driving home.

I don’t have the energy for Patricia Ashton today.

I could hear hushed voices as I walked into the living room and I noticed they stopped talking as they saw me.

Dave sat on the couch, his mother beside him, both wearing expressions I couldn't quite read. And standing by the window, glowing in a cream maternity dress that showed off a small but unmistakable baby bump, was someone I hadn't seen in years.

Teyana Harris. Dave's ex-girlfriend. His college sweetheart.

Dave shifted on his feet, like he wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. Patricia’s fingers tightened around the armrest beside her.

Teyana smiled at me, one hand resting protectively on her stomach. “Hi, Rhea. It's been so long.”

My heart started pounding. “Dave? What's going on?”

He stood up, squared his shoulders, and met my eyes. “Rhea, sit. We need to talk.” His voice was steady, but tense.

“I'd rather stand.” My voice came out shakier than I intended. “Why is Teyana here? Why is she…” My eyes fixed on her stomach.

He didn’t move closer. Instead he remained still, waiting for me to listen.

“You’ve been struggling with the fertility treatments,” he said. “Dr. Palmer said your chances are lowering each cycle, and I had to make a decision.”

“What did you do?” My voice was barely a whisper.

Dave drew in a slow breath, his jaw tightening. Patricia turned to him expectantly, but he kept his eyes on me.

“We found a surrogate. Tey agreed to carry our baby five months ago. She’s twelve weeks pregnant.”

My heart dropped. “Tell me you’re joking, Dave.”

“It is the truth, Rhea. We didn’t want to tell you until we were sure it took,” Patricia interjected, moving closer. “You've been so fragile, so emotional with all these failed attempts. We thought…”

“You thought?!” I turned to her. “You thought you'd go behind my back and plan all this with my husband?”

“It's not like that…” Dave started.

“Really? Then how is it, Dave? Because from where I'm standing, your ex-girlfriend is pregnant and I…your wife…knew nothing about it!”

“Rhea, I'm just the vessel. This baby is yours and Dave's. I'm doing this as a favor, to help your family…”

“Just shut up!” I snapped, not sparing her a glance.

“That’s uncalled for, Rhea,” Patricia spat.

I shot her a glaring look and turned back to Dave.

“Why didn't you go through an agency, Dave? There are professionals who do this. People who specialize in surrogacy. Why?” I looked at Teyana again, “Why her?”

“Because we trust her,” Patricia answered before Dave could. “Those agencies are full of strangers and we need someone that fits in perfectly.”

“Perfectly,” I repeated, looking at Teyana’s glowing skin, her perfect figure even with the baby bump. “You mean younger than me. More fertile than me.”

“Rhea, listen…” Dave stepped, closer holding my gaze. “Tey offered. When Mom mentioned we were struggling, Tey reached out. She said she wanted to help. She's between jobs right now, and the compensation would help her.”

“Dave, out of all the women in the world who could be a surrogate, why does it have to be Teyana?”

“Rhea, I know this looks bad, but Dave and I are ancient history. College was years ago. I'm doing this purely to help…”

“Help?” I whirled at her. “Or something is going on between you and Dave.”

“You're twisting everything!” He took a step closer, standing between me and Teyana. “We chose Tey because we trust her, someone who understands our family…”

“Someone your mother has always loved more than me, you mean. Someone she wished you married instead.”

“That's not true!” But Patricia's face betrayed her.

“Isn't it?” I looked between them. “You've been planning this for how long? Months? A year? How long have you three been meeting behind my back, discussing my inadequacies, shopping for my replacement?”

“Rhea, stop being dramatic,” Patricia snapped. “This is about the Ashton legacy. We need an heir. You've proven you can't give us one, so we found another way. You should be grateful.”

My hands clenched so hard I pressed my nails into my palm just to stay upright.

“Grateful?!” I scoffed and stepped toward her, and she actually stepped back. "Your son went behind my back, used his sperm and my egg to impregnate his ex-girlfriend, and I should be grateful?"

“No. That’s not what happened. I made a choice — a hard one I had to make and that’s why we are having this conversation.” Dave said, holding my gaze steadily.

“Then tell me what the hell happened!”

The silence that followed was suffocating.

Dave met my eyes, held them for a long moment, then flicked a glance toward Teyana before returning his gaze to me.

Chills crept up my spine.

He squared his shoulders and stepped closer, holding my gaze fully. “Rhea… I did what I thought was best for the baby, for us, and yes, for me.”

His Adam's apple bobbed. For the first time since I’d walked in, something that looked almost like hesitation crossed his face.

“Dave.” My throat tightened. “WHAT DID YOU DO?”

His jaw tightened. “Your eggs weren’t used.”