You’ve crossed the line

“Rian.” My father didn’t look at him. “I need to speak with my daughter. Alone.”

His lips pressed together in a thin line. “I don’t think she’s ready for a conversation with you.”

“It wasn’t a request.”

Rian looked at me. I could see he didn’t want to leave.

“It’s okay,” I said quietly.

His gaze searched mine for a second, like he was waiting for me to change my mind.

He moved closer to the bed, his voice low. “I’ll be right outside. You need me, press that button.”

He looked at my father and gave Dave a very hard look, then walked out.

“What are you doing here?”

“That's not how you speak to your husband, Rhea.” My father's voice was calm.

I sat up straighter, ignoring the pain shooting through my ribs.

The heart monitor beside me started beeping faster.

“I don't know what he told you, but it's all lies. Every word…”

“I know everything.” He cut me off. “The surrogate. The ex-girlfriend. The donor eggs due to your medical complications. Which part is the lie?”

My mouth opened in disbelief. “You…you can't actually think this is okay.”

“What I think,” my father said, moving closer to the bed, “is that they solved a problem you couldn't solve yourself.”

My stomach churned.

“Are you serious right now?” I looked between him and Dave. “He went behind my back…”

“To help you,” Dave spoke up. “Rhea, you have to understand. You were so stressed, so upset after every failed treatment. I couldn't watch you go through that anymore. I made a decision and I stand by it.”

“So you had a baby with someone else.” My voice cracked. “That was your solution?”

“It wasn’t like that. I chose a solution that secured our future,” he said calmly, “Leaving would have been easy. I didn’t leave. You are my wife. That hasn’t changed. And this child will carry our name.”

“Let me explain something to you, Rhea.” My father is beside me now, hands clasped behind his back. “The Whitmore name needs an heir. Everything else is secondary,” he paused. You're going to inherit my company one day, and that company needs continuity. You've had five years to provide that. You failed.”

Something twisted in my chest. I bit down hard on my lower lip, refusing to let him see me cry.

“I didn't fail. My body…”

“Intentions don’t build legacies. Results do,” he interrupted. “So Dave found another way. A practical, reasonable solution. And instead of accepting the solution, you’re throwing away your marriage because your pride is hurt.”

“Accept?” My brow furrowed in disbelief. “You want me to accept this?”

“Yes. He could have left you. He could have filed for divorce and found someone who could give him children. But he didn't. He stayed. He found a way to keep you in his life and still have the family he wants. That's more than most men would do.”

“The baby has nothing to do with me,” I said. “It's his and hers. Biologically. That's not surrogacy.”

“Details.” My father waved his hand. “Legal paperwork fixes that. We will ensure you are listed as the mother. Legally.”

“Of course,” Dave locked his eyes on mine. “Rhea, the baby will be ours. Legally. In every way that matters.”

“Except biologically!” My voice rose. “Except genetically! Except in every real way!”

“You're being dramatic, my father said.

“I'm being realistic!”

“No.” He leaned forward slightly. “You're being emotional. And emotions don't change facts. The fact is, you signed a prenup. Remember that?”

The words knocked the air out of my lungs.

My blood went cold.

“I can see you do.” A small smile played on his lips. “Let me refresh your memory on the specifics. If you file for divorce, you forfeit everything. Your trust fund. Your shares in the company. Your stake in the Ashton partnership." He paused. “You leave with nothing, Rhea.”

“I don't care about money…”

“Don't you?” He tilted his head. “Where will you live? How will you eat? At thirty, you'll have nothing except a failed marriage and a reputation."

My vision blurred. I bit down hard on my lower lip, fighting the tears.

It didn’t work. The first one slipped free anyway.

Dave's jaw tightened. “Father, this isn’t about the company. This is my wife, Rhea, not a company problem.”

My father didn't even look at him. “Someone needs to be honest.”

“You're being cruel,” I whispered.

“I'm being practical,” he straightened. “Go home with your husband. Accept the situation. When the baby is born, you'll raise it. You'll inherit my company. You'll have everything your mother would have wanted for you.”

“Don't.” My voice shook. “Don't bring Mom into this.”

“Your mother understood duty. Sacrifice. She…”

“She hated you!” The words exploded out of me. “She told me before she died! You destroyed her piece by piece with your control and your obsession with appearances! She said marrying you was the biggest mistake of her life!”

I should have stopped. But I couldn't. “She begged me not to end up like her. She said you cared more about your company than you ever cared about…”

The slap came so fast I didn't see his hand move.

My head whipped to the side. A sharp sting exploded across my cheek. The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. I’d bitten the inside of my cheek. My ears rang, and for a second, I couldn’t breathe.

“Don't you ever…” My father's voice shook with rage. “…ever speak about your mother that way. You don't know anything about our marriage. You don't know what she…”

The door burst open.

Rian stopped dead.

His eyes landed on me first.

Then on my father.

“What the hell happened?”