CHAPTER 2

Isla’s POV

“Why does it feel like I’m trying to cut off my own arm?”

I leaned back in my chair, the plush leather creaking softly beneath me as I stared blankly at the wall. Just a few hours ago, I had finished a successful meeting with Mr. Scott, and I should have felt elated. Instead, my thoughts wandered back to the looming divorce. 

Thank God I have the ability to separate my personal matters from work. Or at least, I like to think so.

With sudden determination, I grabbed my phone and dialed Logan’s number without giving it a second thought. The line rang only once before he picked up, his voice smooth but casual.

“Isla. What’s going on? Miss me already?”

I felt my jaw drop, but chose to ignore his remark and go straight to the point. “Hey, Logan. The divorce papers are almost ready. When can we meet to sign them with the lawyer?”

There was a pause, a brief silence that told me everything I needed to know. I could almost hear the gears turning in his mind. Was he actually trying to delay this?!

“Is that right?” He sounded nonchalant, but I caught the faint edge of annoyance lurking beneath his tone. “You’ve been calling me quite a bit for someone who claims she’s ready to move on.”

I rolled my eyes, irritation sparking in my chest. “What’s your point? I’m just trying to get this done.”

“Why the rush?” he asked, his voice thick with mock concern. “You’ve professed your love for me a thousand times. Were all those words just lies?”

I scoffed, leaning forward in my chair. “That was all in the past, Logan. I’m not the same person I was when I said those things.”

He chuckled softly, but I could sense the underlying tension. “Funny how you could change your mind so quickly. Just like that.”

My heart leaped uncomfortably in my chest. He’s the one who never learned to love me, who treated me like shit. 

“Look, it’s time for me to move forward without you,” I said firmly, though I could feel the cracks in my resolve. “I just want to sign the papers and close this chapter.”

“You really think that’s all it takes?” he asked, a hint of challenge in his voice.

I swallowed hard, pushing back the emotions that threatened to rise. “Yes, Logan. I do.”

“Alright then,” he replied, his tone shifting to one of reluctant acceptance. “I’ll have my assistant send you my availability.”

“Fine.”

Suddenly, the memories came flooding back. I could still recall the agonizing feeling of not knowing where he was late at night or even in the wee hours of the morning. Too many times, I’d opened the door to find him slumped against the frame, reeking of alcohol, with some random woman in tow, their laughter echoing down the hallway like a cruel reminder of his infidelities.

My heart twisted at the memory of my own disappointment, the moments I had stood in the living room, arms crossed, trying to muster up enough courage to confront him. He had always brushed me off, his arrogance so deeply ingrained that he believed he could get away with anything. “It’s just a business meeting,” he would say, flashing that charming smile that once made my heart race but now left a bitter taste in my mouth.

It was those nights that had finally pushed me to the edge, that and the realization that I couldn’t keep living in this kind of relationship. 

“Logan,” I suddenly found myself saying aloud, almost instinctively. “Just hold off on telling our parents about the divorce, okay?”

There was a moment of silence on the other end before he responded, a teasing tone creeping into his voice. “What, afraid they’ll be disappointed? Or is it that you’re still holding onto some shred of feelings for me?”

I felt a flash of annoyance prickling at my skin. “That’s not it, and you know it.”

“Sure, Isla. You can say that, but I hear the hesitation in your voice. I know you’re still in love with me.”

Am I? I suddenly found myself questioning in silence. I really hope not.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” I told him flatly. “I’m looking to start fresh. I need to be able to openly pursue what I want—a family, without complications or drama.”

He paused, the teasing fading from his tone. “So you’ve got it all figured out, huh?”

“I’m trying to.” I inhaled deeply, trying to shake off the doubts that crept in. “But the last thing I want is for this to become a circus for our families.”

“Fine, Isla. Your secret is safe with me. For now,” he said, but I could sense the amusement in his voice.

“Thanks,” I muttered. “I think.”

He laughed right before I ended the call. I leaned back and heaved a huge sigh of relief. 

Just then, a short knock came at the door, followed by Zoey breezing in with a smile. “Hey, you! I have some good news!” she exclaimed, practically bouncing on her heels. “The app is up and running, like for real! It’s done with the experimental stage, and we’ve seen how it works like magic. And yup, I’ve already created your profile.”

My heart raced at her words, excitement coursing through me. “Really? Just like that?”

“Yep! I just posted your request, and it looks great.” She pulled out her phone and scrolled through the app. “I went with something like, ‘At 30 years old, I find myself in the midst of a divorce, yearning for motherhood, but the possibility of having a child with my husband is bleak. So I’m looking for a healthy male sperm donor and am willing to offer generous compensation for your assistance.’ What do you think?”

“That sounds good, but did you really put all of that in there?”

“Of course! You need to be upfront about what you want,” she said matter-of-factly.

“Fair point,” I said, a laugh escaping my lips. “But I can’t help but feel a little… exposed.”

Zoey waved her hand dismissively. “This is a big step, Isla. You’re taking control of your future! Plus, I added a few filters to your preferences. Do you have any other requirements?”

Without thinking, I blurted out, “Hot, fit, educated, and well-endowed. I really don’t care how much he’ll cost me.”

Zoey’s eyes widened, and then she burst out laughing. “You go, girl! That’s the spirit! You deserve to have a little fun in this process.”

“Thanks, but it’s not really about fun, Zoey. I just want to make sure my future kid has the best genes possible,” I replied with a grin. 

Zoey scrolled through the app again, showing me some features. “Once people start seeing your profile, they can reach out.Everything is confidential, and you can manage it all on your own terms.”

“Great.” At least there was something good I could look forward to. 

The next day, I walked into my office, ready to tackle another busy day at the magazine. To my surprise, Zoey was already waiting for me, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

“Isla! You won’t believe the response to your post!” she exclaimed. “Over a hundred men submitted applications within just 24 hours!”

My jaw dropped. “A hundred? Seriously?”

“Yes! It’s amazing! But that’s not all.” She held her phone up, displaying a very handsome profile photo, even if the man was facing right. “Check out this guy’s side profile —Ethan Prescott.”

I leaned in closer, squinting at the image. There was something about his features that seemed oddly familiar, but I couldn't place it. Still, it was strange that I seemed to find him familiar, considering the fact that I suffered from face blindness, or prosopagnosia. It was a condition that made it difficult for me to recognize faces, even those of people I’ve met countless times. Yet, something about his expression—perhaps the way he carried himself or the emotions in his eyes—seemed to reach out to me. 

“Okay, he looks good, but I need to see his application details,” I said, trying to focus. Zoey tapped on the screen, pulling up his information. My heart raced as I read through his qualifications. 

“Wow, he’s perfect,” I said, astonished. “And he’s willing to donate?”

“Absolutely! It’s like he’s meant to be for you. Or at least, his sperm!” She giggled then, clapping a hand over her mouth as she realized she’d just said it out loud. 

I glanced around. The employees were just beginning to trickle in. 

Before I could second-guess myself, I grabbed Zoey's phone, my fingers hovering over the screen, my heart beating like crazy. “Sounds promising. Let’s send him a message now.”