Why Him?

CHAPTER SIX

Clara forced away the panic in her face, as she slowly turned to face him.

“Oh, this?” a feigned surprise flashing across her face as she started to scratch the mark. “I think I got stung by a mosquito while waiting outside the bakery.”

She watched as worry slowly creased Dante’s brows and realized he bought her lie.

“I’ve been trying to ignore the itch, but now that you brought it up, it's beginning to itch badly again.” She continued, managing to spin the whole thing back on him.

Dante inspected the mark worriedly, but Clara had already intentionally pinched the mark, leaving a bruise that made her story flawless.

“I’m so sorry, honey.” Dante apologized wholeheartedly, “I will not send you there ever again.”

Clara's shoulders relaxed as she leaned in and kissed his lips, “Don't worry. It's fine.”

But Dante’s brows were still arched with worry as he moved away.

“Go and sit in the room. I will get the first aid kit.” He said, already reaching for the wardrobe where the box sat.

As Clara walked back to the room, a sly smirk crossed her lips.

Dante always trusted her words so this wasn't even a surprise.

***

NEXT MORNING

Clara walked into the dining room in her pajamas, her long hair packed in a mess bun.

“Morning honey,” Dante greeted, arranging a plate of golden croissants and flaky pastries filled with melted chocolate in front of Clara.

Clara smiled warmly as she sat up, “Morning, babe. It smells so good.”

“Master woke up early to make them especially for you.” Ms. Linda, the housekeeper said as she set down a plate of neatly sliced berries in between them.

“Not without her help.” Dante added, sitting up across from Clara.

Clara was still grinning from ear to ear as she took her first bite.

“In that case, well done both of you. It tastes absolutely wonderful.”

Dante smiled, “I’m glad you liked it.”

Ms. Linda left briefly, returning with a small thermal jug of coffee.

As she dropped it on the table preparing to serve, Dante stopped, “Thanks, Ms. Linda, I’ve got this.”

Ms. Linda nodded, walking away.

Dante served the coffee, while Clara was already divulging her food.

“So, does it still ache?” Dante asked as he finally took the first bite of his croissant.

Clara was lost for a moment, until Dante gestured at her neck.

“Oh,” Clara almost rolled her eyes, “It's all better now, thanks to you.”

They continued their meal, half in silence and half talking about the food and Dante’s culinary skills.

Halfway through their meal, Dante remembered something and said, “By the way, honey, can you make some time later today to visit the fertility clinic?”

“The doctor informed me that he has gotten a few candidates for the surrogacy.”

“Oh, that.” Clara’s brows flinched briefly as she sipped her coffee, “We should visit the fertility clinic, but not for the candidates. Cassandra agreed to do it.”

“What?” Dante's eyes widened in disbelief, “Your sister? Why would she?”

Clara bit into a slice of berry, “I don't really know what she was thinking. She just overheard me telling our parents about it and she offered to help.”

Dante's cutleries dropped into the plate as he leaned in his chair, “But…that doesn't feel right.”

He scratched the back of his head, confusion etched in his brow, “Isn’t she usually difficult and competitive with you?”

“And now, she wants to carry our baby? Are you sure we can trust her?”

Clara dropped her fork, already full as he took a long sip of her coffee and leaned forward, “Babe, stop worrying over nothing. She might be difficult, but she's still my sister and this child would also be her relative too.”

“Beside, with the surrogacy stories I've read, she is the only one I can trust to not steal my husband from me.”

Dante let out an audible gasp, his mouth agape, but Clara pretended not to notice the shock.

He stood up, walking around the table to her side. He leaned forward, hands pressing on her shoulders.

“Honey, how can you even say that? You know I'd never cheat on you. I love you.”

Clara shrugged her shoulders, “Well, one can never be too careful.”

She turned in her chair, her side to him, “And I can't trust those ladies. Someone that's desperate enough to be a surrogate for a complete stranger is desperate enough to steal a wealthy man like you.”

Dante pulled a chair beside her and sat up, holding her hand gently, “Honey, I’m not an object that someone could just steal.”

“But if it makes you feel better, then fine. We will go with your sister.”

Clara smiled brightly, leaning forward and kissing Dante’s lip, “Thank you.”

She stood up, ready to walk away.

“But I still think we should compensate her in some way.” Dante suggested.

She turned sharply, “No.”

Realizing the frown on her face, she slowly forced a smile, “You're going to make her feel like an outsider. She’d be mad at me for that.”

Dante’s brows creased but he nodded, “O–okay.”

Clara turned her back, a smirk tugging at her lip as she retired to the bedroom.

Dante scratched the back of his head as he watched her leave, his mind going back to the previous night.

“She’s going to help? Then why did she look so miserable last night?”

***

Cassandra woke up the next morning with a splitting headache, a rumbling stomach and an uncontrollable nausea.

For almost five minutes, she knelt on the cold marble floor of the bathroom and threw her head into the water closet, retching hard.

When the nausea finally subsided, she sat on the floor, eyes red, and her back leaning on the toilet seat barely catching her breath.

She didn't even know when the door to her dimly lit room flung open and her mother walked in.

The only thing she heard was her yelling.

“How could you drink so heavily when you know you are about to go through this procedure? Are you trying to ruin Clara's chance at motherhood?”

Cassandra just stared at her blankly, too numb and tired to cry.

“You are the older sister, but you always act so careless and inconsiderate.” Evelyn dropped the steaming bowl in her hand on Cassandra’s dressing table and looked sternly at her, “Don’t forget we already signed the severance form you brought. You can't back out now.”

She turned her back and started to walk away. By the time Cassandra struggled to her feet, Evelyn was already at the door.

“Mom.” Cassandra called her voice barely above a whisper as she slowly dragged her feet to the bedroom.

Evelyn halted, her hand hovering over the door, “What now?”

Cassandra stopped walking when she was just a few inches away from her.

“Ew, you reek.” Evelyn covered her nose in disgust.

Cassandra let out a dry laugh, “Mom…unlike Clara, this is the first time I’m drinking so heavily and the only thing you’re worried about is the surrogacy?”

Evelyn scoffed in disdain, “You're not a child anymore, Cassandra! Stop asking to be treated as one.”

She turned around and slammed the door on Cassandra’s face.

Cassandra threw her back to the door, slipping down until she hit the floor.

She didn't want to cry. Not anymore, but thinking about how her mom would always care for Clara every single morning after a heavy night of partying, her heart ached.

Just then, her phone buzzed on the bed.

Cassandra took a deep breath and wiped the lone tear trickling down her cheek before reaching for it.

Cassandra’s eyes widened as she saw the text message.

“You drank too much last night. How are you feeling today?”

The message wasn't the problem. The sender was.

Dante Caldwell.

She’d had his number for the longest time, yet they had never spoken to each other. It was just for formalities.

Memories of last night started crashing in on her.

The ‘striking brown eyes’ comment.

His expensive suit.

The car ride home.

And then—

“Oh, God.”

Had she really thrown up on him?

Cassandra bit the tip of her finger, embarrassment flooding her face.

“Fuck,” she muttered.

“Of all the people in the world...Why did it have to be him?”