Duty

Chapter Five

Richard woke up before the morning sun crept in. The faint glow of the city skyline seeped through the floor-to-ceiling windows of his master bedroom.

The bedroom was spacious, masculine, and meticulously arranged, very different from Vanessa’s, just down the hall.

Pushing Vanessa from his thoughts,he needed to be at the office earlier than usual.

After his usual morning routine of showering now fully dressed Richard ssessed his reflection in the mirror. his navy Brioni suit, pair with plain black turtleneck longs sleeves instead of the usual tie-neck long sleeves did a fine job in emphasizing his stature.

nodding in satisfaction His gaze landed on the final touch: his wedding band. A symbol of duty rather than devotion.

When he reached the dining hall, Vanessa was already seated, elegantly dressed in an ivory pantsuit cinched at the waist. Her makeup was flawless, and her long nails tapped lightly against her coffee cup. She was always flamboyant but today, she looked like she was heading somewhere important.

The scent of fresh French toast and coffee filled the air as he sat down, ready to eat. The chef outdid himself today he thought smirking.

Richard noticed Vanessa’s phone screen shut off immediately as she placed it face down, just like it always did whenever he was near.

His jaw tensed. Ignoring her he sat down.

The sound of silverware clinking against porcelain filled the air as they ate.

Grateful for the silence, Richard was halfway through his meal when Vanessa reached into her Hermès handbag and slid a single sheet of paper across the table: a flyer. She didn’t look at him, just casually cutting her toast into neat little bites.

“Shit,” he muttered under his breath, setting down his coffee mug so much for a quiet breakfast.

He picked up the flyer and examined it.

Future Bloom Surrogacy Agency.

His fingers tightened, crushing the glossy paper.

The conversation from the previous night came rushing back: Vanessa’s sharp words, her frustration, and her accusations.

“You’ve never wanted this marriage, Richard. You never even tried. Do you think I don’t see it? I don’t know why you keep avoiding the one thing that would complete your life. You can’t stand the thought of having a child with me because I’m not her. Because I’m not Emily.”

He could still hear the disdain in her voice when she mentioned Emily’s name.

He smirked at the thought.

He had walked away that night, unwilling to entertain the argument or admit that she wasn’t entirely wrong.

And now, here she was, pushing her agenda in silence, dropping a surrogacy flyer between them like an unsigned contract.

Richard’s body stiffened. Slowly, he tossed the crumpled flyer back to Vanessa.

Demanding an explanation, he asked, “What the hell is this?” His voice was calm, but it had an unmistakable edge.

Vanessa lifted her cup to her lips, taking a slow sip of coffee before answering, her voice dripping with casual amusement.

“It’s the solution.”

His brows furrowed. “A solution to what?”

She popped the last piece of toast into her mouth, chewed delicately, and finally met his gaze.

“Our marriage, Richard. And at least an expectation of what should come from it.”

She exhaled, tilting her head as her expression softened.

“You heard the doctor. I’m barren.”

Vanessa gestured toward the flyer on the table.

“This will give our marriage a future, make our parents happy…” Her voice lowered, turning soft, almost seductive. “…make me happy.”

Richard jaws clenched, he wasn’t moved.

She’s trying too hard, he thought.

After three years of marriage, he knew Vanessa too well. This wasn’t about wanting a child; she had never cared for motherhood. No, this was about control. It was about ensuring their marriage; The business deal their families had brokered remained intact.

His stomach twisted at the thought of bringing an innocent child into this loveless marriage.

This business deal wrapped in a wedding band. A contract forged out of obligation, not love. And now, she wanted to drag a child into it?

No.

No child of his would ever go through what he went through with his own parents.

“No! Vanessa!” His sharp, clear voice echoed through the walls.

“We both know you don’t want children. You went on a two-month vacation immediately after we left the doctor’s office; you were thrilled.” Richard’s piercing gaze met hers, daring her to deny it.

“I expected this answer from you,” she said, rolling her eyes. Her soft expression was now hard as she picked up her purse.

As she passed him, she leaned in close, the scent of her expensive perfume almost suffocating him.

“You might want to rethink that,” she whispered, smirking before strutting out, her heels clicking against the marble floor.

Trying to ignore her,he got up tossing the piece of bread onto the still filled plate of french toast.

Heading straight to his garage with his driver waiting for him in his Rolls Royce Phantom Series VIII EWB, as they zoom off to the company.

Richard sat behind his massive desk, rolling his watch around his wrist. The morning conversation with Vanessa is still fresh in his memory.

His mind drifted, first to Vanessa’s behavior this morning and then to Emily.

Emily.

The name alone stirred something deep within him. An ache, a “what-if,” a mistake he never got to correct. It had been years, but some wounds never truly healed.

She was where his heart truly belonged. But getting married had forced him to let her go, closing that chapter of his life and choosing to pour his passion into something else instead.

Now, his business was the only thing he had opened his heart to.

Richard straightened in his chair, pushing his personal thoughts aside. There was work to be done.

His company had just secured one of the biggest contracts in the world, a deal most CEOs would kill for.

Unlike his marriage, his business was something he controlled.

That thought alone was enough to center him.

The sound of his phone ringing pulled him out of his thoughts.

He exhaled, checking the caller ID.

Vanessa.

Of course.

Reluctantly, he picked up. “What is it?” His voice was flat.

“Relax, darling,” she said, her tone light, almost playful.

Richard’s jaw clenched. Now what. It was always something with her.

“I just thought we should finish our conversation from this morning,” she continued smoothly. “Maybe over dinner?”

“I already gave you my answer,” he replied coldly.

The sound of Vanessa sighing through the phone made him worry; something was different. She sounded tense.

Richard frowned. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, just stressed,” she said, though something was off in her voice. Before he could press further, she added, “Please, just agree to dinner. After all, this concerns both of us.”

His grip tightened around the phone. "What are you up to, Vanessa?"

A beat of silence. Then, she laughed. Soft. Amused.

Dangerous.

"Dinner at seven," she said, ignoring his question. "Don't be late."

The line went dead

Leaning back on his chair, he exhaled a breath he didn’t know he was holding, using his hands to massage his temple.

He had a dinner date with his wife, and now he has to figure out what she was planning.