Chapter 3

Every four months, the Harrison Mansion hosted an exclusive dinner for the members of the board and Margaret Harrison's business associates. Mark Harrison had always despised gatherings like these—rooms filled with two-faced socialites who excelled at flattery and hidden agendas.

Tonight, however, something was different.

Instead of the usual crowd of middle-aged businessmen with overflowing egos and expanding waistlines, the ballroom was filled with elegant young women in designer gowns, each one subtly competing for his attention.

A gentle tap on his shoulder drew Mark from his thoughts.

He turned to find his mother, Margaret Harrison, standing with impeccable grace. Her perfectly practiced smile looked warm enough to everyone else, but to Mark, it was as cold as ice.

Beside her stood a young woman.

"Darling, you remember Amanda Sterling, don't you?" Margaret said pleasantly, though the sweetness in her voice felt painfully artificial. "She just finished her postgraduate studies in England. She was quite disappointed that you didn't invite her to your wedding anniversary party yesterday."

"My apologies, Miss Sterling," Mark replied politely, his tone flat. "The guest list was handled by my executive assistants. I'll speak with them about it."

After Amanda excused herself, Margaret fixed her son with a piercing stare.

"So," she asked, "what do you think of her? She's young, healthy, and comes from an excellent family. A woman like Amanda could give you a healthy heir in no time."

"Mom!" Mark snapped, barely restraining his anger. "I'm married, and I love my wife."

"I know," Margaret answered coolly. "I'm simply telling you that if your wife still can't conceive... I intend to replace her with Amanda Sterling."

"That's insane!"

"I'm not insane, Mark." Her expression remained perfectly composed. "I'm preparing a contingency plan—and giving the two of you an ultimatum."

Margaret's gaze shifted past Mark's shoulder.

He turned instinctively.

Lily had just returned from the restroom.

She stood rooted to the spot, her face drained of all color. Her lips trembled as every poisonous word sank into her heart, shattering it piece by piece.

"I've been patient long enough," Margaret continued without the slightest hint of remorse. "Five years is more than enough time to wait for a miracle that may never come."

Mark immediately crossed the distance between them and pulled Lily into his arms. Her body was shaking so violently that she could barely stand, her fingers clutching the front of his suit as though it were the only thing keeping her from falling apart.

"I know, Mom..." Mark said, his voice heavy with frustration. "But we've never stopped trying."

“I don't care how you do it,” Margaret cut in coldly. “I only care about the result.”

Lily struggled to steady her breathing, desperately holding back her tears so they wouldn't fall in front of the guests.

“Mom... please,” she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. “D-don't do this. I... I can't lose Mark. I love him so much.”

Margaret looked at her daughter-in-law without the slightest trace of compassion.

“Then I'll give you one last chance. One year from today. If you still haven't given me an heir by then, the two of you will divorce, and you, Mark, will marry the woman I've chosen.”

“And if I refuse?” Mark challenged.

“There is no refusing.” Margaret's voice was unwavering. “Producing an heir is your responsibility as the Harrison family's sole successor. It isn't my fault you chose a barren wife.”

Margaret turned to leave, but Mark's furious voice stopped her in her tracks.

“Lily isn't barren!” he thundered. “There's nothing wrong with either of us. Don't expect me to leave her. If you insist on forcing this madness on us, you won't just lose your chance at having a grandchild—you'll lose me too.”

Margaret slowly looked back, a skeptical smile tugging at her lips.

“You'd throw everything away for her? Do you honestly think she'll stay with you once you're nobody?”

“Lily loves me for who I am,” Mark shot back. “Not because of your money or the Harrison name!”

Lily's trembling hand pressed gently against Mark's chest. Looking up at him through tear-filled eyes, she gave a small shake of her head, silently begging him to stop.

Unable to bear his wife's anguish any longer, Mark let out a strained breath. Without another word, he wrapped an arm around her and led her out of the banquet, abandoning all concern for etiquette.

The following morning, at their home, Lily sat quietly on the sofa, lost in thought. Her face looked even paler and more exhausted than the night before.

“Sweetheart, are you okay?” Mark asked, walking over with concern etched across his face.

Lily looked up at him with swollen, red-rimmed eyes before the tears she had been holding back finally spilled over.

“Mark...” she sobbed. “I've been thinking about this all night. What if... what if we find a surrogate?”

Mark froze.

A disbelieving laugh escaped his lips.

“A surrogate?” Rising to his feet, he rubbed the bridge of his nose in disbelief. “You want us to rent another woman's womb to carry our child?”

“This is the only option we have left, Mark!” Lily cried, her voice breaking under the weight of desperation. “We're only borrowing another woman's womb. We'll pay her, have her sign a legal contract, and that's it. Biologically, the baby will still come from my embryo and your sperm. Legally, the child will be the Harrison family's rightful heir.”

“That would still be deception—and betrayal,” Mark said coldly. “As far as I'm concerned, that child would still be born from another woman.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, leaving Lily behind as her quiet sobs filled the room.

Yet his mind refused to settle for the rest of the morning.

His mother's one-year ultimatum echoed relentlessly in his head, along with the terrifying possibility of losing his marriage. Even after arriving at the office, he found himself seeking Jasper's opinion.

“From both a legal and medical standpoint, it's perfectly legitimate, sir,” Jasper replied. “As long as both parties give their informed consent.”

Jasper's explanation clashed with everything Mark believed.

That afternoon, Mark decided to surprise Lily by taking her to lunch. But when he arrived at her boutique, one of the employees informed him that Lily had gone to meet with their family attorney, Mr. Walker.

Unease settled heavily in his chest.

He immediately called Lily and asked her to meet him at Sabor de La Cumbre Restaurant.

Twenty minutes later, she arrived. The exhaustion on her face was impossible to miss.

“What were you doing at Mr. Walker's office?” Mark asked, concern evident in his voice. “Are you in some kind of legal trouble?”

Lily slowly set down her fork before lifting her eyes to meet his. There was only quiet resignation in them.

“I was discussing our divorce, Mark.”

Mark nearly choked on his wine.

“You... what?”

“I don't have any other choice, Mark,” Lily whispered, her voice painfully fragile. “I'm exhausted. I'm tired of constantly being made to feel like I'm unworthy of being your wife. After last night... when your mother said to my face that she was going to replace me... I realized just how terrified I've become.”

“But I love you, Lily!”

“I know.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I know you do. But sooner or later, your mother will find a way to get rid of me.” Her voice broke into quiet sobs. “Before you—or your mother—throw me away because I can't give the Harrison family an heir... I'd rather leave on my own.”

She lowered her gaze.

“Let's get divorced, Mark.”

“I will never divorce you,” Mark declared without hesitation.

“But I don't have any other choice!” Lily cried, her tears finally spilling over. “Unless we have a child... and the only way that's possible is through a surrogate.”

A sharp ringing filled Mark's ears.

Jasper's words about the legality of surrogacy collided with Lily's desperation, crashing together until the walls he'd built around his convictions began to crumble.

He closed his eyes.

For five years, he had believed their love was strong enough to overcome anything.

Now he understood that their greatest enemy wasn't his mother.

It was time.

If he kept refusing, Lily would truly leave him.

Mark looked into his wife's tear-filled eyes for a long, silent moment. He drew a deep breath, the last of his resistance finally giving way.

Then he asked the question that marked the end of his refusal.

“Tell me... who is the woman?”