Chapter 3

The door shut closed.

Ariella fell onto the couch, still crying furiously. Her only hope of becoming a mother—and saving her marriage—had just been destroyed. She feared Evander would soon return to his cruel, ruthless manner. She waited for him to start yelling at her for being infertile.

But the reverse was the case.

Evander walked up to her at a slow pace.

“Don’t cry, my love. We’ll get through this. At least the doctor gave us an alternative. We just need to get someone to carry our baby—that’s all.”

Ariella looked at Evander. This wasn’t what she was expecting. Instead of yelling, he sounded concerned.

She spoke softly through teary eyes.

“I know but it’s too much for me to bear. This was my only hope of saving my marriage. I don’t want to lose you, Evander. I love you so…”

“Shhh,” Evander cut in calmly. “I know, baby. I love you more. And you are not losing me, so stop saying that.”

“I’m not?” Ariella asked, her voice trembling.

“No, you’re not, my love. Wipe your tears, okay?” he said, helping her dab her face with his handkerchief.

“So what are we going to do now?” Ariella asked. “Who are we going to tell to help us—to be our surrogate?”

Evander smiled, knowing his plans were falling perfectly into place.

“Dr. Reeves said someone from your family is ideal. And the only person you have now is your sister, Delaney.”

“Delaney…” Ariella thought for a while. “Yes, you’re right. She’s my only family. I have no one else. But the problem is, I don’t think she’d want to do it.”

“What makes you say so?” Evander asked, pretending to be curious—when he wasn’t.

“She’s a model. She wouldn’t want anything that could ruin her perfect body or her career. So I doubt she’d agree.”

Evander sighed, acting like he understood her concern, careful not to expose his plan.

“You’re right,” he said. “But she’s your sister. You should try talking to her. I see how much she cares about you—she wouldn’t want anything to hurt you. I think you should call her and talk to her. I’ll do the same.”

His phone beeped—a text and a picture of a woman in a sexy lingerie.

“I’m ready to be yours again tonight” with a winked emoji

It was Delaney.

He didn’t want Ariella to know, so he pretended nothing had happened.

“Honey, I need to go to the office,” he said, standing up and adjusting his clothes. “I just got a text. There’s an important client I need to attend to.”

“Okay, babe,” Ariella replied softly.

“Please take care of yourself, my love. I don’t want anything to hurt you. And I’ll call Delaney too, to talk to her for you. Don’t worry too much. I love you.”

He kissed her forehead and left.

“I love you too,” Ariella said calmly, watching him walk away.

Her phone rang.

It was from the library.

She picked up.

“Hey, Ari, where are you?” her colleague, Cynthia asked.

“I’m coming now. I had a doctor’s appointment with my husband. Sorry for not informing you on time.”

“It’s okay. Please come quickly—we have a lot to talk about. My date last night!”

Ariella smiled. “Okay, I’m on my way.”

At an apartment

Evander went to Delaney’s place to share the news of how successfully their plan was unfolding. They stood in the kitchen, raising glasses of champagne.

“A toast,” Delaney laughed, lifting her glass, “to my naïve sister—who believes everything she’s told.”

Evander smiled. “Cheers.”

As Delaney was about to take a sip, Evander stopped her.

“I think this might hurt the baby.”

“No, dear. A little sip won’t hurt. The baby will be fine,” she said, taking a sip before dropping the glass and walking slowly toward him.

“The only thing that can hurt the baby is your dick,” she whispered, trailing her hands over him seductively. “And it’s so fortunate that I want it.”

She unbuttoned his sleeves slowly, her hands sliding over his abs, reaching for his chest. A slight moan slipped from Evander’s lips as he stared at her, smiling at the way his body responded to her touch.

He lifted her and sat her on the kitchen counter.

“I think this won’t hurt the baby,” he murmured, slowly undoing her lingerie as he kissed her neck.

Delaney moaned. His hands explored her, gentle yet possessive.

“This will make the baby stronger,” he joked.

Delaney smiled before letting out another soft moan as Evander’s lips followed his hands. Moments later, he carried her toward the bedroom—for yet another wild encounter.

At the library

Ariella walked in.

“Hey, Ariella!” her colleague, Cynthia, greeted her excitedly.

Ari smiled. “Hi, Cynthia.”

“So tell me—what happened? I really need to know about your Mr. Handsome you keep bragging about nonstop,” Ari teased.

Cynthia smiled. “I will—but first, you need to tell me what that doctor’s appointment was about. Are you pregnant?”

“Far from it,” Ariella replied. “I just had a fever and needed treatment. I’m fine now.”

It was a lie. Ariella had never liked sharing her personal life.

“Okay, if you say so.”

Ari dropped her bag and walked toward her desk.

“So spill it, girl. I need all the details.”

“Well…” Cynthia said happily, “I got myself a billionaire. He lives in London—handsome, caring. He asked me to be his girl in the most romantic way.”

“And you said yes,” Ariella said knowingly.

“Of course!” Cynthia replied confidently. “You’re looking at a billionaire’s fiancée now.”

“Wow,” Ariella said, forcing excitement. Deep down, her thoughts were elsewhere—on how to convince her sister to be her surrogate.

Ari hugged Cynthia. “Congrats, girl. I’m so happy for you.”

“One more thing,” Cynthia added. “He’s picking me up later. Dinner first… and maybe I’ll get eaten too,” she winked.

“No way,” Ariella laughed.

“Yes way. It’s been a while—I need to feel like a woman again. I just hope he meets the requirements,” Cynthia said eagerly.

Ari sighed. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I do,” Cynthia replied.

The door opened as a customer walked in looking for a book.

“Let me attend to this customer. We’ll chat later,” Cynthia said, leading him away.

Ariella sighed tiredly.

Her phone rang.

It was Evander.

Her heart raced, expecting his anger to return.

“Hello, babe,” she said cautiously.

“Hi, love,” Evander replied. “I ran into your sister at a café after meeting with a client and told her everything that’s going on. Guess what, dear?”

Ariella listened, her heart pounding violently.

“She agreed,” Evander said.

“She agreed?” Ariella shouted in awe—

—and just as relief flooded her chest, a strange unease settled deep in her stomach…

She was surprised on how her Evander could convince Delaney.