1.

“Honey, would you like to come with me to the hospital?” Theariza asked. Today was the day she was supposed to meet Althea Montoya, her classmate back in college. It would be their first meeting again after so many years.

“What are you going to do at the hospital, honey?” her husband, Alexander Huston, asked.

“Didn’t we already talk about this before? We’ve been together for five years, but until now, we still haven’t been blessed with a child.”

“Oh, and?”

“Our waiting to have a child is finally over… This is our chance to finally have a baby, so when Mama and Papa come back, they won’t humiliate me anymore or call me a worthless woman.” Theariza had endured the Huston family’s cruelty toward her for years. She had grown up in an orphanage and had never known what it was like to have a family of her own.

“Come on, honey. You still haven’t forgotten about that? It’s been a long time. You know that even if we never have a child, I still love you very much, honey. Don’t you trust me? But what exactly is your plan, and why are you going to the hospital? And what do you mean when you say we’re finally going to have a child?”

“Do you remember what we talked about last month? I thought about it for a long time, and now I’m finally willing to do it.”

“What? You’re agreeing to let another woman carry our child?”

“Yes, because I know I’m the one with the problem. I know you’ve done your best for me, my dear husband. That’s why I believe you truly love me. So I need to make it up to you, honey…”

“B-but who is the woman?” he asked, furrowing his brows.

“I’ll introduce her to you later because she’ll be living here with us until she gives birth to our child.”

“What? Our child? I don’t understand. You already found another woman without even telling me?”

“That’s why you should come with me. You’re needed at the hospital, too.”

“I’m busy today, honey. I have a meeting at the office, and I can’t skip it.”

“Okay, honey. It isn’t happening today anyway. We still need to undergo some tests to make sure everything will be successful.”

Alexander frowned, but he simply smiled and kissed his wife on the forehead.

As Alexander walked away, sadness immediately crossed Theariza’s face.

Five years… We’ve been together for five years, but it’s only this year that I’ve felt him growing cold toward me. Maybe this is the answer to our marital problems.

She took a deep breath before stepping out of the mansion and heading to the hospital.

Meanwhile, Alexander Huston…

“Hello, sweetie. Are you there now?” Alexander asked sweetly over the phone.

“Yes, I’m already in the Philippines. Meet me at eight in the evening. I still have somewhere I need to go,” the woman on the other end replied.

“Okay… noted, sweetie,” Alexander answered.

At the hospital, Theariza arrived early. She had her own car, so getting there wasn’t difficult.

“Hello… Althea, I’m already here at the hospital. What time will you arrive?” Theariza asked.

“I’m on my way, bestie. So just relax. I’m definitely coming.”

“Okay. I’m here in the hospital lobby. I’ll wait for you here, bestie.”

After saying that, she immediately ended the call.

A few minutes later, Althea Montoya arrived—tall, sexy, fair-skinned, and with beautiful almond-shaped eyes.

“Wow… you’ve become even more beautiful, bestie. Seriously, what happened?” Theariza asked immediately.

“Hahaha, look who’s talking. You’re the beautiful one. You’ve just gained a little weight, bestie. I promise.”

“Really? I gained weight?” Theariza replied. “No wonder I’ve been neglecting myself. Maybe that’s why my husband has been growing cold toward me.”

“But it’s okay. You’re still beautiful, and you’re a billionaire. You’re actually lucky to have married a rich man.”

“I am lucky to have married my husband, but…”

“But?”

“Uhmm… nothing. We’re becoming too talkative.”

“Let’s go inside. Are you ready?” Theariza suddenly asked.

“Of course. I’m more than ready.”

“Okay, let’s go.”

Inside the hospital, Doctor Allan Rayman, a well-known physician trusted by the Huston family, was already waiting for them.

“Good morning, Doc,” Theariza greeted.

“Good morning, Thea. You haven’t changed at all. You’re still beautiful,” Doc Allan replied.

“Haha, Doc, you’re teasing me. Althea just told me that I’ve gained weight.”

“Ahh, so this is Miss Althea Montoya? Nice to meet you. Have we met somewhere before?”

“Huh?” Althea suddenly replied.

“DOC ALLAN, she just arrived from the States. How could you possibly know her?”

“Ah—sorry. Maybe she just looks like the woman who came here yesterday.”

Althea looked at the doctor. There was something strange and unreadable in her eyes.

The doctor quickly looked away and said, “Let’s start the tests so we can finish as soon as possible.”

Several hours passed, and all of Althea Montoya’s tests were successful. Theariza happily went home without Althea.

“Thea… give me the address of your house. I still need to go back to our home. You know, Mama and Papa might already be waiting for me.”

“Ahh, is that so? I thought they were still abroad?”

“Ah, I forgot to tell you. They went home ahead of me—”

“You don’t have to explain, Althea. Go ahead. I’ll just text you the address of our house.”

“I also need to go home and tell my husband that we can start the surrogacy tomorrow. I know he’ll be happy.”

At the lobby of Huston Company…

Alexander took out his phone as he was about to get into his car.

“Yes, honey. Did you call? I’m still here at the office…”

Suddenly, another phone began ringing.

“Whose phone is ringing, honey?” Theariza asked.

“M-my secretary’s. She left her phone here. Wait, honey. I’ll just answer this.”

“I won’t keep you long. Are you coming home early today?”

But Theariza heard no answer because Alexander had already walked away before answering the other phone.

“Yes… sweetie,” Alexander answered immediately.

“I’m already at the hotel…”

“Really?”

“Yes. Come here. I’m waiting for you. I’m wet now.”

“Sure… I’m on my way,” Huston replied.

After ending the call, Alexander immediately returned and spoke.

“HONEY, I’M SORRY. It looks like I’ll be coming home late. It’s an emergency. Dad called for a board meeting, and I can’t—”

“I understand, honey. I’ll just wait for you.”

“Okay… bye, honey. Thank you for understanding.”

Alexander immediately ended the call and sped away in his car.

HOTEL

“I thought you weren’t coming anymore,” Althea greeted Alexander sweetly as he arrived, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Instead of answering, he immediately pressed his lips against Althea’s.

“I’ve spent days restraining myself from being with you because of this surrogate arrangement, sweetie… and now that everything is settled, we can finally do whatever we want…”

Alexander lifted Althea into his arms as their lips met again.