Semua Bab Ex-Husband's Regret: Choosing The Surrogate Over My Wife: Bab 1 - Bab 5

VIELLA'S POV."How dare you lay your cursed hands on me?" The sting of Mrs. Lolita's words was accompanied by a resounding slap as her perfectly manicured hand descended on my pale cheek.My fragile hand instinctively flew to the side of my face where it hurt. "Mum…" I called out in a weak voice, fighting the dam that threatened to break from my eyes."Don't you dare call me that! I can never be a mother to a barren witch like you!" Her words pierced my heart without an ounce of mercy. "I have warned you to leave my son alone! How much do you want? Just name your price!"Mrs. Lolita Rollins—a woman of prestige and influence who had achieved everything she ever wanted even before turning 53—had it all. Everything except a grandchild from her first son. And she wasn't willing to let it slide, especially not when Lance was her first son.I stood there, helpless and humiliated, as her cold, hateful words continued to lash at me. Four years of marriage, and I had nothing to show for it. No

VIELLA."Babe. What are you doing here? Didn't I ask you not to come?" Lance said, his tone unnervingly calm.Wasn't he even concerned that I had just walked in on another woman's head resting on his chest? Was this supposed to be normal? My heart raced as a whirlwind of thoughts clouded my mind."Ma'am Viella," Nora's small voice snapped me out of my spiraling reverie. "I'm glad you're here."Before I could react, the pale-looking girl hurried over and wrapped her arms around me in a desperate embrace.Guilt hit me like a brick wall. Nora looked so innocent. What was I even thinking? How could I suspect there was anything inappropriate happening between her and Lance?Heat crept into my cheeks as embarrassment settled in."Noralie? What's wrong? How are you feeling?" I asked, inhaling deeply to steady myself."I feel so sick. My stomach hurts. My head feels light. I feel nauseous. My whole body aches. My joints..." Nora's list of complaints tumbled out, each one making me feel worse.

LANCE."Mr. Lance?" Mr. McVin's voice pulled me out of my regretful thoughts.I cleared my throat, scanning the board members seated around the polished glass conference table. They were all waiting for me to speak. "Yes. You can get on with the plan. If you'll excuse me," I added, my tone making it clear that there was no room for further discussion.As the acting CEO of Nexara Technologies, a leading firm in technology and innovation, I knew the pressure that came with it. We were the best when it came to tech startups and software development, and I intended to keep it that way. But life wasn't as perfect as people might assume.I'd worked tirelessly for the success of this company, and I couldn't help but hope deep down that my father would wills it to me.It had been five years since my father, Bernard Rollins, retired, and I took over. Taylor, on the other hand, had Regal Reality Estates, one of the leading real estate companies in the country, though not as massive as Nexara.L