All Chapters of Between Lust and Lies: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

The Replacement

RHEA*I knew something was wrong the moment I walked through the door.That suffocating floral scent that always made my stomach turn hit me first. Oh god, not today. Not today that I just came from another failed IVF consultation, another appointment where I cried in the car for twenty minutes before driving home.I don’t have the energy for Patricia Ashton today.I could hear hushed voices as I walked into the living room and I noticed they stopped talking as they saw me. Dave sat on the couch, his mother beside him, both wearing expressions I couldn't quite read. And standing by the window, glowing in a cream maternity dress that showed off a small but unmistakable baby bump, was someone I hadn't seen in years.Teyana Harris. Dave's ex-girlfriend. His college sweetheart.She smiled at me, one hand resting protectively on her stomach. “Hi, Rhea. It's been so long.”My heart started pounding. “Dave? What's going on?”He stood up, squared his shoulders, and met my eyes. “Rhea, sit.

Call it what it is

My world seems to tilt because I held on the table beside me to avoid falling. Dave tried to hold me but I jerked my arm away from him. My heart ached so bad that I found it difficult to breathe. “Dr. Palmer said your eggs weren't viable and the quality was too poor…” Patricia began.“So you used hers.” I looked at Teyana, at her guilty face. “You used her eggs with your sperm. That's not a surrogate, that's just…” I couldn't breathe. “That's just your baby. You and hers.”“Rhea, we could raise the baby together,” he said. “It doesn't matter whose eggs were used.”“Of course it matters!” I backed away from all of them. “When did you all sit down and decide to replace me?”“We're not replacing you!” Dave's voice rose in frustration. “You're still my wife. This baby will still be ours…”“That baby is NOT mine!” Ugly tears streamed down my face. “That baby has nothing to do with me! That's your baby with your ex-girlfriend, you just don't want to call it what it is!”“Rhea, you're bei

He’s back

The snow got heavier the second I got outside. I got in my car and drove.I didn’t know where I was going. I didn't know what I was going to do.All I knew was my husband had just given me the ultimate betrayal, wrapped it in good intentions, and expected me to smile and accept it.All I knew was that in four months, his ex-girlfriend would give birth to his baby and everyone would expect me to play mother to a child that had nothing to do with me.All I knew was that I was completely, utterly, devastatingly alone.My phone rang. Dave. I declined.It rang again. His mother. Declined.A text came through:Rhea, come home. We can talk about this like adults. Don’t make this harder than it needs to be. —Dave. It rang again. I was ready to throw it out the window when I saw the name.Nathan. My finger hovered over the screen, I took in a deep breath and answered, putting it on speaker. “Hello?” “Hi, Rhea. I was just calling to check in. We have that follow-up appointment next week and

You’ve crossed the line

“Rian.” My father didn’t look at him. “I need to speak with my daughter. Alone.”Rian’s jaw tightened. “I don’t think that’s…”“It wasn’t a request.” Rian looked at me. I could see he didn’t want to leave.“It’s okay,” I said quietly.He moved closer to the bed, his voice low. “I’ll be right outside. You need me, press that button.”He looked at my father and gave Dave a very hard look, then walked out.“What are you doing here?” “That's not how you speak to your husband, Rhea.” My father's voice was calm. I sat up straighter, ignoring the pain shooting through my ribs. “I don't know what he told you, but it's all lies. Every word…”“I know everything.” He cut me off. “The surrogate. The ex-girlfriend. The donor eggs due to your medical complications. Which part is the lie?”My mouth opened in disbelief. “You…you can't actually think this is okay.”“What I think,” my father said, moving closer to the bed, “is that they solved a problem you couldn't solve yourself.”My stomach churn

Rian

“You're not allowed in here,” Dave said. “Only two visitors at a time…”“Then get the fuck out.” His voice was flat.“Riri?”I couldn't answer. Tears were streaming down my face. I touched my cheek. It was burning.Rian hand came up, gentle, tilting my face toward him. His eyes moved over my cheek, and something in his expression went cold.He turned to my father slowly.“Did you hit her?”“That's none of your concern…”“Did you hit her?” His voice was deadly low now.“Stay out of this, Rian. This is between me and my daughter…”“She's in a hospital bed!” Rian's hands clenched into fists at his sides. “She was in a car accident fifteen hours ago. And you hit her?”“She was disrespecting her mother's memory…”“So you hit her?” Rian took a step toward my father. “You hit your daughter? While she's… it's taking everything in me not to put you on the ground right now.”“How dare you speak to your father that way…”“You're not my father!” He spat. “She is your daughter! Your blood! And yo

Not alone

Rian appeared with an ice pack in his hand. He stopped when he saw Nathan crouched in front of me, his hand still on mine.“Dr. Morrison.” Rian moved closer and extended his hand, “Thank you for helping her.”Nathan stood slowly and shook it. “You must be the stepbrother. She mentioned you once or twice.”“Did she?” Rian’s grip lingered just a second too long. “Funny, she never mentioned you.”The air went still.Nathan pulled his hand back. “I’m her fertility specialist. Been working with her for three years.”“Three years.” Rian’s jaw ticked. “That’s a long time.”“It is.” Nathan’s eyes stayed on mine. “Long enough to know when something’s wrong.”He glanced at my cheek. “Rhea, are you sure you’re okay?” His voice dropped. “That’s not from the accident.”Rian stepped closer to me. “She’s fine. I’m taking care of it.”“I can see that.” Nathan didn’t move. Rian stretched his arm forward, “Let’s go.”I wanted to say I could manage on my own but I know how stubborn Rian can be and a n

Trapped

Dave’s voice: “No, like this. The back needs to be able to breathe or the drawer will stick.”Teyana laugh: “You’re so good at this. You’re going to be such a good dad.”I stopped in the doorway.The room was half-unpacked. Teyana’s clothes hanging in the closet. Her shoes lined up by the door. Her perfume bottles on the dresser. A stack of pregnancy books on the nightstand.Dave was on the floor, kneeling beside her, helping her assemble a dresser. Both of them were like they’d done this a hundred times before.Like I didn’t exist.Dave’s hand was on her shoulder, steadying her as she held a piece of wood in place. They looked… easy together.My hand gripped the doorframe to keep from falling.“What are you doing?” The words barely made it out.They both looked up.He rose to his feet, composed, his gaze locked on mine.Something in my chest sank at the look in his eyes.But I stepped inside anyway, forcing myself to look around.Then my gaze snapped back to him.“What is she doing h

Not me, never me

I didn’t know how long I’d been sitting there until I tried to stand up.My head throbbed like someone had driven nails into my skull and my throat was dry and sore. My legs wobbled as I reached for the doorknob. I missed it on the first try, cursed under my breath, then grabbed it properly and stepped into the hallway.The second I reached the stairs leading to the kitchen, Teyana’s giggle floated up from the kitchen, followed by Dave’s low voice.My hand clenched at my side before I could stop it.Not only were they having dinner together… they were having fucking family time.For a second, I considered turning back. Pretending I was never thirsty and keeping my dignity intact. But my throat betrayed me because it burned worse this time.And I refused to let them think I was hiding in my own house. Each step toward the kitchen felt deeply disrespectful to my mental health.I straightened my shoulders anyway and walked in.My steps faltered.Dave and Teyana sat at the dining table

Mixed signals

Dave stood in the doorway, throwing one hand in frustration. “Ever heard of ‘knocking’?” I air quoted. “This is our bedroom,” he made a gesture pointing at both of us. “What the hell are you…”“Language.” I held up a finger. “There’s a baby in the house. Let’s not have ‘fuck’ be the first word they learn.”His jaw tightened. “I got a call from the lawyer’s office.”“Mm.” I turned around, completely unbothered by the fact that I was currently wearing nothing but my irritation. “That was fast.”“You filed for divorce.”“Huh, that’s an odd way to say thank you, Dave.” I folded my arm across my chest and turned back to face him. “I just saved you the trouble of having to pretend you still want to be married to me. You’re welcome.”“Call the office and cancel it.”I blinked at him and scoffed. “Cancel it,” he repeated. “Why?” I stepped toward him. “Give me one reason that doesn’t involve Teyana, the baby, the house or the prenup. One real reason, Dave. From you. Not from your lawyer, n

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