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Chapter TwelveADRIANA'S POVThis was a month since I made that Celia girl an offer and I am yet to hear from her, why was she being so stubborn?I expected she would leap for joy and grab my offer with both hands given their family situation but it seems she has too much pride to go around.But I would force her hand regardless, I can't let my plans go to waste. I can't stand that Diana lady my son is hovering around.I picked up my phone and put a call through to my PI"Good morning ma""Morning to you too, I need you to run a few errands for me," I said"Okay ma, what can I do for you?" he asked"Remember that Celia girl I asked you to bring me information about?" I asked him"Yes ma""I need you to force her hands""How should I do this?" he asked"Visit his sibling's school, speak with the board to send them out with immediate effect, also find her mother's employee and get him to fire her immediately, and finally for their Mortgage, ask the bank to close on them""Is that all ma'
Chapter ThirteenCELIA'S POVI have to meet with Mrs Adriana this afternoon. I just got back home an hour ago from the hospital, my mum and siblings are there looking after my father.He is currently responding to treatment, my mother has been giving me the silent treatment and side eyes ever since I paid for the hospital deposit. I would explain to her but not now, she might try to stop me.I was done dressing in my room and about to go make lunch for my mum and siblings, I would drop by the hospital to give them lunch before heading to meet Mrs. Adriana.I jumped in fright as I saw my mum sitting in the sitting room quiet and staring at me. I knew that look so well."Mum, you startled me, when did you return?" I asked"Celia sit" she orderedI calmly walked up to the worn-out couch next to her"What's the matter mum, is dad okay?" I said trying to divert the topic"Don't do that with me Celia, you and I know that this is not about your father" she said"So what's this about?" I aske
Chapter FourteenCELIA'S POV"What is she doing here?" Mr Steve said in a harsh tone"Like I said, she is the surrogate I told you about," Mrs Adriana said sitting downI stood next to her frightened by the look Steve was giving me, he looked different from the man I met months ago.Despite having this Pissed expression that sent chills into my bone, I couldn't miss the fact that he looked stressed and worn out, I began to wonder what was going on with him these past months.His wife on the other hand looked exquisite in her Purple jumpsuit with her hair dyed in a bright Chestnut colour. Nothing about her showed she was stressed, she seemed to be living her best life regardless of what was going on with her husband."Sit Celia" Mrs Adriana called me out of my thoughtsI looked at Steve and his wife who sat quietly, and both ignored me so I reached out to the fourth chair pulled it out of the table, and sat down between Mrs Adriana and Steve."So, I went through the contract your lawye
Chapter FifteenCELIA'S POV"Mum, can we talk outside please?" I asked my mum as we sat by my father's bedside.My father is now conscious but due to trauma, he is finding it difficult to speak. The doctor asked that we keep him under observation. My mother has refused to leave his bedside despite all he had done.Today was a Saturday and Mrs Adriana called to inform me that she would be coming tomorrow to speak to my mother. I hadn't told my mother about the outcome of the interview I claimed to have attended.So this is me mustering up the courage to tell her I would be leaving home for a whole year to work in Baton. I hope this goes well"Abel!" she called my younger brother who was lying on the couch in my father's ward"Mum, you called" he came closer to where we sat and stood behind my seat"Stay here and watch your father, Celia and I will be back in a bit," my mum says to which Abel nodded"Let's go, Celia," my mum says to me as she heads out into the lobby.She stops in front
Chapter SixteenMrs Adriana's POVMy phone went off and I picked it up to see who was texting. It was Celia sending me her address like I didn't already have it.I read through her text yesterday regarding what she told her mother the job was about and I was impressed by how smart of a Liar she is.I would be meeting her mother in three hours. The things I do for my son and his family. I wouldn't on a casual day subject myself to being queried by a common cleaner.But here I stood, looking at myself in the mirror, dressing in one of my finest gowns just to go meet her mother. I shook my head before picking up my phone.I dialed my driver's number and it went straight to voicemail. "Of all days to not be available, why today" I thoughtSince today is Sunday, I smiled as my mind ran through a substitute for my driver.I put on my flop took a flight up the stairs and stopped at Steve's room.I could hear laughter and giggles. I knew it was Diana and it pisses me off knowing she was happi
Chapter SeventeenSteve's POV"Go ahead, this is an important call, I have to take it," My mum said as her phone went off.She walked back to the car and I was left standing at the doorpost.I didn't argue with my mother when she asked me to come here with her because I knew it would be a futile job. Once my mother is determined to do something, nothing will change her mind.All my life I had wanted a family. A Wife and 2 kids, when I found out Diana couldn't have a child I was broken. It was like my dreams had been crushed but I loved my wife and I'd rather stay by her side forever than leave her because of kids.When my mother brought up this issue of Surrogacy, I was livid, what if it put a strain on my relationship with Diana? But after meeting Celia, I began to subconsciously feel relaxed.After Mum asked me to follow her to Celia's Diana acted out of character. I am still taken aback but I guess she too is overwhelmed with this situation.~ Flashback Starts ~As Mum left, I sigh
Chapter Eighteen Steve's POVEver since I returned yesterday from Celia's place Diana had been giving me an attitude. She would ignore me when I spoke to her.Walk out on me without saying where she was going and returned very late last night. All these attitudes just to trigger a reaction from me but I kept it cool.I was already stressed as it was hence, I didn't need this kind of issue. I intended to make peace with her this morning. But given that she used a pillow to demarcate our bed was the height of it.I stood up from the bed and glanced back at her, she was up and had her eyes glued to the screen of her phone. She didn't even make an effort to speak to me. I turn and head into the bathroom to shower.My mum and I had promised Celia's mum that we would come to pick her up from the house so she could be sure her daughter was in safe hands. As we left my mother asked me to pick her up today to which I agreed.So I am getting ready to go pick her up. Once out of the bathroom, I
Chapter Nineteen - Too Good To Be TrueCelia's POVSteve has been quite nice and polite to me since he came to my house with his mum yesterday.He smiles more than he frowns now. He was humming to the Celine Dion song on the radio as we drove back to Baton Rouge.I had my eyes out the windows immediately after we drove off, I already miss my family in less than thirty minutes of departure so I tried to hold in my tears making me look out the window instead.I hear him clear his throat so I look back at him to see him taking slight glances at me before returning his eyes to the road"Celia!" he calls out"Mm!" I hum in response"I kind of noticed you wear this cloth more often, do you not have any other one?" he asked much to my embarrassmentHow did I tell him that this was my best pair of clothes?"Uhhm" I rub my forehead looking for the best way to put this without looking poverty-stricken"Relax Celia, I mean well, I just want to know," he says calmly.Somehow his tone sent a new s
CHAPTER THIRTY Steve's POVThe day Celia was discharged from the hospital felt like a turning point. It was a warm afternoon, the kind that made everything seem softer, more inviting. I stood by the entrance, waiting for her to appear, replaying the conversation I'd had with Diana earlier that morning before she left."I'm glad she's okay," Diana had said, her tone neutral. "Just… make sure she's comfortable in that new place."I nodded, not offering much in response. But there was something about her expression, the way her eyes lingered on mine, that had made me uneasy. Diana wasn't the type to be nice to Celia openly, but I could sense the suspicion simmering beneath her carefully composed exterior.When Celia finally emerged from the hospital, I couldn't help but smile. She looked healthier, more radiant than I'd seen her in weeks. Her hand rested gently on her stomach, though it wasn't visible yet but it was a protective gesture that tugged at something inside me. Our child was
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINEDIANAS POVDiana paced the length of their bedroom, her mind racing as anger and frustration coursed through her veins. Steve's words from the previous night echoed in her head like a broken record, haunting her every step. *" She's supposed to be carrying our baby, Diana. I can't just ignore her."* His voice had been calm, even reasonable, but to Diana, every syllable was a dagger to the heart.It wasn't just about the surrogacy anymore. It was about Celia—this stranger who had wormed her way into their lives, their home, and most importantly, into Steve's heart. Diana could feel the distance between them
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHTSTEVE'S POVCLASHSteve pulled into the driveway, his mind heavy with the day's work and the weight of his personal life. The sprawling estate that usually provided him with a sense of pride now felt suffocating, each stone in the pathway a reminder of the complications waiting inside. His job had always been a refuge, numbers made sense, deals could be calculated, and outcomes predicted. But lately, nothing felt predictable, especially when it came to the two women inside the house.As he killed the engine, his eyes automatically shifted toward the guest room window on the far side of the mansion, where Celia was staying. After the break-in, he'd felt it was the only logical decision to bring her here. She was carrying his child, after all. Protecting her was protecting his future. But what he hadn't anticipated was how deeply this decision would unsettle everything else.Especially Diana.Steve sighed, gripping the steering wheel for a moment longer before stepp
Chapter Twenty-sevenDiana's POVDiana spent the night in her husband's private study just to avoid Steve, she only returned to their room this morning after she was sure he had left the house!As she paced, the muted sounds of the world outside barely penetrated the room's walls. She could feel the anger simmering just beneath her composed exterior. Her foot tapped rhythmically against the floor as her eyes fixated on the phone screen before her. She was furious—furious that Celia was here, in her home, under her roof. Steve had brought that woman in like she was some helpless victim, and now Diana had to deal with it.The phone on her desk lit up, the word "Mother" flashing across the screen. Of course. As if on cue. She snatched the phone up, her voice sharp as she answered."Did you do it?" she asked without preamble, her tone accusatory, cutting through any pleasantries.There was a brief silence on the other end of the line, a silence that made Diana's blood boil further. Her mo
Chapter twenty-sixCelia's POVTERRORThe night was eerily quiet when I was abruptly woken by a series of unsettling noises. The sounds were coming from the sitting room, but before I could make sense of them, the house security alarm blared to life, casting harsh red flashes across the room. My heart raced uncontrollably as panic surged through me. I stumbled out of bed, my legs feeling like lead, and reached for my phone with trembling fingers.I dialed Steve's number, my hands shaking as I struggled to press the screen. The phone rang twice before Steve's concerned voice came through. "Celia? What's wrong?""There's someone in the house," I whispered, barely able to get the words out. "The alarm is going off, and I'm terrified.""Stay put and lock yourself in a room," Steve instructed firmly. "I'm calling the police and coming over right away."I ended the call, my breath coming in short, panicked bursts. I quickly chose the closet in my bedroom as my hiding place. Crawling inside,
Chapter twenty-five Just BeginningDiana's POVThe morning sun streamed through the windows of our room, casting a warm glow that did nothing to lift the chill I felt inside. The surrogacy process was about to begin and despite my best efforts to maintain a facade of calm, a storm of insecurities brewed beneath my composed exterior.Steve had been unusually gummy lately. Our weekend had passed in a rare, peaceful silence, filled with romantic gestures from Steve, a reprieve from our new normal. I had hoped this fragile peace would continue, but with Celia Garcia stepping into our lives as our surrogate or should I say "Steve's mistress", it seemed like every sense of normalcy was about to be disrupted. I was determined to regain control of the situation and ensure that Steve knew where his loyalties lay—right beside me, despite the unsettling presence of the surrogate."Steve, I'm coming with you," I declared firmly, as he prepared to drive Celia to his mother's selected fertility cli
Chapter Twenty-Four Steve's POVIt's been a week since I cheated on Diana with Celia, though I regret it greatly I couldn't help but desire more time with Celia.She was still angry at me because at the hospital four days ago I didn't give her a chance to talk to me. More because I was being hounded by Diana who has been asking why I didn't return home a week ago until morning.I sat in my office going through some files when I heard a knock thrice and I raised my head from the files and muttered"Come in"The door gradually opened to reveal my secretary. I had asked her not to disturb me for any reason so I sighed and asked"Is anything the matter?""Sir, your wife is here to see you," she says"What kind of office drama did she bring with her now?" I mumbled"Ask her to go, I have piles of work to sort through, and I can't have any guests when I return we can talk" I instruct"Okay sir," she says and walks out.I shook my head and returned to my work. In a few seconds, I began hear
Chapter Twenty-Three - "Can We Talk"Celia's POVIt's been two days since I lost my virginity to him yet I hadn't seen him, he hadn't called nor had he texted. Today was our doctor's first appointment day and I hoped he would come to pick me up.I walked into the shower to take a warm bath, I still felt sore down there after the night's experience.I turned on the water and it began to fall on me. I started with my hair as I shampooed it and washed off the Mint shampoo then applying my conditioner I covered it with a shower cap to let it sit while I scrubbed my body.As I took my bath I thought about the fragments of the night as I remembered them. He hadn't forced me. I have been fantasizing about him from the day we met at the event.What happened may have happened out of the influence of alcohol but I do not regret it. I needed to speak with him so he wouldn't think I was still angry at him.I rinsed off my hair and body before walking out of the bathroom. I plugged my hand dryer a
Chapter Twenty-Two - She Was PureSteve's POVI groan as I search for my phone to turn off the beeping noise. My hands grab a hold of it and I subconsciously press the power button to turn off the alarm before dropping the phone back onto the nightstand.I feel someone steer beside me drawing the Duvet to themselves. I try to open my eyes only to be hit by a pounding headache."Ughh!" I groan again as I rub my forehead in a bid to soothe the ache.I slowly sit up, resting my back on the headrest. I felt cold as the duvet was no longer covering me.I slowly opened my eyes and welcomed an eye-blinding flash of sunlight from the window. I look around the room not sure I know where I ended up.I glanced at my body to see I was naked out of shock I looked at the person steering beside me. There lay Celia Sleeping peacefully with light snores leaving her lips."Shit!" I hit my palm on my face not wanting to wake her"How did this happen?" I beat myself up inwardlyI may be having a bit of a