CHAPTER FOUR

RHEA’S POV

9 years ago…

Selina, my mom had made a sudden reappearance in the weirdest way. I had seen her familiar silhouette above me through my sleepy eyes, I snapped my eyes open and it was indeed her, looking way cleaner than I remembered, It was well past midnight, the sound of snores from different beds confirmed how late it possibly was. I was about to ask where she had been, she immediately shut my mouth with her palm and snuck me out of the building.

“We’re leaving this hell forever, Sweetie.” Mom said once we got outside, I raised my brows, confused, still quite tired from doing my turn of washing everyone’s plate the whole day… Alone.

“What are you talking about, Mom?” I groaned, running my fingers roughly through my unwashed blonde hair.

“Meet my husband, sweetie… Your new dad.” Mom announced and the drowsiness immediately wore off. I looked at the bald headed man in front of me, standing beside a black nice looking car like he own it, he looked quite advanced in age, he had an eager smile on his face. I turned to mom, she had a prideful smile. “Come on, say hello.” Mom urged, nudging me.

“Wait… You’re not kidding?”

“Hi, Rhea, your mom told me a lot about you, I have been looking forward to meeting you, My name is Philip.” He introduced politely, his hand stretched out for a shake.

I was speechless, I wasn’t sure how much getting mad at this point would change. I looked at the man’s waiting hand, his face still had a smile.

I turned to my mom. “Married?” I murmured.

“I know it seems fast, But… Philip loves me, and he’s been kind to me. We will finally have a real home and family, Rhea, isn’t that great?” Mom replied.

After not so long thought, I shrugged. My dreams of leaving the street life was here. “Well… Nice to meet you too Mr Philip.” I said and shook his hand.

Mom opened the back seat of the car with a knowing smile, I smiled back and hopped in. Mom had finally gotten a rich man.

Present…

Two weeks later…

The moist feeling between my legs woke me up with a slight cramp, I sat up on my bed looking blankly out the window. After a few minutes trying to awake my brain fully, I felt moisture leaking out my vagina, instantly my heart started pounding and I shut my eyes.

“Please don’t be it, God please…” I murmured a quick prayer and slipped out the bed, slowly I

opened my eyes. “Fuck!”

I immediately grabbed my phone, my breathing unsteady, I dialed Arizona and she answered almost immediately.

“Thanks for calling, Rhea, I was so deep asleep I didn’t even hear my alarm.” Arizona said and yawned over the phone.

“Ari, it didn’t work...” I muttered with my eyes shut as I tried containing my emotions. “The insemination.” I could feel tears rolling down my cheeks.

“How would you know that?” She asked, I opened my eyes and the view stared back at me, tears rolled down uncontrollably as I looked at the circle of blood stain on my floral bedspread.

“I got my period today… Fuck! Ari I’m barren.” I cried out anxiously.

“Come on, Rhea, that’s a harsh way to say it, you’re not barren, your doctor said you have a chance remember? Try a different method, surrogacy is a great way to have a baby too.”

“My doctor said pregnancy doesn’t come easily for everyone, maybe that was just his nice way of saying I barely have a chance. Damn, Ari, I had my hopes high for this.” My voice broke and I immediately ended the call.

Arizona was an optimist, even when things seem worse as it could get, Ari remained positive, but this wasn’t the time, I needed the truth, I didn’t need sugarcoating.

A few months ago, Selina had suggested to sort out a man with great genes and healthy sperm to try getting me pregnant, saying that I and Leonard weren’t compatible in the “making babies” category, she had almost convinced me when she pointed that the Klein family wouldn’t care to check the baby’s DNA, they only cared about expanding their family tree and having an heir, Leonard is the only son of his family so he is expected to have a child to carry on the family’s name.

Knowing my mom, Selina, is knowing that she doesn’t care what the Klein family want's, Selina’s main goal was the money, it had always been money first, then love right after if there

was any.

My prenuptial agreement with Leonard stipulated that, if I gave birth to a son, I would get a payment of five million dollars, two million for a girl, and I would get a million dollars for every five years we stayed married, well… aside the 20 thousand dollars I get every month for

wardrobe change and maintenance.

I and Leo have been married three years with no kids to show for it, that bothers mom as much as it bothers me, but I couldn’t risk cheating on Leonard and possibly still not get pregnant.

It was almost 11am, Leonard would be back anytime from now. I quickly pulled out the bedspread and sent it to the washing machine, changed the bedspread, had my bath and a change of cloth.

As I walked down the stairs headed to the kitchen to get coffee, the door swung open and Leonard came in holding a piece of paper.

“Welcome home, Leo.” I greeted tepidly as I got to the bottom of the stairs. I had already accepted Leo’s new pattern of returning home whenever he wanted, complaining felt like speaking to a wall.

“We need to talk.” He said as I walked towards the kitchen, plate clattering from the kitchen indicated that Ms Rita was busy.

“Can I have my morning coffee first? You should also get comfortable.” I replied as my eyes sized him up, he still had on yesterday’s clothes.

“No. We need to have this talk now.” He urged as I raised my brows questioningly, shook my head and continued to the kitchen. “I need a divorce!” He snapped, I stopped walking and turned to him, I wasn’t sure if I heard right but seeing the piece of paper extended to me was a confirmation. “We don’t have to end things messily, we don’t need to fight, just sign it.”