Vanessa's POVEstelle laughed at my reaction, “I’m just messing with you!” I glared at her. “Hey, I’m not gold-digging. I’m just trying to earn money to pay off some debts.” I don’t know why I kind of took that joke personal , but I suspected that it was because “gold-digging” kind of described what it was I was really doing.I was lying to a bunch of rich people just because I desperately needed money. But what I needed the money for was important to I and Mom’s life. My actions were justifiable. “I know. I know.” She bumped her shoulder against me playfully. “But honestly, I would not mind if someone called me a gold-digger. Because I mean, that’s kind of what I do. My job as a bartender barely pays my bills, so I just let men do all of that for me, while leading them on with my pretty face. So? Nothing wrong. We have to survive.”“You seem to have a natural survival talent though. The moment you decide to do something to change your situation, you got the city’s most eligible Bi

Rodri “Fasten your seatbelt.” I told her, easing the Ferrari around slowly. She fumbled around with the seatbelt, but did not seem to be able to get it fastened for some reason. I paused and glanced at her in exasperation, before my eyes fell on her hands.And I realized that her hands were shaking terribly.What in the fucking hell happened to her in that alleyway?“Miss Sterling.” I said. She looked up at me, holding eye contact for a moment, before she suddenly looked away. “Did someone attack you out there?” I asked, suspiciously.Her eyes widened at the question. Then she coughed lightly, fumbling over her words before she let out an awkward laugh. “What? M-Mr. Darnell, it was not like that at all… “I stared at her. “You have signed that contract. You are my responsibility till our contract ends. Fucking tell me and I’ll deal with it. I don’t want anything to endanger my fucking child. I have to keep you safe for this procedure to be successful.”She just shook her head, saying

Trinity's POVAfter I kissed him, Rodri had given me a dead look, and simply said. “Don’t play games.” Then he hooked his hands I under me and raised me up into his arms. I smiled indulgently, resting my head against his chest possessively. “I’m not playing games, Rodri.” I said. Which of course, was a lie.I was a master at playing everyone necessary, in a bid to win the game of getting my best life. Even down to the little fever I had, was all a part of my game. My master plan.He carried me through the garage and up to the elevator, ignoring my attempts to start a conversation. I gave up for now, smiling quietly to myself. Sure, I had really developed a fever as an effect of the IVF procedure I had secretly prepared and carried out on myself , but I did not use any drugs to treat it yet, on purpose to lure Rodri here.Since I was feverish, not dangerously so, Rodri would probably not be able to be a complete asshole to me in this state. I would pretend to be absolutely helpless, s

Vanessa's POVI had changed into the hospital gown, and cleaned up in preparation for the “IVF procedure” I was about to undergo right now. The facilities here in Dolphin hospital was already state-of-the-art, plus, I was the surrogate of the boss, so that meant I was being treated like a golden egg.Or more realistically, the goose that laid the golden egg.Doctor Ryan, along with some other hot, attractive looking doctors in scrubs, stepped into the room where I was sitting, waiting for Trinity to usher me into the lab.“Hello, Miss. Sterling.” Doctor Ryan greeted with curtsey. “Do you need anything, before you begin your procedure?”I gave a polite smile, glancing awkwardly at the hot doctors flanking him as I answered. “I’m all good, doctor. I already did all the preps and I’m ready to go.”He nodded. “That’s good to hear.” He said, then he suddenly added, “Your meds? Have you been administered a shot yet? How about —”“—Doctor Ryan.” Trinity’s voice suddenly interrupted his inces

Vanessa's POVEstelle exchanged glances with me the moment Mom asked that question. I slowly turned around to look at her. Her eyes were so dim, and even barely open.She looked duller with each day that passed.I was genuinely worried, and had been thinking of ways to pull her out of this depression and miserable state she had fallen into. She asked again, “Huh, Vanessa? That was a very large sum of money we owed, and you just paid them in cash all at once? How?”I placed a hand over my forehead for a moment, trying to think of what to tell her. After the dinner got ruined yesterday, I was unable to tell her I planned to go into surrogacy.But now, I could see the look in her eyes desperately hoping I was not doing something crazy for money. She would be so worried if she knew I was going to be someone’s surrogate, and knowing Mom, she would fill herself with more guilt in addition to her depression.I definitely didn’t want that.“Why are you not saying anything, Vanessa?” Mom’s voi