CHAPTER 3

It wasn't until midnight that she had the room to herself. Immediately after dinner, she had excused herself and gone to the room she usually stayed in whenever she visited Adriana. The twins had followed her, playing around and bombarding her with questions.

She remembered the look on their faces when they saw the deliveryman waiting by their gate. They had both jumped out of the car and ran to inspect their present. Ethan got a big bicycle while Elizabeth had a car with a full-grown toy.

"I can make her hair." She screamed as she unwrapped her gift. She had given her aunt a big warm and ran to join Ethan who had rode the bicycle away then. Moments like those were ecstatic. She treasured moments like these. The twins were a gift both to her and their mom.

They had come at a time when Adriana desperately needed a miracle. She had been married close to five years before they came along. And those five years had been pretty rough. She had watched her sister go from cheerful to something sour. Gone was the Adriana that was fun to be with.

In her place was an irritating, easily provoked sister. She stopped dressing up and stayed indoor most of the time. She was always moody. Evangeline had flown in almost every weekend and every other day she was free to get her to be cheery.

Whenever she wasn't around, Noah her husband stayed close. Like everyone, he was scared she might end up hurting herself. Doctors had been concerned about their childlessness. Medically, both couple had been certified okay. No one could understand the delay.

When eventually Adriana took in, she regained her vigor. Having her back to her old self was a blessing again. The twins had given their family a new start. And nothing was too much to hand over to those lovely kids. Both kids had been chatty all day. Several times she tried to get them out of her room so she could rest, but they wouldn't leave. They were either running around, chasing each other or throwing pillows. She let them be while getting ready for bed. She changed in the bathroom and came back to see they had climbed into the bed and waiting for her to get in. She understood what that implied. Only she would have to disappoint them this one time.

"Bed time story?" Elizabeth asked, looking bright eyed.

"Not tonight." She replied stifling a yawn.

"You must be really exhausted. Mom said to let you rest." Elizabeth added and Ethan got up to leave.

Evangeline smiled. If she had known the yawn was all it needed to get them out, she had have done it hours ago. The two gave her a warm hug, thanked her again for their gifts and left her room. She smiled at their poise. Adriana was raising them to be great elites.

Finally, alone in the room, Evan realized she wasn't even tired enough to sleep. She turned on the TV after closing the door quietly and mute the volume. Then she went to lay down on the bed. Flipping through then channels, she couldn't find something fun to watch.

She turned it off and took her phone. Audrey had left her a message. She replied and was about dropping it when she saw Logan's picture in her gallery. Angrily, she went to the gallery and deleted every picture.

The last one was a picture they had taken with Mary at the picnic Zoe had organized. The picture brought back memories. She sat up remembering how she had caught Mary smiling down at Logan that day. It wasn't strange to see her light up every time he entered the room. They had been childhood friends just like she had been friends since with Mary since college days. But those two had grown up together. They were almost inseparable. It was Mary who introduced Logan to her and they had clicked instantly. Logan was charming and cool headed. It didn't take him a week to sweep her off her feet. The two had started dating a month after. But somehow, she could sense Mary wasn't too happy about it.

"I can't believe you're seeing Logan." Mary voiced one evening unable to hold it anymore. The tri had gone for their weekend spa treatment as usual. They were now being massaged in the same room by three experts.

"Didn't you introduced them?" Zoe asked, raising her head from the bed to stare down Mary. The lady working on her back paused to let her turn around.

"My words exactly." Evangeline mocked sighing contentedly while her neck was being rubbed.

"I like him. He's cool headed." She added, then looking at her friend she asked, "Is seeing Logan such a bad idea?"

"I don't want you getting hurt. He might be my friend but Logan is a playboy." Mary said seriously.

"Well, I don't know about that. We will ride along and see, won't we now?"

"But---"

Zoe waved off whatever Mary had been about to say, "She can take care of herself Mary. Besides, I see why she likes him. He must be a beast in bed."

When Evan chuckled and used her hand to zip her mouth, Zoe laughed "See? If Logan is a player, then he wouldn't mind getting played too."

It had been a rule with the friends never to get emotionally attached to any guy. The pact had been made when Zoe got played by her boyfriend. All three had had their shares of guys. Most had been cut off by them while some had blown them away resulting in devastating heartbreak. They were all from wealthy homes, had money to lavish around and were doing well for themselves. No man deserve so much to break them. "I just don't want you to get hurt." Mary had said with a note of finality.

"I won't." She had said casually. She hadn't planned on having feelings for Logan. He was sweet and all but she didn't want anything messed up. It was supposed to be that way until things changed.

She didn't know when exactly it happened. All she knew was she was falling for the man in a way that she had never before. Ashamed, she had kept this a secret, making sure not to give herself away. She could only tell Adriana about it. Which was why the day Zoe accused Mary of clinging to Logan too much, she had let her senses be at alert.

It didn't take long to find out Zoe was right. Mary might be his friend, but she was the woman in his life and Mary wasn't giving the man a breathing space. She was always around him, trying to get his opinion on something or get him to do something for her. "Do you like Mary?" She had asked him one evening. Logan Thames had been about to kiss her when she turned away then ask the question weighing his reaction.

"Where did that come from?" He had asked looking worried. Undeterred, she had asked again.

Logan had sat up straight, seeing that she meant it. "I don't, she's just my childhood friend. I have no feelings for her and never will. And I'm sure it's mutual," He declared sincerely. Evangeline wasn't so sure about that.

"You know her boyfriends. I've met some too." Logan said, laughing hard at the idea of being with Mary. "She's one crazy gal." He busted in another bout of laugh that made Evan lose her cool. She started laughing with too.

"Oh, so I'm amusing now?" She threw a pillow at him.

"It's ridiculous," He grabbed her and she had wriggled out of his grasp and ran outside the room. Whatever preposterous idea she had had of both friends having had dissipated then.

At least that was what she had thought at the time. If Logan didn't like her, then all was okay. She had assumed. If Mary did have feelings for him, she didn't say. But somehow, the two had found themselves tangled in a hotel room naked. Her vibrating phone brought her back to the moment.

It was Logan again. She ignored it and read the message out loud instead. "It's not what I think? Yet there are naked pictures of you both everywhere," she said, amused at the old line he was using on her.

Then she told Siri to check the internet. Someone had tried deleting the pictures. That wasn't a surprise. Logan had the resources to pull that off. Thinking of resources, how had the pictures surfaced on the internet anyway? Logan's media team tackled every negative comments and image of him online.

Bad press wasn't good for the company so they handled that well. But somehow this had managed to pass their sniffing nose. It could only mean that it was done by someone who could bypass them. Someone who had access and knew how to get him alone. She found the pictures on a blog and started looking. She had no idea what she was looking for until she saw a picture. Evan stared at it again.

In the picture, Logan's face was turned slightly away from the camera but he was sleeping. Mary on the other hand had on a thoroughly-fucked and exhausted look to indicate what had been going on before the picture was taken. She had been aware of the camera, Evangeline noted with disdain.

This was it then. "So funny." She laughed and stretched tiredly then stood up from the bed. The view from this room had always been lovely. She parted the curtain and pulled a chair towards the window. The flashy lights everywhere made the whole place look spectacular. A soft knock on her door made her turn towards the entrance. "Come in, Ad." Her sister walked in quietly and closed the door.

"They finally slept." She announced, implying the twins had turned in for the night "So, it's just us girls now," pulling a chair towards the window, she sat down and both women stared at the light. "You've always loved Miami."

"I do." Evangeline smiled. This was the city that raised her. They had schooled here and started life right here. Her first kiss, first boyfriend and everything firsts had happened right here in this City.

The Swiss family was a well-known name. Evangeline and Adriana had grown up to know they were princesses here. There's was old wealth. But everything had changed after her parents divorced. Though their dad left, her mother had stayed with the girls. That had somehow tainted the good memories she had of Miami. Places that one's held good memories became filled with sadness and it was pointless staying on. "I just couldn't stand it anymore after dad".

"He did a number on us all. Didn't he?" Adriana put in sadly. Recalling those days were a torture. Her family had been perfect; having an Attorney dad and mom with the other companies to run. Both parents loved them just as the kids had assumed they loved each other. But it had all been a front they put up so the kids wouldn't know. Indoors, their discreet fights and accusations.

"I was crushed when he left." She continued while Evan stared out the window intensely. "But mom must have been so shocked. She was ill weeks after, though she kept claiming it had nothing to do with dad leaving."

The two sisters chuckled. "But you were pretty upset. You cried a lot."

Evangeline smiled sadly, "I was devastated. I started to hate everyone you know." She sighed.

"Miami was no longer what it used to be. I couldn't stay." She said apologetically.

"You shut everyone out." Adriana told her sister sadly. "And left to start Madison."

"Which is raking in millions now by the way." Evangeline told her proudly.

"Cheers to that." She hugged her and whispered, "Not like you needed the millions. Dad left us heaps of that."

Evangeline shrugged, nothing as best as having your own hard earned money. Her sister had taken her share of the family wealth and was doing well. She was also managing the law firm with their mother and so far, they were doing okay.

Noah was seeing to the running of the cotton manufacturing company as well as coffee shops and every other family extension business. The controlling power however remained in the family. Apparently love didn't clear doubts of betrayal it would seem. Even though her sister loved her husband dearly, she didn't let him get the controlling power. She had a feeling the twins would be getting those and her own kids, should she ever get some.

Smiling at her sister, she replied "I love making my own money more."

"And shutting the world out while you do." Her sister retorted darkly, hating that she wouldn't pick her calls or even bother checking on the family whenever she had a business deal to close.

Evan was ruthless when it came to sealing deal. She could have used that power and be a prolific lawyer, instead she had chosen technology over family tradition. If she had wanted to be a lawyer, their father walking out on them had quenched that.

Evangeline sighed, and muttered under her breathe. "I must have gotten that from dad." She smirked. "I didn't hear Noah come in. Is he home?"

"He travelled and should be back this weekend. Business."

"Okay." She pulled her robe tighter and pulled down the blinds. It was getting chilly already.

"So, how are you holding up?" Adriana asked seriously.

Evangeline thought about it awhile. "That I'm disappointed is an understatement. But other than that, I'm okay." It felt strange to be. But she realised it was the honest truth.

"Sure? Mary in bed with Logan? It must have been shocking."

"I think in a way I knew she liked him. I just didn't expect Logan to fall into this crap."

Adriana tensed, "You knew and didn't see why it could be a problem later? You're smarter than that."

"He doesn't have feelings for her." Evan defended, knowing she was right about that. Her sister's wide eyed expression made her add, "But she does..."

"Yes."

"Honestly, it had been a shock at first seeing those pictures, you know. I felt betrayed." she turned back to the view.

"Then tonight I saw the pictures. Really looked at them objectively, like when you are try finding to find the loophole in a business deal." She sighed.

"It was funny seeing me analyse my relationship that way." She shrugged.

Adriana patted her hand, Evan reached over to rub the hand. "Then I found it." She stood up to pick her phone from the bed so she could show her sister the picture. "Look at it very well, the angle of the camera" she pointed out.

"Where do you think it was?"

Adriana studied the picture, "Under the pillow?" She asked.

"Bingo!" Evangeline announced excitedly. When her sister stared at her with confusion, she explained, "It wasn't paparazzi or hotel staff trying to buy spotlight with their pictures, it was someone in the room. It couldn't have been his PA or anyone that could lose their job... It can only be---"

"It's Mary." Adriana finished off.

"Yes."

"But what has she got to get from it all?"

"Everything. She wanted me and Logan done. And she got it."

Adriana was in shock. She kept staring at the picture. "Does Logan know this?"

"I don't care if he does, sis. He was in that room with her. That's all that matters. We're done."

"This changes everything Evan. Don't you think so?" Adriana pointed out.

"I don't think so. Can we stop talking about this now? I'm exhausted already."

"Fine." She stood up and patted her sister, then walked out of the door. Stopping at the door way, Adriana peered at her. "I'm seeing mom tomorrow with the twins. Should I let her know you're coming? Dinner with her would be good."

Her sister and mom were hardly on good terms.

"Sure," Evangeline replied stiffly.

CHAPTER 4

Jason rushed in after his wife ignoring the doctor's plea to stay outside the room. The instant they had landed; she had been taken to the ICU. Their personal doctor, Doctor Tom alongside other doctors all over the world had been flown in to attend to her. She had been operated on severally but it was futile. Her cancer had eaten too deeply before it was discovered. It was inevitable but he had the money to delay her death as long as possible and he'd be damned if he let her die without fighting hard. Jason Valdez started pacing the big private hospital room, flinching as the doctors opened up his wife. He stood then trying to think if another option was available. His personal doctor watched in despair. "Please, wait outside."

Jason stared at the man, lost. "Can't you try evacuation?" He asked.

The doctor walked him out trying to explain the situation to him. The other doctors were relieved to see him out. Jason's restlessness and cold demeanour was a distraction. "There is nothing to remove, Jason." Doctor Tom explained.

"What do you mean nothing to remove?"

"The cancer has eaten deep. The said womb is no longer visible. It's been integrated into her body." The loud sound of the machine distracted them. Both men looked up and were in the room immediately. The doctors were running everywhere "What's going on?"

"She's losing blood. Her pressure is high. I need a hand here." Announced the lead doctor. "Please walk Mr Valdez out." He ordered.

Jason left calmly but remained just behind the closed door. The doctors worked tirelessly for hours and finally got her stabilized. As they trouped out, he grabbed the lead doctor. "How's she? Can I see her now?"

"She's alright, for now. She is tired and would be asleep in the next...." He checked his time, "Five minutes. See her now and make it short, please." He told him and walked away.

Jason walked into the room quietly. Is wife turned weakly to look at him "I knew you'd be here the minute they left." She offered him a weak smile.

"Hey!" Jason was instantly by her side. The two held hands and remained in that position till she slept off. There was nothing to say. They were both thankful she had made it yet again. He continued rubbing her hair until she slept. Then some doctors came in to check her condition and he asked how long she's be asleep. Then he left.

****

The hot afternoon sun was so intense, Evangeline blamed herself for lazing around all morning. She was beginning to hate the idea of dinner with their mother. That woman had turned Judge Judith on her over the years, always seeing faults in every of her choices. She was sure she would have something sour to say to her today again. But then again, she was used to her pathetic talks. She was going to look her best and ignore her tonight. Driving the old Camry to the boutique, she stepped out and walked into the place. The shop attendant greeted her warmly and took her to the common room. "I want the upper class." She explained and the lady apologized then walked her to the upper room. She sighted the cloth she wanted instantly.

A black velvet gown was on display. It was well sequined and lovely enough for her. "Give me that and two other." She said pointing at the gown. She went to their shoe section and also made a few purchase. Satisfied she was okay for now, she gave the lady her card and had it packed. As she stepped out, Jason who had come to get his wife some toiletries and clothing met her by the door. The two stared at each other.

"It's you." He said.

"Oh." Evangeline replied then remembered his wife "How's she?"

"She's okay. Stable now. Thank you." He made to leave but Evangeline stayed on his path, raising his brow, he asked "Anything?"

"Can you take me to her?" She asked.

"Not right now, she's induced and would be out for hours." He told her and he started to walk away.

Evangeline stepped out of his way and shrugged, he must be hurting. Then she followed him, "I'd really like to say hello." She insisted.

"Okay." was all he said to her and went about picking things. She didn't volunteer to help. It was obvious he felt obliged to do this himself. He was probably trying to punish himself for something he had done to his wife. Heavens know what. When he was done, he paid and wordlessly stepped out. She followed him to his car and was driven to the hospital. "She's very exhausted. Just say what you have to say and leave."

"So hostile." She breathed in hush tone so he wouldn't hear her and stepped into the room.

The woman smiled at her husband and looked at her with interest, "Oh, you came."

"Yes, I did. How are you?" Evangeline asked sitting close to her.

"I've been better," She said. "What's your name? I've been trying to put a name to the face."

"Evangeline."

"Nice." When she yawned, her eyes began to close.

"I'm sorry, the drugs are making me..." She was asleep before she could complete the sentence. Evangeline smiled at Jason and walked out of the room. She wasn't about to let him see her pain again. Tearfully she told her sister she would be joining them late for dinner. Adriana who was picking the twins up would be headed to their mother's apartment from there. She went to get her car and made a quick drive to the house for a cold shower.

Dressing up took longer. Evangeline knew this was needed. Her mother had a habit of licking him irrelevant things about how she looked. It didn't matter that twice now she had been named 'Best dressed woman in technology' twice by City magazine. An article she was sure her mother had seen. At the door, she tucked in an escaped hair then press the doorbell.

"Hello mother." She tried not to sound as trite as her mother who welcomed her with no enthusiasm.

"Late as always." Mrs Swiss accused as they both hug each other stiffly and exchanged brief pecks on their cheeks.

Evan left the statement hanging but offered the champagne she had brought and shrugged out of her coat. The hanger already held her sisters' and the kids' coat. She took her time hanging hers before joining the other.

"You look curvy." Her sister blurted out as the twins ran to hug her.

"Hey you. How was school today?"

"I wanted you to come pick us. It was a disappointment to see mom..." Ethan was saying then stopped.

"Disappointment to see your mother?" Mrs Swiss said joining the whole family at the dinning.

"Grandma, that's not what I meant. Mom?' he turned to his mother for some sort of help.

Adriana turned away, trying to look like she was angry, "I disappoint you?" She teased wickedly. The boy started to stutter.

"I... no. I didn't ...."

"That's because he had bragged about his rich bad ass aunt coming to pick us all day in school." Elizabeth explained.

"You did? I would have come had you said so." Evangeline smiled at him, "Tomorrow?"

"Deal." Ethan said, gave his aunt high-five then ran to hug his mother. "I love you mother." He threw himself at her.

"I know baby."

"Now, can we eat?" Mrs Swiss said, ringing the bell. The maids came to start dishing the food. Evangeline rolled her eyes at the old tradition. Her mother was still as stiff as she had known. Always following custom. Mrs Swiss noticed and waited calmly for the maids to leave. "And do you have something to say to me?"

Evangeline smiled brightly, "No mother."

The twins were about digging in to their food when Mrs Swiss busted out, "Not in my house you both."

They dropped their spoons hastily. "Let's pray. Dear Lord, bless this food and everyone who has graciously graced our table tonight." She said, looking pointedly at Evan.

"Amen." Everyone chorused and began to eat.

After a swallow, Mrs Swiss asked her youngest daughter, "And why are you in town, pray tell?"

"Mother?" Adriana cautioned. "Can we just eat and be grateful we are all here together now?"

"What's wrong in asking my daughter why she's home?"

Nobody replied and everyone ate quietly. Even the twins could sense the tension. They talked only in hushed tones.

The table was cleared and desert was being set up when Mrs Swiss asked again. "How's your company doing these days? I heard the Technological Company is quite the deal."

"Fine mother."

"And your man?"

"None mother."

"Why?"

"Nothing mother." Evangeline pushed back her seat, a clear warning she would be leaving soon. Her mother smiled sarcastically but changed topic. Turning to her oldest child, "When is Noah coming again?"

"He should be here by weekend. He met the client yesterday. They would be having the meeting during lunch today. So, all goes well and we can have him home soon."

"Yay!" the twins yelled excitedly.

From the corner of her eyes, Mrs Swiss saw her youngest daughter pull the red wine and poured herself a full glass, she gulped it down. Her mother pretended not to see that but was clearly annoyed. When she poured herself another cup, Mrs Swiss had had enough. "Is being home so bad you have to get drunk to see it through?"

"The wine was there mom. Didn't you want us to have it? Why bring it out then?" Evans retorted angrily, whatever calmness she had been determined to act flew out the window that minute.

"I don't know why you have to leave without a backward glance. You wouldn't call, wouldn't pick my call."

"I needed to breathe. Was that so hard to understand too?" She yelled.

"Ladies, the kids. Can we calm down please?" Adriana cut in but no one listened to her.

"It's not my fault you know." Mrs Swiss said quietly.

"And I don't blame you that dad left us either. I never did."

"You did...deep down, you must have blamed me."

"Why would you come to that conclusion when I never said anything?" Evangeline blurted out angrily.

"You didn't have to, you acted it."

"Wow, way to go mother." She stood up, "Thanks for dinner. I'll see myself out." Evangeline stormed out of the house without listening to Adriana's plead.

"Why can't you just let the past be?" Adriana said sadly to her mother.

"You think it's past when she wouldn't even stay a week here." Her mother glared.

"That's because she has a business and a life back in Los Angeles. And right now, she's going through a lot. I wish you'll cut her some slack. I begged you on the phone to be nice to her."

"Why walk around edges around my own child?"

"Because she's hurt, Mother." Adriana said. She stood up to leave too. "Thanks for dinner, mom." The twins hugged their grandmother and followed their mother out.

CHAPTER 5

****

The next day, Jason had his PA sit through the meetings he had and stay on call throughout. The Zoom meeting had gone well. He was rounding off when his wife woke up. Doctor Tom came to check her vitals.

"She is doing great, but..."

"I know." Jason replied. His wife was dying and it was his fault. If only he hadn't agreed to them having kids, all these wouldn't have started.

"Is there anything I can do?"

"Being with her helps. You need all the things you can get together." Doctor Tom replied.

"Okay, Doc."

Jason watched his wife sleeping. They had agreed not to have kids until they were both ready, when they got married. She had wanted to pursue her career and he let her. Though he wanted his own kids, he loved his wife enough to compromise a few years. Ellen wanted to be an Air hostess. Meeting Valdez finally gave her the chance and she took it.

All was going well. But then his wife found out he loved kids. She made him believe he craved kids around merely by watching him with other people's kids. So, even though she hadn't gotten to the peak of her career as air hostess after six years of marriage, she was ready to start a family. He had been ecstatic the day she announced she was pregnant. He had bought baby items in a day and stock up a whole room with them. His wife had been shocked but happy she was right in taking the decision. He did want kids.

But they had lost the pregnancy during the first trimester. The couple had been devastated but unrelenting. They tried again and she was pregnant two months later. Then it happened again and again. After losing their baby the third time, Jason told the doctor to run several deep tests. And that was when it was discovered that his wife had PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). It was treatable, but his wife's had been there so long it had resulted in womb cancer. He was too glad to drop the child bearing issue and have her treated. But it had been too late.

Sad she couldn't give her husband the one thing he wanted, Ellen Valdez had tried to get them to adopt a child at least. "But you're on sick bed. Who would take care of the child?" He asked

"You'd do a fine job." She told him.

"A child needs both parents; a father's guide and a mother's love." He explained, totally not buying the idea. He wasn't about to let a child run about not catered for like he had been while growing up. Ellen understood and dropped the idea.

The next day, his wife came up with another solution. "Surrogacy?" He asked when she mentioned it casually. "I don't like the sound of that."

"It's beautiful really. My eggs, your sperm and a borrowed womb." She told him and insisted on it.

With no choice, he had gone with her to the family doctor who had explained the procedure. And they decided to give it a trial. He however insisted on having the surrogate mother selected personally not a random face on the internet. He wanted someone he could meet and test her IQ, neatness, among others. But first, their eggs and sperm were to be collected and tested. The result came back terrible. His wife's eggs couldn't be used. This time, she was devastated. Personally, he could handle that. If she wasn't, he was sure she had come with another annoying concept soon. He had been wrong. Though devastated, his wife decided they should go ahead with the surrogacy. "Maybe not my eggs, but your sperm."

"It's possible to get egg donors." The doctor agreed.

Jason watched them like they were talking strange. He protested, pointing out different flaws, but the doctor had answer for every doubt he had. Finally, boxed in a corner as usual, he agreed.

"On one condition." He added

"There's always a condition." His wife joked, "What?"

"The egg donor and possible surrogate shouldn't be online. I want you to hand pick the person." He told the doctor, "You'll get to run several tests."

"That's workable." Doctor Tom agreed.

"And pick smart people please. I want an intelligent kid." He smiled.

That was before his wife became really sick and was now battling for her life. She was withering away from his life and he had no way to stop it. He nodded his head in greeting as the doctor started to leave but his wife reached for him.

"Stay." She said. "I want you here when I say this to Jase." She was helped to sit up. Well settled in, Ellen looked at her husband with all the love she had for him.

"What is it?" Jason asked.

"Promise me Jase." She began. A deep cough reeked her for almost a minute. The doctor passed Jason a cup of water. Lifting her up gently, he helped her drink a few gulps then gave the doctor back the cup.

"Must you do this now? You need to rest." Jason said parting down her hair.

"You have to promise me to see through getting our child."

Jason sighed, a child was the last thing on his mind right now. "If it's not with you, I don't want." He told her stubbornly.

"You have to. Doc, please find him someone." She helped herself up. "Matter of fact, I might have someone for you. Evangeline. The woman on the plane." Ellen told him. She had been thinking about the pretty blond since she heard her murmuring while sleeping. She had been saying something about being betrayed be a friend.

Ellen felt pitching her with Jason would help her husband. The young woman could be what her husband need to get through the pain he was about to experience. Her demise was imminent. Anytime now and she'd be gone. The Doctor had predicted a month. So, she had to piece her home together.

"Who? Hell, no." He said, rejecting the suggestion vehemently.

"She's intelligent and beautiful. And she's smart too." His wife insisted.

And wears her heart on her face! He had seen the tears she brushed off when she thought he wasn't looking, "And you know all this in what...ten minutes with her?"

"I knew her more than that, Jason." She told him casually. "She mutters in her sleep a lot, really."

Her husband's raised brow suggested he didn't believe her. "You were in the restroom then. Then she came here the other day too. Even if it was a brief meeting both times, it was quite enough for me to get my facts right."

"She's rich. Her family is well known around here."

Jason's reply made his wife smile. "I asked my PI to check her up." He explained.

When Evangeline had mentioned her name when his wife asked, he had sent the name to his PI to get her facts. He was surprised to know she came from old wealth and was doing well in Los Angeles. He had been sent every of her file from business dealings down to family and relationships. He knew also about her recent breakup.

"She wouldn't take the offer." He dismissed casually." Only poor women goes for surrogacy."

His wife laughed out loud. It was good to see her happy, "I can see your notion of surrogacy is backward." She teased. "You never can tell. Surrogacy isn't only for the poor. People do things for different reasons. She might have a reason."

"Who is this woman?" Doctor Tom asked.

"Evangeline Swiss."

"Ah, the Swiss."

"You know them." Jason noted, "See what I mean."

"Yes, they are rich but then Mrs Valdez has a point. She could be the right candidate after all."

"Doctor, please don't encourage my wife on this again."

"I mean, given their family history, she might want to try. Her sister had no child for five years. I think her mother was pretty much the same too." Doctor Tom explained. He informed them he was close to the Swiss and could bring it up to Evan if the two decides to have her be the surrogate. He excused himself and let the couple talk

"See?" His wife was excited and he didn't want to disappoint her so he kept quiet. The instant the doctor left, she asked him. "You had her investigated, didn't you?"

"Yes." He confessed, "She gets on my nerves with her teary face."

Whatever made him do it, Ellen smiled and hoped that something good will come out of it all.