My Husband's Best friend

ALMA

There is nothing more frustrating than being forced to give an heir to a powerful family while your husband can’t even last five minutes in bed. And to make it worse, I’m the one who always gets blamed for not giving them a child.

If only I could get myself pregnant with my vibrator, the one that always brings me to climax when his few minutes of thrusting turns me on and leaves me hanging. If only my vibrator could really get me pregnant, I would have spared myself this familiar scene.

This is like the hundredth time Lady Flores, my mother-in-law, has summoned me this year concerning this very issue of an heir, as if it's up to me alone.

“Any good news, Alma?” She asked softly as she slowly sipped her green tea. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.

“Mother, we are still trying our best,” I whispered softly. I pressed my lips together and shut my eyes, bracing myself for her usual reaction, which is the sound of a glass cup shattering or a loud slam on the wooden table.

But this time, nothing happened.

Slowly, I opened my eyes and looked at her. Her face was calm, too calm. A strange unease crept into my chest.

What on earth is she planning now?

She carefully placed the teacup on the table and crossed her legs, then folded her hands. Her short haircut and thick red lip gloss always made her look like the strict, cold mother-in-law in Asian movies—and she truly was one.

Her brown eyes locked onto mine for a long moment before she finally sighed.

“Alma,” she called my name. It sounded more like a warning than affection as she reached for her tea again.

“You have only three months. If you fail to give the Flores family an heir, your father’s medication will stop.” she said softly,

Every word was firm, final, and merciless.

My heart sank into my stomach, and my knees almost gave way. This is the first time she has had a threat involved, and I know Lady Flores; she's a no-nonsense woman. Luis also answered to her, including his uncles and aunties. There was no doubt she meant her words, but how on earth was I supposed to make Luis get me pregnant with his weak condition?

She got up slowly and walked upstairs, her words still hanging in the air like a final sentence. A guard escorted me out of the house.

As I drove away, her threat kept ringing in my mind. I had two hours before Luis returned from the office. Two hours to think. Two hours to come up with a tangible plan—any plan that could save my father.

I can’t let Lady Flores cut off his medication. The hospital bills alone are more than I can ever earn even in the ten years to come if I resume my delivery job, and my father is still lying unconscious, dependent on oxygen to survive.

One year ago, I needed money for my father’s surgery, so I agreed to become a surrogate for Luis. But the doctor changed the arrangement and stated Luis had to sleep with me directly due to some health conditions. I wasn’t comfortable with it—not because he wasn’t handsome or rich, but because I never wanted to be bound to a marriage at nineteen. Still, because of my father’s life, I gave in.

When I reached the house, I reached for the door and froze.

It was unlocked.

Was Luis already back? Or has someone broken into our house? Fear creeps into me. I switched on my phone’s flashlight and stepped inside, then slowly reached for the wall and turned on the light.