Chapter 24 Bearing her sister's yoke
Everything began to make sense to Danica. She discerned that Loney was doing this because he thought she was Daniella. However, she didn't know what Daniella did to him. She struggled as to whether she should pretend to be Daniella or confess. Still, she feared that maybe Daniella would be in trouble if she exposed her. Therefore, she thought against confessing but how could she pretend to be Daniella? She didn't know so much about her sister except the things she had told her. Therefore, this was also not an option. She finally settled on one thing, to play neutral, which would mean telling a lie.
She comforted herself with the fact that Loney would let her go after she delivers the child and would never know the truth. That way, she and her sister would both be safe. "I am not Daniella. My name is Danica."
Loney froze. His mind went into deep thought. He couldn't piece it all together. He sensed that something formidable was going on. Yet he had no way of knowing exactly what it was. If he confirmed that Danica wasn't the one he woke up within the hotel, then he would know she was telling a lie but if she was, then he would believe everything she said. After all, he hadn't seen Daniella since he dropped out of college. 'Could it be true that the death certificate wasn't forged?' He decided to find out. "Were you the one I met at the hotel?"
"Yes," Danica abruptly said. Loney took a step towards her, she took one back, startled. Loney took another step towards her but she couldn't take one back because she was close to the bed. Loney's gaze was impaling, Danica felt heated. He cupped her face in his hand and looked deeply into her hazel eyes, "are you saying that before then you hadn't seen me?" Loney was so close she felt his warm breath on her cheek. He didn't shift his gaze. Danica felt uneasy but maintained her stand. Her heart pounded in her chest.
"No, that was the first time I saw you. I didn't know how I got there but I don't want to recall that incident," remorse cleaned her words, Loney's guilty twinges flared. He couldn't remember most of that night either because was drunk. Now, he needed to think deeply about everything. Did he want Danica because he thought she was Daniella? Now that he was certain that she wasn't Daniella, he wasn't sure of his next action.
"I think you should rethink the proposal," he said to her, his heart begging Danica not to. Interestingly, she didn't.
"I don't have to. Nothing changes. I signed the agreement and therefore, we shall proceed as proposed if it's fine with you," Danica defiantly said. Her rosy lips, white teeth and gentle words turned Loney on, he became so hard but controlled himself because he had a meeting to attend. He could stay staring into those beautiful hazel eyes forever. "I won't be back tonight so see you tomorrow."
He turned to leave but Danica subconsciously grasped his hand. "Please what do I call you?" Loney gazed at her with admiration, "Loney." Danica nodded, released her grip then as if she recalled something, she said, "one last question,"
"Hmmm," Loney hummed.
"This Daniella, who is she?" Danica wanted to know Daniella's offence but unfortunately, Loney's phone rang. He brought it out from his suit pocket and checked. It was Marie so he answered it."
Danica could hear a female voice but couldn't make out what she said. Loney ended the call and said, "I will see you later."
Before Danica responded, Loney spurned around and left. A knife of jealousy stabbed her, her heart bled. She couldn't understand what was happening and why she felt that way. Why did she care whether he was going to meet the caller?
Loney went to the meeting with Marie. The latter met him at a designated location. After everything was agreed, he went to the field while Marie went back to the office. He couldn't help thinking about Danica's proposal. Since she wasn't Daniella, it should have been easy for him to adhere to it so she gets pregnant faster but he didn't feel that way. The apprehension of losing her after she delivered the child still lingered on.
He realized that even after finding out that Danica wasn't Daniella, his feelings for her hadn't changed and his fears remained. He felt blessed that even though Daniella shunned him, he still found her in another body. Thus, Daniella's soul rests in perfect peace for whatever caused her death.
Danica on the other hand began to suspect that Loney was married, which was the reason he didn't live in the mansion. He only came to perform his duties and left. 'Could his wife be the one who called?' Arrows of confusion pierced her. She couldn't take it anymore and decided to go to the kitchen. Cooking will help her to bury all those unholy thoughts.
However, when she saw Mabel in the kitchen, she couldn't help asking some questions. Meanwhile, Mabel had been suspicious since Loney had revealed himself to Danica and also had questions.
"I see you had your wish fulfilled," Mabel was the first to speak. Danica blushed slightly. Mabel was up with teasing her again.
Danica forced a smile, "well, I don't know whether to be happy or sad," she said, tying an apron to her waist.
Mabel grimaced, "I think you should be happy, master cares about you." Danica froze. "Isn't he married? He is so young and rich. Why does he have to get a surrogate?" Danica asked, hoping to get something hopeful to hold on to. She didn't know how she would feel if Loney was married.
"No one can understand the master's ways. I don't even know what he does but I'm quite sure that he isn't married," Mabel affirmed.
"So why does he want a baby then?" Danica hopefully asked, washing her hands to begin preparing the breakfast.
"Young lady, why didn't you ask him those questions?" Paul interrupted since the women had delayed his breakfast. He just completed his workout and needed something to eat.
This is strictly women's conversation. Why don't you sit your ass on a chair in the dining room while we are at it?" Mabel snarled.
Paul wasn't moved and rather said, "with the conversation you women are having, breakfast is nowhere near ready."
"You can answer our questions to make it faster," Danica shrugged, hoping for another bait. Paul was starving therefore, he would do whatever it took to end their discussion and prepare food instead. "What is that?" He casually asked. He didn't perceive anything worse than conveying a message to Loney on her behalf so since that was dealt with, he was quite tolerant.
"Is he married?" Danica carefully asked but Paul could see through her. The way her eyes lit up with the question, her demeanour, he needn't a love doctor to tell him.
"Hey, from the look in your eyes and the way you are asking about him. I think you are falling in love with him like those girls but please don't. If he wanted to get a wife, he wouldn't have gotten a surrogate. I don't know his reasons too but he isn't married and if you don't want your heartbroken, I suggest you don't get it entangled in this shit," Paul warned her.
Danica was secretly thankful that he wasn't married but also greatly disheartened by Paul's last words. "Thanks for the advice Paul, it's so helpful and besides, 70% of people who employ the services of a surrogate are married and perhaps, have childbearing issues," Danica sarcastically said.
"Well, I am certain that my best friend is not married but sorry you also fell for him. What makes women fall for him anyway? He is so boring. Maybe I should find out his secret," Paul uttered, grabbed an apple from the fruit basket and stepped out of the kitchen. He wasn't angry or anything. Just his stomach grumbling and just, as they say, a hungry man is an angry man. Mabel shook her head encouragingly and said,
"Don't listen to him. Even, he doesn't know much about the things the master does," Mabel tried to comfort Danica. For the fact that she was the only surrogate Loney brought, she couldn't help affirming that Danica meant more to Loney than just a surrogate.
"How did you know? He said he's Loney's best friend," Danica couldn't help asking. Paul's words were still strong in her mind.
"I just know what I know so when will you see him again?" Mabel suspiciously asked.
"Tomorrow."
Mabel's suspicions leveraged, "why so soon?"
"Because we had a new arrangement," Danica revealed.
Mabel's lips curled into a smile, "I hope it works," she winked.
Danica forced a smile, "I hope so too."