|| LORENZO KING's POV ||
" WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY, LUKA??", I growled hard, almost punching my best friend who happened to be my greatest enemy now. Well not particularly! But his answer gave me the urge to smack his face hard until he started bleeding.
Luka repeated his words, his voice sounding cold,
" Yes!! I want her to abort the child which means nothing in my life."
I stared hard at him speechlessly. The room fell oddly quiet. I could tell that Valentina didn't expect this answer as well. An hour ago, Valentina made a call to me to tell that something big had happened. Although Emily said that she had no claims on Luka, she hoped that Luka would be a part of her baby's life. However, my asshole friend just confessed that he didn't want this child.
" You...", I raised my hand to punch at his face but Valentina suddenly shouted, halting me between my actions,
" Stop fighting!! If he doesn't want, you can't change his mind, Lorenzo."
I lifted down my fist, glaring at the man who kept looking down. Sneering at him, I blurted out coldly,
" Shame on you, Luka! I never knew that my friend is so heartless to kill a baby. How can you do this to her after being a doctor yourself??"
Luka's anger suddenly erupted, pain lacing out from his voice,
" Because I don't fucking love her. Do you understand how does it feel to be someone's father who was born out of love? I can't move on, Lorenzo. I fucking love Stella. Although she is married now, I have her in my mind. If the baby is born, she or he will know that he wasn't welcomed. It's better to get aborted rather than feeling wanted. Can you blame me, Lorenzo? Can you tell me honestly that you have moved on from your first love?"
That discomfort feeling returned to my heart, took away the strength that I gathered so far.
Kylie Maxwell !
She would be always a sensitive topic for me. Yes, it wasn't easy to move on from her. However, Valentina's presence almost made me forgetting that I had a past. Before I could give my response, Emily's voice broke the silence, her eyes got big round dark circles,
" I will abort it. You don't have to take any responsibility."
Luka's eyes froze on her for a second but Valentina's sharp tone snapped between, throwing glare at Luka,
" Shut up, Emily! Remember what I told you. I will take care of your child. Your baby doesn't need a cowardly father like him. Promise me, Em. You won't abort the baby, will you? Emily?"
Emily didn't say another word. Her lips pulled up together to give Valentina a smile that didn't reach her eyes. Luka gave her a distasteful glare. Walking over to her, he spat coldly before storming out of the room,
" If you give birth to this baby, you raise him alone. Don't ever step in my life."
_______
" You okay, love??", I asked Valentina who was still fuming in rage. I could feel what Luka was saying in those words. His father left her mother when he was in his womb. Growing up as an abandoned child really corrupted his heart. His first love, Stella left him for the same reason. Her high-class family told him that they weren't willing to let their daughter get married off to someone else who didn't know his father's name. That thing cut him deep and Luka became very off from that time. Like in years, Emily was the first girl that he slept with.
Valentina let out another angry growl, exhaling through her mouth frequently,
" I can't believe that Luka had done this to Emily. I thought that he was a real man who knows how to take responsibility."
Her voice cracked, emotions bubbling up from her tone,
" I don't want.. Emily to abort this child..I don't want her to become like..."
She closed her lips shut, whimpers coming between. She was too emotional these days. I got well since I knew that it was happening because of her pregnancy hormones.
Become Like Lily!!
Yes, I knew about Lily from the beginning, the case which was my biggest weapon to use against Leonardo. From her close friendship to the last visit in Lily's hostel, I knew everything about Lily. I was scared to tell her the truth. I have no idea how to explain to her why I chose her as my surrogate.
I tried for years to use Lily's incident to destroy Lorenzo but without any witness, the police officer said that I could do nothing about Leonardo. Unfortunately apart from Valentina, there was no other person who was this close to Emily. I wanted to use Valentina in the court but her working background was questionable. The authority could easily tell that she was doing everything for money. So, I made her my surrogate and fell in love at the same time. But will she love the same after she finds out the truth about us?
All this time, I had been lying to her about the surrogate contract. Valentina kept crying silently. Her shoulders slumped as she let out whimpers, possibly remembering her days with Lily. I crunched down next to her, grabbed her palms together to assure her,
" Everything will be fine. I will support you always if you want to raise Emily's child."
I didn't know whether we were still talking about Emily or us. But yes, I was going to support her if she wanted to leave me. Because damn..I won't be able to tolerate it if she said that she hated me.I would rather let her leave me rather than hating me more every single day.
Her tearful eyes melted on mine. Pressing her lips together, she said in a serious voice suddenly,
" Lorenzo!! I want something from you after I give birth to our baby. Tell me, will you agree with anything?"
It wasn't even a question. The woman who brought me alive to my colorless life deserved everything in this world. I nodded firmly, kissing her hands to tell honestly,
" Anything, love! Anything for you.".
She smiled big but there was sadness, flashing from her eyes. I could guess what she was going to ask from me. We both wanted the same, Leonardo's destruction but at the same time, the truth was going to hurt several people. Perhaps, Valentina will never look back at me. If I lose her, what will I do with the victory?
My phone, on the desk began to vibrate loudly. Getting over the complicated emotions that I felt, I walked over to pick it up. It was one of my bodyguards, Travis called. As soon as our call connected, he sounded serious,
" Boss, is madam with you? I can't go through her phone. I have an important news to tell her actually."
Did Valentina give him any special order?
Naturally, it was me who always gave them instructions or orders. Raising my tone, I replied to let her hear,
" Yes, she is with me, Travis. You can pass the message to me as well."
Valentina stood up to walk beside me, tension morphing her face. Travis said it pretty loudly, still driving his car as I could hear the cars honking behind him,
" Boss, tell madam that Miss Emily is actually looking for a hospital to abort the baby. She has been searching for it ever since she got out of the office building. Should I continue following her?"
Valentina's eyes widened in surprise. She blurted out her command, begging me to leave as soon as possible,
" Keep following her!! Don't let her go to the doctor! Travis, keep her on check. I am coming."