THE BILLIONAIRE'S SURROGATE BABY

Chapter 24

  I was still reeling from the shock of what had transpired earlier.

Why would Rome agree to that? He despises me, and my feelings toward him are just as strong.

I glanced at Camilla, who was beaming with excitement.

"There's nothing wrong with that, right?" she exclaimed, her smile unwavering.

"Everything is wrong," I muttered under my breath, feeling a knot of anxiety tighten in my stomach.

"Nothing's wrong, dear. Remember, it's all for the baby," Camilla reassured me, her grin widening.

Only a fool wouldn't see through her facade. I stared at her for a moment before letting out a deep sigh. Her grin faded into a look of concern as she sat down beside me.

"What's wrong?" she asked softly, her eyes filled with genuine concern. I hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

"Well..." I trailed off, gathering my thoughts before continuing, "I can't imagine myself being intimate with Rome," I admitted, feeling a pang of vulnerability.

"I understand how you feel, but trust me, you won't regret it," Camilla said, her tone filled with conviction, though it only made me roll my eyes in response.

"It's going to be incredibly awkward for both of us," I argued, feeling a sense of dread creeping over me.

"Don't worry, everything is going to be fine," Camilla reassured me once more, though her words did little to ease my apprehension.

Lord, please help me navigate through this mess.

**

  The atmosphere between Rome and me was tense and awkward whenever we were together. Today, we found ourselves sitting silently in the car as I prepared to visit my dad and sister.

"I'll wait here," Rome offered after opening the door for me. I nodded with a forced smile before making my way into our apartment.

Upon entering, the sound of the TV and laughter greeted me. It seemed Beatrix had friends over. I couldn't help but feel happy for her as I walked into the living room.

There she was, cuddled up with someone, sharing laughter as they watched a movie together. My initial smile faded when I realized she was with a guy.

Beatrix has a boyfriend now? Why didn't she tell me?

"Beatrix," I called out, attempting to smile, but it faltered when they both turned to look at me.

My heart sank as I registered Neo cuddling with my sister.

"Phoenix," Beatrix exclaimed, clearly shocked by my sudden appearance.

I stood there, staring at them both, trying to process what I was seeing.

Neo's expression mirrored my own shock as he stood up, attempting to speak. "Phoenix, we can explain," he began, but I couldn't bring myself to listen.

"Explain what?" I demanded, my annoyance palpable as I stared them down.

They both remained silent, their speechless expressions confirming my suspicion.

"What exactly do you have to say? She's just 18 and still in high school, Neo," I directed my frustration towards him.

"We're just friends," Neo insisted, meeting my gaze with sincerity. "We don't like each other," he repeated, but I couldn't shake off the feeling of betrayal as I glanced at Beatrix, who didn't seem thrilled by Neo's response.

"Do I look like a fool to you? Cuddling? Seriously?" I scoffed before storming out of the house, my anger fueling every step I took.

Outside, I spotted Rome leaning on his car, engrossed in his phone. As soon as he noticed me, he straightened up and approached me.