Ex-Husband's Regret: Choosing The Surrogate Over My Wife

Chapter 4

Viella's mind churned with uncertainty, her thoughts darting in a hundred directions.

The ache in her chest was not just from the small argument she had with Lance before he slept off, but from the haunting recollection of Hansel.

His cold and penetrating gaze was still fresh in her memory, its impact still holding power over her despite the years that had passed.

She brushed off the stubborn memory. It's been years already. Besides, he had hurt her more than she would ever like to forgive him for. Her crumbling marriage needed saving right now. Hansel should be the least on her mind.

She had been pondering over Hansel's words for the past few days. She had also tried her best to heed his advice.

In the last five days, she had visited Noralie three times. That was very unlike her. She had also made sure not to let her husband visit her too often either.

She watched Lance sleep peacefully. The temptation of approaching and making advances at him tonight was overwhelming. But she was scared of being turned down yet again.

For the past week, Lance hadn't touched her. He always complained about being too tired or too busy.

Viella couldn't help but feel like she was gradually losing something vital in her marriage.

Had she done something wrong? Was she no longer attractive? What could it be? She kept asking herself.

Her fever was getting the best of her. Lance hadn't even paid attention to her being sick. He casually told her to visit the hospital to get herself checked.

The vibration of Lance's phone caught her attention. She squinted her eyes.

Since when did Lance start putting his phone on vibration? She wondered, reaching for the phone beside his bedside. He was fast asleep, making her wonder what he was always up to recently, which made him too tired and sleepy.

She glanced at the screen, and the caller ID made her stomach churn.

Noralie.

She swiped and answered the call.

"Why the hell are you calling at this odd hour, Nora? What is it this time?" Viella couldn't control her anger.

"Oh. I am sorry for calling at this time. I... Just wanted to speak with Lance..." Nora said in a hushed tone.

Lance? Viella thought. Since when did Norallie normalize calling Lance so casually by his name? She scoffed.

"What do you want to tell him?" Viella asked, calming herself down. She'd sort this out with Lance later.

"Never mind. I'll just talk to him about it when he's awake." Nora said in the calmest voice ever. So calm that Viella couldn't even yell at her because she'd seem stupid.

"Listen to me, Norallie, the next time you call my husband at this time, our deal will be off!" She mustered up the courage and yelled at her, but before she could say another word, Norallie dropped the call.

Unfortunately, Lance was woken by Viella's voice.

"What is going on? Babe?" He called, rubbing his eyes when his gaze fell on his phone in her trembling hands, "What are you doing with my phone?" he asked, standing up from the bed.

"Why does she still call you? Why is your phone now on vibration? Are you hiding something? Tell me!" Viella asked, holding back the sobs that threatened to erupt.

"What the f**k are you talking about? This is insane. You are getting paranoid, Viella." Lance said, snatching his phone from her, "This is a girl young enough to be my little sister. Come on!"

"Oh please, spare me the trash! Why does she have something to say but insist on saying it to you alone? You aren't meant to have any personal relationship with this girl, Lance." Viella yelled back.

"I don't know! How am I supposed to know what she wanted to say? Can't I have a moment of peace? Viella!" Lance was frustrated. He took a pillow and was about to head out of the room, but she stopped him.

"Now you can't stand me? I need explanations. I am going crazy! You hardly ever spend time with me at home anymore. Always busy at work. Coming back home tired. You don't even care that I've been sick. But you care only about her, Lance!"

"There you go again. Stop being selfish for once! You put me into this situation. Now I feel like I am married to two women, and I am trying so hard to balance my life, my job, and two women. You brought this upon us, Viella. Don't you dare put this on me," Lance said through gritted teeth, pointing at Viella while speaking.

She was broken.

"You selfish, ungrateful bastard! Your witch of a mother put this on us! I..." She was saying with tears in her eyes when she felt a sharp sting at the side of her cheek and a resounding slap echoing in the quiet room.

Her hand instinctively flew to the side of her face where his palm had collided without remorse or mercy. More tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Don't you dare say such words about my mother ever again! The next time you do, a slap won't be the only thing you'll have to endure."