a

ief and shock on our faces. Could he be imposing such a condition to hand over control of B

l expressionless. Paolla had always been the ideal trophy wife, from a traditional family in São Paulo. Elegant, edu

rious bar in the corner of the room. He grabbed a bo

ipping with sarcasm and disdain. He looked at us, kn

stand up, still wearing an

s for tonight." She winked at Anton, who

his phone into his pocket and adjusting his jacket. "Good luck wit

I replied, "I didn't realize yacht orgies w

ust smiled, not bothe

said almost in unison, no

yone knew about my plans and de

and more tense. Axel approached me, holding his whis

at are you goi

bing my face

w, Axel. I d

spoke, her voic

d to talk abou

ng to find some sort

need to find

ead, taking a si

ot giving up football right now, and

my grandfather's words echoed in my mind. He knew I was th

the car," I said, alrea

a minefield. The matter we needed to discuss was far too important to be talked about in enemy territory. I had hop

an attempt to talk abo

at my grandfa

me off a

when we get

the gated community where we lived. The silence b

a deep breath, planning to bring up the topic again. Befo

ave childr

pact of that revelation. Her words echoed

hat do y

down, avoid

but I never thought it would be an issue

her inside me. Anger and frus

t you ever

ice trembling. "I thought our marriage was based on other

n't think it was important to tell me

it didn't matter to her at all. Her frivo

, desperately searching for a solution. My grandfather, the future of t

rnative," I finally said, mo

******

, leaving me in free fall. After a sleepless night, I decided I needed to vent, and no one was better for that than Eric, my be

linic, Eric greeted me

ook awful. Wh

stay in one place, I started pacing back and forth across the spaciou

gives him a great-grandchild first. And Paolla... she told me last night that she can't have

alternatives? Artificial insemi

y head, f

oesn't want to ruin her perfect body with a

to reconcile my grandfather's wishes with my current situation. Eric

of tense silence,

hink I have

g and turned to

e you th

e he always had when he was abo

to have a child without Pao

ossible," I said, frustra

ing to be a surrogate

ed, consideri

to find someone willing to do tha

d to the window, lookin

tiful girls there, in dire financial need. Nothing a full medical chec

disbelief. "Are you suggesting I co

g at full speed, weigh

s mess. And you know Leonel Baumann would never accept his gr

a man of traditional values and wou

I said, still a bit unsu

carry your child in Brazil is illegal, you know t

ee? Worse yet, do you think an

ed to me,

t situation, and the money could help a lot. But w

te mother. Could that be the solution to our proble

s try

grandfather's mansion, I saw a light at the end of the tunnel.