Billionaires with Benefits

101 101. Moms’ Talk

“I am very sorry that my carelessness caused Clara to suffer. However, that doesn’t mean I’ll just hand over this child to Clara,” continued Lea, holding back the emotional turmoil in her chest. “You are also a mother yourself, aren’t you? What if you were in my position?”

Linda gasped as if she was struck by lightning. Lea’s words cornered her. Lea was still a naive mother. In ten years, she would probably know that many mothers in this world only care about the happiness of their children.

“A mother should be more concerned with her child’s future than following her ego to just have children without being able to properly care for and provide for all of her child’s needs,” Linda said in a sharp, low voice, stabbing Lea from her weakest spot: poverty.

“What do you mean, Mrs. Decker?” asked Lea in a rising voice. She felt humiliated because of her poverty. “I am an educated person. I can work and provide for my child properly later!”

Linda swallowed heavily. No wonder Clara wanted to break her engagement so badly. If this marriage continued, it seemed, later there would be many problems in their household. Lea was anything but a simple and easy woman to be tamed. She could be a latent danger that would arise later on.

A woman who looked gentle but could fight so hard for her rights for the sake of her child would look very attractive to any man in this world. What man would not want such a woman to be the mother of his child?

With a hurt feeling, Linda admitted that Lea was charming. She was forced to admit that her beautiful and intelligent daughter wasn’t perfect. Her daughter was lacking to be compared with Lea. She had to admit Clara’s fear that one day Dave would change his mind when his child was born.

With all the strength she had, Linda tried to undermine Lea’s stand. Trying to break Lea’s pride with the bad reality.

“So arrogant. Do you think having a good education and a job will be enough for your child?” asked Linda sarcastically and curtly. She chuckled, showing how age affects life experience.

.....

“Why not?” denied Lea again. She couldn’t stand Linda’s behavior toward her.

“You don’t know single parents who work will experience high levels of stress. No one would help you take care of your baby later, right? Or do you intend to trouble your younger siblings? They should be seriously studying for their future, no?”

Linda laughed in her mind when she saw Lea dumbfounded when she confronted that young woman with that fact. She remembered that many single mothers who worked at her company experienced the things she mentioned earlier.

“I have not only once or twice found single mothers with problems. Their children are under pressure and require them to make regular visits to a psychiatrist. Do you want your child to go through the same thing because you accidentally took your stress out on the one and only troublesome creature around you?” Linda asked again, stabbing Lea even more with the sharpness of her tongue, making Lea even angrier.

“I... wouldn’t do that to my child,” Lea whispered. Her eyes stared blankly as her defenses began to falter.

“I guess... you are a woman who has worked, right? Just imagine, you’re so tired when you get home, and you still have to continue the night by dealing with your baby’s tantrum. The next day, you must be up early and prepare for all your needs and your child’s. Can you do it? Without a single scream of frustration coloring your days?”

Lea gulped. What gruesome detail Linda described. She knew the burden of a career woman. She knew how difficult it was to live alone. How could she live with a baby?

“Children not only need enough yummy food. They also need the love and care of a happy mother. Not a single mother burdened with a debt of two million dollars which will be paid off ... someday maybe ... how about if I charge a compound interest? It could be even harder to pay,” Linda whispered in Lea’s ear softly, like a thin wire that was capable to slice a heart.

With Lea’s pensive state right now, Linda hoped that she would win. However, some time passed. No words of surrender slipped from Lea’s lips.

“I will think of another way, Mrs. Decker. There must be another way I can do it. I believe in it,” said Lea again.

Linda was shocked at how stubborn Lea was. She realized how Lea and Sarah were two humans with almost similar appearances with very opposite personalities. Lea was very naive and wanted ideals all the time. Meanwhile, her younger sister was more realistic and reckless. The type of person who tended to justify any means to get what she wanted.

“I have made many mistakes, Mrs. Decker. I’m not a saint. I just don’t want to become a complete asshole by selling my baby,” Lea said again, holding back tears. She didn’t want to cry even if she wanted to. “Nevertheless, I thank you very much because my mother is now well. I will think of a way to repay my debt to you.”

As Lea stepped out, preparing to leave immediately, Linda felt panicked. She could not lose it, the successful plan she once thought she had achieved. For Clara’s sake, she had to do everything.

“What do you do if you are infertile?”

Linda’s words managed to stop Lea’s steps again. The young woman turned her head to confirm Linda’s seriousness.

“What do you mean?” asked Lea in confusion.

“You never imagined that you couldn’t bear a child, did you?” Linda asked again. There was no more aggression in her words. There was only bitterness from a mother whose daughter was not perfect.

“I don’t understand what you mean. Are you cursing at me?” Lea asked again. Lea’s heart was currently beating very fast. She didn’t know what she had to do at the moment.

Of course, Linda shook her head weakly. Her eyes, which had been so aggressive before, were now glistening with pools of tears.

Linda was now looking at Lea, her feelings were in turmoil. “My daughter is infertile. She can’t have children.”

Lea didn’t know what happened after Linda said that to her. Her mind suddenly went blank. That’s when she received a call from the hospital.

***

Meanwhile, Dave and Jack were standing face to face and had a tense argument over a sensitive subject. The office which was quite large looked cramped and lacked fresh air because the chests of the two humans inside were congested.

“No way, dad! I can’t ask Lea to be a surrogate and take her child later. That’s going to hurt Clara, dad!” Dave said, stroking his tense, tired face.

“You need an heir, Dave! There’s no way we can leave you childless. Are you going to let this company be taken over by an adopted child?” Jack asked disapprovingly.

“You still have a daughter, remember? I will train my nephew or niece and make him or her the heir of our company,” Dave said again, trying to provide the best solution to his problem.

“No way! I don’t want a kid with the last name of Black continuing our business,” Jack argued again. “It’s got to be the Johnson family to carry on the family business.”

“Dad, don’t be so difficult. Why can’t you simplify things? I love Clara. I want a happy family with her. With kid or no kid, I want to live with her, dad!” Dave hit the table, not because he was angry with his father, but because of his stupidity which made him drift into endless troubles.

“Make Lea a surrogate!” Jack said without a single smile on his face. “I want the baby. He or she is my blood and flesh, who should live under my roof. I want my biological grandchildren. No matter what!”

Jack glared at his son. Meanwhile, Dave didn’t know what to explain to his father anymore if he loved Clara unconditionally.

“I have discussed this with your mother. If you refuse to comply with our wishes, we will be forced to act with or without your consent,” Jack threatened mercilessly.

Dave’s heart suddenly beat fast. He didn’t truly want to have a baby in Lea’s womb. He had made a deal with Lea that the child in her womb would be her child. He promised to transfer allowances every month as a form of responsibility to the child.

At first, Lea refused. She didn’t want him to interfere. She wanted them both to forget that fateful night, pretending nothing had happened. However, there was something that could not be undone: their baby’s existence. That’s why Dave insisted on taking responsibility. In the end, Lea postponed the discussion until the baby was born.

After his father left the room, Dave called Lea. He needed to have discussed his dad’s request with her. He didn’t want his parents to interfere because the problem would only get worse.

“Hello, Lea!” Dave greeted awkwardly.

However, it turned out that Dave needed to call her at the right time. Not now. Lea was on her way to the hospital. “Dave, sorry! I’ll call you back later. My mother is in a bad condition.”