Aristocracy 101

Chapter 11

Stepping into the house, Bella was immediately greeted by a wide-eyed Stacy.

"How could you tell Oliver your plan?"

Stacy looked horrified.

"Don't you know men hate girls who are too calculating? They want someone pretty and innocent. Someone who doesn't know how cruel the world is."

She threw her hands up in frustration.

"And you just told him everything! What if he thinks you're too scary for him?"

Stacy was practically losing her mind.

She always thought Bella was smart, but now she wasn't so sure.

Bella's plan had so many holes that only someone blinded by love like Oliver would believe it.

"How are you even going to convince Lilian to become a surrogate?" Stacy continued, pacing around the room. "Do you think she'll actually agree?"

She stopped and stared at Bella.

"There's a reason people call Lilian the Ice Queen. She's not exactly known for being easy to persuade."

She shook her head.

"This is just pure stupidity!"

Stacy continued walking in circles until Bella felt a headache forming.

"Would you just shut up?!"

Bella's sudden shout made Stacy freeze.

"All you know how to do is talk and complain."

Bella's expression hardened.

"Do you honestly think I wouldn't have considered that? I'm not stupid."

The harsh words immediately made Stacy's eyes water.

She had never liked being shouted at.

Bella sighed internally.

How can someone be so innocent in a world like this?

Stacy was too simple.

Too kind.

Too easy to understand.

And that was exactly why they had remained friends since childhood.

Despite everything they had gone through, despite the paths they had chosen, Stacy had somehow managed to keep her pure heart.

Something Bella secretly envied.

Stacy was straightforward. She liked simple arrangements.

Give her a job, tell her what to do, and as long as she understood the task, she would complete it.

Bella was the opposite.

She planned.

Calculated.

Manipulated.

She survived by thinking three steps ahead.

"Then explain," Stacy said quietly.

She waited patiently.

"So are you really going to wait a month to find out if Lilian is pregnant?"

She still couldn't understand the logic.

She knew Bella.

Bella would never calmly sit around if Lilian was carrying Oliver's child.

So why wait?

Bella looked at her with disbelief.

"Oh, my poor dumb friend."

She shook her head.

"You really are too simple."

Walking toward the couch, Bella sat down and crossed her legs.

"Do you really think I would just wait and hope for the best?"

Stacy stared at her.

"I already have someone inside Oliver's house."

Her voice became colder.

"Someone who will make sure Lilian doesn't get pregnant."

Stacy's expression changed.

"But what if she isn't pregnant?"

She frowned.

"Wouldn't that person end up harming her unnecessarily?"

Concern filled her voice.

That was Stacy's problem.

She always worried about others.

Even when those people were obstacles.

Bella rolled her eyes.

"Stop being so dramatic."

She leaned back.

"If she's not pregnant, then it's simply her luck."

Her eyes narrowed.

"She should have thought about the consequences before trying to take my place."

Stacy remained silent.

Bella continued.

"And besides, you and I both know what women go through when they get involved with men like that."

She sighed.

"A little hardship isn't going to destroy her."

Stacy didn't look convinced.

"Okay... I understand that part."

She hesitated.

"But what happens if she gets pregnant again?"

Bella looked at her.

"You can't keep stopping it forever."

Stacy's concern was valid.

Even if Lilian didn't get pregnant now, Oliver and Lilian were still living under the same roof.

They had history.

They had been best friends.

No matter how angry they were with each other, feelings could return with time.

Bella knew that.

"I know," she answered reluctantly.

"That's why she will become a surrogate."

Stacy blinked.

"But how would she even agree? I mean..."

"Stacy."

Bella's voice became firm.

"Stop."

The warning in her tone made Stacy quiet.

"Knowing too much isn't good for you."

It wasn't that Bella didn't trust Stacy.

She did.

More than most people.

But Stacy was different.

She was still kind.

Still innocent.

Bella didn't want to ruin that.

If protecting Stacy's heart meant carrying the burden of her plans alone, then so be it.

Some things were better left unknown.