Aristocracy101

Chapter 10

Back To Present

The parlor was silent after Bella’s scream. It was Stacy who finally broke the tension, scoffing with a hint of annoyance.

"How long do you want her to wait? Is it when Lilian gets pregnant with your child or when you fall in love with your best friend and leave Bella behind?"

Each word pierced Bella’s heart like a dagger. She clenched her fists, trying to suppress the storm of emotions rising in her chest.

No! She had to think of something!

Bella screamed mentally, fighting back the panic threatening to consume her.

"I won’t let that happen," Oliver assured her, taking her hand gently, trying to calm her when he saw the fear in her eyes.

"No, you will," Stacy retorted, her voice harsh. "You already slept with her. All that's left is for her to get pregnant. I hear virgins have a very high chance of getting pregnant on their first night. Or do you want to say that you haven’t slept with her?"

"I... I... I..." Oliver stammered.

He had been firm when he told Lilian that he didn’t sleep with her, but the truth was, he didn’t know what had really happened that night. His mind was fuzzy whenever he tried to recall it.

Oliver had been quiet for a long time, and Bella’s already pale face grew even paler, her mind racing.

Taking a deep breath, Bella wasn’t ready to lose her golden goose—her ticket to wealth and security.

"I have an idea," she proposed, her voice steady, though her heart was racing. Both Oliver and Stacy turned to her, waiting for her to continue.

"We can wait a month to see if she’s really pregnant..." Bella started, but Stacy cut her off sharply.

"BELLA!!!" Stacy shouted, her voice filled with disbelief.

"I’m not done," Bella said quickly, raising a hand to stop the interruption. "If she is, I’ll let you go. But if she isn’t, Oliver... to prove your love for me, I want her to do an IVF... In vitro fertilization."

Oliver was confused. His mind was spinning, trying to understand what Bella was asking.

"What do you mean, Bella? I..." he trailed off, still not fully grasping her words.

"I mean," Bella took a deep breath, her eyes steely with determination. "I want her to be a surrogate for our child."

She had no intention of letting Lilian get pregnant before she did. Despite the trust she had in her position in Oliver’s heart, she would never trust another woman to carry her future.

Stacy’s eyes widened in shock. 😱

She couldn’t believe her ears. Bella was going dark in front of Oliver. Didn't guys hate girls being dark and heartless? Stacy thought maybe Bella would have done this behind his back.

Oliver, however, was stunned. He struggled to comprehend what Bella was asking.

"Even if I agree, I doubt Lilian would..." he started, but Bella interrupted him before he could finish.

"I can handle that," Bella said, her voice cold and calm. "All I want is your permission. She doesn’t need to know."

"I... I... I... She... She..." Oliver stammered, his heart in turmoil.

"Isn’t that wrong?" He finally said, his voice wavering. "She’s still my best friend. She’s always been there for me, always had my back. I... I just can’t..." He felt torn, unable to imagine betraying Lilian like this.

Bella smiled softly, but there was a coldness in her eyes. She knew it wouldn’t be easy, but this was the only way for her plan to work.

Taking his hands in hers, she looked deeply into his eyes, her voice turning almost pitiful. He could never say no to her when she did this.

"You see her as your best friend, but does she see you as one?" Bella’s words lingered in the air like poison.

Stacy felt like she was watching a drama unfold, and she couldn’t even tell which side she was on anymore.

Who am I, and what am I doing here? Stacy thought, feeling a growing sense of discomfort.

"I’m not telling you to do it now," Bella continued, her voice sweet and patient. "To be honest, I had a hunch that she had feelings for you, but I didn’t think it was this deep—this deep that she would ignore the consequences of her actions." Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she looked at Oliver, her expression a perfect blend of vulnerability and calculation.

God, she was a great actress.

Bella shared many physical similarities with Lilian—long, flowing hair that often appeared dark brown and captivating green eyes—but her overall appearance conveyed fragility. Her delicate features gave her the look of someone who evoked both sympathy and the instinct to protect. Yet, strategically, she dressed in seductive clothing, her worn-out attire and tear-stained face pulling at Oliver’s heartstrings in a way that made him feel like he was suffocating.

"But..." she drew her words out, her voice soft and almost pleading. "If she isn’t pregnant, it shows that even the heavens are favoring us. I would personally beg her to be a surrogate, and only if she agrees, then I would follow through with the plan." She looked at him with doe-like eyes, appearing as if she were a pure, gentle girl who simply wanted to be with the man she loved.

"Your mom would never want me to carry your child. But if Lilian carries it, your mom would never know. It’s a win-win situation."

Oliver’s thoughts were a whirlwind as he processed Bella’s words. Could he go through with this? Was this really the right thing to do?

"Just think about it," Bella added, her voice more serene now. "If you still don’t agree, forget I said anything. I won’t push you."

She was trying to make him feel like it was his decision, like she wasn’t manipulating him—yet Bella knew full well that he was already on the hook.

"Okay," Oliver said quietly, his mind clearly in conflict. "I promise I’ll come back with a response, Bel."

He needed time to digest everything.

He still saw Lilian as a friend, but she had betrayed him, and he shouldn’t care about her. Should he?

As he walked out of the house, he was stopped by Bella, who suddenly ran up to him and kissed him fiercely, her lips pressing hard against his.

"I love you, Oli... no matter what happens."

Her eyes were filled with longing, and she reluctantly let him go to catch a taxi.

Stupid, Oliver thought as he stood there, watching her walk away.

How could he make Bella hurt by being so indecisive?

He would wait one month. And if Lilian wasn’t pregnant, he would force her to be a surrogate. He didn’t care about the consequences as long as it made Bella happy.

As the taxi drove away, Bella stood on the porch, her eyes once filled with longing and love now turned cold and calculating.

This… this is the real me.

Or so she thought...