A surrogate baby for my ex husband's business rival

Chapter 1 – The End of everything, the beginning of new things The laughter inside the restaurant echoed outside, happy and sharp against the cold night air. Rebecca Bennett , now Rebecca Johnson paused on the sidewalk, watching it all . She had seen that smile before , Ethan’s. Her ex-husband. The man who had promised love and left nothing but debt, pain, shame, and regret. He sat at a corner table, arm casually around Lilith , his mistress, the woman he had left her for. Their heads tilted together, whispering secrets,kissing, laughing and sharing jokes, while she stood there suffering in what felt like eternal regret and pain. Rebecca straightened her shoulders. At 5’8”, curvy, with her natural curls framing her face, she was impossible to ignore ,so it made her wonder what Lilith had that she didn’t. Every step in her heels, every sway of her coat, radiated strength and Tonight, she would not shrink anymore. She had one reason for being here , the loan. The one Ethan had convinced her to take for his company when they were married. “Just a formality,” he had said, that easy smile she used to trust. “You’re my wife. I trust you and I'm your husband, I'll never do anything to hurt you, you know that right.” what he didn't tell her was how he tried it in his name first and got denied. He had lied. He never intended to pay it back and she was only just figuring it out. He had used her name, her credit, her trust, and left her to juggle crushing debt. Now he had the company, the girl, the luxury, and she had nothing but mounting notices, threatening letters, and the bitter taste of betrayal. Her pulse beated loud enough for her to hear, but not because fear, but with controlled rage. Memories she had tried to bury resurfaced: the nights he yelled, the slaps she receives, the ways he had tried to control her — and how she took it all because she wanted to save her marriage, because she wanted a family. She knew the moment he had started cheating on her with Lilith, he was always a cheat but with Lilith it wasn't just cheating, it was something deeper maybe love, maybe deeper lust, maybe she was a better f**k. She thought about it for weeks after the divorce and yet she still didn't has an answer. But she was no longer the woman who cowered, the woman who let her self be used and endured years of torture just to feel loved. She had rebuilt herself after the divorce. She had sharpened herself. And tonight, she would show him that she finally opened her eyes. --- The restaurant’s warmth hit her as she entered perfume, chatter, clinking glasses, a symphony of indulgence. Ethan’s head lifted, clearly surprised. “Rebecca,” he said, voice careful, almost cautious. “What....What are you doing here?” Lilith turned with a slow mocking smile, . “Well, this is… quite unexpected.” The word that's came out of Lilith mouth had a sense of sarcasm, they were talking about her, waiting for her to come. Rebecca’s gaze didn’t shake. “I’m here about the loan,” she said, voice calm but firm. Ethan’s eyes turned to the men seated around him — friends, business associates, all people she had tried so hard to impress before. now seated with him and his new woman. All the people that had once praise her, giggling with his mistress. “Rebecca, this really isn’t the place,” he muttered. “ Oh Please,” she said, voice steady. “It won’t take long.” Lilith’s smirk widened. “Oh, come on, Ethan. Let her talk. Maybe she needs… closure.” Rebecca laughed, low and humorless. “Closure? No, baby girl. I need answers.” “I told you I’d handle it,” Ethan said smoothly. “You said that two months ago. And the month before. And the month before that,” she shot back. His jaw tightened. “Things are complicated.” “Complicated?” Rebecca echoed, voice icy. “You sit here drinking expensive wine while I drown in your lies. You used my name, my credit, and now hide behind excuses, and that flat ass white slut" Ethan’s hands clenched. Lilith’s eyes flickered with oblivious irritation. “Rebecca” Rebecca raised a hand. “No. Listen closely.” She leaned in , letting her eyes pierce him. “I know exactly what you are. A liar. A cheat. You used me, and you think I’ll beg for scraps. You underestimated me.” She turned, ready to leave. She had said what needed saying. But then she froze. Low laughter reached her ears. She paused near the doorway, glancing back. Ethan leaned back, smirking, talking with his friends. “The laughter was the same sound that used to follow her down the hall after every argument mocking, cruel, male.” “I knew she’d show up,” one said. “She always comes crawling back, no matter what you do to her,” another added. Ethan chuckled, cruel and confident. “Of course, she's so desperate for love and affection. She signed everything without even knowing what it really was — the loan, the papers… I could’ve ruined her, and she’d still think I’d fix it. Honestly? She’s not even worth being a mistress.” Rebecca’s blood boiled, sharp and hot, mingling with years of betrayal and humiliation. She was nothing but a joke to them. They thought she’d stay broken. They’d forgotten who taught her to survive pain. She wasn’t done. She wasn’t leaving on his terms. She turned sharply, strides filled with confidence, heels clicking like a warning.Ethan and his friends froze. Lilith’s smirk faltered. Rebecca stopped a foot from Ethan. Her voice, calm and sharp, cut through the tension. “I’m not here to beg,” she said evenly. “And I don’t need your permission to live my life.” She let her gaze sweep the room, daring anyone to judge. “In fact,” she added, letting audacity guide her, “I forgot I was here to see someone else.” Ethan’s friends stiffened. Lilith’s smile disappeared. Across the room, she saw him — tall, broad-shouldered, brown hair, eyes beautiful and steady. He was calm and untouched by the chaos around him. He was everything Ethan wasn't, and the perfect one to show Ethan she had moved on. Without hesitation, she walked toward him. He tilted his head slightly. “Do I know you?” “You do now,” she whispered and before doubt or fear could stop her, she kissed him. Gasps echoed. Glasses froze midair. Even Ethan was speechless. When she pulled away, his eyes were steady on hers, a faint smile curving his lips mixed with confusion and amusement. “Interesting way to say hello,” he murmured. She exhaled, heart racing. “It’s been a long night,” she said softly. “And I just needed to remind someone I’m not the kind of woman they can destroy.” Jason’s gaze turned past her toward Ethan’s table, then back to her. “You look like you could use some air,” he said quietly. She hesitated , just a heartbeat, then nodded. “Yeah… I could.” He rose from his seat, offering a hand she didn’t take but followed anyway. Together, they walked toward the exit, all eyes were on them and the air around them thick with whispers and shock. As they stepped through the doors, the last thing Rebecca heard was Ethan’s chair violently against the floor and his voice, yelling furiously, calling her name. "BECCAAAAAAaaaa"