Chapter 2 Divorce!

Winnie's fate? She was laid off, but with one caveat, if she didn't return her boss's money within a week, her house would be seized.

Fuck. Her life was a complete mess. How could the universe never be on her side? Not even for one second!

"You can use my savings to pay for it," said Frans, who was now on the beach, sitting down to the night breeze and the sound of the waves.

"No, Frans. Your mother already dislikes me, how could she know that her son's savings were being used to pay the debt of a useless woman like me?"

She could no longer enjoy the beautiful beach at night. Because right now, her head felt like it was going to explode. Thinking of how she could earn more money.

"Oh yeah, what if you borrow it from Whitney?" He don't know if he meant it or not when he said it, but right now all Frans could think about was Winnie's twin living a life of wealth!

"In that case, do I have to feel humiliated for the second time today?" asked Winnie, a question Frans couldn't answer.

"Sorry."

"Frans, do you know what Oliver Genevieve was like?" asked Winnie again, curious about Whitney's husband.

"He's a very respected man in UK and the United States. His business is now famous overseas for the quality of his materials. The models they use are high-class models. Genevieve's family is involved in humanitarian and security organizations. And Oliver Genevieve, one year ago, was on the list of the world's youngest filthy rich," says Frans, who knows the family well.

"He also gained more praise when he participated in the fight against corruption in the UK and US. That's why everyone loves him so much," he continues.

Hearing this, Winnie could only smile bitterly. Because her twin had fared so well, married to a man who would never run out of wealth for generations.

Winnie's head looked up at the San Antonio sky. Unconsciously, tears began to roll down her beautiful cheeks.

Frans, who realized this, immediately pulled Winnie into his arms.

"Why didn't fate favor me at all, Frans? Why did my mother at that time choose me to live with her? Why wasn't I as lucky as Whitney?"

She cried in her best friend's arms. It was not new for Frans to hear Winnie's every complaint. He wanted to help Winnie, but his mother hated Winnie because of what people said about her.

Just as Frans was about to answer her, his cell phone suddenly rang, indicating an incoming call. He quickly let go of Winnie's embrace.

"Mom," he whispered. He quickly picked up the phone from his mother.

["Hello, Mom–"]

["Frans, where are you? Hurry to the hospital ... Your father ... Your father was taken to the hospital ...."] On the other end of the line, his mother was crying bitterly.

["Alright, I'll be right there."] Frans quickly turned off the phone.

"I have to go to the hospital now ... My father, he's been taken to the hospital." Frans' face looked panicked.

"Winnie, you go straight home and don't think too much. I have to go now."

Frans kissed Winnie on the forehead and then ran off in his car.

And now, Winnie was alone on the beach. As the weather was getting colder and it was getting late, she decided to return to her house on foot.

Because it was not far from her house.

15 minutes later, she arrived at her house. However, her steps stopped when she saw her twin standing right in front of her house.

Her eyes narrowed and walked towards Whitney who smiled faintly at her.

"What are you doing here? Is your husband spying on me?" she asked sarcastically.

"Why haven't you returned to New York yet?" she asked again.

"Oh yeah, I apologize for the way Oliver treated you this morning ... I came here, I wanted to have a serious talk with you," Whitney said as she looked at her twin with a sad look on her face.

To be honest, she wanted to be close to her twin. But due to the circumstances that forced her, she had to give up on living apart from her twin.

"I don't have time, Whitney. I'm already too tired. Tomorrow morning, I have to find another job," Winnie said as she walked to her door to open it.

But she was stopped in her tracks by Whitney's words. "I can't get pregnant. I have an immune disease."

Now Winnie's body turned 180 degrees to look at her twin.

"No kidding." Winnie shook her head and her eyes stung at the words.

"Yeah, Winnie. I'm a sick woman. I can't have children."

Whitney's teary eyes made Winnie's heart weak. She quickly led her twin into her house.

Then, closed the door tightly. "I'm sorry if things aren't as good at my house as they are at yours." Winnie straightened the clothes that had not yet been folded and put away in her wardrobe.

"Winnie, I want to apologize for what happened. I should have stayed with you ...."

"Oh, Whitney, please don't think about that. Right now all you have to think about is your recovery."

They both hugged each other tightly. Feeling the sadness, the pain, that each other felt.

"I -- I don't know what to do, Winnie. Genevieve's family must have children. While I-- I'm a failed woman ... I'm a failed wife to Oliver."

More and more, Whitney's cries grew louder. And with it, her embrace of Winnie grew tighter.

"You can get pregnant, Whitney. You have to keep thinking–"

"No, I can't. If I get pregnant, it's going to make my condition and the condition of the fetus even more worrisome. So, there's no point." Whitney let go of the hug.

Now she looked at her twin meaningfully. "Winnie, do you want to help me? I mean, we work together, how?"

"Work together?" Winnie's eyebrows knitted together, showing a confused expression on her face.

"I want you to be the surrogate mother for my and Oliver's future child. Give birth to Genevieve's offspring. Because you're the only one I can rely on right now. And I ... I will give you whatever you need."

For some reason, when she heard that, it was like she was hit by a hot rock multiple times.

So, her twin was here to take advantage of her?

"Whitney, I know I'm poor. But I also have pride. Being a surrogate mom? Gosh, are you out of your mind?"

"You would never want to visit me if you didn't have to, would you?" she said again, her face full of disappointment.

"It's not that, Winnie ... I don't know what else to do. And the only way is to make you a surrogate mother for my son. You're beautiful, you're smart ... I'd be very happy if-"

"Get out of my house! And never set foot in my house again!" Winnie opened the door to get her twin out of the house.

"Don't you need the money to pay off what you owe that damn guy at the hotel?"

"Look, Whitney, I'm sorry to hear that you're sick. But I don't want to do that crazy idea with you either. I may be poor, but I still have my pride! So, please get out of my house now!"

How will this twin-sister tension continue? Will Whitney continue to plead with Winnie? And will Winnie finally change her mind?

***

"Mr. Oliver, the clothing product that has just been launched at the Kyler Company, the motif is the same as the one produced by Genevieve's company last winter ...," said Oliver's secretary, Alex.

Alex handed over the photos that the Kyler Company had just released this winter. And when he saw them, Oliver's emotions immediately flared up.

"Contact the Kyler Company. If he doesn't admit it, then I'll sue him!" Oliver said.

How dare anyone try to disturb Oliver Genevieve's peace. He was currently in a bad mood because his wife still wouldn't talk to him.

Looking for a surrogate mother? And make his wife's twin cousin a surrogate mother? Oliver rejected it outright!

"Yes, Mr."

"Send two people to spy on his company. If proven wrong, just look at the losses his company will receive!"

"Mr, you've been summoned by Sir Genevieve to his residence," Alex said again.

"To London? Goodness, all right."

If his father– Sir Genevieve had summoned him, it meant they had something important to talk about.

Then, one of his bodyguards approached the two of them. Informing them that the illegal photographer had been arrested and was now in the dark room.

In case you're wondering, the dark room is a room that people in the United States are familiar with. Even people in the UK know about it.

Due to Oliver's involvement in the security organization as well in this country, he also has the task of investigating people who commit criminal acts.

There have been many criminals who have been detained by Oliver and it didn't end well. Having to rot in prison for decades.

Oliver's footsteps entered the cell. Several prisoners bowed their heads when they saw Oliver's arrival.

Oliver's eyes fell on cell number 43. He smiled smugly at the illegal photographer who was sitting huddled while enduring the cold weather today.

"Oh, you're the one photographing models for my company these days?"

"Mr. Oliver, forgive me ... I'm just doing my job." At the sight of Oliver, the damn photographer approached the cell and his gaze was very apologetic.

However, would Oliver feel sorry for him? Of course not. Because it was already too late.

The illegal photographer was secretly taking pictures of every activity done by the models working for the cover of the magazine in Genevieve's company. Of course, the models felt uncomfortable and insecure about being followed. Even worse, he edited their photos as if they were posing nude and shared them on social media. To give the models a bad image in the eyes of the public.

"Who sent you?" asked Oliver with his deadly stare.

The illegal photographer didn't answer right away. He lowered his head with a very agitated face.

"Take him out quickly! Take him to a dark room!" Oliver ordered.

His two guards nodded their heads and immediately opened the cell. Forcibly pulling the illegal photographer to be dragged into the dark room.

Where the prisoners would be tied up and there was no light at all. If they were unwilling to confess their sins, then they would remain there, starving and asphyxiated by the cramped space.

"Mr.Oliver, I can explain-"

"Then explain it in that beautiful room," Oliver replied with a grin.

The prisoner was forced to sit there with his hands tied. There was not a single glimmer of light that he could see. Only Oliver's voice could be heard in the next room. Mainly to interrogate him.

"So, who hired you?" asked Oliver, not wanting to linger.

"I -- i can't."

"All right. Enjoy your time there. Oh yeah, watch out for scorpions down there," warned Oliver.

"Mr, please get me out of here as soon as possible!"

As each prisoner entered the room for interrogation, Genevieve's team would find out what their weaknesses were.

And the photographer had a weakness for scorpions.

"You can only talk if you say who hired you and on what basis that person ordered you," said Oliver who was sitting casually in the next room waiting for the prisoner's honesty.

"Aaaa! Help! I have a phobia of scorpions!" He moved so much that his breathing felt labored.

"Help! Get me out of here!"

"If you keep shouting, then we will multiply the scorpions. So that they will crawl onto your body. Don't you need some company in there?"

"Mr. Oliver, please let me out ... I'm just a helpless person." There was a shout from inside. But it didn't knock Oliver's icy heart. If they didn't confess their sins then the door of that room would never open.

"I -- I was threatened by Mr. Jude."

"Damn it. I knew that pest wanted to challenge me. I should have exterminated it long ago!"

"He didn't say anything else. He just told me to stalk your models and edit the photos," he continued with a trembling voice because he was so afraid of this phobic animal.

Then, just as he was about to ask the prisoner another question, Alex walked up to him and whispered next to his right ear, "Ms. Whitney is in your office, Mr."

"All right. You handle this prisoner first. Ask more about that damn Jude!"

Having said that, Oliver walked wide-eyed into his office to greet his beloved wife who hadn't said she was coming to his office.

The door was opened by Oliver, and there, on the sofa, was his wife who saw his presence with a face that was difficult to interpret.

"Honey, why didn't you say-"

"I wanted us to get a divorce."

"What do you mean?" Oliver sat down next to his wife. And his eyes were fixed on a piece of paper, his mind already wandering somewhere.

"Honey, of course, I don't want to."

"I don't want to either. But I have to do it. Because I want the best for you, for your family. Find another woman out there who can give Genevieve a child."

"What are you talking about? No ... No ... Whitney! I will never sign this paper! This is insane!" Oliver picked up the letter containing his wife's request for divorce.

Quickly, Oliver tore up the divorce papers. How could he divorce the woman he loved so much?

Now tears were rolling down Whitney's cheeks. "Well, if you don't want to divorce me, then you have to agree to Winnie being a surrogate mother for our future child. If you still won't accept my idea, then I'm out of your life!"

What would Oliver choose? What a tough decision! And why is Whitney so sure that Winnie will be the surrogate mother for her child? Didn't Winnie reject her outright?