The massive house smelled like imported candles and fresh flowers.
Mara had done everything to make it perfect; his favorite stew, soft music, lights dimmed just right.
She is expecting her husband and needed the mood to be calm and romantic. She was about to drop a bomb.
Ken walked in, tall and travel-worn. A small tired smile touched his lips when he saw her.
"You look amazing," he said, pulling her into a hug.
"And you look like you fought the plane," she teased.
They laughed.
Over dinner, they talked about his trip; business meetings, traffic in London, a delayed flight. Then Mara took a sip of wine and wiped her mouth carefully.
"I did something… one of those times you were away," she said, trying to sound casual.
Ken looked up. "Okay?"
"I went ahead with the surrogacy."
The fork in his hand paused mid-air.
"What?"
"I found someone. The right girl. Everything's been arranged. She's already pregnant. Six months gone."
He blinked slowly, processing. "Mara… you…without talking to me?"
"I was tired of waiting. You've been traveling so much. I used your last donation; the one from our last IVF trial. The doctor still had it."
Ken dropped the fork.
"You used my sperm? Without my consent?"
"It was urgent …it's for our baby," she said quickly. "Our dream. I just moved faster."
He pushed back slightly from the table, his face tight.
"I don't like this, Mara."
"You don't have to. But it's done."
He stood, paced a little, hands on his waist.
"This isn't a business deal. You went behind my back…"
"We're having twins."
He stopped.
Turned to face her.
"What did you say?"
She smiled, carefully.
"Twins. The surrogate is carrying twins."
Silence.
Then slowly, Ken sat back down.
Twins.
He exhaled, rubbing his jaw. "Still... this girl. Who is she? Where did you find her?"
"She signed a contract. That's all that matters."
Ken rubbed his forehead, still trying to absorb it all.
"So... who is she?"
Mara didn't answer immediately. She took another slow sip of her wine.
"I mean it, Mara. Who's carrying our children?"
"She's... just someone the clinic matched us with. Young. Healthy. Nothing to worry about."
Ken frowned. "That's not what I asked. You said she's already pregnant. She's carrying my children. I deserve to know who she is."
Mara's voice sharpened. "And I said she's fine and in good hands. Everything is being handled."
"That's not good enough."
"She signed the contract. That's what matters. We don't need to bond with her, Ken."
"I don't want to bond. I just want to be sure she's being treated well. Getting proper care. That she's not... living in some rat hole."
Mara rolled her eyes. "I'm not a monster. She's housed, well monitored and eating well."
"Still," he muttered, "I'd feel better if I met her."
Mara leaned back in her chair, crossed her arms.
"No. That's not how this works. You start showing up now, she might get funny ideas. Let's just... keep the line professional."
Ken didn't look convinced, but he nodded slowly.
"Fine. But promise me something."
"What?"
"You'll make sure she's really okay. Not just on paper. In real life."
Mara nodded stiffly.
"I will."
But in her heart, she wasn't so sure anymore.
Lina Obi was proving harder to control than she'd planned.
And there was something about that girl's eyes that made Mara uneasy.
Like she was going to be trouble.
***
Ken knocked softly on the door to the guest wing and pushed it open.
Ada, his younger sister, was stretched out on her velvet couch, scrolling through her tablet. She looked up and grinned. "Well, well. Big bro finally returns from his global truttle."
Ken gave a tired smile. "I missed your sarcasm."
"I missed your stress lines," she teased, patting the space beside her. "Come. Unburden your billionaire heart."
He sank beside her, loosening his collar.
"How was your trip?" she asked.
"Long and exhausting. My back still hurts from the flight."
She set her tablet aside. "Mara didn't give you a warm welcome?"
Ken scoffed. "Warm? She hit me with a bomb during dinner."
Ada raised an eyebrow. "Another business deal?"
"No. She went ahead with the surrogacy. Without telling me."
Ada sat up straighter. "You're joking."
"I wish. She said she used my sperm from our last IVF trial. Apparently, she had the doctor freeze it, without my knowledge."
Ada's jaw dropped. "Wait, what? Is that even legal?"
Ken shook his head slowly. "I don't even know anymore. She claims the surrogate is already pregnant. With twins."
"Twins?" Ada blinked. "Just like that? And you're only hearing about it now?"
He nodded, face grim. "She planned everything behind my back."
Ada hissed. "This is what I've been saying. That woman is too shady and manipulative. You should've divorced her when you had the chance."
Ken looked torn. "I just… I want to believe she's being honest this time."
"But you don't," Ada cut in. "You wouldn't be sitting here if you did."
He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "If the sperm was used for IVF last time, how could it still be there? What if she used someone else's? Or God forbid, those babies aren't even mine?"
Ada stood. "Ken, listen to me. The second those babies are born, you run a DNA test. Privately. Quietly. No delays."
Ken nodded slowly. "I will. I have to."
Ada folded her arms. "Because if you let her fool you again, you'll be raising another man's kids while she walks around in diamonds."
He looked up at her. "Thanks, Ada."
She softened a bit. "You're my brother. I'll always tell you the truth, even if it burns."
Ken forced a weak smile, but the worry in his eyes lingered.
***
Mara sat at the edge of her king-size bed, her silk robe tied tight around her waist. The room was dim, lit only by the soft golden glow from her bedside lamp.
She held her phone to her ear. "Yes, transfer her immediately. The apartment at Orange Island. The one with the waterfront view."
A pause.
"Fully furnished, I don't want her complaining. Get her a private chef. And a car. Nothing fancy, just clean and quiet."
She listened for a moment, then added, "And send a live-in nurse."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Make sure the nurse gives me daily updates. I want to know when she wakes, what she eats, who she talks to. Everything."
There was silence as the person on the other end responded.
"No, I don't trust her," Mara said coldly. "That girl is too bold. Too clever. She forgets she signed a contract. But she doesn't know who she's messing with. I'm not taking chances. Not with my children."
She ended the call, her fingers tapping slowly against her thigh.
Then she looked up at the mirror across the room and smirked.
"Let's see how long you'll play smart, Lina Obi."