A Wrong Surrogate for the CEO-Chapter 113: I’ll do it

Curtis could not believe his ears. He stared, wife eyed at Lara, and even though her heart was pounding in her chest, she held his gaze and stared right back.

After a long, tense moment, Curtis broke the silence between them by letting out a scoff.

"You’ve got to be kidding. Please tell me that you are joking."

Lara shook her head. "I’m not. I am very serious."

Her words made Curtis run his hand through his hair in frustration, and he sat up to really look at her.

"You know what they did, right? What did my mother do just because she didn’t like you? What did she do to get rid of you?" he asked. He knew that Lara had figured it out, but he wanted to be sure that she still remembered.

Lara smiled at her husband. "Of course I do. And I know you’re doing this for me. For our kids. You don’t want us to get hurt again. I know your heart is bruised by her actions too. And I understand, my love. I really do. But they are your parents, your family. And no matter how shitty a family is, you can’t run from them," she paused, took a deep breath and continued.

"I know you feel like you can just cut them off and be done with it, but it doesn’t work that way. There is a bond between you guys that cannot be severed, and it will always be there. You have to forgive them, Curtis. Please."

Curtis held his breathe and let it out in a long exhale. His eyes were shining with an emotion Lara was having trouble reading.

He said nothing for a long time, but he didn’t break their gaze. They stared at each other, and Lara’s words hung heavily between them.

When he eventually spoke though, Lara thought the roaring in her ears was going to stop her from hearing him.

But she did.

"I love you so much, Lara. I don’t want anything to happen you. I don’t want you to be hurt by her again. I don’t...I am tired of dealing with her toxic shit. My mother will not change. Let’s just leave things the way they are right now. Please," he countered.

Lara shook her head at him.

"You just have to forgive them. You don’t have to jump right back in like nothing happened. Forgive them first, your mother most especially. Then you guys can work it out. Find a common ground. Take baby steps and build back the trust you’ve lost."

Curtis stared at his wife with a pained expression on his face. "Lara..."

She interrupted him. "Please, my love. Please. I’ll be with you and we can take things as slow as you want. You just have to promise me that you’ll forgive them first."

Silence emanated from Curtis, and Lara knew he needed to think about it. So she stood up and took a step back.

"I’ll give you time. Think about it and let me know what you decide to do," she said softly, turned around to leave, and was almost at the door when Curtis spoke.

"Baby. Wait."

Lara turned back to face him. "I’ll do it. I’ll... forgive them. My mum. Everybody. I’ll... do it."

There was a lump in Curtis’s throat as he said those words, and his hands curled into fists. But the instant Lara beamed at his words, the pressure in his chest lightened.

"I thought you needed time to think about it," she said. Curtis shrugged.

"You asked me to do it. I’ll do anything for you, my love," he responded.

His words made Lara’s eyes lit up, and she walked over to hug him.

"Thank you," she whispered.

He hugged her back and said: "You are welcome, baby. I love you."

Before Lara could respond to the sentiment though, her phone started to beep. It was an alarm, and as soon as she heard it, Lara disengaged from the hug and instantly started to walk out of the study.

"I have to go. The kids are awake," she called out to Curtis, who instantly stood up and walked after her.

"Wait up, love," he said as he caught up with her. Curtis raised his eyebrows at her as they walked towards the nursery.

"Don’t walk too fast. I don’t want you to trip and fall," he said, his hand moving to her back as if to steady her steps.

Lara rolled her eyes at him. "Are you always this... possessive?" she asked, her eyebrows raised curiously as they took a turn in the hallway.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just didn’t want you to lose your footing. How is that possessive?" he shot back at her.

Lara clicked her tongue and shook her head again. "You know what? Forget it."

They both walked into the room where the babies were, and Lara instantly groaned as soon as her eyes fell on them.

"Oh no."

Curtis’s teasing smile fell away. "What’s wrong? Neither of them is crying and they look fine. Is there something else I am missing?" he asked, worrying about his words.

Lara shook her head as she picked up Ryan, the boy.

"No. But look at their diapers. Both of them are soiled. I have to clean them up before it turns into a mess, but I can’t do both at the same time." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

She was already walking into the restroom as she spoke. Lara wasn’t expecting Curtis to say or even do anything, but to her greatest surprise, he walked in holding Amelia, their daughter.

"Tell me what I need to do," he stated simply. Lara’s jaw dropped open as she stared at him.

"You’re going to help me clean them up?" she asked.

"Of course. She’s my daughter and he’s my son. I know you’ve been trying to find a good babysitter, and I hope we get a competent one as soon as possible. But until we are able to find someone we can trust, yes, I will clean their soiled diapers with you," he deadpanned.

Tears stung the back of Lara’s eyes. "You’re a good father," she whispered.

Curtis grinned wildly as he responded. "Oh, you’ve not seen anything yet. I am going to be the best father ever. Watch me."