Chapter 200: Surprised…

Rosalinda’s smile gradually dissipated. She allowed her gaze to linger on Chase a little more than necessary. Her encounter with him a few days ago and her unguided utterances flipped through her mind within splits of seconds.

She swallowed hard as a feeling of guilt flooded her heart. She looked away and blushed. What is he doing there? Has he also come over to dinner?

Did he come with someone? People like Bola or the likes of her. He probably sighted her and walked over. She hopes he’s alone.

While Rosalinda was having a million thoughts crossing her mind within splits of seconds, Chase Hudson was preoccupied with different thoughts.

Did Bella just call her Linda before running towards her? The excitement on his daughter’s face is making him have mixed feelings if she is the friend Bella has been talking about.

“My daddy is here” Bella chimed and turned around to see where her dad was standing when she saw him a few distance from them.

“This is my daddy. His name is Chase Hudson”Bella introduced and went over to her daddy. The girl was so excited that she didn’t notice anything.

Rosalinda was spellbound. Chase Hudson is Bella’s father? She glared at the little girl. Is she really Chase’s daughter?

“Daddy, this is my friend. Her name is Linda” Bella chimed, glaring up at her dad and then at her friend Linda. But then, there’s something she doesn’t understand, why are they both staring at each other speechless?

Rosalinda’s eyes welled up with tears. No wonder she had always thought little Puny was familiar. It’s not her, it’s Chase. She’s seeing Chase’s face in her.

He has a daughter as beautiful as this and wouldn’t accept their baby back then. He knew he already was a father and was not interested in her child.

Why did she have to encounter his daughter? Why didn’t she fall in love with another person’s daughter? Why does she have to encounter Chase again?

If her daughter was alive, she would have been a mother. He also would have had a child with her. But he contributed to what led to the miscarriage. Her child was gone.

Chase swallowed hard. His eyes went reddened. He had always thought Bella’s friend was a girl of her age. How was he supposed to imagine that a grown woman like Rosalinda was actually her friend?

When Bella told her that her friend’s name is Linda, it never occurred to her that it’s the shorter firm of the name Rosalinda. Now, they meet again.

He has to put up an act before Bella. If he had known, or had a glimpse of the idea that Bella’s friend is someone by the name Rosalinda, he would never have agreed to this dinner.

“Do you both know each other?” Bella asked. She thought her dad would shake hands with Linda and talk like two adults, rather they stood, staring at each other.

Rosalinda forced a smile. A lone tear threatened to fall down her cheeks and she cleaned it, broadening her smile. But it was too obvious, anyone can easily detect that she faked the smile.

Chase, rather than answer his daughter, stretched out his hand “Good to have you here” he said and wore a broad grin.

Rosalinda reciprocated the grin and accepted the handshake briefly. Chase led them to the table. But the excited and smiling Rosalinda that walked into the restaurant was no longer the one seated on the dinner table.

She became sullen. She would force a smile when Bella glanced towards her. The waiter came to take orders. Bella opted for a chicken leg but Rosalinda said snacks were alright.

How can someone request snacks for dinner? The atmosphere between her dad and Linda was stiffened. In fact it was condensed.

Bella would glance at her dad and steal glances at Linda. They don’t like each other. Her dad has no interest in Linda. Isn’t she beautiful? Can’t she be his girlfriend?

Same night, Jace and Arianna were returning to the hotel. They really hadn’t been able to eat out since they arrived in New York.

So that evening, Jace decided to join Arianna in the hotel early and take her around the city. Together they went out and ended up having dinner.

On their way back, Arianna circled her hand around Jace. He had always been away the entire day since they arrived. Has he always been with the other woman? The surrogate mother?

And to make her curiosity heightened, he hadn’t made love to her. He always appears tired and exhausted each time he returns. Now, she doesn’t understand anymore.

He couldn’t possibly be involved with another woman right under her nostril and she wouldn’t know about it? Was he giving his body to another woman?

Suddenly, Jace tapped her and glared at her “Penny for your thoughts?” He asked. He asked her a question but she didn’t respond. He glanced at her and discovered she wasn’t listening.

Arianna smiled. “Did you say something?” She asked. Was he talking to her? She was lost in thought and didn’t hear him talking to her.

“Mm.. mm’ Jace grunted before saying “I asked If you want us to get anything before going into the hotel?” He repeated.

Arianna thought about it quickly and said “No. We have all we needed” she can’t think of anything at the moment and if there’s need, Eduardo will go and get it.

“I’m thinking we should get a condom,” Jace mumbled. He really hadn’t touched her for days. He might have to take her that night.

Arianna glared at him with pouted lips. Was he trying to put words in her mouth? Hadn’t she told him that she is ready to get pregnant with his child?

“Have you been using a condom when you fuck the surrogate mother?” Arianna demanded, a surge of jealousy flooding her heart.

Jace chuckled softly and said “you should concentrate on the time I spend with you. Whatever I do with another woman shouldn’t bother you”

“Why wouldn’t I get bothered? Do you think it is easy to imagine your man is with another woman?”Arianna blurted and eyed him.

Jace looked out of the window. He is not in the mood for any sort of argument. Arianna is angry about another woman that doesn’t really exist.

“Is it because she makes you more comfortable that you haven’t made love to me since we arrived here?”Arianna asked.

“Maybe she treats me better. I want to be with her every time. She’s good at it, better than you are” Jace declared with a smirk.

Arianna’s eyes went red. She pulled Jace’s shirt at its collar. She shook him but Jace, rather than being upset, started laughing provocatively.

“I have only slept with you and no one else. If you prefer another woman’s paradise more than mine, I will go out with other men. That’s my promise to you” Arianna threatened.

“Good. Go ahead and take in another man’s dick and I will kill the man and break your neck” Jace threatened back.

“You wait and see. I will fuck someone else” Arianna insisted.

“Alright, dare me!” Jace replied and pulled up suddenly by the side of the road, making Arianna jerked in fright.

He pulled her to his side and forced a kiss on her. He kissed her fiercely and bit her lips. Despite bleeding, Jace wouldn’t let her go. Arianna was gasping for air.

Jace pulled off suddenly and pinned her cheeks together with two fingers “You want to fuck someone else, right?” He demanded in fury.