Mysterious CEO's Last Surrogate

She was about to get up when Loney grabbed her hand. "No, let Mabel do it." He needed her by his side. He needed her warmth. She was different but that was what made her special. He was so drawn to her that he was ready to give her anything including his life.

"Fine." Danica didn't argue. She didn't see it necessary at a time like this. She couldn't tell him about the half-done food she left in Daniella's care. Well, thinking about it, after all that had happened, she would rather discard the whole utensil when she goes to the kitchen. Daniella was worse than she thought and even she has begun to fear her blood sister. Meanwhile, Loney was a bit sceptical about Danica's abrupt response. He expected her to persist like she used to."Danica, is everything alright?" He suddenly asked.

"Yes, why?" She asked in the same abrupt way.

Loney swallowed. "It's so strange that you forgive so easily. I wouldn't have forgiven you if I were in your shoes." His eyes were dark when he spoke, Danica knew above all, that he wasn't joking.

"I would have been surprised if you hadn't told me about your past and I would have been even more surprised if you said otherwise. Some things define us including our past but what makes our future, are the people we meet, the books we read and the things we believe. My favourite reading list is the Bible. Perhaps you would understand me better if you read a few chapters from it."

"That aside, since I forgave you eagerly. My heart is free and there you are with a heavy heart because you can't forgive yourself and I know why. It's because you can't accept what you can't give. It's hard for you to accept forgiveness because it's hard for you to give it. Simple as that."

Loney listened to her attentively. He was practically hanging on to her words but it did make sense to him this time. Danica should be the one hurt yet, she is the one comforting him. "You are strange."

"You are still kneeling. You are going to hurt your knees. Come and lay down beside me," Danica dismissively said. It was as if nothing had happened. Loney realized that when Danica had laid back on the bed, he couldn't lay beside her and rather knelt by the bed. He reluctantly stood up and meandered to her side. Danica moved closer to him, placing her head on his chest. She could hear his fast heart rate. "So, how was work?" She asked to ease his mood. However, since she hadn't asked him that question before, he felt uneasy and rather said,

"I think we should eat. I'm starving because I haven't eaten since you were going to cook for me." He recalled the terrible event.

"Sorry about that. I got pressed and went to ease myself. Suddenly, I felt light and dozed off." Loney found it weird. Danica might be having a lot of fatigue issues but when it came to him, she always went the extra mile.

"Were you with someone in the kitchen? and did you drink or eat anything?" Loney asked thoughtfully. He still felt ashamed at how he got caught in Daniella's trap. It was quite unlike him. However, everything hit home. When Danica began cooking, her sister offered her orange juice which she liked lately because of the sourness in her mouth.

A line of regret crossed her features. Why couldn't she be smarter? How could she easily let her sister in? "I was with Daniella and she prepared orange juice for me." Silence rained, both immersed in their thoughts.

"I'm truly sorry, Danica." Loney broke the silence.

"I already forgave you. Enough talk. Let's get something to eat." Danica let out a smile that didn't reach her eyes. She didn't know how it would feel to see her sister again.

Even though she had forgiven Loney, the latter couldn't forgive himself. They walked out of the room hand in hand but he was still lost in everything that happened. He still couldn't believe it. How could she forgive him? Was she faking it? There was only one way to find out.

As they stepped out, he intended to kiss her but just before he took action, Daniella ambled close to them. Her eyes brimmed with fire. She couldn't believe that to the extent she went to separate those two, they still came out hand in hand as if nothing happened. It was a pathetic defeat for her.

"Are you so irrational? Did you forgive him just like that? He knew it was me. He even mentioned my name. How can you be so foolish?" Daniella seethed. It ached her that her sister was beginning to see between her lies. She couldn't let that happen. However, Danica wasn't as weak as she expected. What if Loney never regains himself? It was a burden she now carried and she couldn't take it anymore.

"It was the same foolishness I used to forgive you when you drugged me in the pub. The same one I used to accept this contract. The same one I used to forgive you when you messed with my food. Still, I forgive you too." Danica's voice was firm but calm. To her, the best form of revenge was forgiveness. That way, she wouldn't carry the burden after.

"I didn't ask for your forgiveness," Daniella lashed out. Loney didn't see a reason for interfering. For as long as Danica has agreed to let her sister go, he was going to ensure that it happened. His eyes began to search for Paul.

"I still gave it anyway but sorry you have to move out," Danica lashed out to Loney's astonishment. He didn't think she was up to it. His eyes moved from searching for paul, now settling on the two sisters. "What?" Daniella couldn't hide the shock. She didn't see it coming. "Mum and Dad left us. You know you are the only one I have. You are my only family. I see you will rather choose him over me and you don't care where I end up. I should have known that my life was better with the mafia."

Daniella knew how to get her sister's sympathy. She perceived that her sister will never allow her to go back to the life she used to engage in and would rather change her mind but Danica's answer wasn't wha she expected.

"You know very well that is not true. You have done more harm done well. Your presence is no longer welcome," Danica forced the words out. It was hard letting them out. No matter what her sister had done, she still felt pity for her because all they had left was each other but now, Danica had Loney so what about Daniella?

"If we are related by blood, then you have no right to send me away. Our parents' ghost will haunt you," Daniella threatened.

"It wasn't her decision. It was mine. Paul will take you home." Loney's voice was deep and powerful. Danica trembled. She recalled vividly that she almost died in his hand therefore, she didn't respond to Loney. She turned to her sister.

"Danica, are you going to watch him send me away after he had both of us? What happened to the forgiveness you so wholeheartedly gave?" Daniella tried to hold on to her sister's last drop of sympathy and Loney noticed that she was getting there because Danica was mystified.

"You have to go. Stop messing with her mind," Loney firmly said, a look of disgust crossing his features. Still, Daniella wouldn't give up.

"Danica. Won't you say something? Please forgive me, I will change, please..." Her voice turned teary. How could she live without seeing Loney again? This was a master plan to separate them so she could have a chance. How could things turn against her? She just wanted to prove to Danica that if she wasn't there, Loney would have been hers. She recalled Danica's words that everything she meant for evil, God turned it around for her good. Did it mean God was against her?

"Tell me the truth. What happened?" Danica's expression was unreadable as she asked. Daniella felt that perhaps if she confessed, she might have both Loney and Danica's mercy and stay. That way, she could find a better way of getting her sister out.

"Fine, I saw the message so I lied that I was having my monthly flow so I could use your cosmetics and carry your scent, as well as your clothes. I dropped something in your drink to make you sleep when I realized the time for his arrival was getting close and since he already told you to cook for him, he wouldn't guess that I was the one. Look, I'm sorry, okay? It didn't work and you still have him. I just want to stay. I promise to be good," Daniella sobbed. A tear landing from the corner of her eyes.

"The car is ready, let's go," Paul's baritone voice sounded around them. All eyes turned to Danica. They were waiting for her final approval.

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