Chapter 53

Caden As I stepped out of the living room, a storm of emotions swirled in my chest. The hurt that danced in Lila's eyes when I brushed past her like she was nothing but a ghost felt like a knife twisting deeper into my heart. I hated that I had to be the one to cause her pain, but I kept telling myself this was for the best. I had my own demons to face, and getting involved with Lila would only complicate things further. With a deep breath, I pulled out my phone and dialed Peru’s number. The line rang only once before he picked up. “Caden, my man! What’s up?” His voice was light, full of that usual energy that reminded me why I kept him around. He was a good guy, a loyal friend, and I needed him now more than ever. “Peru, I need you to do something for me,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. “Sure thing. What do you need?” “I need you to contact the first lady we interviewed. The one we talked about as a potential surrogate. Send her the contract and tel