“Are you insane? How dare you refuse such a big offer?”
Claudia's yelling voice filled the house. Valerie couldn't help, but sob helplessly. Claudia was one step away from smacking her face. Valerie was heartbroken, what her stepmother was asking of her is definitely going to ruin her. Especially her dreams of going to Oxford University.
Being a surrogate to an unknown man. Valerie wanted to say something, but tears couldn't let her say a word. Why is life being cruel?
“I would rather not do this, Mom. How can I give birth to a child for a stranger? That is only going to ruin my life, I won't be able to take it. I want to fulfill my dreams of going to Oxford University, and having a baby is going to put an end to that” Valerie cried out, and her stepmother scoffed.
“The family finances are so poor, and your father has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. What kind of daughter does that make you? This is the only way for us to save your father, and you are willing to give up such an opportunity? Are you going to stand there and watch your father die when you can do something to save him?” Claudia was trying to emotionally blackmail her. Mr. Edmond Watson, Valerie's father, happened to be the only family she had. Her mother died when she was three years old in a ghastly motor accident, and her father got married to her stepmother, Claudia.
Life has been miserable for Valerie ever since her father got married to Claudia. Even her stepsister, Patricia, has been nothing but a pin in the ass for her. Her father too doesn't care about her… she was more like the rejected one of the family. She might be a 'Watson' but that's just a name. She was treated like an outsider.
“You are so heartless, Valerie. I thought you loved me, are you going to watch me die?” Her Father walked into the room, looking weak. Valerie bowed her head, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
“Mom, I have a boyfriend, and he's going to marry me. He's definitely going to ditch me if he finds out that I'll have a child for a stranger. I don't want to lose, Justin” Valerie burst into a heart-wreaking sob again.
“What? Is this about that stupid boy who you're dating? He's nothing but a prodigal son. His mother disowned him because he's been trouble to her. Are you going to choose him over your father's life?” Claudia scoffed in disgust.
Valerie scratched her head. There was no way she's getting out of this. “And my studies. I can't complete my studies when I'm with a child”.
“Don't be dumb, sister. Actually, it's only a nine-month thing. Besides, no one is going to tell Justin that you're pregnant. Come to think of it, the money is so huge, and you can actually further your education with it. It will be more than enough to foot your bills and to foot Father's hospital bills” Patricia, her pretentious stepsister, acted like she was on her side.
“Bear it in mind, Valerie. You'll be going to the hospital first thing tomorrow morning, and you're not allowed to object. The money involved is so huge that we can't let it slip through our fingers” Claudia spoke with finality in the tone of her voice before storming out of the room. Her father followed her after giving her a deadly glare.
Valerie fell on the couch, sobbing her eyes out. Patricia smiled mischievously at her. “Get ready for tomorrow, sister” Patricia walked away laughing sarcastically.
Of course, Valerie knew that sobbing won't help her. But how was she going to explain this to her boyfriend, Justin? Like her stepsister suggested, she won't let him know about this. It was then that Valerie realized that she was trapped, the Chasity she's been protecting all her life, will be given out to bear a child for a stranger.
The next day, Valerie was already at the hospital. She had already undergone some tests to make sure she had no health issues. She laid on the hospital bed with her laps parted. Likewise, she was getting inseminated with the stranger's semen. Weird enough, she hadn't set her eyes on him.
Apparently, he's a man who had lost his wife who he loved dearly but had no child with. So because he would rather not remarry, he decided to get a surrogate, so he could get a child to call his own.
“It's done, Miss” The doctor's voice smacked her out of her thoughts. She nodded slightly, and sat up from the bed.
“Uhm… I'll prescribe some drugs for you. Most importantly, you shouldn't get involved with hard labor, that's if you don't want this to be unsuccessful” The doctor smiled at her, and she shook her head. She felt terrible… okay! Let's say miserable.