The Surrogate Contract: Nine Months to Betrayal

A'S

ne, I still managed to get some information about the need for a surrogate. Paul's wife had been in a coma for the past year. H

n I saw the equipment fluttering in the fertility clinic. I almost opted out, but when I

medication to ensure the best possible chance of implantation

nant. The embryo implantation was successful on the very first attempt, ma

y body was still adjusting to the n

g part-time, to sleeping in a massive bedroom with silk she

part. The fact that weird things were happeni

atter of a tray being left on the table near the window with eggs, fruits and someti

d pressure to temperature and to my heartbeat. She never stayed long and never spoke except when she asked q

udges like "Time for your walk, Maria" or "Doctor's appointment tomorrow at ten."

three days after con

door joyfully, u

come in?" sh

older under her arm. She wore a gorgeous green dress and or

ou doing?"

n. "I'm okay, I guess. Still

a laugh. "This place can f

her legs casually. "I'm here to ask if you need an

ease. I finally felt

nice to talk to someone

as a compliment.

s I could walk if I felt restless, and that the chef would p

ed with a wink. "You just have a very expensive bun in that incubator

not a prisoner, and I haven't

't that I had someone in particular to call, I just dialled a random numbe

cked up. Why was a phone kept here when it can't even be in use? I

out my cell phone. The battery was fully charged, but the signal bar was empty. I wa

oat ti

*Just checking in,* I typed to my best friend Tasha. When I hi

e and restarted the ph

wasn't the landline working? I wasn't in the middle of nowhere. This was S

ss the outside world and m

earlier words. "You

words someone wou

hat I was being taken care of, but now I felt choked. It's enough that I can't go out of this mansion, but the call restr

looked through the curtains and saw a Range Rover pull

ad seen him after the con

y I did that. His calm and watchful demeanour unset

before ente

back." I

ked around, and

erythi

hough... I tried makin

u?" he i

ine, and my phone had no

nds behind him. "You're safe here,

nswer my questi

use has security measures, including signal blockers. Open phone li

mean by risk?

ed the q

w, gazed outside briefl

ery valuable. I made a promise to protect you and the baby. Sometimes protection me

I oppose. "I just want to talk to my frie

ouse," he repeated, "is the safe

ly while fear tw

my silence, then left, a

bed, though

ted, Valuable