The Surrogate Contract: Nine Months to Betrayal

A'S

omforted myself again. This has been my slogan since I began to feel weird in this mansion. By morning, my head hurt and my stomach twisted

stay under the duvet and pretend I was back in my tiny apartment, where I co

meone knocke

r a soft knock, showing the pe

aul, his sleeves were rolled up, and he looked less like a billionaire, more like a regular man. He had a white mug in his hand which

," he smiled, so I brought you this cha

collected the mug. Our fingers connected i

g like eating immediately, even without brushing my teeth. Nevertheless, I closed the door and stood, staring at the cup for a while. What was th

the window, sipping slowly while it warmed me from the inside. My

to a particular time in the house was the time I visit the restroom. I wouldn't be surprised if

in a castle. Paul sat at the head, reading something on his tabl

ning," he

st time I'd come across Paul in this room. I had alw

eggs, fresh fruit, toast, and a little bowl of yoghurt. My stoma

rim of my glass expecting him to start a conversation. He didn't look like the cold ma

rsation if he wasn't before I go deaf and dumb from not talking. "

rprised. "You're welcom

t questions were

e?" I

" he b

There are thousands of women out there who do this for a

enings and you have no family connections, enough d

, that hurt because it

rying to i

ths. Like I'm not a real person. You control me as if I don't have a life outside this. I have feelin

was here and was listening. I had to spill out how disappointed I am to be treated this

picked off a shelf. You're using me to bring for

ent, I thought he was going to snap or re

spoken to me lik

problem," I repli

e for a while and I began to regret speaking to him that

said and cont

o make of that. But

ighter, and I became more relaxed because

green vines on stone walls and flowers in tidy rows. I couldn't get the conversation I

of me? Maybe he's starting to s

ar

he stone echoed her heel clicks. Her outfit was fl

h Mr. Willow," she said. "Y

e commit a crime

. "No! You're only g

I questioned because her expression was making it look

dvice. Stay ale

me?" I

aff, the furniture, even the silence. You're here

owing what to say and b

gone. And this place? It won't even

eeper than the g

s you tell

ing more, and it never ended! Well. So stay as far as

away, leaving her war