A Billionaire's Surrogacy Deal

desperation coul

he table, his face pale, mouth trembling. "They f

o

ather's pride, my mother's legacy, and the only stability I'd ever known-w

e, and terrified-was

in her eyes. "Anastasia, we can't lose

y made enough for lunch. But the look in my mother's eye

hat despera

ed for a

into it-by overhearing a conve

othering to lower their voices. One of them said, "You didn't hear? Th

ke an auction. You go in, sign your life away, and if you're

ran th

Wins

who lived in glass towers and thought the rest of us were a

nsane. And y

. My parents' faces. The bills stacked in my drawer. My little brother

g to sell my body

nown it since the moment my fath

e, of course-intentionally mysterious. An anonymous invit

was some royal ceremony and not the mos

l, I

d, I realized I was

silent. Security guards in black suits flanke

. Tight dresses, high heels, full makeup, confident smiles. Meanwhile, I wore a c

g here. That m

the guards as

I answered, barely ke

nodded, and gestu

n swallowe

reflection. Chandeliers dripping with crystals. Gilded mirrors, velvet drapes, and f

, it felt cold. Lifeless

ere examined-yes, examined-by a panel of stern-looking people, m

numb

n a velvet sofa, my heart pounding so loudly I could hear the blood rushing

up? What if the

n't even the

realizing that I

d to be

e slaughter. The room was colder than the rest of

n at the head of

asia B

" She fur

net

ne of them even asked if I had ever be

tes like I was a

ey dism

the other "finalists" sat. All of us were dressed in white now-identical silky gowns that

All beautiful. All silent. Ten

ors opened-and

r. Conversations died mid-sentence

lked in. Vinc

Tabloids. The internet. And even th

help

devas

the room like a wolf choosing its next meal. A tailored suit hugged his broad frame lik

He didn't have to say a word. His

caught in

ront of us an

a

g the room, studying us like we were cattle. My palms were s

a longer glance. Some girls straightened their shoulders

tayed on

That I wouldn't be heartbroke

was

he stopped i

fr

ed beneath the lights. I

those grey eyes. Col

nd something flic

y to the number pinned

out like a rubber

r, voice low but cutting th

is

nked.

onse. He turned his back

d after him. "Mr. Winsto

lance back. "I s

, as the other girls turned to stare

ppled throu

eir jealousy crawl ac

didn't

he pic

e

ad no i

I sa