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Monday morning, my inbox was filled with new project assignments. When I thought I'd catch up, another task landed on my desk. Pregnancy or not, he didn't care. My workload kept on increasing. At first I thought it was a coincidence, it became a pattern and now, it feels like punishment. Zara the board file.Zara the Martins projectZara ensures to beat deadlines. Two hours for what should take a day.My phone buzzed and it was Ethan.I sighed and picked up. “Hey. Aren’t you supposed to be in class?”“I’m on break,” he said. “And you didn’t call last night. Mom said you were exhausted again.”I rolled my chair slightly away from my computer, giving my brain a moment to breathe. “I was fine, Ethan. Just busy.”“You always say that.” He scoffed lightly. “I can hear you typing while talking to me, Zara, are you sure you’re resting? You sound tired.”His voice was calm but filled with concern and protective worry he tried to hide.I smiled faintly. “Look at you, sounding like the olde

Sebastian thought pushing me down to a smaller office would break me, he underestimated the wrong woman. I refused to break. Not because of the demotion.Not because of the constant stares.Definitely not because Sebastian. That morning I cleared my desk before anyone arrived. No second guessing. I shut down my computer, stacked my files in perfect order before I left for the clinic.It was my first ultrasound and I was eager in a way I couldn't hide.“Good morning, Dr. Lennox.”“Good morning, Zara.” She said, Ready for your ultrasound.?I nodded.My hands trembled as I climbed the table inside the ultrasound room. My heart was beating uncontrollably. “Ready?” The sonographer asked.“You may proceed,” Dr. Lennox said.I laid there with so many thoughts in my head as the soft gel hit my stomach. Icy and shocking. The monitor moved across my stomach, I held my breath. “This is good news.” Dr. Lennox said.“Twin pregnancy” She said smiling. “You wanna see it.?”I nodded, swallowing

Zara's POVSebastian was already seated at the end of the table, by the time I entered the conference room. I kept getting notification reminders for my first Ultrasound, but I needed to attend the meeting first. I slipped into my seat, trying to shrink into myself.Lily’s knee nudged mine under the table, a silent lifeline. I exhaled slowly, trying to steady my pulse.“Let’s begin,” he said, flipping through the reports with deliberate precision.The first ten minutes were uneventful. Board expectations, numbers, projections, everything seemed under control. And then all of a sudden his finger stopped mid-page.“Zara,” he said, “can you explain this?”I was confused at first because that was the report I stayed awake till two a.m. triple-checking.“I… I followed the format you approved,” I murmured, keeping my voice low.He lifted the paper, eyes sharp. “Then why is the revenue projection missing? And why is the client feedback section duplicated? Again?”A hush swept through th

Zara'sPOV“Optimal window today. Record vitals.”I tapped the app quickly, noting basal temperature, hormone readings and vitals. At my desk the Spencers project was waiting for my final update and approval. The hospital has called and booked an appointment. I didn’t want any confrontation from Sebastian and today's reading….. No, I'm not taking any chances. I hung my bag, packed my essentials and left for New Dawn Fertility. Dr. Lennox greeted me with a professional smile. “Bloodwork is excellent. Hormones optimal. Uterine lining is thick and receptive. Everything looks ready for the transfer.”“See me after the procedure.” She said smiling.I nodded, forcing calm. My pulse thrummed anyway. The ultrasound technician guided me to the examination table. My eyes flicked to the monitor: tiny dark circles marked follicles, lining ready. Everything looked perfect.Yet, a subtle hesitation among the nurses caught me. Whispers. Eyes darting between vials. Labels double-checked. My brow f

Zara’s POVAt my desk, I didn't let the denial affect my mood. I didn't let it settle. I opened my laptop, fingers brushing over the keys, trying to drown out the pounding in my chest.A buzz. My phone. Mom.How did it go? Are you okay?I stared at the screen. My thumb hovered. Typed. Deleted. Typed again. I’m managing. The truth, but not all of it. I couldn’t burden her yet. She already fought enough.The office around me blurred. Bills pressed on me, deadlines loomed, and Hale’s refusal was a knife I couldn’t pull out.If Finance wouldn’t release the funds…If the CEO wouldn’t bend…Then what was left?I leaned back, exhaling slowly, eyes scanning my screen. Then the thought hit me, sharp, almost electric, surrogacy.I’d seen the whispers online. Women in difficult situations, desperate for money, had taken this path. Not ideal. Not easy. But fast. Legal. Life saving.I swallowed. My stomach twisted. Fear and calculation tangled together. I could solve this. Provide for Mom. Keep

Zara's POVThe smell of antiseptic hits me the moment I step into Crestfield Medical Center. I wheeled my mom to a close corner outside room 302. As I waited patiently for the doctor. “Zara George,” a calm, professional voice called.I stood instantly. “Yes, Doctor Lawson.”He gestures for me to follow down the hall. Nurses glide past, and some other patients waited patiently.Inside the consultation room felt cold. I wasn't prepared for what he was about to say.“Zara, your mother’s kidneys aren’t responding the way we hoped. Her blood pressure is still high despite the medication. We’ll need to start dialysis soon.”Dialysis.The word hits like a sword piercing my heart, sharp. Final.I didn’t flinch. Panic accomplishes nothing. I tucked my braids behind my ear and met his eyes.“Alright,” I said, “What's the next step?”Dr. Lawson blinks, surprised by my composure. “Your insurance will cover the first sessions, but you’ll need to prepare for ongoing payments afterward.”I nodded