CHAPTER 3

My footsteps sounded light against the marbled tiles as i walked into Jason's study, the strong musty scent of books filled my nostrils and i could also pick up the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the air.

I turned around gently, scanning the area in search of something. A safe.

I looked at the shelves, using my fingers to carefully trace each book before finding a gap in between two large ledgers. Taking the books apart, i pulled out a little safe box from within, it wasn't too heavy, just enough to be pulled with two hands alone.

There definitely had to be something in here, i was certain of it. I punched in the passcode, something i knew by heart as my hands trembled  from anxious anticipation.

The digital lock made a small beep, the door opening slowly. Almost as if it seemed eager to reveal the secrets hidden inside.

My hands skimmed through the neatly arranged pile of documents and files, picking one at a random and quickly reading through it before placing it aside.

There were mostly contracts, deeds and a few other business documents. Not exactly what i was looking at the moment. I sighed, exhaling into the air, feeling both exhausted and frustrated at this point. Worse still, i had already gone through every file in the safe and not one looked shady or raised any suspicions.

I lifted the empty safe with both hands, trying to make sure that i hadn't left out any document. There was nothing...... I groaned, shaking the safe vigorously like it had done me some huge wrong.

The sound of something rattling made me pause for a second. I leaned my ears against the metal box, shaking it once more. The same rattling sound came through, and the more i shook the box, the louder it rattled.

I smiled, finally seeing a breakthrough after two long hours of searching - This safe had a hidden compartment!!. I placed the safe on the desk, wiping off a thin veil of sweat that had begun to form on my face.

I roamed my hands around, searching for the compartment's access point. Feeling the floor of the safe,i raised a small hook, mainly out of curiosity, lifting the base of the safe gently.

A small USB laid at the very base, i gripped it, rushing towards the personal computer sitting on the large teakwood desk.

Cracking my knuckles, i stretching my neck, trying to ease up my fatigue. My fingers flew, dancing gracefully on the keyboard's keys.

I knew the password, so logging in was an easy task. I plugged in the USB i had found into the port, trying to access the files contained within it. I had absolutely no idea of what to expect, i gulped my saliva down, fighting the uneasy feelings as my heart beat accelerated.

Several windows popped up, but i clicked on another file instead.

It was a video. No......a surveillance video, captured on the night of the accident. I lowered my gaze, sighting the time and date recorded right below the screen. With my headphones plugged in, i pressed play. My elbows rested on the desk as i clasped my fingers together, the hospital background looked very familiar. Like the one i had been hospitalized in nine years ago.

"Amputate her legs, Sir ?!"

I watched two men discussing, one dressed in a white medical coat, suggesting that he was a doctor and the other.......who beared an uncanny resemblance to Jason. He had his back to the hospital ward as he took a long drag of his cigarette.

"But sir, her legs are just fine, only sustaining some minor sprains. With some treatment, I'm sure-"

"Aren't you listening to what I'm saying?!" - Jason exhaled a puff of smoke, crushing the cigarette with his shoes. " I don't want you to offer her any treatment. I just want to get rid of her legs, i don't give a damn if it can be healed."

My heart ached, like it was being pressed down by a big boulder. It made my every breaths an unevened strain. My hands slipped subconsciously, feeling my left prosthetic leg.

"It's already generous enough that I'm letting her keep one of the pair intact. Because of her, Irina missed her movie audition and had even sprained her ankle. It isn't bad if she repaid in kind by losing one of hers."

The sound of his familiar, cold voice made me clench my fists. Resentment burned in my heart, just because of a damned movie audition, he had my legs amputated.

" You don't have to worry much about the pay. I'll definitely give you whatever amount you need, after..... you get the job done."

I paused the clip, tears slipping out of my eyes. I had thought that i could brace myself for anything, but now, i was beginning to find myself lacking in the area. I could no longer bear to listen to his cruel words anymore.

I spent time staring blankly at the screen which was still brightly lit. I had to keep pushing myself forward, pinning my lips, i clicked on another tab. There was no going back now, i needed to know more about my parents' death. And if it was all for this shallow reason.

This time, unlike the other - the surveillance video captured the inside of an operating room. In it, i laid down, strapped to the operating table. Looking pale like i had been gravely ill.

"Mr Smith, i wish to advise that this is highly inappropriate."

" What is?!"- Jason asked nonchalantly, his eyes lowered as he looked down on the surgeon.

" Is it necessary to remove all of Miss Woods ovaries?. You could have three to four, but having to harvest all of it could cause severe damages to her womb. Isn't she your wife, why would you want to do such a thing to her?." - the surgeon spoke, his voice hinted with worry.

"Yes, she is. But i don't want her carrying my child, consider it.....as carrying out some contraceptive control. Only Irina can bear my children." -  He glanced over his shoulders, his eyes staring at the unconscious me on the table.

"She, on the other hand doesn't count for much. Also have mine and Irina's fetilized egg placed inside her, don't damage it."

"Removing her eggs and then having her surrogate. She won't be able to handle it, she's too weak for this. She could risk being infertile forever....i....i can't"- the surgeon hesitated.

"Then ......would you like me to hand over evidence of your medical malpractices to the police?" - Jason threatened in a low voice. " Do as you've been told, you aren't in any place to defy orders given to you."

My shoulders shuddered at the devastating discovery, my hands tracing the deep C-section scar that was right below my belly button. A son whom i had almost died delivering, wasn't even my biological child.

Calmly calculating the time of the surrogacy and the time frame at which i had conceived Edward - it all matched. I laughed hysterically, unsure if it was better if i had cried.

Now it all made sense, everything seemed clearer now. No wonder he loathed me, i wasn't even his biological mother. All this while, I'd been raising a bastard.