Chapter 5

"Who is she?" Mark's question came out cold. Yet beneath the icy tone lay something else.

Resignation.

For the first time since their conversation began, a flicker of relief ignited inside Lily's chest.

"Mark...?" She studied his face cautiously, searching for any sign that she'd misunderstood him.

"Don't I have the right to know the woman who's going to carry my child?" His eyes locked onto hers.

The exhaustion in them was unmistakable.

Weeks of pressure from his mother had already pushed him to his limit. Now his wife was asking for a divorce. How much more was he supposed to endure?

"Y-You're... willing to do this?" Lily's voice trembled.

She forced herself to sound uncertain, though inwardly she knew she had already won the first battle.

"I need to know who she is first." Mark's tone hardened again. "I want to know everything about her."

"Is she physically healthy? Mentally stable?" His gaze sharpened. "Is she someone I'd trust to carry a Harrison heir?"

Lily lowered her eyes, nervously fidgeting with her fingers.

"She's... My old friend."

"What's her name?" Mark frowned. "I thought I knew all of your friends."

"You don't know her." Lily shook her head. "She disappeared long before you and I met."

"What do you mean?" His brows drew together. "She vanished seven years ago."

Lily looked down again.

"We only ran into each other by accident a few days ago at our wedding anniversary party."

Mark's expression shifted.

"She was one of the guests?"

Lily slowly shook her head. A knot formed in Mark's stomach.

"She... was one of the catering staff that night."

Mark let out a dry, cynical laugh.

"So let me get this straight. Your long-lost best friend disappears for seven years......then suddenly reappears at your lavish anniversary party?"

He looked at her skeptically.

"And you're not the least bit suspicious of her motives? "What if she planned all of this?"

"That's impossible, Mark." Lily immediately defended Abigail. "She comes from a very respectable family."

Her expression was innocent—almost heartbreakingly so.

She looked every bit like someone too kind to suspect the worst in people.

"It's just that..." Her voice softened. "Her life has been... incredibly tragic these past seven years. "She came to me because—"

"To borrow money?" Mark interrupted sharply. "And your solution was to offer her womb as payment?"

His voice rose with every word.

"How much has this woman already taken from you, Lily?"

"Mark, she's not taking advantage of me—"

Before she could finish, the phone resting on the table began to vibrate.

Abigail Spencer.

The name flashed across the screen.

Mark instinctively reached for the phone but Lily picked it up first.

"Let me answer it." She met his eyes firmly.

"You still think she isn't manipulating you?" Mark asked with obvious skepticism.

Lily shot him an irritated look.

Mark merely shrugged before walking toward the private balcony attached to the dining room. He slipped a cigarette from the pack in his pocket and lit it.

He rarely smoked. Only when the pressure became unbearable.

Lily waited until she'd put enough distance between them. Then she stepped out of the private dining room altogether before answering the call.

"Abby?" Concern instantly filled her voice. "What's wrong?"

On the other end...

Abigail was crying.

"Lily..." Her voice shook so violently it barely sounded like her. "Lily... I need your help."

A sob caught in her throat.

"Please..."

"Tell me." Lily's voice softened. "If it's within my power, I'll help you."

"My daughter..." Abigail's breathing was ragged with panic. "She was in an accident. She needs emergency surgery."

A sob escaped her.

"I... I don't have the money..."

Lily closed her eyes. When she spoke again, her voice was calm. Almost emotionless.

"Have you thought about my proposal?"

Abigail fell silent.

"If you agree to become my surrogate..." Lily continued, "...I'll pay your daughter's medical expenses immediately."

"Lily..."

"One life..." Lily's voice was unwavering now.  "...for another."

A heavy silence stretched between them.

"That's a fair exchange, isn't it, Abby?" There was no pleading anymore. No persuasion. Lily already knew who would win.

"...All right." Abigail's answer came in a broken whisper. "I'll do it."

She squeezed her eyes shut.

"But..."

"How much do you need?"

Abigail quietly named the amount.

"Send me your bank account." Lily didn't hesitate. "I'll transfer the money right away."

Then her tone turned serious.

"And Abby... Don't even think about backing out of our agreement."

"I won't." Abigail shook her head, though Lily couldn't see it. "I swear."

***

A few minutes later, Lily returned to the private dining room.

Mark looked up immediately.

"What did she want?" His voice was cold enough to make Lily's pulse quicken.

The sharpness in his eyes... The rigid line of his jaw... She knew he was angry.

"She..." Lily answered honestly. "She was asking for my help."

"Money?" Mark asked flatly. Lily remained silent. "I knew it."

He let out a bitter laugh.

"You're too kind. That's exactly why people take advantage of you."

"Mark... "It's not like that."

"Stop defending her." He cut her off. "When can I meet her?"

Lily blinked.

"You... still want to? You don't have to." She tried to smile reassuringly. "I can handle all of the arrangements myself. You don't need to meet her."

"I do." Mark's answer was immediate. "I'll decide for myself whether she's fit to carry my child."

"Mark..."

"Arrange a meeting." His tone left no room for negotiation. "As soon as possible."

He leaned back in his chair.

"I've already agreed to your plan." His eyes turned cold again. "So let me at least have a say in choosing the walking incubator."

The words hit Lily harder than she expected. She looked at him, her eyes slowly filling with tears.

Even so...

She simply nodded.

"I'll arrange it."

***

Hospital

"Abby..." Elena gently squeezed her shoulder. "Are you okay?"

Abigail forced a faint smile. Then she nodded.

"I have the money." She stared down at the dark screen of her phone, waiting for the transfer notification to appear.

"Where did you get it?" Elena frowned with concern. "You didn't borrow it from those loan sharks again, did you?" Guilt flickered across her face.

She hated being unable to help. But the truth was... Her own financial situation wasn't much better than Abigail's.

"No." Abigail shook her head. "Derek would never lend me money."

She lowered her gaze. "I got it from someone else. A friend."

"My old friend."

Relief washed over Elena's face.

"Thank goodness." Then another worry surfaced. "She's not charging you some outrageous interest, is she?"

Abigail fell silent. Her fingers tightened around her phone.

Interest...

Could giving Lily her baby after carrying the child for nine months...

Ever really be called interest?