Chapter 6

"Miss Spencer?"  A heavyset man wearing glasses looked at Abigail with measured scrutiny.

As they had agreed, today was the day Abigail would sign the surrogacy agreement with the Harrisons. Lily had asked her to meet at an upscale restaurant in the heart of the city.

"I'm Charles Walker." The man extended his hand politely. "I'm the Harrison family's attorney."

"Abigail Spencer." She shook his hand, unable to hide her nervousness.

"Please, have a seat."

Abigail nodded and sat down, leaving an empty chair between them. Mr. Walker slid a leather folder across the table.

"This is the contract prepared by Mr. and Mrs. Harrison." His tone remained calm and professional. "Please read it carefully. If there's anything you'd like to revise or add, let me know."

Abigail accepted the folder with slightly trembling hands. She slowly turned each page.

Although she knew almost nothing about legal documents, every clause was written clearly enough for her to understand.

The contract officially established her as a gestational surrogate. She would become pregnant through an IVF embryo transfer procedure. Throughout the pregnancy and until the birth, every one of her living expenses would be covered by the Harrison family.

Another clause stated that she would be required to live in a residence chosen by the Harrisons so they could monitor her health whenever necessary. Abigail had just finished reading the final page when the private room door opened.

Mark Harrison walked in. Lily followed quietly behind him.

"Lily..." Abigail immediately stood. She instinctively took a step forward, wanting nothing more than to thank Lily for saving Amora's life.

But she stopped.

The coldness radiating from Mark's expression was impossible to ignore. His silent rejection froze her where she stood.

Mark looked Abigail over from head to toe.

Carefully. Judging every detail.

He hadn't actually arrived late. For the past thirty minutes, he, Lily, and Mr. Walker had been in another private room.

A temporary CCTV camera had been installed specifically so they could observe Abigail before meeting her face-to-face.

Seeing her in person felt very different from watching her through a monitor.

Mark recognized her immediately. She was the same woman he'd seen talking to Lily at the hotel during their anniversary celebration. Back then, she'd been dressed in a waitress's uniform.

Today, she wore ordinary clothes. Different...

Yet somehow they left him with exactly the same impression.

Cheap.

This is the woman who's supposed to carry my child? Disgust churned in Mark's stomach. So did anger.

A single mother. A woman who gave birth without even knowing who the father was.

And now she's willing to rent out her womb for money?

His opinion of Abigail sank even lower. In Mark's eyes, it didn't matter that Abigail had dressed in her best clothes. She still looked cheap.

Nothing more than a selfish woman willing to sell herself for money.

"Abigail Spencer?" Mark's deep, icy voice sounded nothing like it had the last time she'd heard him speak.

The moment he said her name, Abigail caught something in his tone that sent a chill down her spine.

Hatred.

Disdain.

Anger she couldn't understand.

"Are you certain you want to become our surrogate?"

Weren't you the ones who wanted me to do this? Then why do you look like you hate the very idea?

Abigail gave a small nod. She had been uncertain from the very beginning. Now that uncertainty only grew stronger.

But...

Did she have any other choice? A life had been saved. Now she had to repay that life with another.

Lily had saved Amora. This was the debt Abigail had agreed to pay.

"You don't have any hereditary diseases or genetic disorders, do you?" Mark's piercing gaze never left her.

Abigail instinctively glanced at Lily, who stood beside her husband with one arm wrapped tightly around his.

"I'm certain I don't, sir," Abigail answered steadily.

"Even so..." Mark's expression remained unreadable. "I don't take chances."

"You'll undergo a complete medical evaluation."

Without looking away from Abigail, he addressed the attorney.

"Walker. Schedule every necessary examination." His voice grew colder. "And make sure she's completely... clean."

Humiliation burned through Abigail. She lowered her eyes and remained silent.

"Yes, sir." Walker immediately made a note.

Mark continued as if negotiating a business acquisition rather than discussing another human being.

"This is nothing more than a transaction. So don't misunderstand your place."

"Don't ever think about using the child you give birth to as leverage to extort us in the future.”

His words struck like knives.

"Once the contract is signed, your only responsibility is carrying my child. "You'll cut off unnecessary contact with other people."

"You will avoid attracting attention or giving anyone reason to question who the baby's father is." He paused only briefly. "And after the child is born..."

"...you and every member of your family will leave this city."

His gaze turned almost threatening.

"As far away as possible.”

"And from that day forward... You are never to contact my wife again."

Abigail instinctively looked toward Lily. At that exact moment, Lily lifted her eyes to Mark with unmistakable affection shining through them.

So... this is what love looks like.

A dull ache spread across Abigail's chest. Mark loved Lily so deeply...

That he was willing to do anything—Anything at all— To keep the woman he loved safe, protected, and happy.

"Do you understand what I'm saying?" Mark fixed her with another cold, unwavering stare.