"What do you mean by that?I won't let you blackmail me into doing something I don't want to do." "What if I decide to expose your father's sins? I would tell the world what he had done and I'm sure the outcome would be very disastrous to his company. And it would be your fault for not helping him when you could." I sighed breathing in deeply, looking up to meet his eyes with a scorn on face. "Give the paper to me. I will sign it, but I'm changing this to a year and nothing more." "Oh my little flower. You would be mine forever, mine to tame and own." "I hate you so much. And I would make sure you pay for this."
Lihat lebih banyakLENA'S POV
My heart raced extremely fast in fear as my eyes carefully read the content of the document in front of me. I wiped the drop of sweat on my forehead with the back of my palm. My pen hovering over the contract that would change my life forever, positively.
My financial freedom and the life of my sister all depended on this contract. One surrogacy, one child and five million dollars, the price of my freedom.
Most importantly, I was concerned about my sister's life. Emma was suffering from a debilitating disease. Her hospital treatment costed a fortune, I could barely afford to even pay for the hospital bed talkless of her treatment.
That was how I crossed paths with Dominic Knight, one thing led to another and we arrived at a contract. The terms were clear, I would carry his child and in return, a life changing sum of amount, five million dollars. The advantageos part was that I would never meet the father.
I had to seize the opportunity, hoping that there would be no regrets at all.
That same night, after I had successfully signed the deal to become a surrogate mother, my best friend, Emily whom I had told about everything had dragged to an masquerade party in order to loosen up a bit. Emily wanted me to see it as my last night of freedom before I would become locked up in the surrogacy deal.
We were dressed in our masquerade costume outfits. Apparently Emily was a personal friend to the person hosting the party so it meant easy access in.
As we made our way into the party arena, I noticed several luxurious car parked recklessly in the hotel's parking lot. My mouth was hung open in awe and my eyes widened in surprise at the eloquence of the party. This was not just any normal party, judging by the way some people were dressed, I could tell they had a lot of influence.
Emily and I were led into the grand ballroom, the decor on the inside was indeed a sight to behold. Crystal chandeliers were hung carelessly on the rooftop reflecting rainbow colors, illuminating the dance floor.
Masks fluttered as the crowd swayed their body in rhythm to the solemn music blaring from the speakers.
"Beautiful, is it not?" Emily whispered softly into my ears from behind. I turned around to gaze at her with an amused smile plastered on my face. It was indeed beautiful to behold, although I could not help but wonder how Emily had gotten us pass into such a fancy party as this. I needed to ask.
"Tell me your secret, how did you know about this party?" I asked. Emily laughed it off. She rolled her eyes at me and said in an excited tone. "So you remember this guy I told you about? Turns out he is the son of a multimillionaire CEO, anyways, his father is friends with the organizer of the masquerade party." Emily ranted.
I nodded my head slowly, I was not surprised. Emily had a thing of changing men every new week. She never exactly saw the idea of settling down for marriage as a big thing, neither did I.
"Anyways...." She trailed off. Emily paused to pick two cocktails from a waitress passing by. "We forget all our worries tonight and have fun!" She squealed, taking a sip of her cocktail and handing me the other.
Emily took my hand and we danced, our laughter echoing across the room. I shut my eyes close and allowed the music and champagne carry me away.
Sooner than later, Emily's fling or should I say boyfriend? Anyways, he walked up to us and snatched Emily away from me for a quick dance. I was left alone, sitting on one of the benches and wallowing in my thoughts. I was suddenly reminded of my predicament.
I immediately waved off the thought as Emily's voice rung in my ears. "We forget our worries and have fun!" She was right, I needed to loosen up. I stared at Emily with a smile plastered on my face.
That was when I saw him. A tall, lanky towering figure. His mask was a sleek black domino, complimenting his chiseled features. His hazel eyes were piercing and intense. Our eyes met and we locked gazes for a brief moment. I had to take my eyes off him immediately, as I felt shivers run down my spine.
My eyes settled on the floor as I slowly heard loud footsteps approach me. I gazed at the familiar black boots drawing closer. It was the guy I had just finished staring at.
"You dance like a dream." His deep voice startled me. I raised my head up to gaze at him with a surprised look on my face. His tone was laced with sincerity. Something about him felt charming, I could not help but wonder what he looked like without the mask on.
"Thank you." I muttered.
"What family are you from?" He asked. I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly and gulped a lump down my throat. "I am here with a friend actually." I chuckled nervously.
He slowly nodded his head, his next action took me off guard. He stretched out his had and asked in an eloquent tone. "May I?"
"Sure." I smiled confidently taking his hand. I felt electricity spark through my veins as our skins touched. The music changed into a much more slower one.
His dominant presence drew me in, and I slowly drowned myself into his embrace. The music, the people, the mask, everything around us slowly faded away as our bodies swayed together.
The night was fast, and the next thing I knew was that I was waking up in an unfamiliar environment, I laid on a king-sized bed. My heart began to race extremely fast as the memory of last night slowly replayed in my head.
That was when reality hit me, I was in a stranger's bed with no memory of his name.
Lena POV: Sleep eluded me.Even with the curtains tightly closed and the dim light from the hallway lamp Dominic insisted on leaving on “just in case," I couldn’t find rest. I wasn’t sure what he was preparing for, he never struck me as someone who feared nightmares.I lay on my side on the bed, my fingers gently resting on my stomach. Though there was no movement inside yet, I liked to imagine it was happening. I found comfort in the thought that even amid the stillness, something within me was pushing ahead, while the chaos outside felt like it had come to a standstill.Earlier that evening, he had handed me a folded note without a word. He simply placed it in my palm and stood there, arms crossed, as if bracing himself for something.It turned out to be a list. He had written it down by hand—neatly, with his precise, controlled script. Names like “Isla,” “Arden,” “Luca,” “Sera.”He didn’t ask me to choose. He didn’t express any preferences. He just left the list with me and walke
Dominic’s POV:The nursery was filled with the scent of fresh paint and new wood, a subtle fragrance that was soothing rather than overwhelming. That was the intention. I had requested a calm, neutral color scheme, nothing too bright or distracting. Just gentle beige walls, soft lighting, and clean lines. I wanted it to feel serene, like a space from one of those parenting magazines that promise peace to new parents.Peace. It was the one thing I still hadn’t managed to create for Lena.Not yet.I stood there with my hands in my pockets, once again surveying the room, even though it felt like I had already done so a dozen times. The crib was in the middle of the room, untouched and gleaming white. The rocking chair by the window was perfectly positioned to catch the early morning light. Above the crib, a mobile swayed gently, its little animals turning slowly as if they had all the time in the world. The silence was thick, almost sacred, yet it didn’t bring me any comfort. Instead, it
Cane POV: ---I hadn’t slept in two days.The ticking of the warehouse clocks was almost deafening. The air felt stagnant and heavy. It was as if the very walls were whispering secrets to one another. I remained glued to the same chair I’d been in for hours, replaying that old video of Lena yet again. She was just sitting there, staring into space. Her elbows rested on her knees, one hand laid across her stomach. A stillness that drove me crazy.“She’s too calm,” I murmured.“Maybe she’s just exhausted,” Luke chimed in from across the room, casually munching on a bag of peanuts as if we weren’t on the brink of chaos.“Don’t be ridiculous,” I shot back. “That’s not calmness; that’s giving up.”He raised an eyebrow, unbothered. “Or perhaps she simply wants peace, Cane.”I ignored him and turned the volume up a notch. The recording had no sound; it was just quiet. Still, I watched intently. I noticed the way her eyelids blinked slowly and how she ran her thumb over her knee, as if she w
Lena POV: ---I sat on the edge of the bed, still dressed in the same clothes from the day before. The morning had dragged on with little to do, just me staring at the walls and glancing at the open nursery door across the hall. The lullaby record had stopped playing ages ago, yet the silence felt like a lingering echo.A soft knock interrupted the stillness. I didn’t bother to respond, but Dominic entered anyway.He looked sharp in his suit, as always, but his face bore a weariness that was new. He paused by the door for a moment before speaking.“I brought someone for you,” he said.I blinked slowly, trying to process. “Who?”“A doctor. A private one, just for you and the baby.”My chest squeezed tight. “I didn’t ask for that.”“I understand,” he said, his tone steady. “But I needed to make sure.”“Sure of what?” I pressed.He didn’t reply; instead, he stepped aside to let a middle-aged woman enter. She was well-dressed, without a lab coat, just carrying a leather bag. She had an a
Lena POV: ---I found myself wandering aimlessly once more. The west wing felt too silent, a stillness that always made my heart race. My feet moved further and further away from where I had meant to go, past the study, past the hallway with the cracked mirror, past the locked room I had sworn never to enter again.Then I noticed something.A door stood ajar, a door I’d never seen before. No guards, no cameras. Just… open.I pushed it open cautiously.It was the nursery.The room was bathed in a soft, warm yellow light. The walls were a gentle cream, decorated with tiny painted stars that twinkled in the dimness. A shelf filled with children’s books rested neatly beneath a large window. These weren’t brand-new; they were worn and well-loved, as if they had been thoughtfully selected rather than hastily purchased. I stepped inside slowly. In the corner, there was a rocking chair with a neatly folded blue blanket draped over it. The crib was exquisitely hand-carved. Real wood. No mass-
Cane POV:Tone: Menacing, obsessive, possessive---I sat on the edge of the motel bed, my gaze fixed on my phone. The air in the room was thick with the smell of dust and cheap bleach, and the curtains hung askew, letting in slivers of light. I hadn’t eaten all day, but it didn’t bother me.A video popped up on my screen, sent by someone without a word of explanation. I pressed play.It was Dominic and Lena, and they were outside in a garden. She walked alongside him, moving slowly. He had his jacket slung over one arm, and he leaned in to say something. She didn’t smile, nor did she pull away.She looked worn out, while he appeared self-satisfied.There was a look in his eyes that said he felt a sense of ownership over her.I gritted my teeth and stopped the video.I replayed it.The same expressions, the same quiet exchange, the same uncomfortable space between them. She wasn't resisting; she wasn't shouting. She was merely... present.I watched it a third time.By the end, my res
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