Da-Ha 4

“You look exhausted.”

Rachel, who was working the same shift as Hazel, spoke softly.

“Is something wrong at home?” she asked, curiosity creeping into her voice.

“A little.”

Hazel answered as she changed into her hospital cleaning uniform.

“Rachel…”

She hesitated, unsure how to begin. She waited until several other staff members had left the room before speaking, making sure no one else could overhear her.

“About that surrogate program you mentioned…”

“What? Did you change your mind?”

Rachel looked far more excited than she probably should have.

Hazel frowned.

“Don’t get the wrong idea about me, Hazel. I am excited, and I do want you to do it. Not because I dislike you, but because I honestly think this could be a fast way for you to save yourself and your family.”

Rachel took Hazel’s hand and gave it a firm squeeze.

“Think about Adrian. His medical expenses, his education, everything he’s going to need as he grows up. Do you really think you can afford all of that by working as a cleaner like this? Your body won’t stay young forever. You can’t keep working multiple jobs every single day for the rest of your life.”

Rachel was right.

More than anything, Hazel simply wanted to escape Douglas’s threats and find a safer place where she could take Cassandra and Adrian.

“Where can I apply?”

In the end, Hazel gave in.

“I’ll get an application form for you. Wait for me after our shift.”

With that settled, the two women began their morning shift.

At the Montoya Estate

“We’ve already received several applications for the surrogate position, Madam.”

Albert Thornton, head butler of the Montoya estate and Luciana’s most trusted confidant, spoke in a quiet voice.

Luciana was spending the afternoon in the estate’s greenhouse, carefully tending to her favorite flowers. She set down her gardening trowel and straightened.

“How many?”

She removed her gardening gloves.

“Twenty.”

“Have any of them been tested yet?”

Luciana sat down in a garden chair and took a sip of her tea, which had already gone cold.

“They were tested separately. Five of them have passed the qualifications you specified. Their IQ and EQ scores are both satisfactory.”

Albert handed her a tablet.

Luciana raised a hand toward her nurse, signaling for her glasses.

“Number twelve… she works as a cleaner?”

Luciana frowned.

Albert nodded.

“That doesn’t matter. The test results can’t be falsified, can they?”

“No, Madam.”

“Schedule a private interview with all of them. And remember, keep this from Damian and Natalia.”

Albert nodded again.

“Has that woman tried to apply?”

Albert knew exactly who Luciana was referring to and nodded.

“Her IQ and EQ scores weren’t satisfactory enough, Madam.”

The corner of Luciana’s mouth lifted into a mocking smile.

“Arrange the interviews as soon as possible. I don’t want to waste any more time.”

Albert nodded once more before leaving the greenhouse.

Luciana’s old eyes turned toward her beloved flower garden, a faint smile lingering on her lips.

“Did you hear that, Mischa?” she said to the nurse sitting beside her. “After three years, I’m finally going to get what I want.”

“I hope your wish comes true without any complications, Madam.”

“So do I.”

Several days passed without anything significant happening.

Hazel felt that her life had finally settled into something resembling peace, with no further trouble from Grayson.

She was still working two jobs every day and doing her best not to complain.

Cassandra had become much calmer after the incident with Grayson, while Adrian had seemed healthier lately, giving Hazel one less thing to worry about.

“Have you heard anything yet?”

Rachel asked eagerly.

They were having lunch on the hospital rooftop where they worked.

“Not yet. Dr. Sterling only told me that I passed the initial tests. He said the people hiring the surrogate would contact me directly after that.”

“You still don’t know who’s hiring the surrogate?”

“No. And I don’t think I need to know. All I need to know is that they’re going to pay me.”

“What about the sperm donor? Do you know anything about him?”

Hazel shook her head again.

“Maybe they’re keeping his identity a secret on purpose.”

She lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening slightly around her lunch container.

“Rachel, I only signed up to be a walking incubator. I don't want to know any of the other details because, honestly…”

Hazel sighed in frustration.

“I’m afraid I might become emotionally attached to the baby I’m supposed to give away.”

Rachel understood her friend’s anxiety. She reached over and gently patted Hazel’s shoulder, offering her silent reassurance.

The two women headed back down to their work floor via the emergency stairwell.

But the moment Hazel pulled the door leading to the main corridor open a crack, her fingers froze.

She immediately pushed it shut again and pressed her back firmly against it, holding it closed against the force from the other side.

“What’s wrong?”

Rachel stared at her friend in confusion, startled by Hazel’s sudden reaction.

“N-Nothing… I think I left something on the rooftop. You go ahead. I’ll catch up.”

Hazel stammered out the excuse before hurrying back up the stairs.

Still confused, Rachel merely shook her head and stepped into the corridor.

Hazel didn’t actually return to the rooftop.

The moment the heavy slam of the stairwell door below faded away, the strength drained from her legs.

She sank onto the steps, breathing hard, her heart pounding against her ribs.

Oh, God… I didn’t imagine it, did I?

Damian Montoya… What the hell is he doing here?!