All Chapters of His Surrogate Fled, He Never Stopped: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Aria's POVThe authorization went through in less than an hour.I watched the medical team rush around Jessica's bed. Dr. Martinelli came out twenty minutes later."We're starting the advanced protocol immediately," he said. "The payment came through from a private foundation. Your sister is going to receive the best treatment available.""Thank you," I whispered."She's a fighter, Miss Rossi. With proper treatment, she has an excellent chance of full recovery."He walked away. I slid down the wall beside Jessica's room until I was sitting on the cold hospital floor, my legs no longer able to support me.A child. I'd agreed to carry Damian Cavalieri's child.The thought sent shudders through my entire body. For nine months, I would be nothing more than an incubator for his heir. Nine months of being owned, controlled, molded to serve his purposes. And then I'd have to give birth and walk away, never seeing my baby again.Hot tears started streaming down my face as the full scope of my

Aria’s POV"Miss Rossi. We'll be going directly to the corporate offices. Mr. Cavalieri will meet you there in two hours."I nodded, not trusting my voice, and slid into the backseat. The interior was a study in understated luxury—supple leather that probably cost more than most people's annual salaries.Yet despite all the opulence, I felt like I was sitting in a hearse.The city blurred past the tinted windows as we drove through Florence's winding streets. I watched my old life recede—the familiar café where I'd worked, the narrow alleyways where I'd learned to navigate as a child, the bridge where Jessica and I used to feed pigeons with stale bread from the orphanage. Each landmark felt like a goodbye.We entered the business district, where glass towers reached toward the sky. The driver pulled up in front of a sleek building that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it. Two security guards flanked the entrance, their tailored suits doing little to conceal the weapons I was

Aria’s POVHe rose from his chair with predatory grace, his movements deliberate and controlled as he circled around the desk. When he finally stopped in front of me, towering over where I sat on the leather sofa, the atmosphere became suffocating."Aria," he said, his voice so soft it was barely above a whisper. "Do you think this is a negotiation?"I forced myself to meet his gaze, though every instinct screamed at me to look away. "I'm simply suggesting a more... professional approach to achieving your goals."His laugh was low and humorless, a sound that sent shivers down my spine. "Professional." He repeated the word as if it amused him. "You seem to be under the impression that you have leverage here. That you're in a position to dictate terms.""I just think this arrangement would benefit both of us—""Would it?" Damian leaned down, his hands gripping the armrests of my chair, effectively trapping me between his body and the leather upholstery. The scent of his cologne envelope

Aria’s POVSix months of medical procedures before resorting to his preferred method. It was the only compromise I could think of that might preserve some shred of my dignity while still giving him what he wanted.Damian's dark eyes studied me with the intensity of a predator evaluating prey. The silence stretched on, filled only by the distant hum of Florence traffic forty-two floors below and the thundering of my own heartbeat in my ears."Interesting," he said finally.He leaned back in his leather chair, fingers steepled as he regarded me with what might have been amusement or annoyance—I couldn't tell which was more terrifying. "You seem to believe you're in a position to make counter-offers.""Because you haven't left," I replied, forcing my voice to remain steady despite the tremor in my hands. "If you had better options, you would have ended this conversation the moment I questioned your terms."The words came out stronger than I felt. Inside, terror clawed at my chest. I was

Aria's POVThe small apartment felt even more cramped as I moved around, pulling clothes from the narrow wardrobe and folding them into my worn suitcase. Each item I packed felt like another piece of my old life being carefully stored away, probably never to be needed again.Sofia sat on the edge of my bed, watching me with red-rimmed eyes that she kept trying to hide by looking away."Aria," Sofia said quietly, her voice thick with unshed tears. "If something goes wrong—if they hurt you or if the situation becomes unbearable—you have to find a way to contact me. Promise me.""Sofia—""Promise me," she insisted, gripping my free hand with surprising strength. "I don't care how powerful they are or how dangerous it might be. I'll find a way to get you out of there. We'll figure something out together, just like we always have."The fierce determination in her voice made my chest tight with emotion. This was Sofia at her core—loyal to a fault, willing to throw herself against impossible