Bella's POV
That tiny flutter on the ultrasound monitor represented everything I had sacrificed for.
Life was growing inside me. Not mine, but life nonetheless. The reality of what I had agreed to do finally hit me as I stared at that grainy black and white image.
I remained perched on the examination table long after the technician left, my legs swinging freely, the paper gown crumpled beneath me. No tears came. No joy either. Just this crushing sensation that seemed to weigh down my entire body.
The evening I decided to go through with this arrangement, desperation had driven every choice. Mom was slipping away from us. Dad had been gone for years, leaving Kaden barely old enough to understand why everything around us was crumbling. Bills stacked higher than hope, and everyone who claimed they cared suddenly became experts at looking the other way.
My uncle promised assistance, then mocked me when I actually asked. My aunt delivered sympathy instead of the financial help we desperately needed. Maybe I sound ungrateful, but I was willing to earn every dollar she had. The one man who agreed to help suggested I visit him after midnight, promising to make it worth my while.
That moment showed me the truth. I was completely alone.
I spent that entire night researching ways to earn money quickly. My eyes burned from exhaustion and tears. The first legitimate-looking advertisement caught my attention. Surrogate wanted. One hundred thousand dollars. It seemed impossible. Too perfect to be real, but I clicked anyway.
I was young and inexperienced. With absolutely nothing left to lose.
The fertility agency contacted me within hours and provided detailed information. Medical appointments were scheduled immediately. Before the week ended, legal documents sat before me and five thousand dollars appeared in my checking account. Mom's most urgent medical bills were paid that same day.
Everything accelerated from there. Faster than I could process. Expensive gifts arrived. Gourmet meals were delivered. Designer clothes in my exact size appeared at my door. Money transferred whenever I mentioned a need. The VALERIUS'Empire family remained mysterious billionaires, according to the agency. They wanted a child, nothing beyond that arrangement, and all communication had to go through official channels.
Yesterday evening, another document required my signature. They explained it involved minor modifications to final payment details. I signed without reading. Exhaustion overwhelmed me, hunger made me dizzy, and food delivery waited downstairs. The moment I submitted that signed paperwork, fifty thousand dollars hit my account.
This morning, I decided to express my gratitude.
Following my hospital appointment, I climbed into a taxi for the ride home. I thanked the driver, retrieved my purse from the backseat, and climbed the apartment steps slowly.
Delicious aromas greeted me the instant I opened our front door.
"Kaden?" I called out.
"Kitchen," his voice responded.
The entire place smelled like garlic and fresh tomatoes and roasted chicken and my absolute favorite pasta dish. My stomach responded with an audible growl.
"This is why having you as my brother rocks," I announced, dropping my bag onto the sofa.
He smiled widely, his thick dark curls bouncing as he emerged from behind the refrigerator. "Perfect timing. You just made it."
"You're literally six feet tall. Why is that cabinet hanging open?" I stretched upward to close it, but he reached it first.
"Already making your plate," he said.
I collapsed onto the couch and extended my legs fully.
He appeared with a generously filled bowl and handed me silverware.
"Did you see Mom today?" I asked between bites.
"Yeah. She looks much stronger." He stopped, studying my expression. "That's all because of you, Bella. Everything you've done."
I nodded while chewing more deliberately. He understood so little about the true cost.
I placed the bowl aside and grabbed my phone. Mrs. VALERIUS'Empire deserved my thanks. She maintained professional distance, always courteous but never unfriendly. Sending appreciation felt appropriate after her consistent honesty and reliability.
I opened our chat thread, the single approved contact method.
Hey Mrs. VALERIUS'Empire, wanted to let you know Ev was good at today's appointment. Looking forward to those prenatal massage sessions, I wrote, including a cheerful emoji.
The message delivered instantly, blue checkmarks appearing immediately.
Her response arrived quickly. Hello, Bella. Thank you for updating me about Lucy. Did the agency not contact you?
My eyebrows pulled together in confusion.
No problem at all. Contact me about what? Is something wrong? I typed while taking another bite. The food lost all flavor when her next message appeared.
Everything remains fine. However, we have chosen not to proceed with the surrogacy arrangement. That was the purpose of last evening's document and the agency should have explained these changes to you.
My fork crashed against the plate and my stomach plummeted with it.
I stared at those impossible words on my screen. This had to be some kind of mistake. I'm not someone who overreacts to single messages. I forced myself to stay calm, adjusted my position and started typing again.
Please Mrs. VALERIUS'Empire, surely this isn't something to joke about, I responded, adding a smiling emoji to keep things light.
I waited. My eyes refused to blink, focused entirely on those three dots that appeared and vanished repeatedly. The apartment felt unnaturally quiet despite the television playing in the background. I could hear Kaden humming softly while cleaning dishes, that familiar sound making the anxiety crawling under my skin feel deafening. Like my entire world was about to shatter from within.
Her final message arrived.
Silas and I have concluded we are not prepared for a daughter currently, and we would prefer having a son first. This time we want to pursue natural conception rather than surrogacy. I apologize sincerely about this situation, Bella. I wish you the best. Please contact the agency directly as we will no longer communicate through this channel. Thank you.
Complete shock overwhelmed me. Devastating, crushing shock.
My hands shook violently as I gripped the phone. Breathing became impossible. I was attempting to inhale, but nothing seemed to reach my lungs. My chest burned like something vital had been destroyed inside me. I blinked repeatedly, hoping I had misread her words or missed some crucial detail. But everything was crystal clear. They no longer wanted this baby and were abandoning our agreement entirely.
I attempted calling her number with trembling fingers. It rang once before disconnecting. I tried again, but this time silence met me immediately.
"The number you have dialed..." I ended the call before the recording finished and returned to WhatsApp.