THE SURROGATE

CHAPTER 9

A FEW MONTHS LATER

The day started like any other day. There's still no word from Maxwell. But she has this feeling that he's been in her room a few times while she's sleeping.

But when she asked the caretaker she always says that the Master has never been in the mansion. That he was so busy he doesn't have the time to visit.

Well she couldn’t really refute the old woman because she herself were not sure if her assumptions were right or wrong. Anyways, she should stop thinking about stupid things. She has more important things to do.

They were at the hospital again for her monthly check up, and with twins she has a hard time walking. Stopping for the nth time she looked around and felt relieved when she saw that she's not the only pregnant woman walking around. There's even a woman not far from her who has a very large stomach, almost twice her size but the amazing thing is she's not even waddling. She's actually walking very fast. How she does that?!

That was time she saw her. A very unexpected familiar face. She looked worried and anxious, but when the woman finally saw Shaina her face suddenly showed relief.

"Shaina!" She called while walking towards her.

Maxwell's secretary immediately stood in front of Shaina as if to protect her, but Shaina just brush her off.

"I know her. So please can you—"

"Thank God you came today. Cristy were calling you since yesterday. We even talk to a woman who said that she will tell you. But you never called back.."

Shaina looked at the secretary and she sneered when she saw that she looked guilty. She then turn around and said, "Sorry Grandma, that woman probably forgotten to tell me.. So is there's something wrong?"

"It's Lina...She's..."

At first Shaina had a hard time understanding what she's saying. But when her words finally clicked to her broken mind she suddenly felt a sharp pain from her belly which was not subsiding.

On tenterhooks for the past few months, Shaina unexpectedly went into premature labor. Thankfully though, they were still in the hospital. A nurse immediately went to them and help them.

Shaina lay in bed, her face ghastly pale. When she looked up, the light from an incandescent lamp constantly flashed before her eyes. Under tremendous pain, she broke out in a cold sweat. After seven months of pregnancy, she was finally going to be released. The secretary went with her toward the delivery room, constantly giving her words of encouragement. “Miss Marquez, don’t be afraid! You and the children will be fine; I’ll wait outside for the good news!”

“Thank you...”

Shaina closed her eyes as she was pushed into the delivery room, the doors shutting behind them.

Four hours later, a resonant wail could be heard from the room.

“It’s a healthy baby boy!”

The nurse placed the baby into an incubator and sent him to the nursery room for newborns. Cristy who immediately came when she heart what happened paced about and frantically looked around outside the delivery room.

The secretary walked toward the nursery room. Inspecting the newborn from the other side of the glass window, she turned to ask, “What about the other one?”

The nurse apologetically replied, “We are terribly sorry! Because it is a premature delivery, the younger one is too weak. When he came out, he was already not breathing....”

The secretary’s face stiffened from shock and inquired, “Is there no hope?”

The nurse frankly spoke, “... Yes.”

She was disappointed, but she could do nothing about it. “Fine. Please deal with that child, accordingly.”

When she was done talking to the nurse, she held up her phone to contact some of her people to send an ambulance over; she intended to transfer the newborn to the Fontana family’s Main Mansion. There's already room there dedicated for the newborn and high end medical room just for emergencies. Like today.. ²

Before she left, she filled out a check and passed it over to Cristy. She spoke politely, “Ms. Roberson. Your best friend has suffered for these past few months. This is the remaining payment. Please accept it!”

Dazed, Cristy received the check from her. The secretary then left in a hurry.

Inside the delivery room, Shaina was exhausted of her energy and she passed out.

The nurse went over to her and was about to deal with the stillborn infant. However, just as she held him up, she noticed something strange. Her pupils shook and her expression changed drastically. She frantically rushed toward the doctor with the baby.

“Doctor!”

..........

Six years later.

Time passed. Years and months went by in a flash.

Within the bustling crowd in a grocery store Shaina Marquez, who was pushing a cart was anxiously looking around back and forth. Her steps were hasty.

She just went to the daily essentials section to take something. However, when she looked backward, he was gone and was nowhere to be found.

Passing by the toys section, she slowed down her pace and scanned the entire area. Suddenly, she caught sight of a petite figure. Shaina shrugged before sighing helplessly. The corners of her mouth curled up and she chuckled to herself. She then pushed the cart toward that direction and bent down behind the figure.

A little boy was standing in front of a rack, his eyes were focused on a beautifully wrapped remote-controlled racing car. He seemed really young, about five or six years of age. He was wearing a set of clean school uniform that was a little big for his thin frame.

Smooth, silky, blond hair, jade-like skin, a youthful face with exquisite features and rosy cheeks – he was quite the lovely boy!

He owned a pair of large, glistening green eyes, which twinkled at times, clear and beautiful. His deep-set eyes were framed with thick, curly lashes.

This charming and lovely young boy looked just like a little angel. However, right now, the little angel had a serious look on his face, seemingly possessing the maturity of an adult. Then the lovely child turned around and smiled at the woman besides him. The serious little boy vanished and he is back as a little angel once more...

"Mommy!"

.........