Chapter 4 THE MYSTERIOUS SURROGACY OFFER

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"Let it burn by Jared Benjamin"..

Haven's steps were slow, calculated and unsure.

My feet dragging across the hospital floor like they carried all the weight of the world. My mother's health crisis and bills felt more like it.

The brown envelope was still clutched tightly to my chest like it held my mother's last breath.

In a way, it did. Inside it was not just a paper...it was the line between life and death, and I couldn't afford either side....

I sniffed, wiped the corner of my eyes with the back of my hand, and forced my trembling legs to move. My mind spun in wild circles barely even seeing where I was going to.

"Dr. Vanessa... Dr. Vanessa.."

"She might know what to do. Maybe... maybe she can help. I have to tell her to help me"...

I followed the corridor down to the left, asking questions about Dr. Vanessa's office.. looking at every name symbol on the door..

Past the emergency ward, to the private consultant offices...

Until finally, Nessa's door was half-closed. There was no one else waiting outside. Her name was mounted on a small silver plaque beside the entrance.

"Dr. Vanessa Moore"... I read inaudibly.

I took a deep breath and knocked gently, my voice barely above a whisper. "Dr. Vanessa?"

There was a pause. Then a low, strained voice replied, "Come in."

I pushed the door open. The office was dim, sunlight filtering lazily through the blinds. The scent of lavender mixed with faint notes of antiseptic.

Dr. Vanessa sat behind her desk, her long curly hair loosely tied up. Her eyes looked tired, red around the edges, and there was a tea mug in front of her that hadn't been touched.

Nessa looked up slowly and blinked, as though surprised someone had dared enter.

"Haven?" she said, frowning slightly.

Haven nodded. "I... I hope I'm not disturbing you."

Nessa paused, took in Haven's pale face, swollen eyes, the tight grip on the envelope. She sat up straighter, her expression softening. "No. You're not. Come in."

I stepped inside, closed the door gently behind me, and walked to the seat opposite Nessa's. My hands were shaking so badly, I had to drop the envelope on the table just to steady them.

My legs were involuntarily trembling...

"My mom..." I began, my voice cracking like thin glass. "She... the doctors said she needs surgery and chemotherapy immediately."

Nessa nodded slowly, not saying a word. She had heard...

"The bills... they said fifty million. I..." I broke off, tears spilling down my cheeks again.

"Where am I supposed to get that kind of money? I'm just one girl. No father. No siblings. No helper. Just me and her..."

Nessa's chest tightened. She looked away, blinking back her own emotions.

She wanted to hold Haven, hug her, lie to her and say everything would be fine. But she couldn't lie. Not today.

She reached forward, gently slid the envelope closer and tapped it once with her fingers. "I saw the file. I know it's urgent."

I nodded miserably. "She's the only one I have, Doctor. I can't lose her. Not now. Please help me. I am willing to do anything for you. Just help my mom, please.." tears spilling down my cheeks again...

Nessa was quiet for a long moment. Then she sighed, sat back in her chair, and crossed her arms loosely. Her tone softened.

"There's something... something I need to tell you, I don't know what you will make of it but at least I passed the information. I don't ever want to feel guilty if someone happens in the end" she said, looking straight at Haven.

I sniffled and met her eyes. "What is it?"

"It might sound strange," Nessa continued, "even crazy. But just hear me out, okay?"

I blinked slowly. "Okay."

"There's someone," Nessa said, "a man. He made me an offer today. This morning."

"What kind of offer?" My mind spiraling to something else totally.

Nessa hesitated. The words still tasted bitter in her mouth. She took another breath.

"He's looking for a surrogate. Someone to carry his child. No strings attached. Just a business arrangement. And he's offering two hundred million naira."

My jaw dropped.

"What?" I whispered.

Nessa nodded slowly. "Yes. Two hundred million."

I blinked like I hadn't heard properly. "For a baby?"

"Yes."

"To just carry a child?"

"Exactly."

There was silence.

I stared, then chuckled in disbelief. "This is a joke, right?"

"I wish it was," Nessa said softly. "But he's serious. Very serious."

"Why... why doesn't he just go to an agency?" I asked, confused, my voice trembling. "There are people who do these things legally, professionally..."

"He doesn't want an agency. He wants it quiet. Discreet. No noise, no drama. Just someone willing to carry the child, and vanish when it's done."

I leaned back, looking lost. "But why are you telling me this?"

Nessa swallowed hard, her throat dry. "Because... I thought about your situation. The bill. Your mother. And I know this sounds extreme, but... this is the kind of money that could save her. Not just save her...give her a fighting chance."

I stared at her like she'd grown another head.

"You're saying... I should be a surrogate?"

"I'm not saying you should," Nessa replied carefully. "I'm saying it's an option. One you should know about. Because right now, that bill isn't going anywhere. And no one is coming to help."

I looked away. The room felt like it was spinning. My chest rose and fell with shallow breaths.

"A baby."

"Someone else's baby."

"For money."

"Two hundred million."

"My mother's life."

I stood up slowly, walked to the window, pressed my palms against the glass and stared out. Tears rolled silently down my cheeks.

"I've never even been pregnant before," I whispered. "I don't know what that's like. I don't even have a boyfriend. I haven't even really lived my life..."

"I can tell just by looking at you, Haven" Nessa said softly behind her. "That's why I didn't want to bring it up at first. But then I thought... If there's even a chance to save your mother, maybe it's worth considering."

Haven turned slowly, her face full of confusion. "Who is this man?"

Nessa's lips thinned. "His name is Nick Kings. He's not... a regular man. He's powerful. Rich. Used to getting what he wants. Cold-hearted, if I'm being honest. But he's not a bad person. Just complicated."

I folded my arms around myself, trying to breathe.

"This sounds like something out of a movie," she whispered. "Like a mad rich man's fantasy. I'm not in a billionaire romance book acting surrogate?"

"Yeah," Nessa said bitterly. "Tell me about it."

"Why didn't he ask you to do it?" Haven asked suddenly, her voice sharp.

Nessa blinked. Her jaw clenched. "It's complicated."

Haven's brows shot up. "Hmmm...then why didn't you accept?"

"Because he said something that shattered me," Nessa said, her voice raw. "He said... 'Anyone else but not you.'" She gave a broken laugh.

Haven looked at her, shocked.

"Really, I'm sorry" she said softly.

Nessa waved her off, forcing a small smile. "Doesn't matter. Point is...he's real. The offer is real. I know it's insane, but... it could be the solution you need."

Silence settled between them again.

After a moment, Haven walked back to the desk, picked up the brown envelope, and stared down at it.

"Fifty million. Her mother's life."

"Two hundred million. Her body."

"What happens if I say yes?" I asked in a low voice.

"I set up a meeting. You talk to him directly. He'll lay down the terms, and you can decide from there."

"And if I say no?"

Nessa leaned back. "Then we keep fighting. Try to raise funds. Look for donations, loans, grants... We do it the hard way."

I sat back down, the envelope still in my hand.

My lips trembled as I whispered, "I don't want to sell myself."

"You wouldn't be," Nessa said gently. "You'd be saving a life. Maybe two."

I looked up, my eyes glistening.

"I'm scared."

"I know," Nessa replied. "So was I."

I nodded slowly, my mind a chaotic storm of thoughts.

Nessa stood, walked around the table, and crouched beside me. She reached out and held my hand.

"No one will judge you, Haven. Whatever you decide, I'll be here. Okay?"

Haven looked down at their joined hands and gave a small nod.

"Thank you, Dr. Vanessa."

"You can just call me Nessa," she whispered.

For a long time, we sat there, the quiet humming of the AC filling the space between us.

Outside, life went on...nurses walking, pagers beeping, babies crying. But in that room, time stood still.

I held the envelope closer again and closed my eyes.