The Billionaire Surrogate Mother

"Are you insane? How dare you refuse such a big offer?"

Claudia's yelling voice filled the house. Valerie couldn't help, but sob helplessly. Claudia was one step away from smacking her face. Valerie was heartbroken, what her stepmother was asking of her is definitely going to ruin her. Especially her dreams of going to Oxford University.

Being a surrogate to an unknown man. Valerie wanted to say something, but tears couldn't let her say a word. Why is life being cruel?

"I would rather not do this, Mom. How can I give birth to a child for a stranger? That is only going to ruin my life, I won't be able to take it. I want to fulfill my dreams of going to Oxford University, and having a baby is going to put an end to that" Valerie cried out, and her stepmother scoffed.

"The family finances are so poor, and your father has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. What kind of daughter does that make you? This is the only way for us to save your father, and you are willing to give up such an opportunity? Are you going to stand there and watch your father die when you can do something to save him?" Claudia was trying to emotionally blackmail her. Mr. Edmond Watson, Valerie's father, happened to be the only family she had. Her mother died when she was three years old in a ghastly motor accident, and her father got married to her stepmother, Claudia.

Life has been miserable for Valerie ever since her father got married to Claudia. Even her stepsister, Patricia, has been nothing but a pin in the ass for her. Her father too doesn't care about her... she was more like the rejected one of the family. She might be a 'Watson' but that's just a name. She was treated like an outsider.

"You are so heartless, Valerie. I thought you loved me, are you going to watch me die?" Her Father walked into the room, looking weak. Valerie bowed her head, and tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Mom, I have a boyfriend, and he's going to marry me. He's definitely going to ditch me if he finds out that I'll have a child for a stranger. I don't want to lose, Justin" Valerie burst into a heart-wreaking sob again.

"What? Is this about that stupid boy who you're dating? He's nothing but a prodigal son. His mother disowned him because he's been trouble to her. Are you going to choose him over your father's life?" Claudia scoffed in disgust.

Valerie scratched her head. There was no way she's getting out of this. "And my studies. I can't complete my studies when I'm with a child".

"Don't be dumb, sister. Actually, it's only a nine-month thing. Besides, no one is going to tell Justin that you're pregnant. Come to think of it, the money is so huge, and you can actually further your education with it. It will be more than enough to foot your bills and to foot Father's hospital bills" Patricia, her pretentious stepsister, acted like she was on her side.

"Bear it in mind, Valerie. You'll be going to the hospital first thing tomorrow morning, and you're not allowed to object. The money involved is so huge that we can't let it slip through our fingers" Claudia spoke with finality in the tone of her voice before storming out of the room. Her father followed her after giving her a deadly glare.

Valerie fell on the couch, sobbing her eyes out. Patricia smiled mischievously at her. "Get ready for tomorrow, sister" Patricia walked away laughing sarcastically.

Of course, Valerie knew that sobbing won't help her. But how was she going to explain this to her boyfriend, Justin? Like her stepsister suggested, she won't let him know about this. It was then that Valerie realized that she was trapped, the Chasity she's been protecting all her life, will be given out to bear a child for a stranger.

The next day, Valerie was already at the hospital. She had already undergone some tests to make sure she had no health issues. She laid on the hospital bed with her laps parted. Likewise, she was getting inseminated with the stranger's semen. Weird enough, she hadn't set her eyes on him.

Apparently, he's a man who had lost his wife who he loved dearly but had no child with. So because he would rather not remarry, he decided to get a surrogate, so he could get a child to call his own.

"It's done, Miss" The doctor's voice smacked her out of her thoughts. She nodded slightly, and sat up from the bed.

"Uhm... I'll prescribe some drugs for you. Most importantly, you shouldn't get involved with hard labor, that's if you don't want this to be unsuccessful" The doctor smiled at her, and she shook her head. She felt terrible... okay! Let's say miserable.

Handing the drugs to her, the doctor walked away. She got up from the bed, and made her way out of the hospital premises. What awaits her? Will Justin find out that she's... dammit! It's so hard to even think of.

Her stepmother had already gotten half of the payment... fifty million dollars. She just hoped her father would get better, and that her boyfriend would understand her.

A month later, Valerie had already gotten pregnant, but she couldn't tell Justin about it. She tried her best to avoid him... it was going to hurt him big time.

"You have a visitor, Valerie." Claudia's loud voice echoed. Valerie, who was half asleep, tossed from one side of the bed to the other.

"Oh, I'm coming" She yanked the duvet off her body, and walked out of the room, still half awake.

"Good morning, babe" The familiar voice slapped the sleep out of her eyes, and she widened her eyes in shock.

"J... Justin?" She stuttered, swallowing hard.

"Hey! You look like you've seen a ghost. I have good news, babe. I just got admission into Stanford University" He broke the news, and she forced a smile, instead tears rolled down her cheeks.

"That's... that's huge, Justin" Valerie said those words with a teary voice. She wanted to hold them back, but she just couldn't.

"What's wrong, babe? You look sad! Did something..." Justin raised a brow. He could obviously sense the bitterness she was feeling.

"I think you should go, Justin. It isn't nice to keep bothering a pregnant woman" That was Patricia. Valerie gasped on seeing her, what is she up to? Was she going to spill it all to Justin?

"What are you doing, Pat?" Valerie swallowed hard, and Patricia laughed hysterically. "Don't you want him to know that you're pregnant? You should leave him in the dark, sister" In Patricia's voice was sarcasm. She had always wanted Valerie's boyfriend. Justin was the only thing Valerie had that Patricia never had, but wanted it so badly. This must be her chance.

"Val? What's she talking about? What does she mean when she said you were pregnant? Is... is that true?" Tears could be found in the trace of Justin's voice.

"I'm... I'm sorry, Justin. I really didn't want to do it. I... I... it's just..." Valerie stuttered.

"You are unbelievable, Valerie Watson. You just made a fool out of me. How could you do that? And you still call what we have a relationship? I can't believe you. We're done, Valerie" Justin yelled as he rushed out of the house.

"Patricia? I thought you said we could keep this a secret. How could you do that to me?" Valerie cried as she staggered to the wall in pain.

"And you believed that? You're dumb, Valerie. You shouldn't stress the baby, we already got some money from it. We can't refund, and you're not seeing a penny from it, loser" She mocked her before walking away.

"I'm doomed!" Valerie sobbed.

Valerie dialed his number again, and again, but it wasn't going through. She wasn't going to blame Justin because it's not his fault. If Patricia didn't tell him, maybe she would have summoned courage to tell him any other time.

"I have to find a way to explain everything to Justin"

She got up from the bed, and headed downstairs. She was on her way out when she stormed into her stepmother, Claudia, and her father.

It has been barely a week since they got the money, and they are already squandering it. She even wondered how her father recovered so fast.

"Where are you going, Valerie?" Claudia gave her a deadly glare. She gulped hard, and turned her face away. "I don't want to go on with this anymore. My life is already ruined, all because of this baby. I want to further my education".

Tears circulated in her eyes, and her father gasped. "Valerie, how could you say something like that? If you don't give birth to this child, then we'll be doomed. I've taken care of you ever since your mother, and here you are willing to throw all of that away. If you ever think of getting rid of this child, then our family will be in deep trouble" Her Father freaked out.

"Why should I be the only one to do this? Justin just broke up with me" She continued sobbing, but her stepmother wasn't moved.

"And so what if that rascal does? He doesn't deserve you. As far as you give birth to this child, your father and I promise to give you whatever it is that you want. I don't want you to get yourself stressed up, so you're not allowed to leave this house, and as for anything you need, we'll provide it for you right in your room" Claudia pretentiously patted her back.

Valerie bowed her head in sadness, and headed upstairs. Her life was getting messier by the day. Now, she's trapped in her room. It was more like a prison than a house. She was still crying her eyes out when the door creaked open. It was her stepsister, Patricia. Patricia was carrying a tray of food, which she dropped on the table beside her bed.

"Your lunch, sister." Patricia laughed sarcastically at her. Valerie turned to her with teary eyes.

"I'm not... I'm not hungry" Valerie managed to say. Patricia snorted at her.

"You better eat your food because the child ought to be very healthy. If anything happens to the child, then we'll all be going to jail" Patricia laughed, before walking out of the room. She locked the door as soon as she left.

That was the last time Valerie left her room. She stayed in her room like a prison, and was given everything she wanted.

Months later, Valerie was in labor. She was rushed to the hospital. The cry of a baby was heard all over the ward.

Even though Valerie didn't want the child, the baby was still hers. She needed to look at the child's face.

Valerie struggled up from the hospital bed, and grabbed the nurse's gown. "Nurse, can I please see my baby?" She requested.

"What baby are you talking about? This baby is not your child, you've already been paid in full. You're not allowed to touch the baby" The nurse slapped her hand off.

"Nurse, let me just look at the baby. I just want to see my baby" Valerie cried, but the other nurse overpowered her as they held her down to the bed.

"Take the child out of the ward, now" The doctor instructed the first nurse, as she left with the child.

"I just want to look at my baby, please" Valerie kept struggling before a syringe was injected into her arm. The baby's cry was the last thing she heard before passing out.

After the baby was taken from her, and she woke up, she was yet to set her eyes on her stepmother, Father, and stepsister. Did they abandon her at the hospital?

Two days later, at the Watson's residence, the voices of Claudia and her daughter were heard yelling at Valerie, who just got back from the hospital. Her luggage was packed, and kept at the doorstep. Her Father wasn't in the house at that time.

"Why are my bags packed? Am I finally going to Oxford?" Valerie asked the moment she stepped into the house, and Patricia laughed mockingly.

"You actually think that Mom and I would give you some money so that you can further your education?" Patricia mocked her.

Valerie stared at them with confusion all over her face. Are they really not going to give her some money? "You promised me, mother. You told me you were going to give me some money so that we can further my education with it".

"You have no place here again, Valerie. No one is going to save you, your father travelled out to get his treatment completed. Take your bags, and leave this house. Don't bother coming back because you have no place here anymore".

"Mother! How could you do this to me?" Valerie sobbed as she went on her knees, but Claudia wasn't touched by her genuine tears.

"You wretch! Do you think your tears are going to help you? Get out of this house, Valerie. You're not wanted anymore. Don't bother going to Justin because he already left the town. I will take good care of him because I'll be going to Stanford University soon where I'll meet him" Patricia made fun of her, and Valerie glared at her maliciously. She couldn't take it anymore, so Valerie slapped Patricia hard on the face.

"You wench! How dare you hit my daughter? Get out! Leave, you piece of trash" Claudia pushed her out of the door, and threw her bags at her.

Valerie sniffed hard as she picked her bags, and walked out of the Watson's gate in agony.

Inside the house, Patricia watched Valerie drag her luggage out of the Watson's residence. Her lips curled to a smile. I've finally gotten rid of that pest, and now no one can ever stop me from being the only favorite daughter of my father.

...

Six years later, Valerie walked into her apartment at Northridge, where she had been living after her stepmother threw her out of the house. It was a small, but comfortable apartment. In her hand was a dismissal letter.

She just lost her job. This was the third job she got this year, and she just lost it again. Why are men always lusting for my body?

Her employers were always after her body, and each time she refused to succumb to their wishes, she got dismissed.

Unlocking her door, she walked into the disarrayed room, and sat heavily on the couch.

"Is my life always going to be this unfortunate?"

She picked up the calendar, and stared at it. This was exactly six years since her family threw her out of the house she knew as home. She thought of her Father, and wished she could see him for the last time. She knew he wouldn't let her stepmother throw her out, leaving her with nothing.

"Maybe I should just drink out my sorrows. Life is even worse than it used to be" She smiled dryly.

Valerie grabbed the bottle of whiskey on the small table in front of her. She corked it up, and gulped it down.

She was already getting so drunk when the door flung open. Andrew walked in with Susan laughing and chatting. The moment they saw how pathetic Valerie looked, they quickly paused the laughter and the chat they were having.

Andrew and Susan happened to be Valerie's best-friends and roommates ever since she moved to Northridge. They became the siblings she never had.

"Hey, Val. What the f*** is this?" Andrew took off his backpack, and sat right beside her. Valerie laughed dryly as tears rolled down her face.

"You promised... you promised that you'd stop drinking and making fun of yourself like this. What happened?" Susan held her hand, sitting by her right side.

"Today marks six years since I was thrown out of the house and my child taken away. It didn't end there, I lost my job today as well because I refused to spend the night with my boss at five-star hotels" Valerie sobbed helplessly.

"That dickhead! Don't tell me you're crying because of him? He doesn't deserve you, and besides we've told you that it is prohibited for you to always remember today or grief about it?" Andrew raised his brow, and Valerie gulped down the last content of the glass she was holding.

"I would rather not be reminded, but my predicament seems to have gotten worse" Valerie cried out.

"Stop it, Val. This isn't the end of the world" Susan grabbed the bottle from her, and headed to the kitchen with it.

"Andy, tell her to give that back" Valerie scratched her head.

"No way! We can't let you keep wasting" Andrew shook his head in disagreement.

"What kind of friends are you guys? You're not even letting me celebrate my misfortunes. I can't believe you!" Valerie staggered up, but Susan grabbed her hand.

"I have good news for you, Valerie. The President/ CEO of the Davison's empire just came back from the States yesterday, and..." Susan was still speaking when Valerie cut her short.

"What does that have to do with me? Whoever the god-damned president or CEO is, that's none of my business" Valerie yelled in anger.

"Come on, you won't even let me finish. Anyway, I was saying there's a job vacancy at the CEO of the Davison's empire's mansion. Trust me, the pay is damn super" Susan winked at her, and she turned her gaze to Susan before shaking her head.

"What is the use of trying? He's definitely going to dismiss me. Do you know how many jobs I've lost in a space of a year?" Valerie cupped her forehead with her palms.

"There's no harm in trying, Valerie. It won't kill you to try it out" Andrew snapped at her.

"Fine! I'll give it a try" Valerie shrugged before walking into the bedroom. Here I come, President Davison.

The next day, Valerie woke up feeling very better. She decided to face the new page of her life, and not to keep remembering anything that would make her feel sad.

"How do I look, Susan?" Valerie walked out of the room in her corporate attire, and Susan smiled at her.

"You look much better, Val" Andy grabbed his backpack. He was already set to leave for work.

"I'm sure you'll get this job. Good luck, Mon Cherie" Susan air kissed her, and she smiled heartily.

"I hope so"

Thirty minutes later, Valerie was already standing in front of the Davison's mansion gate. She exhaled deeply, and mumbled some inaudible prayer.

She knocked on the gate, and the security through the gate open. Likewise, she peeped through the gate into the magnificent mansion, and couldn't help but marvel in awe. Furthermore, she had never seen such a mansion talk more of getting into it. "This is a dream come true"

"Who are you?" The muscular build security man glared at her. She swallowed hard, holding her purse even tighter.

"I'm here for the job... the job interview" She stuttered, and he nodded before letting her into the house.

"Turn left once you get into the door" He ordered, and she forced a smile at him. The mean security man didn't even glance at her twice. "How cold!"

Her eyes caught with the convoy of sparking cars at the garage. There were assorted cars in the garage, and she wondered why only one person would have so many cars.

The moment she drew closer to the door, the automatic door opened, and she walked into the mansion. "Is this a paradise on Earth?"

Her family were comfortable, but their duplex was nothing close to the mansion she was in.

"Good day, ma'am" She greeted the elderly lady who took off her glasses, and glared at her.

"You're late" She mumbled, and her heart skipped a beat.

"Sorry" Valerie uttered simply.

"The CEO will be here in no time. You can sit over there, and wait for him to come downstairs" She turned her gaze straight to the desktop in front of her. "Is this a home or an office?"

Valerie settled down on the couch on the other end. She was still saying her prayers, hoping that she would get the job... she really needed it.

The elderly lady made a call with the landline, and she spoke in Chinese. She could speak many languages.

Valerie was still staring around when a little girl rushed downstairs, and almost rolled over the stairs.

"Oh child! You shouldn't run on the stairs, you could get hurt, baby" She helped her up, and the girl glared at her in disgust, slapping off her hands like they were gross.

"I'm not your child. Don't you dare call me baby" She sneered at her.