Chapter 8 Just a surrogate
Standing in front of the calendar in her room, Aurora marked the date with her pen.
It was four months already and since the first month of her being pregnant, she had been keeping close watch with the date.
After she was tested pregnant at the hospital, she cried herself to sleep severely because now, there was no going back. She had to carry Arthur’s child no matter how badly she wanted to end the contract.
Soon, she began to encourage herself, and told herself all she had to do was endure for nine months.
After noting the date, she walked to the mirror and stood in front of it. Faced with her reflection, she beamed widely as she stared at her baby bump.
She ran her palms over her bump, admiring how much weight she had added over the past few months. Her belly seemed to be way bigger for four months too.
‘All these for a baby I wouldn’t even get to know.’ She thought, still smiling.
“Hey… can you hear me?” She whispered to her bump. She never expected a response, but then… her voice seemed to have been heard.
There was a movement in her belly… the first movement she had ever felt since she was tested pregnant. This caused her to jump in awe and burst into a hearty laughter.
“Oh my…” She mumbled emotionally, running her hands over her bump again.
“You heard me!” She uttered in uttermost excitement. It felt so wholesome to her, and since her father died, it was the very first time she had laughed wholeheartedly.
It made her super excited that instantly, she began to think of ways to break the good news to Arthur when he got back from the office.
She wanted every moment in her short time of being a mother worthwhile.
Walking away from the mirror, she headed out of the room, calling Carter’s name.
“Carter!” Excitement and enthusiasm filled her voice as she called out to him.
“Miss Aurora!” Carter answered from the kitchen door. He stepped out to see Aurora climbing down the stairs.
“Do… Do you need help?” He uttered worriedly, running to her.
“C’mon, Carter, I’m not going into labor. I can walk by myself.” She answered as she finally descended the stairs.
“What are you making for dinner?” She further asked as they both walked into the kitchen.
“Pesto Pasta and chicken breasts. Why do you ask, Miss Aurora?” Carter inquired.
“I’d love to make dinner for Mr. Arthur today.” She responded, causing Carter to raise his brows in surprise.
“Why? Has he done anything to make you happy lately?” Carter further asked.
“Mr. Arthur hasn’t been different since day one. He’s still as cold and emotionless as always. But, I’m in a good mood and I want to break the good news to him, so please, let me make dinner.” Aurora uttered, picking up an apron without hesitation.
“Good news?” Carter asked, moving closer to her.
“I felt my baby move.” She muttered, grinning widely.
“Really?! That’s great!” Carter retorted, picking up another apron. “I’ll assist you then. Let’s do this!” He added happily, and Aurora nodded.
Carter and Aurora heard Arthur’s car drive in an hour after they had finished preparing dinner.
Aurora already freshened up, she wore a long floral dress that covered her bump perfectly and sat on the couch with a wide smile.
She looked at Carter who gave her a thumbs up, telling her she was doing great. Her food tasted so good, that she couldn’t help but feel super proud of herself.
‘He’ll definitely be blown away when he tastes the food.’
Hearing Arthur’s footsteps approach the door, nervousness set in for Aurora and her heart began to beat very fast. She wasn’t sure why.
Maybe because of the news she wanted to break to him, or because she had never been so eager to welcome him from the office before.
Immediately the door opened, she stood up, smiling widely.
“Welcome, Mr. Arthur.” Carter greeted, collecting his briefcase.
Walking into the living room, Arthur’s strong cologne filled the air, making Aurora sniff hard.
“Welcome, Mr. Arthur.” Aurora greeted, and he answered with a creased brow.
He nodded and walked to the stairs uttering no words. Carter looked at her from behind him and gave her another thumbs up.
“You’re doing well! Keep it up!” He whispered, giving Aurora courage.
‘You’ve always known him to be cold. It’s nothing. Let’s see his reaction at the dining table.’ She reassured herself, putting on her smile again.
Getting to Arthur’s room, Carter returned Arthur’s bag to him because he wasn’t allowed in his room either.
“What’s up with her? She has never greeted me in such a manner.” Arthur uttered, looking at Carter, who was smiling widely.
“I think she’s in a good mood, Mr. Arthur.” Carter answered.
Arthur raised his brows in confusion, but then ignored it again. “Okay. Set the table.” He retorted, heading into his room.
After some minutes, he had freshened up and was at the dining table. So was Aurora, seated across the table, covered in nervousness.
After Carter served out her food, she could hardly eat because she wanted to pay attention to Arthur’s reaction to her food.
Hee heart thumped against her chest violently as soon as Arthur took his first bite. Her eyes slowly widened in anticipation of his reaction.
“Hmm.” Arthur softly moaned, slightly tilting his head to the side as he savored the taste of his meal.
‘Wow. This taste is different and super palatable.’ He thought, raising his head to look at Carter with an indifferent expression.
“Did you order this?” He asked. He knew fully well this wasn’t Carter cooking. He had been eating Carter’s food for three years, and he had never tasted anything like this.
“No, I didn’t. Do you like it, sir?” Carter asked, and he nodded.
“Continue cooking like this. Wherever you got this recipe from, make sure you don’t lose it.” He responded, looking at his meal again.
“Actually, dinner was made by Miss Aurora today.” Carter responded with a chuckle, causing Arthur to abruptly stop chewing.
He clenched his jaws as he reached for his glass of water.
‘Fk!’ He cursed underneath his breath as he drank some water.
“I’m glad you like it.” Aurora finally spoke up.
Arthur refused to look at her as he continued eating his food.
“I have good news. I don’t know if this should be called news, but I’d love to share it with you.” She uttered, and Arthur finally raised his head to look at her.
Their eyes locked and immediately, there was silence. He saw her pretty brown eyes glittering in excitement, and this made him want to listen to her.
“I’m all ears.” He answered, breaking eye contact with her.
“I felt the baby move this evening. I asked if it could hear me and I got a movement in response.” She uttered happily.
Arthur gulped hard and raised his head to look at her again. Before he could speak, Aurora stood up and walked up to him.
She grabbed his left hand and placed it on her belly. “Say something. I bet it’s going to hear and move again.” She uttered, her gaze locked with Arthur’s.
Her smile remained unfazed even though she was pressured by Arthur's cold stare.
“C’mon… Say something.” She added again, but this time, Arthur snatched his hand away from hers.
“What do you think you’re doing, Aurora?” He asked, looking away.
“What? I want you to feel…”
“I told you that you cannot develop any kind of relationship with my baby! You’re doing the exact opposite!” He smacked, causing Aurora’s eyes to widen in awe.
“But, I just…”
“Every pregnant woman feels the movement some time during their pregnancy stage, you don’t have to act like it’s something special. It’s not.”
“I know it’s not something special, but I just wanted to share it with you. I thought you’d be happy to know your baby is doing well.”
“Of course he’s doing well! I paid you to make sure he’s doing well! You owe it to both of us!”
Tears welled up in Aurora’s eyes in no time. This wasn’t the reaction she was expecting. She thought after spending some months with him, he would have grown softer, but she was wrong. He was worse!
“Who made you like this, hun?!” She uttered in tears.
“Don’t start, woman.” Arthur muttered, standing up and walking away from the dining area.
“Don’t walk out on me, Arthur! Who turned you into a monster! A man with no feelings, with no emotions! A man that breeds nothing but hatred! And cared about no one but himself! Tell me! Who turned you into an arrogant bastard?!” She cried out, causing Arthur to stop walking.
“And don’t you dare tell me it’s because you lost your parents! You are an adult and you should be responsible for your actions! How dare you treat me this way?! Is this how you want to raise a child?!…”
“Don’t you dare lecture me on how to raise a child! You’re just a surrogate! You have no say in my life or my child’s! The earlier you understand this, the better!” He smacked back.
His hands shivered as he tightened his fist in rage. They both breathed hard, staring at each other with pure hatred.
“Don’t you ever cook for me. Ever again. It’s not part of your job.” He added, void of emotions.
He turned to leave and didn’t look back until he was out of sight.
Aurora’s head fell in sadness and she broke into more tears.
“I hate him. I hate him.” She groaned in pain, regretting everything she had done.
“Miss Aurora.” Carter called, walking out of the kitchen after he heard the argument die down.
“Let me be, Carter.” Aurora mumbled, also heading to her room.
She fell to her knees and cried even harder, replaying every word he said to her again and again in her head.
All of a sudden, she stood up and walked to her drawer. She picked up her phone and dialed her mother’s phone number.
It began to ring but her mother didn’t answer the phone. Instead, she sent a voicemail.
“Mom, we need to talk. Please call me back.”