Back-up Plan
1458 Words
Raven’s Pov
I barely slept. My chest felt tight all night, my mind running in circles. Every time I closed my eyes, it just got worse.
I kept shifting, but nothing felt right. The bed was too soft, too big, it clearly is luxury and I'm not used to such lifestyle.
I turned onto my side, staring at the dim glow of the city lights through the massive windows.
I let out a slow breath as a single tear ran my eye, staining the sheets.
I had given up my freedom, moved into this place with him, but I still had no idea what came next.
Would he toss another contract at me?
Would I be treated like some deal he had closed, a walking womb with no identity?
I had no answers to my questions. Only time can tell.
Luca was already awake when I walked into the kitchen.
He sat at the large marble island, sipping coffee like he didn’t have a care in the world. He wore a crisp black shirt, sleeves rolled up again, exposing veins that shouldn’t have been attractive but somehow were.
It pissed me off.
The fact that he looked this good while ruining my life felt unfair.
His eyes flicked up to me, calm and collected. “You are up early.”
I pulled out a chair, ignoring the way his gaze followed my every move. “We need to talk.”
He smirked, setting his coffee down. “That didn’t take long.”
I ignored the way his voice sent an irritated shiver down my spine. “You told me I was going to be your surrogate, but you haven’t told me anything else. When does this start?”
His smirk faded, replaced by a serious look. “It starts now.”
A cold wave rolled over me. “What do you mean, now?”
Luca leaned back, tapping his fingers against the counter. “We are going to the doctor today. You will start treatments immediately.”
I swallowed hard, my palms suddenly sweaty. “And if I say no?”
His eyes darkened. “You won’t.”
Something heavy settled in my stomach.
I knew what he was capable of. The moment I signed that contract, I had lost any real choice. He owned this decision now.
But there was still something I needed to know.
“Why?” My voice was softer now, more uncertain. “Why do you need a child so badly?”
Luca went still.
For a second, I thought he might actually answer. That maybe, just maybe, I would get a glimpse of something real beneath that cold exterior.
But then he pushed back his chair and stood.
“Get dressed,” he said, completely ignoring my question. “We leave in an hour.”
I wanted to scream, instead, I bit my tongue and walked away.
The sharp scent of disinfectant clung to the air, mixing with the faint trace of plastic and fabric softener from the crisp white sheets. It made my stomach turn.
The moment we stepped inside, a woman in a white coat greeted us with a polite but nervous smile. “Mr. De Valentino. Right on time.”
He nodded once, his hand resting on my lower back as he guided me forward. I stiffened at the touch, but he didn’t seem to care.
The doctor led us into a private room, motioning for me to sit.
She adjusted her glasses, scanning through the documents in front of her before looking at me with a practiced, professional smile.
"I'm guessing you would like to know a bit about the procedure before we begin?"
"Yes please. That would be very much appreciated."
I rubbed my sweaty palms together, willing my heart to stop pounding.
She leaned forward slightly. “IVF, or in-vitro fertilization," She began, "involves several stages. First, we stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple eggs using hormone injections. Once the eggs are mature, we retrieve them through a minor procedure. Then, they are fertilized with sperm in a lab, and after a few days of monitoring, we transfer the healthiest embryo into the uterus.”
I swallowed, my throat dry. “And after that?”
“If implantation is successful, we monitor the pregnancy closely,” she continued. “You may need additional hormone support to help the embryo attach properly. The first few weeks are critical, but with proper care, the chances of a successful pregnancy are high.”
I shifted in my seat. “And… what about risks?”
The doctor nodded as if she expected the question. “There are always risks. The medication can cause side effects like bloating, headaches, mood swings. The egg retrieval process, while safe, carries a small risk of infection or bleeding. And, of course, there’s the emotional toll. IVF is not always successful on the first attempt.”
My stomach twisted. “What are the chances of it failing?”
She hesitated, her expression softening. “It depends on several factors such as age, health, the quality of the embryos. For someone in your condition, the success rate is around fifty to sixty percent.”
Fifty to sixty percent. That meant there was almost a one-in-two chance it would not work. I exhaled slowly, trying to absorb that.
“And if it fails?” My voice was quieter now.
“If the first attempt does not take, we can try again,” she assured me. “We can use frozen embryos from the first cycle or stimulate another round. Many women go through multiple rounds before success.”
I nodded, but my mind was already spiraling. What if my body rejected it? What if it failed over and over again? What if…
“It won’t fail,” his voice cut in, halting my trail of thought.
My body tensed up. Slowly, I turned to look at him.
Luca leaned back in his chair, his expression guarded, his gaze locked onto mine with quiet certainty.
I forced myself to swallow. “You don’t know that.”
“If it does,” he said smoothly, his voice carrying no hesitation, “you are getting pregnant through the natural way.”
The room suddenly became quiet you can hear a pin drop.
My breath caught in my throat.
The doctor blinked rapidly. “I… I’m sorry?”
Luca’s expression did not change. His voice was calm with a note of finality. “I want it done naturally if it fails.”
I felt my pulse hammer in my ears, my stomach flipping.
The doctor cleared her throat, shifting uncomfortably. “That wasn’t discussed in our prior meetings Mr…”
“I don’t care.” His voice was sharp, cutting through the room like ice. “Change the plan or have a back-up plan.”
My fingers curled into fists. “You cannot just decide that.”
His gaze locking onto mine with an intensity that made my stomach twist. “I can. And I have.”
My mouth went dry.
This was not what I signed up for.
I tried to speak, but nothing came out.
The doctor cleared her throat. “Perhaps you two should…”
“Leave us.”
Her eyes widened slightly, but she nodded and quickly left the room, closing the door behind her.
Silence filled the space.
Tension crackled in the air like a brewing storm.
I stood up, crossing my arms over my chest. “You can’t just change everything like this.”
Luca took a step closer. “I can.”
I swallowed hard, “That wasn’t part of the contract.”
His lips curled at the edge. “It is now.”
Rage burned in my chest. “You can’t just rewrite the rules whenever you feel like it.”
He tilted his head, his gaze dropping to my lips for a fraction of a second before flicking back to my eyes. “I own this arrangement. The rules are whatever I say they are.”
I clenched my fists. “I can't do this.”
His smirk vanished. His entire demeanor shifted, darkening into something far more dangerous.
“I thought we have gone over this before darling. Your father’ life is on the line. You can't be making bargains.”
For a moment, I could do nothing but stare at him, my chest rising and falling too quickly.
"You are heartless." My voice came out quietly, tears pooling at the back of my eyes.
"Baby," His voice held no warmth as he spoke, "Heartless is a soft way of describing me. Do not insult me please."
Without sparing me a second glance, he stood to his feet, "We are leaving."
- Writer
