HER WOMB, HIS HEART

“I’m sorry, Alan. I don’t think we can get married. You really love children, while I don’t. You know that,” Soraya said as she returned the ring he had given her. “We’ve been together for five years. The issue of children, that’s not a problem, right? I like kids because I’ve always been lonely as an only child. If we have one, I’ll make sure you won’t be burdened. I’ll take care of everything. I promise,” Alan said, trying to reassure his girlfriend. “It’s not just that I don’t like children. I don’t want to be a mother. I’m afraid I wouldn’t be a good one. I also want to stay beautiful and youthful. Having a child is a hassle, Alan,” Soraya replied. Alan fell silent, stunned by words he had never expected to hear. For five years, he realized he had never truly known the woman he loved. He had thought Soraya was simply cold toward children, and he had accepted that. But her firm decision to remain childfree shocked him deeply. “I’m the only son of a wealthy family. If I don’t have an heir, who will carry on my legacy?” Alan murmured softly. That night, their conversation ended without a resolution. Alan asked Soraya for time to think. “I’ll give you one week, Alan. I love you, but I love myself more,” Soraya said before stepping out of the car. Alan went to a nightclub to relieve his stress. “I just want to be alone here. Don’t bother me,” he snapped. “Please don’t send me away, sir. I’m new here. It’s my first day working. If you reject me, I’ll lose my job,” said a young woman with an innocent face standing before him. Alan studied her. She looked uncomfortable in the revealing outfit she wore. “A job? You call this a job? You’re still young, miss. Find something better. You’re too young to be serving men like this,” Alan said with a cynical smile. The young woman lowered her head, her eyes glistening with tears. “I’m sorry, sir. My presence disturbed you,” she said quietly before leaving. Alan paid her no mind. He lifted his glass and drank again. Soraya’s face kept haunting him. The woman he had always admired apparently held principles so different from his own. “I love Soraya so much. But I also need an heir to carry on the Horison family. My parents want a grandchild too.” He finished a bottle of wine. The alcohol quickly took hold, and he staggered as he walked. His gaze froze when he saw a young man treating a young woman roughly. “Come on, sweetheart. You work here. Don’t make me angry after I paid you,” the man said, forcing a glass of wine into the woman’s mouth. She choked and coughed. Anger surged through Alan. “Let her go. I can pay you more,” he said, pulling out a black card from his wallet. The man smirked. “What do you mean? She’s mine. I don’t need your money.” “Are you sure? I can pay whatever you want,” Alan said, showing the card again. “I want five times what I paid. Deal?” the man said. “Fine.” Once the payment went through, the man shoved the young woman toward Alan. “Take that stupid woman with you.” Alan clenched his jaw, furious at the man’s arrogance. He wanted to hit him, but suddenly his head throbbed. His body swayed, nearly collapsing, until the girl caught him. “Sir, you’re drunk. I’ll take you home. Just tell me your address,” she said. “Good luck with your work, Miss Emily,” said a woman in her forties with a striking figure as they passed. Alan asked Emily to take him to the nearest hotel. She supported his weight as they walked down the corridor. “This is the rude man from earlier. Why did he suddenly help me?” Emily murmured after laying him on the bed. Alan was only half-conscious. Without warning, he pulled Emily into his arms and pressed soft kisses along her slender neck. “Sir, please let go,” Emily pleaded, struggling to break free, but his grip was too strong. The gentle kisses turned into something hotter, more urgent. Emily could only surrender. “Why am I crying? Isn’t this the job I chose?” Slowly, she responded to his kisses. Alan took control, while Emily was swept away by a sensation she had never known. At twenty-five, it was her first time. That night took her innocence. Alan, on the other hand, fell asleep immediately after satisfying his desire. Emily chose to leave, her steps unsteady. “If only I weren’t an orphan, maybe my life would be better. Today, I truly did something I hate,” she whispered before leaving. She snapped a quick photo of Alan’s face, then walked away. ** Soraya was anxious when Alan did not answer her calls since the night before. She feared he was angry after her rejection. “This isn’t what I wanted, Alan. I still want to be your wife. I just wanted to test how much you love me,” she muttered. Alan woke with a pounding headache. He froze when he realized he was naked beneath the sheets. He tried to recall what had happened. “That girl? The girl from the nightclub… what did I do?” Guilt washed over him when he saw faint bloodstains on the hotel sheets. “So it was her first time? But where is she?” He got up and searched, but found only an anklet engraved with the initial “E” on the floor. His phone vibrated. Soraya’s name appeared on the screen. “Hello, sweetheart,” Alan answered. “Where are you? Are you mad at me for ignoring my calls?” Soraya asked in a sweet tone. Alan stiffened. “I had something urgent and had to stay overnight. I’m sorry, I rushed out and forgot to tell you,” he said. ** After much consideration, Alan and Soraya got married two months later. At the same time, Emily was there, working as a catering server. “That man… so this is his wedding? Then what about this child?” Emily murmured, holding her still-flat stomach. She had tried to find information about Alan after discovering her pregnancy a month earlier. Her heart shattered as she watched the bride and groom smiling happily on the stage. “Hey, miss! Don’t just stand there. There’s a lot of work to do,” a man shouted. Emily flinched and quickly returned to work. “That girl? She’s a server at my wedding? I lost track of her for two months, and now she appears out of nowhere,” Alan thought when he noticed her after the reception ended. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” Soraya asked. “Nothing. I need to use the restroom. Wait for me in the car, I’ll be right there,” Alan said. Soraya nodded. “Don’t take too long. I’m exhausted,” she whispered. Alan smiled and headed toward the back of the building. Emily was sitting alone, staring at an ultrasound photo in her hand. “You’re pregnant?” Alan asked suddenly. Emily was startled. She quickly hid the photo. “Don’t tell me that’s my child,” Alan pressed. “No. This is my child,” Emily said, rising to leave. Alan grabbed her hand and pulled her to a quieter place. “Let go of me, Mr. Alan. I don’t want trouble with rich people,” Emily said. Alan took the ultrasound photo from her and examined it. “So your name is Emily? Eight weeks pregnant. That matches the night we were together, doesn’t it?” Emily snatched the photo back. “You don’t need to worry. I won’t ask you to take responsibility. I’ll abort this baby.” “That child isn’t just yours. It’s mine too. We can talk about this calmly,” Alan said. “So I should give birth and raise the baby alone? Besides, this child wasn’t born out of love, it was an accident,” Emily said, her voice trembling. “If you don’t want it, let me raise the baby. I’ll give you whatever you want. But on one condition. Never reveal what happened between us that night. Be a surrogate mother,” Alan said. “What do you mean? I don’t understand,” Emily asked. “Sweetheart! Where are you?” Soraya’s voice called out. Alan quickly covered Emily’s mouth with his hand. “Don’t make a sound. My wife is here,” he whispered. **