Surrogate Mother

"Why was I brought here? What have I done wrong?" asked Eveleen, her voice trembling with fear as she looked around at the numerous large and intimidating men. Her attention was suddenly caught by a familiar figure, also held captive and helpless.

"Dad?" Eveleen called out.

Zinon, Eveleen's father, could only look at her with a gaze full of sorrow and apology.

The large door before them swung open wide. Eveleen watched as people strode out of the room with purposeful steps. A pair of gleaming, expensive shoes stopped right in front of her. Then, the man wearing them settled into a single, luxurious-looking sofa that appeared incredibly soft. The scent of his masculine perfume wafted through the air, tickling Eveleen's nose.

Overcome by burning curiosity, Eveleen finally gathered the courage to lift her head. One word flashed in her mind: *handsome*. A strikingly handsome, imposing man with a severe expression sat before her. Instantly, his sharp gaze locked onto Eveleen, making her heart pound and fear grip her. Quickly, she averted her eyes.

"So, this is your daughter, Zinon?" the man asked, breaking the silence.

"Please don't hurt my daughter, Sir Damian. She knows nothing about my debt," Zinon pleaded.

Eveleen stared at her father, her eyes full of questions. What debt was he talking about? How could he have borrowed money from a man like the one in front of her? Though incredibly handsome, his aura radiated darkness, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.

"Your father's debt is one billion rupiah," stated Damian.

"W-what?" Eveleen was utterly shocked. She dared to meet Damian's gaze once more, her eyes wide with astonishment and confusion.

"Therefore, your father has agreed to hand you over to settle his entire debt."

Eveleen was horrified by the handsome man's words. How could she possibly pay off such an enormous debt?

"I don't have that kind of money, Sir. My savings aren't even close to that amount," Eveleen spoke, her lips trembling. She was terrified, surrounded by these fierce and frightening men.

"I don't need your money. I need your body."

Thump!

"I—I'm not that kind of woman," answered the utterly terrified Eveleen. She turned to her father, who was sitting not far away. "Daddy, please don't do this. I don't want to surrender myself, Dad. Help me!" Eveleen begged, her face mournful and on the verge of tears.

Damian smirked mockingly at Eveleen's tearful, sorrowful expression. He found the petite woman overly sentimental.

Damian crouched down in front of Eveleen, bringing his face close to hers as she sat on the floor.

"It's your womb that I need. Pay your father's debt by bearing my child."

Thump!

It felt like being struck by lightning. Eveleen was stunned, completely unable to process what the man before her had just said.

"I refuse!" Eveleen answered firmly, though a hint of uncertainty tinged her voice.

"This isn't a choice, Miss. It's an agreement," Damian declared. "Pay your father's one billion rupiah debt with your womb."

Damian rose to his feet.

"I don't want to, Sir. Please, don't do this. I will pay all of my father's debt. But... I can only pay 10% of it," Eveleen replied, bowing her head.

"Do you think I'm a loan shark?" Damian asked with a sneer. "There are no more negotiations because you have no right to set terms."

Damian signaled to his men to take Eveleen to the prepared room. Immediately, two of his men grabbed her arms and started leading her away.

"No! Let me go! Daddy... Daddy, help me, Dad!" Eveleen screamed, struggling violently.

Meanwhile, Zinon could do nothing. He could only bow his head, filled with regret and guilt. 'Forgive me, Daddy, Eveleen,' Zinon thought inwardly.

Eveleen was shoved into a luxurious and spacious room, stumbling to the floor from the hard push by the two large men. Not one to stay passive, she immediately scrambled up as the door began to close. But it was too late; before she could reach the doorway, the door shut firmly.

Eveleen pounded on the door loudly, over and over. "Open this door! Please open it! Someone, anyone, open the door! This is kidnapping; you could go to jail if you're caught!" she yelled.

Eventually, the woman grew exhausted. She slumped to the floor, leaning her back against the door. It was useless to scream, curse, demand, or say anything else she had uttered. None of it had any effect on Damian.

"What am I going to do? Oh God, why am I trapped here?" She sobbed.

Finally, she was overwhelmed by fatigue, frustration, and anger with no way to vent her rage and defiance. She could only sit there and cry, imagining what her fate would be next.

Trapped in the place of a casino owner known for his cruelty and cunning. The man named Damian... Eveleen despised him. The thought of carrying his child was unthinkable; she wasn't even willing to look at his face.

***

Eveleen was startled awake by the sound of the door opening. She had fallen asleep after crying for a long time. Because she was leaning against the door, she quickly stood up when someone opened it.

Several maids entered, bringing three mannequins dressed in white wedding gowns. They also brought three pairs of shoes matching the white dresses.

"W-what is this?"

Before Eveleen's question could be answered, Damian entered the room, causing the maids to promptly leave.

Now, only Eveleen and Damian remained.

"What do you want?" Eveleen asked, backing away from him.

"Our contract. Read it and sign it," Damian said, throwing the document onto the bed.

Seeing Eveleen frozen in place annoyed Damian.

"What are you waiting for?!" he snapped, making Eveleen flinch.

Without a word, Eveleen moved to pick up the document and a pen. She read its contents. It stated that Damian wanted Eveleen to bear his child. Damian would cover all of Eveleen's living expenses for as long as she remained his mistress. The contract would last until Eveleen gave birth to Damian's biological child, at which point Damian would release her. Eveleen would be free to resume her life, but she must forget the child she had borne.

"I refuse!" Eveleen exclaimed after reading the document.

"I told you, you have no choice. Sign it now!" Damian commanded, his tone sharp.

"I won't! This is like selling my own child!" Eveleen cried out.

Damian turned on a square screen in the room. It showed Eveleen's father tied up. The old man was standing with a noose around his neck. His hands were bound behind his back, and his feet were perched on a chair with wheels.

"If you don't sign it right now, your father will be dead within minutes," Damian threatened. "The choice is in your hands!"

Eveleen stared at her father with a sorrowful gaze, tears welling in her eyes. What should she do now? She didn't want to accept this absurd contract, but she couldn't bear to lose her father either.

***