My step mother called me and my step sister to discuss further. She tried proving a valid point, which wasn’t. She started, “The situation is much more than I could imagine. I never knew it would turn out to be like this for us”.

She searched out face to see if we all had a sad expression and continued, “Wendy, you have started with the journey to erase the debt for the family and I have trust in you that you will end it well”. To me I see all this as a wreck to my life.

She paused in her sentence and stated, “you should be prepared to be a surrogate mother to Michael”. Same thing Lucy told me in the hotel. I sprang up in anger, declining blankly with no hesitations. 

My expression shocked my step mother, as I have always been the one she orders around.“You already got close to being with Michael, clearly I can’t send Grace there anymore” my step mother stated. 

I stood in a spot, my feet got stuck to a position.The thought that the step mother who had been taking care of me from childhood like her own does not even care about my feelings, my future. The task is degrading, yet, she sees it as no big deal. I walked out of her presence angrily  to my room. The energy I slammed the door with shook the room. At that point I care less. "Wendy!, Wendy!!, Wendy!!!,” she calls out to me. I turned deaf ears to her callings. I was too sad and emotional to turn in my tracks. My step mother stood at my doorstep, knocking hard for me to open up. I didn’t. Grace didn’t follow her. She sat still on the chair thinking deep about what was really going on. She bit deep into her lower lips.

Settling in my room, I grabbed my late father’s picture which I framed close to my bed. “Daddy, I miss you”,I cried. I held it close to my chest, hugging it. Tears came without me sobbing. I allowed myself to break.

My ambition since childhood was to become a great actress and motivational speaker. I have always wanted to have a positive influence on children and have a foundation for the needy.

Unfortunately, here I am. My world crumbling in front of me, no one to call to help me out. I feel my existence should end at that moment. My step mother and madam Lucy told me lies from the start. It was only to go meet Michael to get his favours. 

Right now, it’s being a surrogate mother. Get pregnant for him, carry the child and leave him or her behind after birth. It’s not going to be an easy task for me. I cried my eyes out till sleep caught my tender eyes. My late father’s picture frame was still hanging on me while I slept off. I missed dinner that day. 

My step mother woke me up the next morning with knocks on my door. I turned on the bed, placed my daddy’s picture in its former position.

I stared at the door for a few minutes, “Do I open up or just leave it that way. It’s too early for this conversation”. I said to myself. The knocking was too much and I couldn't bear the noise. “Come back later”,I screamed from the inside.

After my words, I didn’t hear any words. Am sure my step mother left. I sat at the edge of the bed having a flashback of the previous day.

I remembered how I walked into the hotel and didn't come out the same way. I felt ashamed of myself. “Urgh”, I screamed. I exhaled sharply. Walked into the bathroom. I stared at myself in the bathroom mirror.

Tears rushed down my face. As I realized, I am being used as bait to get money from Michael Carter. I told myself, “You have to be brave Wendy, the deed has already been done”.

I took my bath and cleaned myself up. I dressed up about to go out and get myself a pain relief yet, my legs refused to move. I was still heartbroken. I sat back on the bed sobbing loudly.

Till I heard my step mother speak, “open up Wendy”. I thought she had left. I quickly wiped my tears and advanced to the door. My heart beat as I opened the door. I wasn't sure if I needed to hear more heartbreaking talks from her.

Regardless, I opened my door. She came to join me in my bedroom. “Wendy” she spoke softly. I murmured, “Ma”. I faced downwards sobbing quietly.

She questioned, “Hope you have thought about surrogacy overnight?. The bank gives us a five day ultimatum before pushing us out of the house”. I wasn’t expecting the question from her.

To my surprise She wasn’t there to console or ask how the event turned out. She was only concerned about the five days ultimatum. I felt more hurt at the same time because I don't want to be homeless. I had used my energy to cry to bed and cried this morning.

Crying in the presence of my step mother about the same matter will be a waste of tears and energy. I saved my energy. I bite my upper lips.

“I'm still thinking about it,”I nodded. My step mother stood up. “I will wait for your replies, before tomorrow ends”she approached the door and left.

I felt like disappearing. She didn’t bother asking how I was feeling. Obviously, she doesn’t care about my well-being.

I stood from my spot and went out to eat and get pain relief for myself. 

The next day, I stayed in my room. Have been in my room after I ate and took pain relief the previous day. Quietly, Grace sneaked into my room. I was in the bathroom washing my face. “Wendy, you have been indoors for too long come outside let’s enjoy the breeze”,she urged me to come out.

I smiled, “Okay”. I followed her out. We walked around the house and settled in the garden. Grace sat in front of me. I could read her facial expression. She wasn’t too happy, only trying to mask her feelings.

My stepmother strolled to the garden and saw myself and her daughter. Earlier in the day, she got a message from Lucy; the content was about how in haste Michael’s grandfather was for the surrogate procedure to start. Which equals to clearing of all the debt.

She looked at me with a smile to announce the news. “Wendy, I got a message from Lucy, it's good news. Michael’s father is ready for the surrogate process”. She looked at my face.

I didn’t put on any expressions, I maintained my same facial looks. Grace looked at me with eagerness. Although,I was partially happy to know my house won’t be confiscated.

Yet, my pride has been crushed to zero. And it’s about to claim my future. My stepmother made breakfast for us all. We dismissed our helpers because we couldn’t afford to pay their bills anymore.

Michael had requested my number from madam Lucy. Since the last meeting, have been living rent free in his head.