It was a sunny day when Ana met up with Sandra.
Sandra's face creased with concern. "Ana, are you absolutely sure? Once you step into this, there's no turning back."
"I know," Ana answered softly. "But I don't have a choice. My family... they need me."
The two girls made their way to a business building.
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, revealing a lavish corridor lined with glass walls, designer art pieces, and an intimidating silence that wrapped itself around Ana like a cold cloak.
She felt completely out of place.
Her blue dress—though elegant—suddenly felt like a borrowed identity. Her hands were clammy, clutching Sandra's hand like a lifeline. With a deep breath, she walked toward the only door at the end of the corridor: Rosalind Ross— Executive Recruiter.
"You go ahead. I'll wait for you here" Sandra said.
Ana nodded.
Ana hesitated for a moment, then pushed the door open.
Inside, the office was sleek, modern, and far too quiet. The scent of jasmine and sandalwood hung in the air. A tall, sharply dressed older woman with wine-colored lipstick and heels that echoed power stood behind a glass desk, flipping through a portfolio. Her hair was pulled into a tight chignon, and her eyes were like twin daggers—sharp, unreadable.
"So," the woman said without looking up, "you're Ana Lyle."
Ana nodded. "Yes… Sandra gave me your card. I—"
"I know why you're here."Madam Rosalind finally looked up. Her gaze was steady, unapologetic. "You're drowning in debt, your little sister is dying, and your adopted brother is rotting in jail. And you're desperate enough to walk through that door. Good. I don't waste time with the indecisive."
Ana flinched. The brutal honesty was suffocating.
"I'm not here to sell myself—" she began.
"But you are," Rosalind cut in coolly. "You just don't know it yet."
Ana's jaw clenched. "What exactly do you do here?"
Madam Rosalind leaned back in her chair, her manicured fingers tapping on the desk. "I match desperate women with desperate men. Powerful, wealthy men who need companions, muses, arm candy—or something more specific. And in return, these women get access to things they never thought possible: money, connections, protection."
Ana's stomach turned. "So, you're… a pimp?"
Madam Rosalind laughed lightly. "Please. I'm a facilitator of transactions. Everything is legal. Everything is private. You're not being forced to sleep with anyone… unless that's what you agree to. You have control. The choice is always yours. But once you agree—you deliver. That's the rule."
Ana stood frozen. Her heart pounded in her ears. It felt wrong. Immoral. Terrifying.
But Annie's frail body, Adonis's bruised face, and her mother's pale, weeping eyes flashed through her mind. The hospital bills. The legal fees. The hopelessness.
"How much… how much could I make?" she whispered.
Saffron raised a brow. "Depends on how smart you are. How far you're willing to go. You, Ana… you could make a lot. You have the right face. The right suffering. Men like that. Especially the powerful ones who pretend they're saviors."
Ana swallowed hard. "I'm not looking to sell my body, if that's what this is about. I came because she said you… help people. Women. Like me."
A slow smile crept across Madam Rosalind's face. "I don't deal in flesh. Not in the way you're imagining. I deal in arrangements. Carefully crafted, highly confidential arrangements. And I believe I may have one… that fits you perfectly."
Ana tilted her head. "What kind of arrangement?"
Madam Rosalind crossed to her desk and picked up a slim folder. She slid it toward Ana. "Surrogacy."
Ana blinked. "You mean… you want me to carry someone's baby?"
Madam Rosalind sat down finally, her movements deliberate. "Not just anyone. A very powerful, very private family. The couple cannot conceive. And they don't want the usual clinic route. They want discretion. Control. Exclusivity. Which is where you come in."
"They chose me?" she asked in disbelief.
"They reviewed several profiles. Yours stood out. You're young, healthy, with no known hereditary conditions. Your background… modest. Easily managed. And you have the right look." She paused. "They are willing to offer five million dollars. All expenses covered. Medical care. Housing. Security. Anonymity."
Ana stared at the number.
Five million.
Enough to get Annie the care she needed. Enough to pay the lawyer for Adonis. Enough to lift her family out of ruin.
"But what happens after the baby is born?" Ana asked quietly.
"You hand the child over. No attachments. No names. You disappear. You get your money. End of story." Madam Rosalind replied curtly.
Ana's heart pounded. "And if I say no?"
Madam Rosalind's smile faded. "Then you leave, and we never speak again. This offer will not be extended twice."
Silence filled the room.
Ana thought of her sister's failing body. Her brother's eyes when he was taken away in handcuffs. Her mother breaking down in the hospital hallway. Her own empty hands.
She looked up at Madam Rosalind.
"I'll do it."
Madam Rosalind's eyes glittered like onyx. "Good. Then your life is no longer yours. Not for the next nine months. You belong to them now."
Ana's fingers tightened on the folder.
And just like that, her world tilted.
In that quiet office lined with legal documents and crystal vases, Madam Rosalind sat before Ana and Sandra.
"Have you understood everything I've explained?" she asked coolly.
Ana nodded.
"Good. If you're sure, sign here." Rosalind pushed the documents forward. "Once you do, I'll wire five million dollars into your account. Take more time to think if you need to."
But Ana couldn't afford time. Her hands trembled slightly as she picked up the pen. For a second, her resolve faltered—but then she scrawled her name across the bottom line.
Rosalind nodded with approval. "You have two weeks to take care of personal matters. We'll contact you when it's time."
Life changed drastically for the Lyle family.
Within days, Mr. Smith received a shocking visit from a high-profile lawyer who presented proof that the Lyle family's entire debt had been legally cleared—down to the last cent. He couldn't believe how or where the Lyle family got that amount to pay him back. He was nearly angered to death.
Julia underwent life-saving surgery. Every cost was covered.
Adonis's case was reopened, and with a skilled legal team on his side, he was released on a minor fine. He returned home to tearful hugs and disbelief.
Mrs Lyle, overwhelmed by the sudden transformation of their lives, stared at Ana, searching her daughter's face for answers.
"How did you come up with so much money?" she asked repeatedly.
But Ana only smiled faintly. "A benefactor helped me."
"No one gives away that much money without reason," her mother murmured, worry etched in her features.
Eventually, Ana claimed she had landed a job overseas. Despite their protests, after days of persuasion, her family reluctantly agreed to let her go.
Two weeks later, a sleek black car pulled into the driveway of an opulent mansion. The gates opened silently as the vehicle glided inside.
Reina stepped out beside Madam Rosalind, eyes wide with awe. The mansion was a breathtaking display of wealth—glistening marble, tall columns, and sprawling gardens that looked like they belonged to royalty.
Inside, the Zelkowicz family waited—everyone except Harry.
"This is Miss Ana Lyle," Rosalind announced. "Our new surrogate."
The old madame's sharp eyes scanned Ana from head to toe. Dressed in a modest but elegant knee-length dress that flattered her full, curvy figure, Ana looked both pure and poised. Her long, wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her soft, beautiful features earned a rare approving nod from the matriarch.
Sasha, standing nearby, forced a dazzling smile as she approached.
"Hello, Ana. I'm Sasha Fairchild," she said sweetly. "I'll be the mother of the baby you'll carry. My husband is away on a business trip, but you'll meet him soon. Don't worry, you're safe here. I'll take care of you like an older sister."
Ana offered a quiet, polite nod in response.
She was then shown to her room, lavish and serene with a team of servants assigned to cater to her every need. Doctors monitored her daily, tracking her nutrition, vitals, and menstrual cycle with clinical precision.
But after weeks of trying, the insemination had not taken.
Despite everyone's efforts, Ana remained unpregnant—a fact that did not sit well with the Old Madame.