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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nInside were documents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first page\u2014a contract.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And a signature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It took me a moment to understand what I was looking at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A surrogacy agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not as a person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Suddenly, the sound of the shower stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Artem was only a few steps away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I turned around, clutching the papers, as the truth assembled itself in my mind piece by piece.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His mother knew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She wasn\u2019t trying to destroy our marriage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She was trying to warn me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The bathroom door opened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He walked out, drying his hair with a towel, calm\u2014almost relaxed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy are you screaming?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was no concern in his voice. Just irritation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I raised the envelope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He froze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just for a second.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But it was enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is this?\u201d My voice didn\u2019t sound like mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stepped closer. Too calm. Too controlled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou weren\u2019t supposed to see that,\u201d he said quietly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not \u201cit\u2019s not what you think.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not \u201cI can explain.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You weren\u2019t supposed to see it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen tell me what I was supposed to see!\u201d I snapped. \u201cThe wedding? The smiles? Or the moment you turn me into a tool for your plans?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou would\u2019ve found out anyway. Later. When everything was\u2026 finished.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFinished WHAT?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked straight into my eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And in that moment, I realized the man I married didn\u2019t truly exist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe procedure,\u201d he said calmly. \u201cWe need a child. Just not the usual way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2018We\u2019?\u201d I let out a bitter laugh. \u201cYou and your mother?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He didn\u2019t answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And that silence said everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I remembered every moment\u2014his kindness, his promises, his words about the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now it all felt like a perfectly performed role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou chose me\u2026 because I was suitable?\u201d I whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That was enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Something inside me broke for good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I slowly placed the documents back into the envelope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calmly. Too calmly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have ten minutes,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He frowned. \u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I looked at him in a way I never had before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTo get out of my life. Before I call the police and show them exactly what kind of \u2018agreement\u2019 you were planning to carry out without my consent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This time, he went pale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the first time that night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And in that moment, I understood one thing:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fear can change sides very quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And sometimes\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n