Sarah shut down her computer and was about to head off when her assistant popped her head in the door.
Mrs. Carter, theres a young woman here to see you. Says its a personal matter.
Alright, let her in.
In walked a petite, curly-haired woman in a noticeably short skirt.
Hello. My names Chloe. I have a proposition for you.
Hello, Chloe. This sounds rather mysterious, especially since we havent met before
Not with you, no. But I know your husband, Michael, quite well, actually. Here.
Chloe stepped up and tossed a piece of paper on Sarahs desk. Sarah picked it up, scanning the page.
Chloe Mitchell Pregnancy 5-6 weeks
What is this? I dont understand Why are you showing me this?
Isnt it obvious? Im pregnant by your husband.
Sarah stared in shock. What on earth was this supposed to mean?
And what do you expect from me? Congratulations?
Hardly. I want money. Only if you value your marriage, of course.
Money for what, exactly?
Ill have a termination and completely disappear from his life. Michael doesnt know about the pregnancy, Ive come to you first. If you refuse, hell leave you. Youre infertileyou cant have children. I know everything. So, what do you say?
Sarahs mind was spinning, thoughts tangled up.
And how much is your so-called secret worth?
Only thirty thousand pounds. Peanuts, considering your wealth. In return, your husband stays and you grow old together
How generous of you, really! Chloe, leave your numberIll think about it and get back to you.
Dont take too long, times ticking for the procedure
Chloe scribbled her number and slowly waltzed out.
Sarah folded the note and put it in her handbag.
Mrs. Carter, are you off now? Maintenance is waiting
Yes, Im leaving. See you tomorrow, Angela!
Sarah left the office and slipped into her car. What just happened? Who was this Chloe? Did Michael really get her pregnant?
At home, she sat down and read over the note again. Shed have to figure this out before Michael got in
Love, Im home! Something smells amazing in here!
Come in and see
Michael came into the kitchen, rubbing his hands together. Sarah sat in the armchair, legs crossed, eyeing him.
What? Why are you looking at me like that? Youre making me nervous
Michael, do you know a Chloe Mitchell?
She works for a firm we do business with. Why do you ask?
Because she says shes pregnant by you. Read this.
Michael took the piece of paper, skimming through it.
Thats impossible. Ive had nothing with her. How could this even happen?
You tell me. Shes asking for thirty grand to have a termination. Otherwise, apparently, youll leave me and go to her. Thats what she claims.
I dont understand Why would she say that? Sarah, I swear on my lucky cap, I know nothing about this Shes making it up!
Thats what I thought. I never assumed you were a saint, but I can tell shes spinning a tale, trying to make some quick money.
Ill do any test you want, Ive got nothing to hide. Silly fantasies from a desperate girl! Youre all I need, love.
Right, lets have dinner.
The next day, Sarah called the number Chloe left and invited her to the office. Chloe turned up half an hour later, all confidence.
Look, Chloe. Michael isnt the father of that child. I believe him. You cant just cash in so easily. If you want to have a termination, do it.
Youre a strange woman Why are you so convinced hes innocent? That confident in yourself? Take a look in the mirror! Youre forty, loveno matter how well you keep yourself, theres always someone younger.
Anything else?
Actually, yes. I want to offer you a chance to buy this baby. Take any test you wantMichaels definitely the father. Im hundred percent sure.
But you said he had nothing to do with you. Hows that possible?
Fine, Ill tell you. About six weeks ago, we had a company night out where I met Michael for the first time. A mutual acquaintance let me knowMichaels married to a well-off woman who cant have children, not even by surrogacy. Naturally, some people will do whatever it takes for a child.
He was the perfect target to make a bit of money. I tried flirting with Michael, but he didnt show the slightest interest. That really bothered memost men fawn all over me.
Young. Attractive. Curves in all the right places. So, I decided to take a different approach. My sisters a pharmacistshe gave me a little powder. A person loses their memory temporarily, almost out of their mind.
I offered Michael a drink with the powder mixed in. Then I brought him back to my placehe was totally out of it, no idea what he was doing.
Lucky for me, I was ovulating then, and well, here we are. Michael remembers nothing. It can happen. So, I know for a fact hes the father. I even have video.
Chloe handed over her phone and played a video. Michael, undressed, face blank, lying on a bed, completely unaware of the filming.
To me, getting a termination is easy, Im healthy as a horse. But I do love easy money. I doubt youd want all this to hit the police, given your positionbit of a scandal, isnt it?
I thought youd jump at my offerbut you didnt. Fine. Ill have the baby and you can have it. Ill see the doctor, eat properly, all that jazz. Thirty thousand, and the childs yours.
Sarah sat, frozen at everything shed just heard.
Chloe, I dont even have words! You should be in prisonyoure a scam artist!
What can I say! Desperate times. My old sugar daddy died and Im left with a mountain of debt.
Think about it, Sarah. Ill ring you in three days.
After Chloe left, Sarah downed a glass of water. Her head was pounding. What a mess
That night, she told Michael everything. He was stunned.
Ive been used Ill see her in court
Michael, mad things happen these days. Lets look at this differently. I read online that from seven weeks, doctors can test a babys DNA with the mums blood.
Lets find out first if the babys even yours. Weve both dreamed of having a child. But its not meant to be
Adoption never felt right for us. But if the test proves its yours well, its a child with your DNA. Not the most honest way to get one, but maybe fates given us a chance. Have you thought of that?
Oh, go on, give her a medal! This is ridiculous. Let her have the procedure and leave us alone! Were not paying for this!
Michael stormed off, fuming.
Sarahs mind turned back ten years
She and Michael had studied at the same university, fell for each other instantlythe sort of love you only read about.
They got married, lived in a rented flat, building their lives together after graduation. Sarahs uncle helped her start her own company, loaned her the money to get going.
When things took off, she paid her uncle back in fulland then some. Michael opened his shop, Sarah ran her business. Everything was looking up. They both wanted children so much, but nothing worked.
One night after dinner, they decided to walk homebeautiful evening, just right for a stroll. Suddenly, a gang of drunk lads attacked them; one pulled a knife on Michael. Sarah shielded her husband and got stabbed in the stomach.
The doctors fought for her life for days. She pulled through, but couldnt have children anymoreher womb and ovaries had to be removed. The news broke her. Shed never be a mum
Michael was as supportive as he could. He blamed himselfwishing hed taken the hit instead.
Sarah sometimes went to church, lit candles, prayed for her family, often gave to charity.
One time, she handed some coins to an old woman outside the church.
Bless you, dear. I can see sorrow clings to you, dont let it.
Oh, its nothing, really. Lifes goodI just wish we could have children
I understand. I never had children, myself But youll have a baby. And itll come into your life in a way you dont expect.
Sarah sighed and walked away. How could an elderly woman know anything?
She threw herself into her work. Her bond with Michael only grew stronger. And now, this craziness.
Sarah convinced Michael to get a DNA test, just to be certain. Chloe provided her own sample at nine weeks. The results confirmed itMichael was the father.
See? I wasnt lying! Ready to pay for the baby now? Chloe smirked.
Heres my counter-offer: its not hard to find a surrogate these days, and for less money than you want. We never set out to do that, and we wouldnt. But since its happened like this, well have the babyand well pay you fifteen thousand. You take the money, we take the baby, all legal, contract and everything.
I asked for thirty thousand! Whats with the bargaining?!
Were in charge now. Dont want it, dont take ityou get nothing. Be grateful we arent turning you in. Were kind people
***
Michael, Ive sorted it. Were going to have a baby.
Sarah, why are we doing this Even paying her
Maybe fates handed us this giftwe should accept it.
Throughout the pregnancy, Chloe went for her check-ups, took all the tests, did what she needed. In the end, a healthy baby boy arrived.
Chloe signed away her rights; Michael, as the biological father, took his son home. The legal side all dealt with. Chloe vanished with her cash. They told everyone their son was carried by a surrogate.
Thank you for giving birth to my husbands child, Sarah said to Chloe on their last encounter.
And so baby Alex became a part of Sarah and Michaels home.
Michael, look how much he looks like you
Does he? Babies all look the same to me Though I admit he might be as handsome as me
Do you remember that old woman at the church I told you about? She predicted wed have a child And we did, in the least expected way.
Sarah and Michael gazed at their son, not knowing what the future held, but happy in that moment
Sometimes the universe answers prayers in the most unexpected ways
***
Months later, Sarah saw a news segment on TVthe body of Chloe Mitchell had been found in her flat. Circumstances still under investigation. Shed played with fire one too many timesSarahs heart fluttered with unease as the familiar face of Chloe flashed across the TV. She sat silently, Alex asleep in her arms, the glow of the lamp pooling golden circles on the nursery wall. Michael appeared in the doorway, his gaze shifting from the screen to Sarahs pensive profile.
Are you all right?
Sarah nodded, her voice barely more than a whisper.
I keep thinking of everything that happenedthe choices we made.
Michael crossed to her side, placing a warm hand on her shoulder.
We did what we had to. And look at us now.
Sarah stared at their son, his tiny hand wrapped around her finger. The world outside felt cold, full of shadows and secrets, but herehere was her sunbeam. She pressed a kiss to Alexs forehead, heart tight with gratitude and sadness for the woman who, though flawed, was nonetheless the unlikely bridge to her motherhood.
Some nights, when Alex wailed against the hush of midnight, Sarah stood cradling him by the window, looking up at the same sky Chloe mustve once watched. She would whisper thank you into the darkness, to fate, to the mysterious old woman with prophecies, andperhapsto Chloe, wherever she was.
As months rolled into years, the pain and scandal faded, replaced by laughter, sticky fingers, and bedtime stories. Some things would never be understood or forgiven, but life, stubborn and luminous, marched on. In Alexs smile, Sarah always saw a patchwork of mercy, luck, and the courage to make impossible choices.
One Sunday, pushing Alex on a swing at the park, Sarah noticed an elderly woman sitting beneath a blossoming tree, watching with wise, kind eyes. Recognition shivered through herthe same woman from the church long ago. Their eyes met, and the woman gave a slow, knowing nod.
Sarah smiledtears pricking her eyes, heart finally at peace. She knew, in that moment of sun and laughter, that miracles did come, even when wrapped in the most tangled, extraordinary stories. And in the hush between one heartbeat and the next, Sarah whispered her deepest thanksfor Alex, for hope, for loves endless, mysterious ways.
