I lock the door of my apartment and double check just to make sure no one from this shitty neighbor will break in. Three times. Or maybe more.

Doing health checks and applying for surrogacy was the first thing I did since moving here. And also working a part-time job at a fast food restaurant cause none of the high ends will hire me.

Must be the last name. I don't know what happened to my big brother. He could be dead. That day, I try and forget it. The gunshots, the screaming and the blood.

The sun beat down on me, even with this outfit. T-shirt, jeans and shoes. I tied them extra tight today.

10 years of trying to survive on my own. And most of those years spent trying to cater to men. Now I swore to never to that again.

Being a prostitute isn't bad or good either. It's just too dangerous. You never know who you might be sleeping with, trying to get that extra cash.

I passed the interview and thank God they hired me to work as waitress there. Today is my day off and the day I went to the hospital for a yearly check-up.

I walked up to the reception and said, "I'm here to get my check-up."

"What is your name?"

"Ariadne Rossetti," I replied and she typed in my name and told me to go wait.

I spot them.

The influencer and her husband. He seemed familiar. My jaw tightened, tears threatening to fall out. Ethan... Cruz.

I sat there waiting until I was called but this time they too were called in.

"Delilah Price and Ariadne Rossetti?" The nurse called.

We all got up at the same time. I glanced at them. So I'm gonna be carrying their baby? Oh great. I took in a deep breath before going in with them.

They checked my height, weight and everything before telling us to head to a designated room. I don't think they'll like me. I'm too loud. Too masculine. No feminine with the energy of a wolf.

I don't care if my opinion is shared. I sat up on the little bed thing and dangled my feet. Delilah, the woman, sat upright like she's some dainty princess.

He's holding onto her bag.

Mine just sits there and is about to fall apart but that doesn't matter right now cause I can't afford shit. I sigh just as the doctor walks in.

The door opens, a male doctor walks in. Last time I came a woman was here. "What happened to the female doctor that worked here?"

I had to ask because I need the answer. "She got transferred to another hospital, Miss.... Rosetti... as in that Rosetti?" He asked, as he took out a pen to jot down some notes.

Old school, I guess. "Can we forget it and keep that at a simple name and get on with... I don't know my check up?"

My jaw tightened like a screw. "Okay, as you wish. And Miss Price?"

Delilah doesn't answer and looks to Ethan like she needs permission. The doctor looked at her, fidgeting his pen. After a minute Ethan answers for her.

"She's fine. Just focus on the surrogate," he said, pointing to me.

"Is she deaf? Can you not speak? Why do you need to look at him?" I asked, hunching over.

I lost it even at her silence. She smiled, her lips curving upward in a condescending manner.

He lets out a faint chuckle. "Careful with your tone, Rosetti. You're not exactly in a position to bite."

Like he knows me. Really. He doesn't know me. Nor does he know how much shit I've grown through. I didn't have nothing to fall back on.

"I see your hymen is healing well. You're not straining yourself, right?" The doctor asked, now sitting down.

"I'm not straining myself. Just had to step in for my co-workers most days," I reply looking him in the eye.

"What happened to her hymen?" He asked the doctor.

Curious. Why is he so damn curious?

"It wasn't intact the first time we screened her. Likely broke from previous sexual activity.... Some years ago," he explained to Ethan.

She scoffed like she thinks I'm some prostitute who keeps sleeping around. I stopped as soon as I could.

"I was 16. I don't even remember the guy, anyway. Rough. Tore it open.... I was bleeding a bit. And he left me enough money for the service," I said not looking at him and at Delilah.

"Let's move on," Delilah cut in, her voice delicate enough that it won't slice the air. I've seen her videos on Tik Tok and Instagram Reels before. She's definitely playing up the trad wife here and there.

The checkup went smoothly and we set a date for my new life as a surrogate.

He looked me as I looked over the papers and the date I'm supposed come by for this... baby planting. Or actually IVF.

As the doctor told us.

I lock eyes with him. "There's no going back, is there?" I asked, my voice cracking a bit.

Delilah as usual didn't say a word, and hooked her arms around his. She's a trad wide, isn't she?

I sighed and scanned the documents one last time before looking outside.