The CEO’s Hired Surrogate

Chapter 12

5 months later:

Pain, pain was the only thing she could feel as she clenched her teeth, a tear rolling down her cheek as she waited for the wave of pain to retreat. She’d gotten used to it now but was growing utterly tired of it. She could feel her body as it begged for a moment of relaxation, exhausted and tired of the pressure exerted on it.

From the corner of her eyes, she could see Ryan, his hand firmly holding onto her as he encouraged her silently. She could see how sorry he was feeling, clearly wanting to do something to ease the pain. But what was he to do, this was one of those battles Kayla had to fight on her own.

She screamed as another contraction came her way, washing over her lower body. She could feel every muscle of her belly as it contracted, flexing as it prepared for the delivery. She was unsure of how long this was going to last. But she could feel it coming to an end. She could tell from the pressure she could feel between her legs, the feeling stronger than before.

Beyond the pain and exhaustion, she could still feel the adrenaline and excitement. Those feelings were mute, silenced by the pain of delivery, but they were still there. In the bottom of her heart, those feelings filled her, being the light that reminded her of the beautiful thing that she was to feel by the end of the day.

Nine months had passed, but they hadn’t been enough to prepare her for this moment, even more, when she knew that she no longer had to leave her child, that she no longer had to take some an envelope full of money in an envelope.

With that thought still in mind she pushed one more time, holding tightly onto Ryan’s hand as she pushed, trying hard to keep her legs parted. And that had been the final push. After another wave of pain and a tremor that shook through her entire body.

A cry, a single cry was all it took for her heart to melt and for tears to blur her vision. The cries of her baby immediately reached her ears as the nurses rushed to aid the doctor. A tired laugh escaped her lips as she turned her head to look at Ryan.

Ryan, on the other hand, wasn’t looking at her, although his hand still held onto hers, his gaze was stolen by the beautiful soul that was now being checked by the doctor. She could see traces of tears that had fallen down his cheeks, a smile painted on his lips.

Indeed, they were both overwhelmed with emotion. The baby in front of them was the sign of everything they’d both gone through. Of the love that they’d both found in unexpected ways.

“Congratulations, you have a healthy daughter.” Those words were enough to make her cry, her arms reaching for her baby, feeling like the nurse took ages to put her in her arms.

Kayla would never forget that moment, the moment when she first felt her baby’s warm skin on hers, how her small hand touched her neck, as if in a hug. That was the moment when she truly understood why a mother would give her life for her child. It was when she understood why mothers were so scared and why they held the unconditional love they had for their children.

She smiled and looked at Ryan as he rested his head on hers, while gently brushing a thumb against their daughter’s face.

“Hey, Emily! I’m your daddy.” His words warmed Kayla’s heart. She didn’t know how she’d managed to steal his heart, but she was glad she had. Ryan was a man like no other, his heart was pure and loving. He loved truly and honestly, and never failed to show it. And Kayla was grateful for that, even questioned if she deserved it at all.

A few hours later they were in the hospital room, their mothers had just left. Of course, they didn’t leave on their own, Ryan and Kayla had barely convinced them to return home under the pretext that they were both tired. In fact, they wanted time alone, wanted to have some time to truly enjoy the fascinating emotions that washed over them whenever they looked at their daughter.

*****

Beside her, Ryan sat on the edge of the bed, careful not to disturb Kayla, not that she would be bothered at all. Sitting there he watched his girls. He didn’t know how he came to be there. The entire journey had been like no other, unexpected and filled with surprises.

Whenever he thought of the way he came to meet this wonderful human he now loved, he understood that there was truly a divine being, someone who played with their fates and made them question everything they ever knew. He had no other way to explain it all.

Thinking back, Ryan realized that if they were to stick to their original plan Kayla would have left their lives as soon as they left the hospital. He came to realize that if he hadn’t manned up and finally confessed to his feeling he would have been forced to watch that amazing human leave his side, probably never to cross his path again. Indeed, he was glad that wasn’t meant to happen now. He couldn’t imagine his life without Kayla anymore, without their daughter.

Daughter. Ryan still wasn’t used to the idea that he was now a father. It was all too surreal. He was facing his worse fear, but he was ready to prove himself wrong. He was even ready to forgive his father, prove him wrong and show him how fatherhood was supposed to work.

Indeed, seeing his two favorite girls cuddle, he realized that he was ready to let go of the past and every other experience that threatened to pull him down. And for that, he had Kayla to thank.

She was like an angel sent into his life. She came exactly when he’d needed her most. He was more than sure that if his mother had chosen another girl for the ‘job’ than he would have truly lost himself to his fears. He wouldn’t have been able to fully embrace the joy he was now feeling, and that would have been a true loss.

The woman with the hazel eyes and black hair managed to wrap him around her finger. With a smile and a single glance, she’d stolen his heart and settled down in his life. And he couldn’t be happier.