The nurse’s warning whispered in my ear still haunted me: “Ask your son what happened at 3:00 AM.” Moments later, I eavesdropped on his panicked phone call on the fire escape: “If the police find out, we’re ruined.” My hands shook as I unlocked his briefcase in his office. The horrific adoption contract inside changed everything…

fluorescent hospital light glaring off the stark, black ink.

At the top of the first page, in bold, unforgiving letters, it read:

GESTATIONAL SURROGACY AGREEMENT – CONFIDENTIAL

I sat back on my heels, the floor spinning beneath me.

My eyes scanned the dense legal jargon. Daniel and Nora’s names were listed repeatedly as the “Intended Parents.” But there continue reading …