The small bedroom felt suffocating. The curtains were still drawn tight, allowing only a sliver of light to seep through. Sandra Moenza sat against the side of the crib, her head bowed as tears continued to stream down her cheeks.

Her hollow gaze wandered around the room.

The baby clothes in the tiny wardrobe. The toys tucked into the corner. The soap and baby powder neatly arranged on the shelf. All of it was supposed to be for her baby.

But it was all gone. Her baby had died the moment she was born.

The doctor had said the child managed to breathe for a few moments, but her organs had failed, and she had died only minutes later.

Sandra had never even gotten the chance to breastfeed her. She had only been able to hold her.

The baby had been limp and motionless, her skin already turning purple. The memory of that tiny face made Sandra break down again. Her shoulders trembled violently.

The bedroom door opened.

Sandra looked up and saw her husband, Alex Fernando.

“Sandra, enough.” Alex sounded exhausted. “Crying isn’t going to bring our baby back.”

Sandra lifted her face. Her eyes were red and swollen. For a brief moment, she hoped to see the same grief reflected in her husband’s eyes.

Instead, all she saw was worry.

Not about their baby.

About something else.

“You say that as if it’s easy, Alex. I just lost—”

“My company is falling apart.” Alex cut her off, leaving Sandra speechless.

The tall man stepped into the room, his face tense. “I don’t have time to keep comforting you. There’s a much bigger problem right now.”

“A bigger problem?” Sandra stared at him in disbelief. “Our baby just died, Alex.”

“Sandra, it’s been a week. I’m tired of seeing you like this.”

His words left Sandra staring at him, stunned.

Was the company really more important to him than their baby?

She couldn’t understand it.

Was there not even a shred of grief in his heart?

Alex let out a harsh breath before crouching in front of her. His eyes dropped to her chest, where breast milk continued to seep through her clothes.

“Sandra,” he said, reaching for both of her shoulders.

Her lips parted, but no words came out. She waited for him to continue.

“Alecia showed me a way to get financial backing for my company,” Alex said, his eyes lighting up as though he had just discovered a priceless treasure. He shook her shoulders excitedly. Before Sandra could respond, he cut in again. “You know Adam Lorenzia?”

Sandra frowned.

The name was familiar.

Adam Lorenzia, the billionaire with businesses spanning multiple industries. Working with him was practically a blessing. But as far as Sandra knew, Adam never accepted business proposals casually. He was extremely selective about the partners he worked with.

And Alex?

There was no way a man like Adam would consider him a suitable partner.

“I heard his wife died giving birth. His daughter needs a wet nurse immediately,” Alex said, pulling Sandra from her thoughts. “And you have breast milk that you have no baby to feed.”

Sandra’s eyes widened.

“What are you talking about?” she cried, pushing Alex away.

“It’s for the company, Sandra. I wouldn’t ask you if I had another choice,” Alex explained. “But right now, you’re the only one who can save my company.”

“You want me to become a wet nurse for someone else’s baby?”

“Yes. If you agree, he’ll provide the financial support my company needs.” Alex patted his chest, his eyes filled with desperate hope.

Sandra shot to her feet.

“Are you insane? You’re trying to sell me off for your company?”

“I’m not selling you!” Alex’s voice rose. He stood and grabbed her hand. “This is help. If I fail this time, we could lose everything, Sandra. This house, our reputation… everything.”

Heat burned behind Sandra’s eyes. Her chest tightened. Her fingers curled more tightly around Alex’s hand.

“So you’re willing to send me to another man’s house for your business?” Her voice trembled. “How could you be this heartless to me?”

Alex roughly rubbed a hand over his face.

“I’m not asking you to sleep with him. You’d only be breastfeeding his child, Sandra. Do you really want to keep wasting all that milk? You might as well put it to use.”

Sandra stared at him in disbelief.

“Just for a few days. If necessary, you can stay there temporarily. Adam is a respectable man. He won’t do anything to you, Sandra. Trust me,” Alex said, trying to reassure her.

Sandra lowered her head, utterly drained. Her breath caught in her throat.

“Please, sweetheart,” Alex whispered, reaching toward her face.

Slowly, Sandra lifted her eyes to him.

Finally, in a hoarse voice, she asked, “This really is only about the breast milk, right?”

Alex nodded quickly.

“That’s all. And this could be our way out.”

“Before that, let me see the baby.”

________________________________________

Several hours later, her car stopped in front of a grand mansion in an exclusive neighborhood. Sandra stared out the window, her breathing heavy. She briefly pressed a hand against her aching chest.

With a deep breath, she stepped out of the car. Her legs felt heavy, but she forced herself to walk inside.

The moment the double doors opened, a servant greeted her.

“Mrs. Moenza?”

Sandra didn’t answer. She merely offered a faint smile.

“Follow me.”

The servant led her down a long hallway before stopping in front of a door.

Sandra could hear the baby crying from the other side.

For some reason, pain immediately tightened around her chest. Her breath caught.

The servant opened the door.

Sandra stepped inside and stopped in front of the crib. Her eyes filled with tears at the sight of the baby squirming, her tiny face red from crying.

Without being asked, Sandra bent down and lifted the baby into her arms.

A single tear slid down her cheek. For a moment, the world around her seemed to stop. There was a feeling she couldn’t explain. Something warm. Something familiar.

“This is Zia Lorenzia,” the servant said softly.

Zia whimpered, turning her tiny head toward Sandra’s chest. Without thinking, Sandra drew the baby closer. Her fingers trembled as she slowly undid a few buttons on her blouse. She gently freed one breast.

The moment Zia found her nipple, the baby latched on and began sucking eagerly.

Sandra held her breath.

What is this feeling?

Tears spilled down her cheeks again, but this time, they weren’t only from grief. There was something else. Something that made her chest feel painfully full and strangely warm at the same time.

Sandra glanced toward the doorway. Adam Lorenzia stood there, silently watching the scene, an unreadable expression on his face.

His gaze shifted to Zia, now peacefully nursing in Sandra’s arms.

For several seconds, Adam said nothing. Then his eyes returned to Sandra.

“It seems Zia has chosen you.”