The sudden silence inside the huge home was almost deafening.
Mark stared at his maid holding the quiet peaceful baby.
The child had stopped wailing in less than ten seconds.
His tiny eyes were red and wet with fresh tears.
Yet his small body relaxed totally against Elena's shoulder.
Mark stepped closer to look at his sleeping young son.
He could hear the gentle breathing of the comfortable infant.
Mark: Why did he stop crying for you so fast?
Elena: Babies remember the heartbeats they heard in the dark.
Mark frowned deeply as he processed her strange reply.
Mark: What are you trying to tell me right now?
Elena: Your ex-wife never carried this child inside her body.
Mark felt the entire world spin around his heavy feet.
He remembered the expensive surrogacy paperwork signed months ago.
His ex-wife had claimed the surrogate was completely anonymous.
She had managed all the legal contracts through top lawyers.
Mark had simply signed the final legal adoption papers later.
He looked closely at Elena's pale and emotional face.
He noticed the faded medical scar visible near her wrist.
Mark: You were the surrogate mother hired by the agency?
Elena: I signed a contract because my family needed money.
Mark: They told us the mother lived in another state.
Elena: Your wife lied to keep us apart forever sir.
Elena wiped a single tear away with her soft sleeve.
She held the sleeping boy like he was solid gold.
Elena: She hired me as a maid to keep control.
Mark: She forced you to watch your own child daily?
Elena: I stayed just to be near him every morning.
Mark felt a surge of massive anger toward his ex-wife.
He realized the horrific cruelty of the cruel legal setup.
Elena had cleaned floors just to hear her son breathe.
She had sacrificed her own pride for his sweet sake.
Mark took a deep breath to steady his racing thoughts.