Walking Womb

[Rose's POV]

I told my mom that the company was sending me on assignment.They gave me a staff apartment.

The location was great. All my coworkers lived nearby.

Her eyes lit up right away.She looked proud of me. Really proud.

"That's amazing, Rose. You finally made it."

She packed my things while giving me all kinds of reminders."Take good care of yourself. Don't save money. Eat whatever you want."

I just nodded.

I couldn't say a word.

My throat felt tight. Bitter and dry.

I lied to her.

I used the future she was proudest of to lie to the person I love most.

The address Alistair gave me was in the most expensive part of the city.It was a high-rise apartment that overlooked everything.

I moved in on Friday night.

As soon as I opened the door, a sweet and heavy perfume hit me.

It was Lilith's favorite scent. The kind that made you dizzy.

The place was huge.The decor screamed money in the tackiest way possible.

The closet was full of dresses.Most were tiny.Tight and revealing.

The vanity table was covered in makeup and jewelry I didn't even recognize.Everything sparkled too brightly under the lights.

Everything here was screaming one thing:

From today on, you're no longer Rose Lang.

You're Lilith Black.

You're a tool for this deal.

The next day, Alistair's "trainer" arrived.

She was a woman in her fifties.She had no expression.When she looked at me, it was like she was looking at an object.

"When you walk, move your hips."

"When you smile, lift the corners of your mouth. Don't show too many teeth."

"When you talk to men, don't focus your eyes.Stretch your voice. Make it sound sweet and slow."

I became a puppet. She moved me however she wanted.

I learned how another woman walked.How she smiled.How she flirted with men.

My body copied everything.My brain memorized everything.

I was wearing a tight red mini dress, practicing how to walk with my hips, when Lilith showed up.

She walked in on ten-centimeter heels like she owned the place.

Her eyes scanned me from head to toe.Then stopped at my face.Her stare was full of contempt.

"Don't think you can become me just by wearing my clothes and living in my place."

She laughed.It was sharp and high-pitched.

"Remember who you are, Rose.You're just the surrogate I hired."

She stepped closer.Her voice dropped. Every word was full of venom.

"You're nothing but a walking womb."

The rage in my chest shot straight to my head.

I looked at her—at a face that looked exactly like mine—and smiled.

"Is that so?"

I took a step forward.The heels made me wobble, but I stared straight at her.

I lowered my voice, like the trainer had taught me.Soft and slow.

"Then you'd better keep a close eye on your man."

"Because if you weren't a chicken who couldn't lay eggs, you wouldn't need me, would you?"

The color drained from her face.

"You—"

She raised her hand to slap me.

I grabbed her wrist. Tight.

She screamed. Her face twisted in pain.

"Don't forget."

I looked right into her eyes and spoke slowly.

"This face—my face—is going to see James Watson tomorrow.And the next day.And every day after that."

"This womb is going to carry the next heir of the Watson Group."

"If you dare leave a single mark on me—try it."

I wasn't yelling.But she froze.

Or maybe it was the word "heir" that shut her up.

She yanked her hand away and glared at me.Then she turned around and slammed the door.

The moment she left, my strength vanished.

I leaned against the cold wall and slid to the floor.

That attitude from earlier?It was just armor.

I knew this was only the beginning.

A new phone was delivered soon after.

Alistair's people said it was for "Lilith" to use.

I turned it on.There was only one contact.

James Watson.

That night, the screen lit up.

A message.

"Tomorrow night, 7 PM. Rosemary Restaurant."

There was one more line.

"Dress like a proper fiancée."

No greeting. No small talk.

Just a cold command.

My heart thumped once, then went ice cold.

I walked to the mirror.

The woman in the mirror wore heavy makeup.Red lips. A seductive look I had just learned.

That face made me sick.

I picked up my old phone.Found the hacker—codename Ghost.

I transferred a large sum of money.

Then I sent a message.

"I want every weakness and dirty secret in the Black Group's core business."

"Faster."

"Double the payment."

I want revenge.

I looked at the stranger in the mirror.And I told myself:

Everything they took from you—

You'll get it back. One piece at a time.

And they'll pay. With interest.