A Deal with Destiny: When a Mysterious Visitor Forces Svetlana and Her Husband to Choose Between Sca…

Suzanne shut down her computer and began to gather her things.

“Ms. Harcourt, there’s a young lady asking to see you,” her assistant called. “She says it’s a personal matter.”

“Send her in,” Suzanne replied.

A petite, curly-haired woman in a short skirt entered the office.

“Good afternoon. My name is Jessica,” she began. “I’d like to propose a deal.”

“Hello, Jessica. What sort of deal? I dont believe weve met…”

“Not directly. But I know your husband, James, rather well. Here,” Jessica said as she placed a sheet of paper on the desk.

Suzanne picked up the sheet and read: “Jessica Carterpregnancy, 5-6 weeks.”

“What is this? I dont understand… Why are you showing me this?”

“Nothing to misunderstand. Im pregnant by your husband.”

Suzanne stared at her in disbelief. Was this some kind of joke?

“And what exactly do you want from me? Congratulations?”

“No, money. If you love your husband, that is…”

“And why, pray tell, should I give you money?”

“I’ll have an abortion and disappear from your husband’s life. He doesn’t yet know about the pregnancyI came to you first. If you say no, he’ll leave you for me, since you cant have children. I know all about your situation. So? Whats your answer?”

Suzanne tried to process this avalanche of revelations, her thoughts tangled.

“And how much is your secret worth, then?”

“Only thirty thousand pounds. Hardly a fortune for you. But in return, you get to grow old together with James…”

“How magnanimous! Thank you so much for the opportunity. Give me your number, Jessica. Ill consider it and let you know.”

“Just dont take too longthe clock is ticking if Im to go through with the abortion…”

Jessica scribbled a phone number, dropped it on the desk, and sauntered out.

“Ms. Harcourt, are you heading off now? The cleaning staff’s waiting…” called Angela, the office manager.

Suzanne folded the slip of paper and tucked it in her bag. “Yes, Im off. See you tomorrow, Angela!”

She left the office and got into her car, her mind spinning. Who was this Jessica? Could James really have gotten her pregnant?

At home, Suzanne scrutinized the paper again. She needed to think quicklyJames would soon be home.

“Darling, Im back! What smells so delicious?” James called out.

“Come find out,” she replied.

He entered the kitchen, rubbing his hands together. Suzanne sat in an armchair, arms folded, gazing intently at him.

“Whats with that look? Youre scaring me a bit”

“James, who is Jessica Carter?”

“Shes a colleague at one of our partner firms. Why do you ask?”

“She claims to be pregnant by you Here, read this.”

James picked up the paper and scanned it, incredulous.

“This is impossible… Ive never been with herhow could that even happen?”

“Well, shes asking me for thirty thousand pounds, in exchange for disappearing and having an abortion. Otherwise, she says youll leave me for her.”

“I dont understand Why would she say such a thing? I promise, Sue, I havent the foggiest idea. Absolute nonsense.”

“Thats what I thought. Not that I imagine youre a saint, but I can read people, and shes lying. She just wants easy money.”

“Im happy to do any test or check you want. Ive nothing to fear, really. Silly made-up drama! Youre the only woman I need, love”

“Alright. I believe you. Lets eat now.”

The next day, Suzanne dialled Jessicas number and called her into the office. Jessica arrived within half an hour.

“Right, Jessica,” said Suzanne, “James cannot be the father of your child. I trust him. Your plan to make some quick money hasnt worked. You may go ahead and have your abortion.”

“Youre quite the strange woman… Why do you trust him so blindly? Do you not own a mirror? Youre forty years oldregardless of how well you look after yourself, therell always be younger and prettier alternatives.”

“Anything else you wanted to say?”

“Yeshow about you buy this child? Do whatever tests you like; James is the father. Im certain.”

“But you say nothing happened between you two. Hows that possible?”

“Alright, heres the truth. A month and a half ago, we had a work party where I met James.

One of his friends had told me he was married to a wealthy woman who couldnt have childrennot even with a surrogate. Naturally, the urge to have his own child would be strong.

Perfect opening to make some money. But James completely ignored my advanceswhich, frankly, annoyed me. Men usually flock to me, but not him.

Young, attractive, curvyIm not used to being snubbed.

So, I tried something else. My sisters a pharmacist, and she gave me a special powderit briefly wipes the memory, muddles your senses.

I slipped it into Jamess drink, which I always have with me just in case. Took him home, and he was entirely pliable, no idea what was happening.

Luckily, it was just the right time of the month, so I got pregnant. He doesnt remember a thing. Yes, thats possible. I even have it on video.”

She placed her phone on the desk and played a clipJames was there, motionless on a bed, disengaged from the world.

“Abortion would be easy for me. Im fit as a fiddle and enjoy easy money. I doubt youd go to the police, with your lofty job. Not worth the public mess, right?

I thought youd accept my offer, but since you havent, Im willing to have the baby and give them to you. Ill see a doctor, eat well, all that. Thirty thousand pounds and the child is yours.”

Suzanne was speechless. Was this actually happening?

“Jessica, you belong in prison. Youre a con artist!”

“Needs must! I have debts to paymy sugar daddy died suddenly.

Think about it before you get worked up, Suzanne. Ill call in three days.”

Jessica left the office. Suzanne poured herself a glass of water, head throbbing. What a mess…

That evening, she relayed everything to James, who was as shocked as shed been.

“Ive been set up… Ill sue her…”

“James, these things do happen. Lets look at this differently. I read online that clinics can do a DNA test on the babys blood after the seventh week.

First, lets confirm if its your child. Next, weve always dreamt of having our own child but it wasnt to be…

We never considered adoption. Now, if the test proves the baby is yours, we could have your child. Its all very wrongbut perhaps fate has given us a chance: to save this child and fill our lives with happiness. Have you thought of that?”

“Oh please, youre not actually giving her credit are you? Shes barking mad! Let her have the abortion and never bother us again. I wont pay for this!”

James stormed out.

Suzannes thoughts drifted back a decade

She and James met at university, fell in love at first sight, couldnt imagine life without each other.

They married and rented a little flat. After graduating, Suzannes career flourishedher uncle helped her start her own business and lent her money.

Once shed succeeded, she paid him back several times over. James started his own shop, Suzanne ran her company. Life was good. The only missing piecechildren.

Then, one evening, as they walked home from a restaurant in the lovely evening air, a group of drunken men attacked them. One lunged at James with a knife and Suzanne shielded him with her own body, taking the blow herself.

Doctors fought for her life for days and saved herthough at the cost of her ability to have children. She had to undergo surgery and could never become a mother.

It hit Suzanne hard. James did all he could to comfort and support herhe felt responsible, wishing hed taken the blow instead.

Sometimes, Suzanne would visit church, light candles, pray for her loved ones, and give alms to those in need.

One day, she gave some coins to an elderly lady at the church gate.

“Thank you, dear. I can see how sorrow weighs on youdont let it consume you,” the old woman said.

“Its alright, gran. My lifes good, but Ill never have children, and thats hard to accept”

“I understandI was childless too… But youll have a child. The way itll happen will astound you…”

Suzanne sighed and walked on. What could she possibly know?

Shed learned to accept her fate, throwing herself into her work. Over time, her bond with James only strengthened. And now, this

Suzanne persuaded James to do the DNA test, along with Jessica, now nine weeks pregnant. The results confirmed James really was the father.

“So? I told you I wasnt lying,” Jessica sneered. “Are you ready to pay for your child now?”

“Let me tell you something,” Suzanne replied. “If I wanted a baby by James through another woman, there are far more affordable optionsincluding surrogacy.

But since were in this situation, well take the childbut youll get fifteen thousand pounds, not thirty. Take it or leave it. Well do this properly and legally.”

“But I said thirty thousand! Whats with the haggling?”

“Were setting the terms now. Dont want it? Fineno money at all. Count yourself lucky were not calling the police. Were good people…”

***

“James, its settledtheres going to be a baby.”

“Sue, why on earth are we doing this? And paying her, of all things”

“Maybe this is our destiny offering us a miracle. Let’s accept it.”

Throughout her pregnancy, Jessica attended her appointments, had her tests, and followed every instruction. At term, a strong, healthy boy was born.

Jessica relinquished her parental rights, and James, as the biological father, brought the baby home. The paperwork was completed, and Jessica, after taking the money, disappeared from their lives. To everyone, they said a surrogate mother had borne the child.

“Thank you for giving birth to my husband’s child,” Suzanne told Jessica as she left.

Their son, Alex, became the centre of Suzanne and Jamess world.

“James, look at himhes your spitting image”

“You think? I dont know much about babies, but he does seem a handsome little chap, just like me…”

“Remember that old lady outside the church I told you about? She predicted thisour child would come to us in an incredible way…”

James and Suzanne gazed at their son. They didnt know what the future held, but in that moment, they were happier than they could have ever imagined.

Sometimes, fate answers our prayers in the most unexpected ways.

***

A few months later, Suzanne saw on the news that Jessica had been found dead in her flat. The circumstances were under investigation. It seems, in the end, shed pushed her luck a bit too far…

And so life taught them this: Miracles dont always look how we expect. Compassion and integrity in the face of darkness reveal what is truly meant for us.