Chapter 3

Victoria stirred, the morning light filtering softly through the elegant drapes of her bedroom. As her eyes fluttered open, she turned and saw the baby lying beside her, wide awake and smiling.

"Morning," Victoria said, her voice devoid of warmth. She slipped out of bed, leaving the baby cooing happily, and made her way to the bathroom. Her routine was meticulous, each step measured and efficient. After dressing in a crisp, tailored suit, she descended the grand staircase.

At the bottom, she encountered the maid. "Feed the baby," Victoria instructed coolly, not breaking stride as she headed to the dining room. She sat at the head of the long table, a solitary figure amidst the vastness, and began her breakfast.

The doorbell rang, breaking the silence. The butler, ever prompt, answered and ushered in Victoria's five friends. They bustled into the room, their energy a stark contrast to Victoria's icy demeanor.

"Victoria, darling!" exclaimed the first, a woman with a perpetual smile. "Come have coffee with us today!"

Before Victoria could respond, a baby’s cry pierced the air. The friends exchanged bewildered glances.

"Was that a baby?" one of them asked, eyes wide.

"In your house, Victoria?" another chimed in, barely suppressing a giggle.

"Whose baby is it?" a third asked, their tone dripping with incredulity.

Victoria looked at them, her expression unchanged. "Mine," she said flatly.

"You...have a baby?" one friend stammered, still processing the information.

"Did you steal it?" another joked, earning a few nervous laughs.

"Is it a robot baby?" the fifth asked, looking genuinely curious.

Victoria sighed, placing her fork down. "No, I did not steal it. No, it is not a robot. Yes, I have a baby. Now, if you're done with your ridiculous questions, can we move on?"

The friends exchanged glances, then broke into laughter. Despite their silliness, they seemed to understand and accept this new reality in Victoria's life, even if she herself did not fully embrace it.

“So, how did this happen?” asked Mia, the most outspoken of the group. “Her mother left her at my door. I guess she thought I could handle it.”

“Handle it?” exclaimed Sarah, shaking her head. “What kind of mother just leaves her baby?”

“I don’t know,” Victoria replied coolly. “But it happened, and now I have to deal with it.”

The friends exchanged glances, their outrage simmering beneath the surface. “You can’t just let the baby go to someone else,” Jenna said, folding her arms. “What if she ends up in a bad situation?”

Victoria raised an eyebrow. “I was thinking of finding someone who actually wants a baby.”

"That's not how it works," Mia insisted. "You can’t just throw her away like some unwanted item!"

“I’m not throwing her away!” Victoria snapped, her cool facade cracking for a moment. “I just don’t know what else to do. This isn’t a life I planned.”

“But you can’t just abandon her,” Sarah chimed in, her tone softening. “She’s not useless. She deserves a chance.”

Victoria leaned back against the wall, crossing her arms. “What do you expect me to do? I can’t take care of a baby.”

“Of course you can!” Mia argued. “You’re capable. You just need to give it a chance.”

There was a pause, and the weight of their words hung in the air. Victoria sighed, her expression unreadable. “Fine. I’ll keep the baby,” she finally said, her voice quiet.

The friends brightened at her admission. “Yes! That’s great!” Mia exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “We’ll help you. You’re not alone in this.”

“Can we see her?” Jenna asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “I mean, I want to meet her!”

Victoria hesitated, her instinct to shield her emotions surfacing. “Why?” she asked, her tone still guarded.

“Because,” Sarah said gently, stepping closer. “She’s a part of your life now. We just want to make sure she’s okay. Plus, we can help you figure things out.”

With a reluctant sigh, Victoria nodded. “Okay. But don’t expect me to coddle her.”

As they entered the room, the baby looked up at them, her big eyes wide with innocence. The friends gathered around the bassinet, their earlier anger dissipating into soft laughter and coos.

“She’s beautiful,” Mia said, bending down to get a closer look. “What’s her name?”

“I haven’t named her,” Victoria admitted, watching them. “I wasn’t planning to keep her.”

“Well, we should give her a name!” Jenna suggested, her eyes sparkling. “How about something cute? Like Daisy?”

“Or maybe Luna?” Sarah added, her excitement growing. “It has a nice ring to it.”

Victoria watched her friends with a mix of annoyance and gratitude. Despite her cold exterior, a flicker of warmth sparked inside her. “Maybe,” she said, her voice softening. “But it’s my decision.”

“Of course,” Mia said, smiling. “But we’re here for you, Victoria. We can help. We’ll figure this out together.”

As the friends continued to fuss over the baby, Victoria felt an unexpected weight lifting. Perhaps, with their help, she could navigate this new chapter of her life after all.

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