Learn English with Stories ⭐ The Surrogate | Level 3 English Listening & Speaking Practice

My name is Clara Reed. I am 26 years old and I live alone in a small rented room in Oakridge City. A quiet place filled with tall buildings, busy streets, and people always rushing somewhere. Two months ago, I lost my job as a receptionist in a small travel agency. That time was very hard for me.

Every morning, I woke up early, made myself a cup of coffee, and sat in front of my old laptop. I sent out job applications and wrote many emails hoping someone would reply, but nobody did. Days turned into weeks and weeks into months. My savings slowly disappeared. I had to count every coin to buy food.

My rent was due soon and I didn't know how I would pay it. I felt tired, scared, and alone. One rainy evening, my best friend Lena came to visit me. She brought a small box of donuts and smiled kindly, but I could see in her eyes that she was worried about me. "Clara,

you look so pale." she said softly. "What's wrong?" I told her everything. How I lost my job, how I couldn't pay rent, and how hopeless I felt. She listened quietly. Then she said something that surprised me. "Clara," she said, "Some people can't have babies, so they pay women to carry a baby for

them. It's called surrogacy. You could earn a lot of money. I looked at her shocked. People really do that? Yes. She nodded. It's legal. You could help a family and earn enough to start over. That night I couldn't sleep. Her words kept echoing in my mind. Half a million dollars. It sounded impossible, but that money

could change everything. I could pay my debts, my rent, and even open my dream coffee shop. So, the next morning I searched online for private surrogacy offers. One ad caught my eye. Private agreement. Healthy woman needed. $500,000. Confidential. Serious inquiries only. I read it again and again. The next day I decided to visit the