I (33m) find myself in a difficult situation with my surrogate, Maria (25f), and I'm wondering if I'm the jerk in this situation. To provide some context, my husband, Roman (37m), and decided to use surrogacy to have a child. We had a legal agreement in place, and Maria was Compensated generously for her part in carrying our baby. Everything was going smoothly, and we were excited for our child's arrival.
However, around the eighth month of pregnancy, Maria dropped a bombshell. She declared that she no longer wanted to go through with the surrogacy and expressed her desire to keep the child This sent Roman into a fit of anger, but managed to get him to step out, and had a one-on-one conversation with Maria.
I reminded her that she had legally signed the documents, and the baby was unequivocally ours, mine and Roman's. She began pleading with me, but stood my ground, asserting that this child was my son and not hers. She tried to bargain, saying she no longer wanted the money, but firmly rejected her request, emphasizing that no one had coerced her into signing those papers. Whether she liked it or not, the baby was ours.
To add some financial weight to my argument, pointed out all the money we had invested in the baby and the substantial amount she received before the pregnancy.made it clear that if she wanted the baby, she'd have to reimburse us for all of that, something knew she couldnt afford.
suggested that if she had any more issues, she should speak to my lawyers, but as far as was concerned, the baby was ours, mine and Roman's. Whether she liked it or not.
Maria called us cruel and even got her family involved to support her case. Now, I'm doubting whether l'm in the wrong here. Roman supports my stance, but some of my friends and her family are calling me the asshole. So, Reddit, AITA in this situation?
EDIT: for clarification she hasn't purse legal action at all, this was a talk she had with us.
EDIT 2: we live in California where traditional surrogacy is allowed as well as pre-birth and after-both agreement. We have a pre-birth agreement and by law the baby is ours and she knows it she asking if we would give up Our rights for her to have the baby which we won't the baby is mine and my husband there hasn't been pursuit of legal action she can now only