The Surrogate He Discarded

Mrs. Hayes’ eyes narrowed.

”We can find another wet nurse that is more proper, one that do not look like a temptress.”

”Just look at her. Dressed like that, looking like some kind of a vixen.”

She scoffed. The contempt in her voice was impossible to miss.

Isobel looked at her dress. She was wearing a loose blouse that opened at the front and a matching shorts that covered most of her thighs. There was nothing appropriate in her dress at all.

”Aren’t you worried your husband might be seduced by her?” Mrs. Hayes continued.

A few people audibly inhaled.

Then the nursery fell silent as if someone pressed the stop button.

Even Albert, standing near the doorway, looked shocked at the audacity of Mrs. Hayes’ words..

The accusation was so shameless that it left everyone momentarily speechless.

Across the room, Isobel froze. The words struck her harder than she expected.

Her face paled.

Never in her life had anyone spoken to her with such open malice.

People gossiped about her but they spoke at her back.

And from a woman who appeared so refined and dignified, the insult felt even more shocking.

”Mrs. Hayes...”

Isobel finally spoke. Her voice remained respectful, but there was a slight tremor she couldn’t hide.

”You’re slandering not only me but also your son-in-law. I have never done anything inappropriate toward Mr. Foster.” She said in a deliberate slow voice.

She lowered her eyes, unwilling to let anyone see the storm raging within them. Until now, she had believed Katherine’s behavior was her own. She realized she had been wrong. The apple had not fallen far from the tree.

Meanwhile, Kristine’s chest tightened.

She looked at Isobel apologetically. She already looked exhausted from caring for the twins. Now she was being shamed in front of everyone. And it was the work of her own mother.

The guilt made Kristine’s heart ached.

Nearby, Nurse Nancy had been quietly observing the entire exchange.

Unlike ordinary private nurses, Nancy had been hired personally by Morgan Foster.

Her salary was a lot higher compared to others. She was hired, not just because of her medical expertise. She was expected to protect her patient—not only physically, but from emotional stressors as well.

And right now, she could clearly see the toll this confrontation was taking on Kristine.

Nancy stepped forward. The movement immediately drew everyone’s attention.

”Mr. Hayes.”

Her tone was polite.

”Mrs. Hayes.”

Then she looked at Katherine.

”Miss Hayes.”

She deliberately addressed each of them individually. The subtle formality wasn’t lost on anyone.

”Madam Kristine only woke up from a three-month coma a short time ago. She has not fully recovered.”

Her voice remained professional.

Nancy glanced at Kristine’s pale face.

”The emotional stress she is currently experiencing is detrimental to her full recovery.”

The room became noticeably quieter.

Mrs. Hayes looked at her eldest daughter for the first time since she arrived, really looked at her.

She then noticed how much weight Kristine had lost since before her pregnancy. Her face was gaunt, and its lingering pallor made her look unwell.

She felt a little guilty but she tried to justify not noticing her health when they arrived.

”She looked lively earlier when she wanted to give me a hug,” she insisted.

Nancy frowned as she looked back at her. She could not fathom how a mother could appear so unconcerned about her daughter’s well-being.

”I must ask you to leave so Madam Kristine can rest.”

Mrs. Hayes stared at her in disbelief. For several seconds, she seemed unable to process what she had heard.

A mere nurse asking them to leave? How absurd!

Then her voice rose sharply.

”What?”

Her expression darkened.

”Are you throwing us out?”

Nancy met her gaze without flinching.

”My apologies, Mrs. Hayes. Mr. Morgan ordered that I should take care of Madam Kristine. If she fainted, I would have to answer to him.”

Nancy spoke with such authority one would never mistake her as a nurse. Her posture remained impeccable.

”I am not throwing you out, but I will escort you out.”

The words were spoken politely. Yet there was no room for negotiation.

For the first time that morning, someone had drawn a line.

And unlike Kristine, Nurse Nancy had no emotional ties preventing her from enforcing it.

...

Albert heaved a sigh of relief. It was a good thing Nurse Nancy was there. He did not have to handle it all by himself.

”Isobel,” Kristine’s sad voice filled the nursery. ”I’m sorry about what my mother said. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Kristine reached out and held Isobel’s hand, hoping the warmth of her touch could melt away the chill her mother’s words had left behind.

But her hands were cold, while Isobel’s were warm.

Isobel looked at the woman standing before her. They were about the same height, so their eyes met at the same level.

Kristine’s gaze was filled with apology and concern.

Isobel felt a pang in her heart.

She was an orphan.

From the very beginning, she had known that undeniable truth. She had never met her parents, never known their faces, never expected their love.

There had always been an empty place in her life, but she had learned to live with it.

But Kristine...

She had a father and a mother and a sister... a complete family.

Yet her father barely seemed to notice her existence, while her mother’s eyes followed only Katherine.

An orphan had no parents to love her.

Kristine had parents, yet she was no different from a child without them.

No.

Perhaps she was worse off.

After all, an orphan could tell herself there was no one there.

But Kristine had to watch the people who were supposed to love her choose someone else over her every single day.

She had known her parents for less than half a day, yet Isobel could already see it clearly.

Kristine was unloved.

She sighed.

Wasn’t she far more pitiable than me? She thought.

”Kristine, I’m fine. Really. Your mother’s words could not hurt me.”

Isobel squeezed Kristine’s hand gently and led her toward the elevator that would take them to the third floor.

”You need to rest. You’re the one who doesn’t look fine.”

It took a lot of effort for Kristine to hold the tears that were about to break free. Isobel was right.

She was not fine at all.