The Surrogate He Discarded

That Wednesday evening, Morgan told Isobel to prepare herself for an industry summit.

The event would be hosted by the Daltons at The Apex, their newly inaugurated luxury hotel. Perched on a plateau overlooking the prestigious residential enclave known as The Horizon, the hotel had become the talk of the city long before its official opening.

But Isobel’s thoughts were nowhere near The Apex.

She was still trying to process what had happened that morning.

After the emergency meeting, Morgan had promoted her out of the executive assistant position and into the R&D Department.

Manager. The title still felt unreal.

She now led a team of five researchers, all older than her and all far more experienced.

Not everyone was pleased. Of course, that was expected.

Some could barely hide the resentment in their eyes whenever they looked at her.

Some of them had devoted more than three years to the company while she had only graduated a a year ago. Yet she was the one sitting in the manager’s seat.

Still, no one could openly object. How could they?

The robotic puppy that has become a buzz in the industry existed because of her.

No matter how bitter they felt, they could not deny that she had accomplished something none of them had managed to do.

”Isobel, Aoiryx will have a booth at the summit.”

Morgan’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts.

”We’ll be showcasing KitKat.”

His eyes gleamed with excitement.

The robotic puppy had quickly become the pride of the R&D Department.

During one brainstorming session, a team member had jokingly suggested naming it after the CEO’s twins’ nickname.

The name had stuck.

Since then, KitKat had evolved beyond the original prototype. Several new variants had been developed, each modeled after a different dog breed.

...

Friday arrived.

A black Bentley rolled to a stop beneath the grand entrance of The Apex.

Two guards in immaculate uniforms immediately stepped forward and opened the front and rear passenger doors.

Morgan emerged first.

Dressed in a charcoal-gray suit tailored to perfection, he carried himself with effortless authority. His tall frame and striking features drew more than a few glances from the guests coming and going through the hotel lobby.

Then Isobel stepped out.

Whispers rose almost immediately among the onlookers.

”Who is she?”

”She’s probably his secretary.”

”No wonder she is very pretty. She couldn’t be from the IT Department.”

Isobel paid them no attention.

She wore a tailored emerald-green dress that fell just above her knees, paired with a fitted black blazer. The outfit was simple and professional, yet elegant enough for an event attended by some of the biggest names in technology.

Together, they crossed the lobby and made their way toward the sweeping spiral staircase leading to the second floor, where the summit hall and exhibition booths were located.

At the top of the staircase stood Kristoff Dalton, the newly appointed CEO of Dalton Realty.

After years of struggling to find his place within Dalton Holdings’ technology division, he had finally stepped away and devoted himself to what he truly loved—creating spaces where people could live, work, and thrive.

The Apex and The Horizon were both the brain child of Kristoff. The board of directors were happy they decided to move him away from Technology to Realty.

Today’s summit was particularly important.

The participating companies represent some of the most influential names in AI and technology. Their presence would bring prestige not only to The Apex but to Dalton Realty as a whole.

Then he saw them.

The moment Morgan and Isobel appeared at the foot of the staircase, they caught his attention.

Morgan climbed the stairs with the confidence of a man accustomed to being followed. His posture was straight, his strides steady and purposeful. He walked like an emperor.

Beside him, Isobel struggled slightly to keep pace.

Kristoff noticed it immediately.

When Morgan noticed, without a word, he slowed down.

Isobel looked up at him in surprise. When she realized what he had done, a grateful smile appeared on her face.

For a brief moment, Morgan’s expression softened.

Then the two continued side by side toward the summit hall.

Kristoff’s eyes narrowed slightly. The hands resting at his sides slowly curled into fists. His gaze lingered on Isobel.

She looked every bit the professional in her tailored green dress and black blazer. The color complemented her perfectly, highlighting her fair complexion and delicate features.

Then again, he could not remember a single color that did not suit her.

Even the loose loungewear she used to wear around the house had somehow looked good on her.

The green dress wouldn’t look as good on Charlotte as it was on her.

His brows furrowed. Without realizing it, he found himself comparing her to Charlotte.

The realization left a bitter taste in his mouth.

It was unfair to Charlotte. Charlotte was beautiful. She had always been beautiful. Yet, standing there now, Isobel seemed to draw the eye far more easily.

Kristoff immediately pushed the thought away.

What nonsense!

His gaze shifted back toward the entryway to the summit hall.

Morgan had been stopped by another CEO and was engaged in conversation. A few steps away, Isobel waited quietly by herself.

She was neither nervous nor uncomfortable. Instead, she stood there with calm confidence, greeting the occasional executive who approached her.

For a moment, Kristoff found it difficult to reconcile this poised young woman with the timid girl he remembered.

”She changed so much,” he murmured.

”Sir, did you say something?” his secretary asked.

Kristoff looked away.

”Nothing.”

...

Isobel had been standing quietly by the side for several minutes, waiting for Morgan to finish his conversation, when an inexplicable unease settled over her

Someone was watching her.

The feeling was so intense that a chill crept down her spine. She slowly turned toward the entrance of the summit hall.

At first, all she saw was a sea of unfamiliar faces against a backdrop of the massive mahogany

Then her gaze found a familiar one.

Kristoff.

Their eyes met across the wide hallway.

For a moment, neither of them looked away.