The Surrogate He Discarded

Morgan accompanied Isobel to the garage.

The automatic doors slowly lifted, revealing a sleek, brand-new red Porsche Panamera gleaming under the morning lights.

”This one,” Morgan said, pointing toward the luxury sedan.

Isobel froze.

Her eyes grew wide as she stared at the stunning car.

”Is... is this really mine?”

She turned to him, still unable to believe what she was seeing.

Morgan slipped one hand into his pocket and smiled.

”My sister deserves nothing but the best.”

Isobel walked around the car in disbelief, her fingertips lightly brushing the glossy paint.

”It... it’s beautiful.”

Then she laughed awkwardly.

”But it’s way too conspicuous.”

She looked at Morgan with a helpless smile.

”I’m not ready to drive something this expensive. I’ll probably end up driving at twenty kilometers per hour the whole way.”

Morgan couldn’t help but chuckle.

”I don’t think that’s a bad thing. At least you’ll be the safest driver on the road.”

He jingled another set of keys in front of her.

”So take your time. Until you’re comfortable, you can keep using the Audi.”

Isobel accepted the keys with a grateful smile.

”Thank you, Brother.”

After a brief silence, she hesitated before speaking again.

”Dad mentioned that he wants to hold a recognition banquet...”

The smile on her face gradually faded.

”I don’t think it’s necessary.”

Morgan looked at her.

”Why?”

She lowered her gaze.

”It could hurt Dad’s reputation.”

Everyone knew Julian Foster had only one daughter.

If the public suddenly learned he had another child born from an affair decades ago, there would inevitably be gossip and criticism.

She didn’t want him to become the target of public ridicule because of her.

Morgan gently patted her head.

His usually indifferent expression softened.

”You’re overthinking it.”

He met her eyes, his voice calm but firm.

”You’re a Foster.”

”You’ve never asked for anything that belonged to this family, yet you’ve suffered because of circumstances beyond your control.”

He smiled faintly.

”So when the time comes...”

”You deserve to be recognized as our sister.”

His words warmed Isobel’s heart.

For the first time, she truly felt that she wasn’t simply being accepted out of obligation.

She was being welcomed home.

...

When Isobel arrived at her office, she immediately noticed a large bouquet of red roses resting elegantly on her desk.

The fresh blooms filled the room with a delicate fragrance, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

A few of her colleagues peeked over their cubicle walls.

”Lucky you, Isobel,” Desiree teased with an envious smile. ”It’s only Monday morning, and someone’s already sending you roses.”

Isobel smiled politely.

”It’s nothing, Desiree.”

She set her bag down and reached for the small envelope tucked among the flowers.

Pulling out the card, she read the short handwritten message.

Her brows knitted together.

Richard?

What was he trying to do now?

Before she could think any further, another colleague stopped at her doorway.

”Isobel, the boss needs you in the boardroom in fifteen minutes.”

”The CEO is meeting with several prospective business partners about the company’s latest innovative product. They’ve asked everyone from the project team to attend.”

Isobel nodded.

”I’ll be there.”

After her colleague left, she glanced once more at the bouquet before setting the card aside.

Morgan hadn’t mentioned the meeting over breakfast.

Then again...

She remembered what he had told her.

Keep your personal life and your professional life separate.

At the office, he wasn’t her brother.

He was the CEO.

And she intended to treat him that way.

...

When Isobel stepped into the boardroom, several executives were already engaged in polite conversation, the low hum of business chatter filling the spacious room.

She quietly made her way inside.

Then she stopped.

Standing beside Morgan was a man dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.

His posture was straight, his movements composed, and every gesture carried the confidence of someone accustomed to authority.

Richard.

For a brief moment, Isobel almost failed to recognize him.

The carefree young man she who accompanied her to the orphanage was gone. In his place stood a mature and accomplished businessman.

He was leaner than Morgan, but the two men shared the same commanding presence—the kind that naturally drew everyone’s attention the moment they entered a room.

He has changed...

Before Isobel could collect her thoughts, the boardroom door opened once more.

Everyone instinctively turned.

The last person to arrive was someone she never expected to see.

Kristoff Dalton.

He strode into the room in a tailored beige suit paired with a dark green tie. His calm expression revealed nothing, yet his mere presence seemed to lower the room’s temperature by several degrees.

Isobel’s brows drew together.

What is he doing here?

As far as she knew, the Dalton Group and the Foster Group had been fierce business rivals for years. Their companies competed in nearly every major project, and neither side willingly gave the other an advantage.

Seeing Kristoff at Aioryx’s headquarters was the last thing she had expected.

As if sensing her gaze, Kristoff looked up. For the briefest moment, their eyes met across the room.

Neither of them looked away.

The silent exchange lasted only a heartbeat before Morgan’s voice broke the stillness.

”Gentlemen.”

His tone was calm, authoritative, and unmistakably that of Aioryx’s CEO.

”Thank you for accepting our invitation.”

He activated the presentation screen behind him.

”As you’re aware, Aioryx is preparing to launch a new product line. We’re seeking strategic partners to help us bring this project to market.”

Richard leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the table.

”What kind of partnership are you proposing?”

Although the question was directed at Morgan, his eyes drifted toward Isobel.

She was seated beside the CEO.

His gaze lingered for a fraction longer than it should have.

Why is she sitting next to Morgan?

There was something about the way Morgan occasionally glanced at her...

It wasn’t the attention of a superior toward a subordinate.

It felt... personal.

Morgan noticed Richard’s scrutiny but remained unfazed.

”We’re looking for investors,” he replied evenly.

”In addition, portions of the manufacturing and technical development will be outsourced. Depending on each company’s strengths, we’re prepared to discuss long-term strategic cooperation.”

Across the table, Kristoff remained silent.

His expression was unreadable.

Yet beneath the calm façade, his eyes briefly settled on Isobel before returning to Morgan, as though he, too, was trying to understand exactly where she fit into the Foster Group.