The Surrogate He Discarded

Charlotte’s gaze swept over Isobel from head to toe with undisguised scrutiny.

A simple yellow blouse hugged her slender frame, tucked neatly into a pair of blue jeans. Black sneakers peeked out beneath the hems of her jeans while her silky dark hair was gathered into a high ponytail that exposed the graceful curve of her neck.

There wasn’t a trace of makeup on her face.

Yet somehow, that only made her beauty more striking.

Her clear skin, delicate features, and naturally alluring eyes gave her the effortless charm of a woman who didn’t have to try. Even dressed so plainly, she still looked every bit the temptress Charlotte had always imagined her to be.

Isobel lowered her eyes, intending to walk past without acknowledging her.

”Kristoff and I are already engaged,” Charlotte said coldly, her voice slicing through the silence. ”Stop inserting yourself between us. We love each other.”

Before Isobel could respond, Julian—who had been standing a few meters away—strode to her side.

His expression darkened as he fixed Charlotte with an icy stare.

”What exactly are you trying to say to her?” he demanded.

Charlotte frowned.

Unlike Kristoff, she had never met Julian Foster before.

She merely scoffed, looking at Isobel with open contempt.

How many men did this woman have surrounding her?

First Kristoff. Then Morgan. Then, that man from the orphanage. And now this middle-aged man who looked old enough to be her father.

Could he be...

Her sugar daddy?

Julian, meanwhile, silently assessed Charlotte.

The hostility radiating from the young woman was impossible to miss. Judging by the venom in her eyes, he had every reason to believe she harbored ill intentions toward Isobel.

Without warning, he asked, ”Miss Charlotte Harris... were you the one who arranged Isobel’s kidnapping?”

Charlotte froze.

Her face drained of color as she instinctively stumbled back a step.

”W-What?”

Her shock lasted only a heartbeat before outrage exploded across her face.

”You old fool!” she snapped. ”You’re slandering me!”

She jabbed an accusing finger toward him.

”Walls have ears. If someone records what you just said and it spreads online, I’ll sue you for defamation!”

Her chest rose and fell violently. How could she not be furious?

Kidnapping was a serious criminal offense—one accusation like that could destroy her reputation and even send her to prison if people believed it.

Julian watched her carefully.

Every flicker of panic, every trace of indignation... None of it seemed rehearsed.

Could he have misjudged her?

Could Charlotte truly have nothing to do with Isobel’s kidnapping?

After a long pause, he inclined his head slightly.

”My apologies,” he said sincerely. ”I spoke without evidence.”

Charlotte let out a bitter laugh.

”You think a simple apology makes everything okay?”

Her shrill voice echoed through the hospital corridor, drawing curious glances from passing nurses and visitors.

Leanne opened her mouth to intervene, but before she could speak, the door to the VIP ward swung open.

Kristoff emerged in his wheelchair.

His brows knitted together in irritation.

”What’s all this noise about?”

His gaze swept across the group before settling on Isobel, Julian, and Leanne standing outside the room.

The moment Charlotte saw him, tears welled up in her eyes.

She hurried to his side like a wounded bird seeking shelter.

”Darling...” she whimpered, her voice trembling. ”He’s accusing me.”

Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks as she clutched Kristoff’s arm.

”He said... he said I was involved in Isobel’s kidnapping.”

She wiped her tears with the sleeve of her cream-colored dress, looking utterly aggrieved.

”I don’t even know when she was kidnapped or what happened to her. How could he accuse me of something so horrible?”

She looked at Kristoff with pitiful eyes.

”Darling... you have to stand up for me.”

Then she pointed accusingly at Julian.

”Throw this old man out of the hospital!”

Julian merely smiled.

Beside him, Leanne discreetly pinched his waist, silently warning him not to provoke Charlotte any further.

Kristoff rubbed his temples.

”Enough, Charlotte.”

His weary voice carried unmistakable impatience.

”They’re only words.”

Charlotte stared at him in disbelief. Only words? She had just been accused of kidnapping.

”Don’t you know who he is?” Kristoff continued.

Charlotte’s lips parted. Slowly, she shook her head.

”I... I don’t.”

A flicker of unease crept into her heart.

Could this old man have an important background?

She stole another glance at Julian.

His clothes were modest, no different from Isobel’s.

He didn’t look wealthy or influential at all.

Kristoff regarded Charlotte with a complicated expression.

She had always prided herself on being perceptive, able to read people at a glance.

Yet now...

She was judging someone solely by the clothes on his back.

For the first time, Kristoff wondered whether her beauty had become the only remarkable thing about her.

”He’s Julian Foster,” Kristoff said evenly. ”Morgan’s father.”

Charlotte’s eyes widened.

Kristoff continued, ”He’s also one of this hospital’s largest shareholders. He owns forty percent of it.”

Charlotte’s pupils constricted.

But her shock wasn’t because Julian was a powerful businessman.

Instead, a different conclusion flashed through her mind.

So...

The middle-aged man really was Isobel’s sugar daddy.

No wonder Isobel could afford to be so fearless.

She had found herself an extraordinarily rich sugar daddy.

...

”Mr. Foster,” Kristoff said with a nod, his tone restrained, ”if Charlotte offended you, I’d like to apologize on her behalf.”

Charlotte whipped her head toward him.

”Kristoff, why are you apologizing?” she demanded indignantly. ”Even if he’s a Foster and one of the hospital’s owners, he falsely accused me first!”

Her confidence returned the moment she realized Kristoff wasn’t allowing the situation to spiral any further. With him standing beside her, she felt she had nothing to fear.

Julian looked at her calmly.

”Young lady,” he said patiently, ”I’m your elder. I admitted I spoke without proof and apologized. What more do you want from me?”

Charlotte opened her mouth.

”I... I...”

The words lodged in her throat.

For the first time in years, she found herself completely speechless. ℯℯ𝘭.

What else did she want?

An apology wasn’t what she had come for.

She wanted Isobel to be embarrassed.

She wanted everyone to see Isobel for the shameless woman she believed her to be.

Her eyes darted between Julian and Isobel before a realization struck her.

Everything suddenly made sense.

No wonder this influential man had rushed to Isobel’s defense.

No wonder he was willing to offend her.

A sneer slowly spread across Charlotte’s lips.