The Surrogate He Discarded

Kristoff had arranged a suite for Isobel before she could object.

He knew her well enough by now to know that she would refuse to leave her uncle’s side. If she was given two separate rooms, she would spend half the night moving between them despite the pain in her injured arm.

So Kristoff had solved the problem in the simplest way possible.

He had another hospital bed brought into the suite and transfer her uncle there.

The hospital itself catered mostly to the poorer communities surrounding the area, and its expensive suites were rarely occupied. Most families could barely afford the standard rooms, let alone a private suite.

Tonight, one happened to be available.

The spacious room looked almost more like a luxury hotel than a hospital ward.

A sitting area with a large sofa and several armchairs occupied one side, while the patient’s beds stood behind a partition. The glass windows overlooked the dimly lit streets below.

Randy and Yana stopped dead at the entrance.

Their little faces showed equal parts awe and uncertainty.

Yana tugged nervously at Randy’s sleeve.

”Are we supposed to go in there?”

The little girl’s voice was so soft like she was afraid someone would hear her and laugh.

But Morgan heard and he chuckled.

”Of course. Unless you plan on sleeping in the hallway.”

The little girl immediately shook her head.

Morgan bent slightly and gestured for them to come inside.

”Come on. It’s not a palace.”

Randy glanced around suspiciously.

”It looks like one.”

Morgan laughed.

”Then pretend you’re visiting one.”

That finally coaxed the children inside.

Isobel smiled and pointed toward the sitting area.

”You two can sit there. Stay where I can see you.”

”Yes, Aunt Bel.”

The children climbed onto the sofa, their eyes wandering around the unfamiliar room.

Morgan pulled out his phone.

”I’d better tell everyone what happened before Dad hears about it from someone else.”

He called home and put the phone on speaker.

Julian answered almost immediately.

”What happened?”

Morgan glanced toward Kristoff and narrated how Isobel got injured.

”It’s Kristoff Dalton again.”

He paused deliberately.

”I think that man is becoming a bane to Isobel’s existence.”

A chuckle escaped Morgan.

Julian’s voice sharpened.

”Why are you laughing?”

”You should see his face, Dad. It’s as block as the bottom of the pot.”

Morgan looked directly at Kristoff.

”He’s standing right here. And he heard you.”

Kristoff’s expression was already dark but Morgan didn’t care. He was happy to see him suffer.

Kristoff still could not understand why Julian Foster doesn’t seem to like him. Perhaps it was because he and his father was business rival.

Yes, that must be it, otherwise, how could he dislike him?

”So what? I’m only saying what everyone else is thinking. That bastard should not only pay Isobel’s medical bills. I want compensation for what happened to her.”

Julian’s voice boomed through the speaker.

Leon, who had been sleeping peacefully on the other bed, stirred beneath the blanket.

Isobel winced. Morgan noticed.

”Dad, lower your voice. There is a patient sleeping here.”

”I’ll lower my voice when that Dalton bastard stops putting Isobel in danger!”

Kristoff’s brows twitched.

Morgan had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.

Then Julian continued.

”And I want to know why she keeps getting hurt whenever that man is around!”

The room went silent.

Kristoff slowly turned toward Isobel.

Isobel suddenly became very interested in the floor.

Morgan’s lips curled upward.

”Well, Kristoff?”

Kristoff ignored him.

He stepped closer to the phone.

”Mr. Foster.”

His voice was calm.

”Don’t worry, I’ve already arranged the best room available for Isobel. Her medical expenses will be covered in full, and I will personally compensate her for the injuries she sustained.”

”Hmph.”

Julian sounded unimpressed.

”The compensation had better be substantial.”

”It will be.”

Kristoff didn’t hesitate.

Julian was silent for a moment.

Then—

”We’ll come over tonight.”

”No.” Isobel’s immediate response made everyone look at her.

She sighed. Morgan heard her.

”Dad, it’s already late. Isobel is fine. Really. You can come tomorrow.”

Julian grumbled.

”I don’t like leaving her there.”

”I’m not alone. Morgan is here and so are the two children. Uncle too.” Isobel replied.

Her eyes instinctively moved toward Kristoff.

The moment she realized what she had done, she quickly looked away.

Morgan noticed. So did Kristoff. A faint smile appeared on Kristoff’s lips.

Julian, however, was apparently not reassured.

”That’s exactly what I’m worried about.”

Morgan nearly laughed again. Kristoff’s smile disappeared.

”Dad...”

”All right, all right,” Julian finally relented. ”Get some rest tonight.”

Then his voice hardened again.

”I’ll deal with that Dalton bastard tomorrow.”

The call ended. For several seconds, no one spoke.

Morgan slowly lowered his phone. Then he looked at Kristoff.

”You heard him.”

Kristoff’s eyes narrowed.

”I did.”

”He’s coming tomorrow.”

”I heard that too.”

Morgan’s smile widened.

”Good. You might want to prepare yourself.”

Kristoff gave him a cold look.

”I’ve dealt with worse.”

”Have you?”

Morgan’s amusement was obvious.

Before Kristoff could answer, Morgan’s phone rang again.

He glanced at the screen.

”Owen.”

He answered.

”Order dinner for everyone. Something light for Isobel, food for the children, and enough for the rest of us.”

He paused.

Then glanced deliberately at Kristoff.

”And make sure there’s something for our guest.”

Kristoff’s eyebrow rose.

”Guest?”

Morgan smiled innocently.

”Yes. Guest. I assumed you planned to leave.”

Kristoff looked toward Isobel.

She was now sitting quietly on the bed beside her uncle’s, her injured arm resting carefully against her body.

His expression softened almost imperceptibly.

”Of course I’m staying.”

Morgan’s smile vanished. He had expected Kristoff to leave.

Instead, the man pulled a chair closer to Isobel’s bedside and sat down as though he had every intention of spending the night there.

Morgan stared at him. Kristoff leaned back comfortably.

”What?”

Morgan narrowed his eyes.

”I didn’t know the renowned CEO of Dalton Reality had thick skin.”

Kristoff’s lips curved into a faint, satisfied smile.

”Isobel is my savior. So, I’ll repay her by keeping watch. Besides, I’m injured too.”

Morgan glanced at him from head to toe.

”You don’t have a scratch.”

Kristoff didn’t even blink.

”I’ve suffered emotional trauma.”

Morgan stared at him in disbelief.

Truly shameless!