The Surrogate He Discarded

The following day, Morgan transferred Isobel and her uncle, Leon, to Hope Hospital.

The community hospital beside Old Town was hardly secure. Its walls were old, its security was laughable, and there were far too many ways for someone to slip in unnoticed. After everything that had happened, Morgan couldn’t bring himself to leave Isobel there.

He arranged for them to be transported by ambulance and personally made sure that Isobel and Leon were given separate private rooms beside each other.

Only after everything was settled did the tension in his shoulders finally ease.

Isobel watched him quietly for a while, gathering the courage to speak.

”Morgan, there’s something I want to ask you to help me with.”

The moment those words left her mouth, the corners of Morgan’s lips lifted.

Finally.

His little sister had asked him for something.

”Go ahead.”

”I don’t want Uncle Leon and the children to go back to that shack beneath the bridge.” Isobel hesitated, her fingers twisting nervously in the blanket. ”I just... I don’t think it’s safe for them anymore.”

”I see.”

Morgan didn’t let her finish.

”I have an apartment in Midtown. They can stay there.”

Isobel blinked.

”Midtown?”

”It’s on a busy street, with plenty of shops and people around.” Morgan leaned back casually. ”If Uncle Leon wants to start doing business, the location would actually be quite suitable. There’s enough foot traffic for him to set up a small stall or shop.”

Isobel’s eyes immediately filled with tears.

Morgan frowned.

Why was she crying?

”If you don’t like the apartment in Midtown, that’s fine. I have other properties. You can choose whichever one you—”

”Brother.”

Isobel interrupted him, her voice trembling.

Morgan stopped.

She wiped at the tears spilling down her cheeks and gave him a watery smile.

”I’m not crying because I don’t like it.”

She sniffled.

”I’m crying because I’m too happy.”

Morgan stared at her.

”I’m so lucky to have you as my brother,” Isobel whispered. ”Having you in my life is the greatest blessing I could have ever received.”

For some reason, Morgan’s ears turned red.

A strange warmth spread through his chest.

He had never been good at receiving such heartfelt words.

”You suffered so much, little Sis,” he finally said, his voice softer than before. ”This is nothing compared to what we owe you.”

Isobel’s lips trembled.

A fresh wave of tears gathered in her eyes.

Morgan sighed helplessly before walking over and sitting on the edge of her bed. He reached out and gently patted her head, just as he did with Judy when they were children.

”I’ve already asked Cindy to arrange for someone to take the children there,” he said. ”They can rest properly, take a hot bath, and get some clean clothes. They need a comfortable place to sleep.”

”Thank you.”

Isobel’s voice was barely above a whisper.

After a moment, she looked up at him.

”Can I see them?”

”Of course.”

Morgan left the room.

A short while later, the door opened again.

Randy and Yana followed him inside.

The two children were still wearing the same clothes they had worn the day before. Their clothes were wrinkled and dirty, and exhaustion was clearly written across their young faces.

Morgan crouched slightly so he could meet their eyes.

”Randy, Yana, your Uncle Morgan has arranged a new home for you. Someone will take you there so you can rest, take a proper bath, and get some clean clothes.”

Yana immediately looked toward Isobel.

”Auntie Bel...”

Her small voice trembled.

”Can we just stay here with you and Grandpa?”

Her eyes slowly turned red.

”We can sleep on the sofa in Grandpa’s room. It’s very comfortable.” She hurriedly added, as though trying to convince everyone before they could refuse. ”And there’s a bathroom there, so we can take a bath too.”

She lowered her head.

”I don’t want to leave.”

The words were simple, but Isobel’s heart ached when she heard them.

She understood.

After everything the children had been through, being taken somewhere unfamiliar—even if it was supposed to be a better place—could feel terrifying.

To Yana, leaving the hospital might mean being separated from the only people she still trusted.

Isobel glanced at Morgan.

Their eyes met.

Morgan seemed to understand immediately.

Isobel smiled gently.

”Alright.”

Yana’s head snapped up.

”You can stay.”

She pointed toward the couch.

”Yana, you can sleep on the couch in my room. Randy can sleep in your grandpa’s room.”

Yana’s eyes instantly brightened.

”Really?”

”Really.”

The little girl finally smiled.

Beside her, Randy—who had remained silent the entire time—let out a quiet sigh of relief.

For the first time since arriving at the hospital, the tightness in his small shoulders seemed to disappear.

At least for tonight, they had a safe place to stay.

And, more importantly, they had each other.

...

By late morning, Morgan had already left the hospital and returned to Aioryx.

An hour after his departure, the door to Isobel’s room suddenly opened.

Isobel looked up.

”You came back.”

For a brief moment, she thought Morgan had returned.

But the person standing in the doorway wasn’t her brother.

”It’s me, Bel.”

A familiar voice made her pause.

Richard stepped into the room, carrying a basket overflowing with fresh fruit and a bouquet of vibrant flowers that immediately brightened the otherwise sterile hospital room.

”Richie.”

A genuine smile spread across Isobel’s face.

”How did you know I was here?”

”I saw the news yesterday.” Richard placed the flowers carefully on the table beside her bed. ”I went to the other hospital first, but they told me you were transferred here.”

He walked over and pulled the chair beside her bed closer.

”How are you feeling?”

”Much better.”

Richard nodded, though his eyes lingered on her face as if he was checking for himself whether she was truly alright.

Without saying anything more, he picked up the fruit knife from the basket and selected an apple.

”You should eat something.”

He carefully peeled the apple, his movements unhurried and practiced. When he finished, he sliced it into neat pieces and placed them on a small plate.

”Here.”

He handed the plate to her.

”Thank you, Richie.”

Isobel reached for it.

Just as their fingers were about to touch—

The door to the room opened again.

Both of them looked toward the entrance.

And this time, the person standing there looked at them with a scowl on his face.