The Surrogate He Discarded

The moment Richard and Kristal disappeared through the restaurant doors, Su San pulled out a chair and settled into it.

She leaned back comfortably, slowly swirling the red wine in her glass as her eyes remained fixed on the entrance.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Her mind was already turning over what she had just witnessed.

”Interesting...”

Jackie, who was still seated beside her, raised an eyebrow.

”What is interesting, Mom?”

Su San finally looked away from the door.

”Nothing.”

But the smile remained.

There was no point pretending she hadn’t noticed.

Richard had always been difficult to get close to.

He kept his thoughts to himself, guarded his emotions, and rarely let anyone see beyond the calm, controlled exterior he presented to the world.

There was only one exception.

The orphan, Isobel.

Even when Richard was younger, he was fiercely independent and unusually guarded for his age. He never needed a crowd around him and had little interest in sharing the details of his life with others.

As he grew older, that distance only became more pronounced.

He rarely brought friends home.

And he certainly never went out of his way to introduce a woman to the family.

Which was precisely why Kristal’s presence had caught Su San’s attention.

After the time he rebelled and fought for Isobel, he never introduced women to the family.

But now, Kristal had appeared in the restaurant and Richard stood beside her as though it was the most natural arrangement in the world.

Su San’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. There was something else...

Richard was different around her.

Not dramatically.

Richard was still Richard—reserved, composed, and sparing with his words.

But Su San had spent enough years watching her nephew to recognize the smallest changes in his expression.

He listened when Kristal spoke.

He noticed when she glanced at her watch.

He had immediately realized when she was ready to leave.

And when they finally walked out together, there had been no hesitation between them.

That was what interested Su San most.

He is comfortable with her.

That was rare. Very rare.

Su San picked up her wine glass, hiding the satisfied smile that threatened to appear. She had already begun imagining it. Kristal Gabor as her niece-in-law.

The thought was surprisingly pleasing.

The Gabor family had power, influence, and an established reputation in Fiorenza. Pierre Gabor was a respected businessman, and Kristal herself had clearly inherited the family’s confidence and sophistication.

She was beautiful without appearing vain.

Well-mannered without being timid.

And, judging from the brief conversation they had shared, she possessed enough intelligence to hold her own.

Most importantly, she didn’t appear to be chasing Richard.

That was precisely the sort of woman he needed.

If Richard had to choose a wife, why couldn’t it be someone like her? They are a perfect match.

Su San’s gaze drifted toward the restaurant entrance again.

Of course, she couldn’t simply tell Richard that.

He would immediately resist.

The more someone pushed him toward something, the more determined he became to move in the opposite direction.

Besides, he still seemed to be obsessed with Isobel.

So she would have to be patient.

There was no need to force anything.

If Richard and Kristal were already friends, then all she needed to do was create opportunities for them to spend more time together.

Family dinners. Charity events and business gatherings.

Perhaps a few carefully arranged invitations.

Nothing too obvious. Nothing that would make Richard suspicious.

Su San almost laughed at herself.

She was already planning their future after meeting the girl for less than an hour.

But then again...

She treated Richard like a son.

And what mother wouldn’t plan for her son’s future?

Jackie watched her mother’s expression with growing amusement.

”Mom.”

”Hm?”

”You’re thinking about cousin and Kristal, aren’t you?”

Su San calmly swirled her glass before emptying it.

”She looked like a good girl.”

Jackie grinned.

”That’s not what I asked.”

Su San gave her a sideways glance.

”What’s wrong with thinking about it?”

”Nothing.”

Jackie leaned closer.

”You like her.”

”I do.”

Su San didn’t bother denying it.

”Very much.”

She paused.

Then, with absolute certainty, added,

”I think she’d make a wonderful wife for Richard.”

Jackie’s smile widened.

”I knew it.”

Su San shook her head, but there was amusement in her eyes.

”Don’t get too excited. Nothing has happened yet.”

”But you already have plans.”

”Of course I have plans.”

Su San set down her cup.

”Richard isn’t getting any younger.”

Jackie laughed.

”Do you think he’d agree?”

Su San’s expression became thoughtful.

”No.”

The answer came without hesitation.

Jackie blinked.

”Then why are you so confident?”

”Because I don’t need him to agree today.”

A calculating glint appeared in Su San’s eyes.

”I only need to make sure he has enough opportunities to realize for himself that Kristal is the right woman.”

Jackie stared at her mother for a moment before bursting into laughter.

”You’re frightening when you get like this.”

Su San smiled serenely.

”He is the only flesh and blood left by my brother. It’s my responsibility.”

She turned her attention toward the restaurant doors one last time.

Richard and Kristal were already gone.

But in Su San’s mind, their story had only just begun.

And if she had anything to do with it, Kristal Gabor would not remain merely Richard’s friend for very long.

She would become part of the family.

”Mom,” Jackie suddenly said, interrupting her thoughts. ”They actually arrived with an elderly woman. Cousin seemed to respect her quite a lot. Do you know who she is?”

Su San looked at her.

Jackie pulled out her cellphone and brought up a photo she had taken earlier. She turned the screen toward her mother.

The picture showed Richard walking beside the elderly woman as they approached the restaurant main door. His expression was unusually attentive, his pace slowed to match hers.

Su San’s eyes narrowed slightly as she studied the photograph.

”Who is she?”

”Ah, I thought you knew her, Mom.”

Su San continued staring at the screen, her brows drawing together.

”Her face looks familiar...” she murmured. ”But I can’t remember where I’ve seen her before.”

She studied the photograph for another moment before shaking her head.

”Perhaps I met her many years ago, when she was younger.”

...

Sharina listened in silence, her fists clenched beneath the table as resentment slowly burned through her.

The mother and daughter were so engrossed in their conversation that they had practically forgotten she was there.

They were treating her like air.

But wasn’t it Jackie’s mother who had invited her to dinner in the first place?

Hadn’t Su San been the one to advise her on how to approach Richard, how to win his attention, and eventually make him fall for her?

And now, after seeing Kristal...

Had she already been replaced?

Sharina’s fingers tightened into fists.

Was I nothing more than a discarded pawn?