The Surrogate He Discarded

Kristoff strolled toward the beachfront, his pace unhurried.

He had changed into something more suited to the resort—a fitted white T-shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders and athletic build, dark sunglasses shielding his eyes from the afternoon glare, and a pair of board shorts patterned with colorful beach scenery.

He looked every bit like a man enjoying a carefree weekend.

But the moment he reached the edge of the landscaped grounds, where the soft soil gave way to the warm golden sand, he stopped.

His attention immediately shifted to the water.

Isobel was there.

She was sitting in the shallow waters with Alexander, laughing as she played with him. The baby squealed with delight, repeatedly slapping his tiny hands against the water.

Splash!

Water sprayed over both of them.

Alexander laughed again. The sound was bright and innocent, carrying easily across the beach. The two babies laughed too.

So, it was true that laughter is contagious.

Kristoff’s lips curved into a faint smile.

For a few seconds, he simply stood there, watching.

There was something about the sight that held him completely still.

Isobel’s laughter. Alexander’s excitement.

The sunlight glimmering across the water.

It looked strangely peaceful. What a lovely scene.

Then—

A tall figure stepped directly into his line of sight. The view disappeared.

Kristoff slowly lifted his gaze.

It was Morgan.

”You sure know when and where to appear,” Kristoff muttered, the faint annoyance obvious in his voice.

Morgan glanced at him.

”I can see your eyes are practically glued to Isobel.”

He looked pointedly at Kristoff’s sunglasses.

”Those things are useless.”

Kristoff chuckled.

”Jealous?”

”Of what?”

”Nothing.”

Morgan gave him a look that made it clear he wasn’t buying it.

Kristoff instinctively slipped his hands into his pockets, only to remember that his board shorts didn’t have one.

He paused for half a second.

With nowhere to put his hands, he simply let his arms fall loosely at his sides, as though nothing had happened.

Morgan’s eyebrow lifted, then he sneered.

Kristoff cleared his throat.

”Anyway...” he said casually, ”how exactly do you plan to have this conversation?”

Morgan raised an eyebrow.

Kristoff continued, ”Are we walking side by side along the beach? Maybe stopping dramatically every few minutes to stare at the ocean?”

Morgan gave him a flat look.

”Are you dreaming?”

Before Kristoff could answer, Morgan pointed toward a private cabana a short distance away.

”Didn’t you see that?”

Kristoff followed his gaze.

The cabana stood slightly apart from the other guests, shaded by a thatched roof and surrounded by curtains that moved gently in the sea breeze.

Morgan didn’t wait for him.

He turned and walked toward it.

Kristoff watched him for a second before following.

Whatever Morgan wanted to discuss, apparently it was important enough to require a little privacy.

And judging by Morgan’s expression...

It was something big.

...

Morgan settled comfortably into one of the beach chair beneath the cabana, leaning back as though they were there for nothing more serious than a casual conversation.

Kristoff took the chair beside him.

For a moment, neither man spoke.

The sound of the waves filled the silence, along with the distant laughter of the family playing in the water.

Then Morgan spoke.

”I asked Claire Landers to resign.”

His tone was casual, almost indifferent. But there was a harder edge underneath it.

”She leaked confidential information.”

Kristoff glanced at him.

”And?”

”She went straight to Galaxy Technologies.”

Kristoff’s expression changed. His fingers curled slowly into fists.

He remembered Kronus’s investigation.

The name that had surfaced behind Galaxy Technologies had been impossible to ignore.

Marco Pollus. The founder. The man who seemed to be appearing in their affairs more often than Kristoff cared to admit.

”It is him again,” Kristoff muttered.

Morgan turned toward him.

”Who?”

”Marco Pollus.”

Kristoff’s jaw tightened.

”Forget about Claire. I don’t think she can do much damage to Aioryx with her marketing knowledge alone.”

He paused, his expression darkening.

”But there’s something else you need to know.”

Morgan’s eyes narrowed.

”What?”

”Marco tried to poach Isobel.”

Morgan’s relaxed posture changed instantly.

”What did you say?”

”He approached her during their dance at the gala.”

Kristoff leaned forward, resting his forearms against his thighs.

”He offered her three times her current salary. A house. A car. Whatever it took to get her to leave.”

For a moment, Morgan simply stared at him.

Then he let out a short laugh. ℯℯ𝑙.

”What a fool.”

Kristoff frowned.

”You don’t seem concerned.”

”Did he really think he could poach Isobel that easily? Isobel is family. How could she leave us?”

Morgan shook his head, almost amused by the idea.

But Kristoff wasn’t smiling.

”Don’t underestimate him.”

His voice hardened.

”Marco Pollus isn’t some businessman who got lucky overnight. He’s becoming a force to be reckoned with, and he’s rising far too quickly to ignore.”

Morgan gave him an amused look.

”I can’t believe it.”

”What?”

”Kristoff Dalton is worried. Looks like someone other than me, became a threat to you?”

Kristoff’s brows drew together.

”Shouldn’t you be?”

Morgan’s smile faded slightly.

”I’m not worried about Isobel leaving.”

”That’s not what I’m worried about.”

Kristoff’s gaze shifted toward the beach, where Isobel was still playing with Alexander.

”I know she turned him down. But what happens when someone like Marco doesn’t get what he wants?”

Morgan’s expression slowly changed.

Kristoff continued.

”Isobel rejected a very generous offer. If Marco is the kind of man who takes rejection personally, he could make things difficult for her, even cause her harm.”

Morgan fell silent.

The amusement disappeared from his face.

He hadn’t considered that possibility.

His gaze followed Kristoff’s toward the beach.

Isobel was laughing, completely unaware that the conversation beneath the cabana had suddenly taken a much more serious turn.

Morgan’s eyes narrowed, then his gaze remained fixed on Isobel.

For the first time, the possibility of Marco targeting her didn’t seem like a simple business maneuver.

It felt personal.

And if Marco Pollus had truly set his sights on Isobel, then rejecting his offer might have been only the beginning.

Morgan’s expression hardened.

”Kristoff,” he said quietly.

”I will find out everything I can about Marco Pollus.”

A beat of silence followed.

Then Morgan added, his voice turning cold,

”I want to know what’s his game and why he wants Isobel.”