The Surrogate He Discarded

”Isn’t it obvious?” Kristoff asked, irritation sharpening his voice.

His gaze drifted toward the shoreline.

A short distance away, Isobel was laughing as Alexander toddled through the sand, his tiny feet sinking with every uncertain step. Kristine and the twins were nearby, their laughter carried away by the warm sea breeze.

For a moment, Kristoff simply watched them.

Then his expression hardened.

”He wanted to topple us from Novare.”

Morgan remained silent.

”He’s building connections with people who used to work for us.” Kristoff’s jaw tightened. ”In my case, it was Charlotte. He’s using her to generate publicity for his real estate campaigns.”

His eyes narrowed.

”And now Claire.”

Morgan leaned back against the beach chair, his expression unreadable. The waves rolled steadily onto the shore, but his attention was clearly elsewhere.

”If he’s already managed to get people from your company and mine...” Kristoff paused. ”Who knows how many others he has approached?”

Morgan’s fingers tapped once against the armrest.

”That’s exactly what we need to find out.”

Kristoff looked at him.

Morgan’s expression remained calm, almost casual, but there was a coldness beneath it.

”Let’s leave that aside for now. I’ll wait for Kronus’s investigation report before we make our next move.”

Kristoff nodded reluctantly.

For several seconds, neither man spoke.

Then Morgan’s gaze shifted toward the children again, and the tension in his face eased slightly.

”Next month, my children will turn one.”

Kristoff raised an eyebrow.

”I’m planning to hold their birthday party at the theme park.”

A faint smile touched Kristoff’s lips.

”Of course. Alexander will be turning one as well.”

His gaze followed his son as the little boy squealed and reached for a handful of wet sand.

”By then,” Kristoff added, ”Wonderland will definitely be operational.”

Morgan gave a small nod.

”Then it looks like we’ll have more than one reason to celebrate.”

Neither man noticed the figure sitting on a recliner at the third floor of Villa no. 4.

His gaze settled on the cabana where the two powerful CEOs where.

Then on the children.

And finally, on Isobel.

His lips curved into a faint, unreadable smile.

The beach was peaceful.

But somewhere beyond the bright morning sun, another move was already being made.

...

Meanwhile, in another part of the city...

Richard glanced at his cellphone for what felt like the twentieth time.

Still nothing.

No message from Isobel.

He had already called her three times. Each time, the phone rang several times before the call eventually ended unanswered. He had followed up with message after message, but the silence remained.

Had she forgotten?

Today was the first Saturday of the month—the day they had agreed to visit the orphanage together. The children whose birthdays fell within the month would be celebrated, and Richard had been looking forward to spending the day with Isobel and the children.

He checked his phone again.

Nothing.

Richard was about to call her for the fourth time when another call came through.

He pressed the answer button.

”Grandma Sharon.”

His voice immediately softened, the irritation disappearing.

”Richie, my boy!” Sharon’s cheerful voice came through the speaker. ”I’m going to the orphanage today to bring gifts for the children. I heard they still celebrate the birthdays of the children who have birthdays that month.”

”Of course, Grandma. I’ll come pick you up.”

”All right. I’ll be waiting.”

Richard ended the call.

For a moment, he stared at Isobel’s name on his screen.

Maybe she was simply busy.

He opened their conversation one more time, hoping to see a reply that had somehow escaped his attention.

There was none.

A faint disappointment settled in his chest.

He had been looking forward to today more than he wanted to admit.

He had imagined spending the morning at the orphanage with Isobel, watching her play with the children, teasing her whenever she became too absorbed in taking care of everyone else.

It was supposed to be their day.

A day with her.

Richard exhaled slowly and started the car again.

He was nearing Sharon’s villa when his cellphone vibrated.

”Incoming message from Bel,” Yssa announced.

Richard’s eyes flicked toward the screen.

”Read it for me.”

”Message from Bel,” Yssa said. ”Richie, I’m sorry. I accompanied the babies to the beach today. I’m with Morgan, Kristine, Julian, and Leanne.”

The AI assistant’s voice sounded like Isobel’s.

Richard’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel.

The disappointment hit harder than he expected.

So she was at the beach.

Richard could already picture Isobel there, surrounded by the children, her laughter carried away by the sea breeze as the twins, Kit and Kat, happily played in the sand.

If he had known that Alexander—and, more importantly, Kristoff—was there too, he might have slammed the brakes and turned the car around.

The thought alone made his jaw tighten.

He was looking forward to having Isobel to himself, even if it was only for a few hours.

He imagined the two of them spending the day together, away from work and everyone else.

Instead, she was at the beach.

With the children.

Morgan Foster should be there too. I hope his wife Kristine was also there.

Richard stared at his phone, his expression growing increasingly sour.

For the first time that morning, he wondered if going to the orphanage alone had been a very bad idea.

Richard forced the disappointment down.

”Yssa, reply to her. Tell her, ’It’s okay. Enjoy the beach.’”

A brief pause.

”Message sent, Master.”

Richard gave a small nod.

Then an idea suddenly occurred to him.

”Yssa, send another message.”

”Yes, Master?”

Richard’s lips curved slightly.

”Ask her this: ’How about we bring the children to the beach? They’ll surely love it.’”

”Message sent.”

Richard glanced at his phone.

He waited. No reply.

A minute passed.

Then another.

By the time he pulled into the driveway of Sharon’s villa, there was still no reply.

Richard turned off the engine but didn’t immediately get out.

His eyes remained fixed on his phone.

Still nothing.

He leaned back against the driver’s seat and let out a quiet breath.

”She’s probably busy playing with the children.”

He said it as though he were reassuring himself.

And perhaps he was.

But somewhere beneath that excuse was a small, stubborn hope—

that Isobel would look at her phone, see his message, and decide to join him.

...

Richard drove into the villa’s driveway and stopped near the entrance, where Sharon and Kristal were already waiting.

A pickup truck was parked beside them, its cargo bed filled with colorful loot bags, wrapped presents, boxes of toys, and other gifts for the children.

Richard stepped out of the car.

The moment Sharon saw him, her face brightened.

”Grandma Sharon. Kristal.”

He greeted them warmly before leaning down to give Sharon a gentle hug.

”Richie, dear. I’m glad you’re here.” Sharon patted his arm affectionately. ”Come on. Let’s get going. I’m sure the children will be thrilled when they see all these gifts.”

Richard nodded and glanced toward the loaded pickup.

”I’ll help with the rest.”

Sharon smiled.

Then, as if only just realizing something, she looked behind him.

”Is Isobel coming too?”

Richard paused.

For the briefest moment, his expression tightened.

”She has something else to attend to today.”

He kept his voice casual, hoping the disappointment underneath it wasn’t too obvious.

Kristal, who had been listening quietly, tilted her head.

”Grandma, who is Isobel?”

Sharon looked at her granddaughter and smiled.

”Ah, Isobel? She’s one of the children who grew up at the orphanage. She and Richie practically grew up together.”

Kristal’s eyes widened slightly, and her eyebrows lifted.

”Really?”

Sharon nodded.

”Richie was especially fond of her when she was little. He used to dote on her.”

A faint, nostalgic smile appeared on Sharon’s face.

”I still remember the first time I met Richie. He had gone out of his way to buy Isobel a birthday present for her first birthday.”

Kristal glanced at Richard. Something about the way Grandma Sharon described their relationship caught her attention.

”You remember her first birthday?”

Richard’s expression shifted slightly.

He did.

Perhaps more than anyone realized.

They hadn’t simply known each other.

He watched her grow up.

Richard had remembered Isobel since she was a baby. He bought her birthday presents, cared for her when she was sick, and continued caring for her after all these years.

Kristal studied him for a moment.

And then she noticed something else.

The moment Isobel’s name was mentioned, Richard’s expression had changed.

It was subtle—so subtle that someone who didn’t know him well might have missed it.

But Kristal didn’t.

There was a softness in his eyes that hadn’t been there a moment ago.

Her curiosity deepened.

”Grandma,” she asked slowly, ”are they really just childhood friends?”

Richard immediately glanced at her.

Kristal caught the look and smiled innocently.

”I’m just asking.”

Sharon chuckled.

”Well... they certainly have a very long history together.”

Kristal’s eyes flickered between Sharon and Richard.

A long history.

She filed that information away.

Because judging by Richard’s reaction whenever Isobel’s name came up, she had a feeling their relationship was far more complicated than Grandma Sharon was letting on.