The Surrogate He Discarded

Finally, the day before Isobel’s birthday arrived.

That evening, Richard emptied the tin can where he had hidden every coin he had earned and carefully counted them one by one. His hands trembled with excitement.

It was enough.

A genuine smile spread across his face.

He could finally buy the beautiful pink bunny plush he had admired for weeks.

After receiving permission from the orphanage director, Richard hurried toward the most popular gift shop in the town center. Every step felt lighter than the last. He kept patting the pocket that held his hard-earned savings, making sure the precious bundle of bills and coins was still there.

Tomorrow, baby Isobel would turn one.

He couldn’t wait to see her smile.

The cheerful chime above the shop door rang as Richard stepped inside.

His excitement barely lasted a heartbeat.

”You!”

A shrill voice sliced through the air like a whip.

The sales attendant pointed at him with a perfectly manicured finger, her face twisted in disgust as though she’d spotted a rat crawling across the polished floor.

”Who let this filthy beggar into the store?”

Her voice was so loud that conversations throughout the shop came to an abrupt halt.

Customers turned. Children stopped browsing. Even the cashiers looked over.

Every pair of eyes landed on Richard.

Heat rushed to his cheeks. He wished the ground would open beneath his feet and swallow him whole.

The attendant marched toward him, covering her nose with exaggerated disgust.

”Look at the filthy clothes!” she sneered. ”You’ll dirty the merchandise. Do you have any idea how expensive these toys are?”

Without warning, she planted both hands against his shoulders and shoved him toward the entrance.

Richard staggered backward, nearly falling onto the steps outside. Somehow, he caught himself before he hit the ground.

His fists clenched. For a brief moment, anger blazed inside him.

He wanted to protest. To tell her she had no right.

But he forced the words back down.

Looking up, he bowed his head slightly.

”Ma’am...” he said as politely as he could. ”I’m not here to cause trouble.”

His hand instinctively covered the small bundle of money tucked safely inside his pocket.

”I just want to buy a birthday present.”

His voice softened.

”My baby sister turns one tomorrow.”

The sales attendant looked him up and down before letting out a mocking laugh.

”I don’t care if she’s turning one or one hundred.”

She folded her arms.

”Take your bad luck somewhere else.”

The words landed far harder than the shove.

Richard lowered his eyes. For the first time, he became painfully aware of every worn-out stitch of the old clothes on his body.

To everyone else...

He wasn’t a little boy trying to buy a gift for his sister. He was just another orphan. A poor, unwanted child who didn’t belong.

His chest tightened. He remembered a different life.

Back then, strangers used to crowd around him, pinching his cheeks and calling him adorable.

Sales attendants would greet him with bright smiles and treat him like a little prince. They showered him with compliments, saying that with his looks, he would surely become the country’s biggest child star if he entered show business.

If only...If only Mom and Dad were still alive. He thought bitterly.

”What are you still standing there for?” the attendant barked impatiently.

She planted her hands on her hips and glared at him.

”Get out of the doorway! You’re scaring away my paying customers.”

Richard hesitated before gathering every ounce of courage he had.

”Then... Ma’am...”

His voice was barely above a whisper.

”Could I give you the money... and could you please buy the pink bunny for me instead?”

He carefully took out the wrinkled bills and handful of coins, holding them out with both hands as though they were the most precious treasure in the world.

”It’s for my little sister.”

The attendant glanced at the money before bursting into loud, mocking laughter.

”That’s it?”

She laughed even harder, making sure everyone nearby could hear.

”You actually think this pathetic pocket change can buy anything in here?”

She looked around at the customers with an exaggerated smile.

”This beggar really have no shame.”

Several people shifted uncomfortably. Richard’s hands slowly lowered. His face burned.

The sales attendant suddenly slapped the money from his hands.

Coins scattered across the polished floor, rolling beneath display shelves.

Bills fluttered like fallen leaves.

”There.”

She smirked.

”Pick up your trash and get out.”

Richard froze.

For a long second, he simply stared at the coins rolling farther and farther away.

Those weren’t just coins. They were months of washing cars and collecting bottles. Months of skipping treats. Months of working from early morning until late afternoon.

His entire birthday gift for Isobel...

Scattered across the floor.

He slowly knelt to gather them.

The attendant clicked her tongue in annoyance.

”Still here?”

Without warning, she shoved him again. This time, Richard refused to move. He remained where he was, protecting the scattered coins with his body.

The woman’s face twisted with fury.

”How dare you ignore me!”

Her hand shot into the air, ready to strike his face.

”What exactly do you think you’re doing?”

A calm but commanding voice stopped her hand midair.

Everyone turned.

An elegant elderly woman stood near the entrance, her dignified presence silencing the entire shop.

The attendant’s expression changed instantly.

”Ma’am Sharon!”

She bowed respectfully, her earlier arrogance disappearing in an instant.

”I was only removing this boy. I didn’t want him to be an eyesore in the shop.”

The elderly woman’s sharp eyes swept over Richard.

His clothes were old. His jeans were torn at both knees—not because they were the latest fashion, but because they had been worn until the fabric could no longer hold together.

Yet despite everything... The boy himself was clean. His hair was neatly combed. His face was freshly washed.

Even while kneeling on the floor gathering scattered coins, he handled each one with extraordinary care.

There wasn’t a trace of bitterness in his eyes. Only sadness.

Richard looked up.

The woman’s gaze was nothing like the attendant’s.

It was warm and kind.

Hope flickered inside him.

”Grandma...”

He spoke with quiet politeness.

”I just want to buy my little sister a birthday present. And tomorrow is her first birthday.”

A small smile appeared on the elderly woman’s wrinkled face. Her eyes softened immediately.

”What a wonderful big brother.”

She extended a gentle hand toward him.

”Come, child.”

”I’ll help you choose the perfect gift.”