The Surrogate He Discarded

Morgan wasted no time. Early the following morning, he personally arranged for a confidential DNA test.

He discreetly collected hair samples from Isobe taking every precaution to avoid raising suspicion. Her sample, along with his father’s, were then delivered personally to a trusted physician who had served the Foster family faithfully for years—a man whose discretion was as unquestionable as his expertise.

The waiting should have taken three days.

Instead, Morgan paid whatever it took to expedite the results.

Twenty-four hours later...

He was on his way to the office when his private phone vibrated.

The report was ready and was delivered to Aioryx Tower. A copy was also sent to his email.

For the first time in years, he found himself reluctant to uncover the truth.

He had spent his entire life believing he had only one sibling.

Now, inside that sealed envelope, was a piece of paper that could change the Foster family forever.

He hurried to the top floor, and there on his desk was the sealed envelope.

He slowly broke the seal.

The rustle of paper sounded unnaturally loud inside the quiet office.

His eyes skimmed over the medical terminology before landing on the final line.

Probability of Paternity: 99.99%.

Morgan’s breath caught. His fingers tightened around the report until the paper crumpled slightly beneath his grip.

For several seconds... He simply stared. Unable to blink. Unable to breathe.

Isobel...

The woman he had trusted without reservation. The woman his children adored. The woman he had instinctively wanted to protect from the very beginning...

...wasn’t merely someone connected to the Foster family.

She was family. His father’s daughter.

His...

Half-sister.

Morgan slowly lowered himself into his chair.

A thousand emotions crashed into him at once, and he failed to identify whether it was joy or anxiety.

None of them lasted long enough to name before another replaced it.

He wasn’t even sure whether this revelation was a blessing or a tragedy.

If there was one person he couldn’t stop thinking about...It was his mother.

She had never once doubted him.

Never questioned his loyalty.

How would she survive learning that the missing months had left behind a daughter neither of them knew existed?

Morgan closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

No matter how innocent Julian had been...

This truth would still hurt her and deeply.

After a long silence, he reached for his phone and dialed his father’s private number.

The call connected after only two rings.

”...Dad.”

Julian didn’t ask how Morgan was. He didn’t ask whether the report had arrived.

He simply waited.

The silence on the other end was heavy, almost suffocating.

Morgan looked down at the report one last time before speaking.

”The result is out.”

Morgan waited for a reaction, but there was nothing.

Not even the sound of breathing came from Julian’s end of the line.

It was as if he had stopped inhaling altogether.

Morgan swallowed.

Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he delivered the words that would alter their family’s future forever.

”Isobel...”

He paused, his throat tightening.

”...is your daughter.”

Another stretch of complete silence.

Julian had spent the last twenty-four hours convincing himself to prepare for either outcome. He had rehearsed this moment countless times in his mind.

He had told himself that if the result came back positive, he would remain calm. That he would accept it. That he was ready.

But the instant Morgan spoke those words...

It felt as though the ground beneath his feet disappeared. His knees weakened, forcing him to grip the edge of the table beside him.

His vision blurred. Not because he doubted the result— But because it made one unbearable truth impossible to escape.

The woman who had saved his life had carried his child.

She had faced pregnancy and childbirth...without him knowing.

And the possible truth that she might already be dead, or the fact that she might have believed the man she loved had abandoned her.

Julian slowly lowered his head.

His eyes burned.

A tear finally escaped and rolled silently down his weathered face.

Twenty-two years.

His daughter had lived twenty-two years without a father.

And for twenty-two years...

He had never even known she existed.

...

The Foster Mansion had never felt so quiet.

Late afternoon sunlight streamed through the tall windows, bathing the living room in a golden glow that did little to warm the growing unease within its walls.

Leanne Foster sat on the sofa with a cup of tea growing cold in her hands.

She had noticed it ever since late morning.

Julian was distracted.

He had barely touched his food.

Morgan had been equally silent, his brows knitted together as though carrying a burden too heavy to share.

The father and son had exchanged several glances throughout lunch, speaking more with their eyes than with words.

Something had happened.

And whatever it was...It involved both of them.

...

The sound of footsteps drew her attention.

Julian entered first. Morgan followed a step behind.

Neither of them spoke.

Leanne’s smile slowly faded.

Her instincts as a wife of more than forty years told her everything she needed to know.

This conversation would change their lives.

She carefully placed her teacup on the table.

”What is it?”

Neither man answered.

Instead, Julian walked toward her with hesitant steps.

It reminded her of the young man she had fallen in love with decades ago—the confident businessman stripped away, leaving behind only a husband afraid of hurting the woman he loved most.

”Leanne...”

His voice trembled.

She had not heard him sound like that in years.

Her heart began to pound.

”You’re frightening me,” she whispered.

Julian slowly sat across from her.

His hands were clasped so tightly together that his knuckles had turned white.

Morgan remained standing by the window, uncertain whether he should stay or leave.

He had negotiated billion-dollar acquisitions without breaking a sweat.

Yet today...He wished he were anywhere else.

Julian drew in a deep breath.

”I asked Morgan to arrange a DNA test.”

Leanne frowned.

”A DNA test?”

”Between me...”

He paused, unable to meet her eyes.

”...and Isobel.”

For a heartbeat...

Nothing happened. The words simply floated through the room, refusing to make sense.

Then Leanne let out a nervous laugh.

”That’s impossible.”

No one answered. Her smile slowly disappeared.

She looked at Morgan.

He lowered his head.

The silence was answer enough.

Her fingers curled around the armrest.

”...Tell me.”

Julian’s throat tightened.

”The result came back this morning.”

He looked at her with eyes filled not with guilt... but with unbearable sorrow.

”Isobel is my daughter.”

The world stopped.