The Surrogate He Discarded

Charlotte’s face drained of color, even through the screen.

”No.”

The single word struck like a blade.

Kristoff rose to his feet. The harsh scrape of his chair across the floor shattered the silence, making Charlotte flinch.

”It was better for you,” he whispered.

His icy gaze pierced through the distance.

”You knew I wanted to see her.”

Each word was measured.

”But you made that decision for me.”

The accusation cracked the last of Charlotte’s composure.

”I was only trying to protect you!”

Her voice trembled as she searched his face desperately.

”That woman has done nothing but bring chaos into your life.”

”Ever since she appeared, you’ve been injured. Distracted. Everything has changed because of her.”

”Enough.”

The single command silenced her.

Kristoff’s eyes had never looked so cold. Even through a screen, they seemed capable of freezing the air around her. Charlotte couldn’t help wondering... if he were standing in front of her, would that look be even more merciless?

”You seem to have forgotten your place.”

Her breath caught. The corner of her eyes started to mist.

”You are just my fiancée, Charlotte.”

A beat passed.

”You are not my wife yet.”

His voice turned harder, each syllable carrying unmistakable authority.

”And you certainly do not have the right to deceive me.”

A tear slipped down Charlotte’s cheek.

”I...”

Her lips quivered.

”I was afraid.”

Kristoff remained silent. His expression never changed.

Charlotte let out a bitter laugh, one broken by quiet sobs.

”I’m jealous of her.”

The words escaped before she could stop them.

”You already have a child with her...”

Her voice cracked.

”...something I can never give you.”

”You promised you’d marry me once your heir was born.”

She swallowed painfully.

”But she came back.”

”And little by little... she’s taking you away from me.”

Another tear fell.

”I’m terrified that you’ve fallen in love with her too.”

Her confession lingered between them like a heavy fog.

Kristoff didn’t respond. Not a flicker of sympathy crossed his face. Not even pity.

Slowly, Charlotte closed her eyes.

She waited. Waited for him to deny it.

To reassure her. To offer even the smallest comfort.

But nothing came.

The silence stretched until a knock sounded at the office door.

”President Dalton.”

A female secretary’s voice came from outside.

”There’s a woman insisting on seeing you. She says it’s urgent.”

Kristoff frowned.

Owen came forward and handed him a tablet displaying the reception’s security feed.

A woman paced anxiously across the lobby.

Kristoff recognized her immediately.

Alexander’s former nanny.

Without another glance at Charlotte, he ended the call.

”Send her in.”

...

At Viridian Heights, Charlotte stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows, her eyes fixed on the city below.

Under the clear afternoon sky, skyscrapers gleamed in the sunlight while streams of vehicles crawled through the streets like veins carrying life across the metropolis.

Normally, the view made her feel as though the entire city lay at her feet.

Today, it was nothing more than a blur beyond the tears gathering in her eyes.

Her fingers went numb.

The phone slipped from her grasp, landing on the plush carpet with a dull thud.

She barely heard it.

It felt as though an invisible hand had reached into her chest and was slowly tearing her heart apart.

The nightmare she had been trying to outrun was finally becoming reality.

Kristoff had changed.

He had fallen for Isobel. Perhaps he hadn’t realized it yet. But Charlotte had.

She had seen it in the way he defended her.

The way he looked at her.

In the anger that flashed across his face when she kept them apart.

In the cold indifference he’d shown her only moments ago.

A shuddering breath escaped her lips.

What do I do now?

Panic tightened around her chest.

I can’t lose him.

I won’t.

Her thoughts spiraled into chaos until the soft chime of the doorbell cut through the silence.

Charlotte quickly brushed the tears from her cheeks and drew in a steadying breath.

By the time Charlotte turned toward the door, the heartbroken woman reflected in the glass had vanished, replaced by the composed fiancée everyone expected to see.

The mask lasted only until she opened the door.

Her expression crumbled.

”Phoebe... Shania...”

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

”You came.”

Stepping aside, she silently ushered them in.

The moment the door closed behind them, the strength she’d been desperately clinging to gave way.

She hadn’t even made it to the sofa before tears streamed down her face.

Phoebe immediately hurried over and wrapped her in a hug.

”What happened?” she asked softly, rubbing Charlotte’s back. ”Tell us.”

”K-Kristoff...”

Charlotte tried to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Her shoulders shook with each sob.

”He... he...”

She couldn’t finish.

Shania exchanged a worried glance with Phoebe before asking cautiously, ”Did you two have a fight?”

Charlotte shook her head, tears spilling endlessly down her cheeks.

”He was so cold to me.”

Her voice cracked.

”I’ve... I’ve never seen him look at me like that before.”

Phoebe frowned in disbelief.

”What?”

”How is that possible?” she blurted out. ”Kristoff has always adored you.”

Phoebe tightened her embrace, gently rubbing Charlotte’s back.

”There, there,” she murmured. ”Stop crying first. Whatever happened, we’ll figure it out together.”

Charlotte buried her face in Phoebe’s shoulder and shook her head.

”No...”

Her voice was muffled by sobs.

”Everything is changing. I can feel it.”

”He used to look at me with so much warmth. Today...” She choked on another sob. ”Today, when we were on the video call... he looked at me as if I were a stranger.”

Shania poured a glass of water and handed it to Charlotte.

”Drink.”

Charlotte accepted it with trembling hands, taking only a small sip before setting it aside.

”I’ve never seen him like that before,” she whispered.

”He was angry because I stopped them from meeting.”

Charlotte clenched her fists.

”He said I lied to him.”

”And...” Her voice faltered. ”He told me I’d forgotten my place...”

Phoebe’s brows knitted together.

”He actually said that?”

Charlotte nodded miserably.

”He reminded me that I’m only his fiancée.”

The last word came out as though it physically hurt.

”He said I’m not yet his wife and I should not act like one.”

Shania sighed quietly before taking the seat opposite Charlotte.

”Listen to me.”

Charlotte slowly lowered her hands.

”You’re both emotional right now. Kristoff found out you’d kept something important from him. Whether your intentions were good or not, he was bound to be upset.”

”But that doesn’t automatically mean he’s in love with Isobel.”

Charlotte’s lips quivered.

”Then why does it feel like he is drifting away?”