The Surrogate He Discarded

The following morning, Charlotte arrived at Kristoff’s mansion with one goal in mind: to see him.

She had spent most of the night thinking about everything that had happened—the rumors, the headlines, and, most importantly, Kristoff’s anger toward her.

She needed to talk to him. She needed to make things right. More than anything, she wanted to regain his favor.

But, as fate would have it, she was too late.

The moment Charlotte stepped out of her car, she was informed that Kristoff had already left for the office.

She glanced toward the grand entrance of the mansion, disappointment settling heavily in her chest.

She had come early and she was pretty sure that Kristoff would still be having breakfast but she was wrong but he already left.

For a moment, she considered leaving. But then she remembered Alexander.

If she couldn’t speak to Kristoff, then she could just visit Alex.

Charlotte straightened her shoulders and walked toward the entrance.

She barely made it past the front gate when a security guard stepped in front of her.

”Miss Harris, I’m sorry.”

Charlotte stopped.

The guard looked uncomfortable, but he didn’t move.

”We can’t let you in.”

Charlotte’s eyebrows shot up.

”What?”

”Boss’s instructions, Ma’am.”

For a second, Charlotte simply stared at him, convinced she had heard him wrong.

Then her disbelief turned into fury.

”You’re blocking me?”

The guard swallowed but maintained his respectful posture.

”I’m sorry, ma’am. I’m only following orders.”

Charlotte let out a sharp, humorless laugh.

”Following orders?”

She stepped closer, her eyes flashing.

”Open your damn eyes and look at me.”

She pointed at herself, her voice rising with every word.

”Do you even know who I am?”

The guard remained silent.

”I’m Charlotte Harris. Kristoff’s fiancée.”

She lifted her chin proudly. She pointed toward the mansion behind him.

”And the future mistress of this house.”

Her words echoed against the quiet grounds.

Yet the guard didn’t budge.

That only made her humiliation worse.

”This is ridiculous!” Charlotte snapped. ”I’ve been coming to this mansion for years. You know exactly who I am.”

”Yes, ma’am.”

”Then move.”

”I’m sorry.” The guard’s answer was calm, almost painfully polite.

”But we’re under strict instructions not to let you inside.”

Charlotte’s face tightened.

”Strict instructions?”

She already knew what that meant. Kristoff had given the order. He didn’t want her here.

The realization stung far more than she wanted to admit.

She glanced past the guard toward the mansion.

The place had once felt familiar to her. She had walked through those doors countless times. She had laughed in those halls, shared meals with Kristoff, and imagined herself one day belonging here permanently.

Now she couldn’t even step through the front gate. She felt like a stranger. No. Worse than a stranger. She felt like an unwanted guest.

Charlotte’s hands curled into fists.

”Fine.”

She forced the word through clenched teeth.

But before turning away, she gave the guard a cold, warning look.

”I’ll remember your face.”

The guard lowered his gaze.

”I’m sorry, Miss Harris.”

Charlotte spun around. Her heels struck the pavement sharply as she marched back toward her car, her fury following every step.

”This is unbelievable.”

A curse slipped from her lips. Then another. And another.

She continued muttering under her breath as she walked, too angry to care whether anyone heard her.

How dare Kristoff do this to her?

How dare he treat her like she was some stranger who had no place in his home?

She was his fiancée. His future wife.

She had believed this mansion would one day be her home.

Yet this morning, she couldn’t even get through the gate.

Charlotte climbed into her car and slammed the door.

For a moment, she sat there in silence, breathing heavily.

Her pride had been bruised. Her patience was gone.

And beneath all that anger was a painful realization she wasn’t ready to admit.

Kristoff wasn’t merely angry with her anymore.

He was shutting her out.

And Charlotte had no idea how far he intended to take it.

...

She decided to go to Kristoff’s office.

If he refused to see her at the mansion, then she would have no choice but to confront him at work. At the very least, she needed him to suppress the rumors about them.

The headlines were getting worse by the minute, and every passing hour gave the gossip more room to spread.

Surely, Kristoff would be eager to pay to have them removed and would not kick her out of his office.

After all, she was still his fiancée.

That thought gave Charlotte just enough confidence to walk into the building with her head held high.

But the moment she entered Kristoff’s company, she felt the weight of everyone’s eyes.

Whispers followed her across the lobby.

Some employees quickly looked away when she caught them staring. Others exchanged knowing glances.

Charlotte tightened her grip around her handbag. She refused to let them see that she was affected.

She was Charlotte Harris. She had every right to be here.

”Miss Harris.”

Kristoff’s secretary rose from behind her desk as Charlotte approached.

”I need to see Kristoff.”

The secretary hesitated.

”The boss is currently in a meeting.”

Charlotte walked past her before she could finish.

She didn’t bother knocking. She pushed open the door to the executive office.

”Kristoff.”

The man behind the massive desk slowly lifted his eyes from the documents in front of him.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

Charlotte’s heart skipped.

His expression was cold. There was none of the warmth she was accustomed to.

”Why are you here?”

The question was so detached that Charlotte almost didn’t recognize the man she’d been planning to marry.

She forced a smile.

”I came to talk to you. About the rumors...”

Kristoff leaned back in his chair.

”What about them?”

”I want you to suppress them.”

His expression didn’t change.

”There is no need.”

The simple answer caught her off guard.

Charlotte’s brows knitted together.

”What do you mean?”

Kristoff reached for a folder lying on the corner of his desk.

He opened it, but instead of looking at the papers, he stared directly at her.

”I’ve decided to end the engagement.”

Charlotte froze. For a moment, the words didn’t register.

”What?”

”I’m breaking off our engagement.”

The room suddenly felt too quiet.

Charlotte gave a small, disbelieving laugh.

”Kristoff...that’s not funny.”

”I’m not joking.”

Her smile disappeared. She shook her head quickly.

”No, you don’t mean that.”

Her voice cracked. She took a step toward his desk.

”I mean every word I said Charlotte.”

”Kristoff,” she whispered, desperation replacing her anger. ”Please. Don’t do this to me.”

His eyes met hers.

”You lied to me, Charlotte. You played me for a fool.”

The words struck harder than a slap.

Charlotte’s lips parted but no words came out.

Her breathing became uneven.

She had come here expecting to convince him to protect their relationship from the world.

Instead, she had walked straight into the end of it.