The Surrogate He Discarded

Isobel looked between Leon and Morgan, realizing the situation was rapidly spiraling out of control.

Her uncle’s anger was putting too much strain on his already weakened body.

She turned to Morgan.

”Bro, go outside first. I’ll explain everything to Uncle.”

Morgan hesitated.

His eyes moved from Isobel to Leon, uncertain.

But after a moment, he nodded.

”Fine.”

He turned and walked out of the room.

He was right to trust his instincts. If he had allowed his father to come over, the situation could have become disastrous.

Leon was already worked into such a state simply because Morgan resembled Julian. If Julian himself appeared before the old man, there was no telling what might have happened.

The shock alone might have sent Leon into a heart attack.

After all, Morgan’s resemblance to his father was already striking. And although Julian was already in his fifties, the years had done little to diminish his looks. His features had only grown more distinguished with age.

If Leon could mistake Morgan for him at a glance, seeing Julian in person might have been enough to send the old man over the edge.

...

Meanwhile, Kristoff watched Morgan leave, but his attention remained fixed on the doorway long after it closed.

One word kept echoing in his mind.

Bro.

It reverberated like a resounding gong, each repetition making the truth sink deeper.

Not a friend.

Not an acquaintance.

Not simply someone Isobel happened to know.

A brother.

Family.

Bound by blood.

Morgan and Isobel were siblings.

For reasons he couldn’t quite explain, an overwhelming sense of joy washed over him.

The corners of his lips lifted into a genuine smile.

Two shallow dimples appeared on his cheeks.

For the first time since entering the room, Kristoff looked completely at peace.

So that’s why...

His eyes followed the doorway through which Morgan had disappeared.

He’s her brother.

He remembered Julian, Leanne and even Kristine’s reactions in the hospital.

They treated Isobel as their family.

...

”Uncle.”

Isobel’s gentle voice finally pulled Kristoff back to the hospital room.

She was sitting beside Leon, one hand resting reassuringly on his arm.

”Please calm down. Just breathe with me. Slowly.”

Leon closed his eyes.

”Inhale...”

He followed her instructions, drawing in a shaky breath.

”Exhale...”

Again. And again.

After several breaths, the tension in his chest eased. His flushed face gradually returned to its normal color, and his trembling hands finally relaxed against the sheets.

Isobel waited until he was calm before speaking.

”Uncle, there’s something you need to understand about my father.”

Leon looked at her.

”My father lost his memory when my mother found him. At that time, he didn’t even know his name, so how can he know he had a family?”

Leon frowned.

”So, he wasn’t pretending. He really didn’t remember his own family.”

Isobel shook her head.

”No.”

She paused, choosing her words carefully.

”But what he felt for my mother was real.”

A muscle in Julian’s jaw tightened.

His hands curled into fists beneath the sheet.

He wanted to say something.

He wanted to defend himself, explain everything, correct every misunderstanding.

But he forced himself to remain silent.

This was something Leon needed to hear from Isobel.

”My father was eventually found by people Grandpa had sent to search for him,” Isobel continued. ”By then, he had a dangerously high fever. They brought him back to the capital and took him straight to the hospital.”

Leon listened without interrupting.

”When the doctors examined him, they discovered a blood clot in his brain. It was causing his memory loss and the severe headaches he had been suffering from.”

Leon’s expression changed slightly.

”The doctors recommended surgery,” Isobel said. ”His parents decided to send him abroad for treatment.”

She deliberately left out one detail.

She didn’t mention that it was Julian’s wife, Leanne who had pleaded with her in-laws to send him overseas.

That was a story for another time.

”The surgery was successful,” Isobel continued. ”But when my father woke up, some of his memories were gone.”

Leon stared at her.

”Which memories?”

Isobel lowered her eyes for a moment.

”His most recent ones.”

Her voice softened.

”Those memories included my mother.”

Silence settled over the room. Leon remained motionless for a long time.

So the man hadn’t simply abandoned Rosella.

He had forgotten her.

The distinction did not erase the pain, but it changed everything.

Eventually, Leon broke the silence.

”Then...”

His voice was hoarse.

”How did he find you?”

Isobel looked at him.

”I work for Morgan and I’m currently staying at their mansion.”

Leon blinked. Did Isobel worked as a maid? If not, how could she live with Morgan?

”That is where my father saw me.”

”He saw you?”

Isobel nodded.

”The moment he looked at me, something happened. He suddenly remembered my mother.”

She touched her face unconsciously.

”He said I reminded him of Rosella. He said it was mainly because of my face, although our eyes are different.”

Leon stared at her, absorbing every word.

”And you believed him?”

”Dad and Morgan ordered a paternity test.”

Leon’s eyes widened.

”And the result?”

Isobel held his gaze.

”It confirmed that I am Julian’s daughter.”

She paused before continuing.

”He told me that my mother was Rosella. He also told me what happened back then.”

Leon said nothing.

For a long moment, he simply stared at Isobel, trying to absorb everything she had revealed.

His sister who died of a broken heart had left behind a daughter.

And that daughter just saved him and his grandchildren.

”Morgan and I went to Greenvale,” Isobel continued quietly. ”I was hoping that Mom...”

Her voice faltered.

She couldn’t bring herself to finish the sentence.

Leon didn’t need her to.

His expression softened with understanding.

”I met Aunt Emelia there,” Isobel said after a moment. ”She told me everything.”

Leon lowered his eyes.

A heavy silence settled over him.

When he finally spoke, his voice was thick with regret.

”I’m sorry.”

Isobel looked at him.

”I allowed them to send you away back then.”

His gaze shifted to the side, unable to meet hers.

”I should have protected you. I should have kept you with me.”

The guilt in his voice was unmistakable.

Isobel’s heart softened.

”It was a long time ago, Uncle.”

She gave him a reassuring smile.

”What’s done is done. There’s no point holding on to it anymore.”

Leon looked back at her.

For a moment, he simply studied her face. Then he let out a quiet sigh.

”What a sensible child...”

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

The tension that had filled the room finally eased.

It was then that Leon seemed to notice someone else.

His eyes shifted toward the side of the room.

Kristoff was still standing there.

Unlike everyone else, he looked strangely relaxed, even pleased.

Leon raised an eyebrow.

He looked at Isobel, then back at Kristoff.

”And who is this?”

Kristoff’s smile immediately disappeared.

For some reason, being questioned by Leon suddenly felt much more intimidating than it should have.