The Surrogate He Discarded

”We only met the other day,” Richard said, carefully keeping his voice polite. ”I picked you up at the airport, remember?”

The moment the words left his mouth, an unpleasant memory surfaced.

That was the same day he left Isobel behind.

The same day she was injured after throwing herself in front of Kristoff to block the knife for him.

Richard’s expression hardened.

His fingers slowly curled into fists beneath the table, his knuckles tightening as the memory replayed in his mind.

”Richard?”

Kristal’s voice pulled him back.

She studied his face, her earlier smile fading slightly.

”Is something wrong?”

She couldn’t understand the sudden chill that had settled over him. Just moments ago, he had been warm and attentive toward Sharon. Now, the air around him seemed noticeably colder.

”Nothing.” Richard released his clenched fists and forced his expression to relax. ”I just remembered something.”

Before Kristal could ask further, Sharon clicked her tongue.

”You spoiled girl.”

Kristal blinked.

”You only know how to greet Richard,” Sharon scolded playfully. ”Do you still have any affection left for your grandmother?”

A bright smile immediately returned to Kristal’s face.

”How could I ever forget you, Grandma?”

A shallow dimple appeared on her cheek near the corner of her lips as she leaned toward Sharon and slipped her arms around the older woman’s shoulders.

”Of course you’re still the dearest person to me.”

She peppered Sharon’s cheeks with kisses before pulling her into a tight embrace.

Sharon laughed, pretending to push her away.

”Enough, enough! You’re going to smother an old woman.”

Richard watched the affectionate exchange in silence.

His gaze briefly settled on the little dimple in Kristal’s cheek.

For a moment, his eyes lingered.

Then he looked away.

A few seconds later, the door opened again.

A waiter entered carrying the first of the dishes Sharon had ordered in advance, followed by another waiter with menus. He arranged everything efficiently before handing a menu to Richard and another to Kristal.

Kristal barely glanced at hers before closing it.

”Just serve me your best seller.”

The waiter nodded and turned toward Richard.

Richard had dined at The Alps more than once, so he didn’t need to study the menu either.

”Give me the Chef’s Special.”

”Certainly, sir.”

The waiter collected their menus and hurried away.

Sharon watched the exchange with a faint, satisfied smile.

Richard noticed.

For some reason, he had a feeling he was beginning to understand exactly why she had asked him to come here tonight.

...

”Girl, Richard just told me he didn’t know the gift shop from back then is still operating.”

Kristal raised an eyebrow.

”Really?”

Sharon nodded toward Richard.

”Then you should accompany him and show him around. If you see something nice, buy it for him.”

There was a knowing glint in the old woman’s eyes.

Kristal immediately understood what her grandmother was trying to do.

”Grandma, the mall is boring.” She wrinkled her nose. ”Why don’t Richard take me around the outskirts of Novare instead? Or he can show me some of the tourist spots. I’ve been wanting to visit a few places myself.”

Sharon gave her granddaughter an indulgent look.

”All right, all right. Whatever you say.”

Kristal smiled triumphantly.

She had always been spoiled, and she had never made any attempt to deny it.

As the only girl in a family of five, she had grown up surrounded by four older brothers who treated their little sister like a precious treasure. Her grandparents were no different. Between them, they had made sure Kristal rarely heard the word no.

If she wanted something, she got it.

If she fancied something, someone would find a way to get it for her.

And if there was something she believed she deserved, her family would make certain she received it.

It was hardly surprising that Kristal had grown accustomed to getting her way.

And tonight, judging from the way her grandmother kept looking between her and Richard, it seemed Sharon had already decided what—or rather, who—she wanted her granddaughter to have next.

...

Three waiters entered the private room, each carrying an array of the restaurant’s signature dishes. One by one, they placed the plates on the table, filling the room with the rich aroma of freshly prepared food.

Richard thanked them politely, and Kristal did the same.

Kristal’s eyes widened as she looked at the spread before them.

”I didn’t know the food here was this good.”

”Of course it is,” Sharon replied proudly. ”The ingredients are brought in fresh, and the chefs here are among the best in Novare.”

Kristal’s green eyes suddenly brightened.

”Wait, Grandma...” She looked around the elegant private room before turning back to Sharon. ”Don’t tell me you own this restaurant too?”

Sharon merely smiled.

That was answer enough.

Kristal’s eyes gleamed with delight.

Anything her grandmother owned would eventually become hers—or at least, that was how she had always seen it. Her four older brothers had never shown the slightest interest in competing with her for the family’s inheritance from their grandma.

If anything, they spoiled their little sister just as much as their grandparents did.

Sharon watched the excitement in her granddaughter’s eyes with an amused smile.

Yes.

She owned the restaurant.

She owned far more than Kristal knew.

Years ago, Sharon was a woman who believed she had a perfect family.

Until she discovered that her husband had betrayed her—with her own cousin.

The betrayal had shattered everything she had built her life around.

Rather than fight for a man who had humiliated her, Sharon had simply disappeared from his life.

She left her only son in the care of her parents and walked away with nothing but her pride and the determination to build a life that belonged entirely to her.

She eventually found her way to the quiet town of Aldea.

What began as a refuge became the foundation of an empire.

With nothing but her own determination, Sharon established herself there, slowly turning one small business into another until her name carried weight far beyond the town’s borders.

For years, she had stayed away from Fiorenza.

Then, eight years ago, she returned.

And this time, she didn’t return as the abandoned wife who had once walked away.

She returned as a woman who had built enough power to reclaim everything that had once belonged to her.

Her husband could no longer dismiss her.

Her relatives could no longer look down on her.

And Sharon had no intention of giving up a single thing she had fought so hard to regain.