The Surrogate He Discarded

The following morning, a gold-embossed envelope was waiting beside Isobel’s breakfast plate.

She picked it up, turning it over in her hand.

There was no sender’s name on the front—only the Dalton family’s crest pressed into the thick cream paper.

Isobel opened it.

It was an invitation from Mary Dalton to an upcoming charity gala, with the proceeds going to several charitable institutions.

But that wasn’t the only reason Mary had sent it.

At the bottom of the note, Mary had personally thanked Isobel for saving Kristoff when a crazed attacker had lunged at him with a blade at the hospital.

Isobel read the message twice.

She hadn’t expected Mary to remember something like that.

”An invitation?”

Morgan’s voice came from across the table.

Isobel looked up.

Morgan was already dressed for work, his suit immaculate and his watch fastened around his wrist. One hand held his coffee while the other scrolled through something on his phone, as if he could somehow manage a business crisis before finishing breakfast.

He glanced at the invitation.

”From Kristoff’s mother?”

Isobel nodded.

”She invited me to a charity gala.”

”And?”

Morgan raised an eyebrow.

”Are you planning to go?”

”Sis, I’ll be out of the country this weekend, so I won’t be able to accompany you.”

Isobel glanced at the invitation again.

”One of the beneficiaries is St. Marianne Orphanage,” she said, a gentle smile touching her lips. ”So I’ll definitely be going.”

Her answer came without hesitation.

St. Marianne’s held a special place in her heart. The orphanage depended heavily on donations, and every contribution meant more than just food and supplies.

It meant birthdays celebrated with something as simple as a cake. It meant new books, school uniforms, toys, and occasional outings that gave the children something to look forward to.

For children who had grown accustomed to being forgotten, those small moments could become precious memories.

”We will accompany you,” Leanne said immediately.

Her eyes brightened with enthusiasm, and Julian gave a firm nod beside her.

”Honey, we have another appointment that evening,” Leanne added, turning to Julian. ”But we can go as soon as we’re finished and pick up Isobel.”

Isobel smiled at them.

”Don’t worry, Dad, Mom, Brother. I can handle it myself.”

”I can go with Isobel.”

Everyone turned toward Kristine.

She smiled innocently, as though volunteering to accompany Isobel was the most natural thing in the world.

Morgan looked between them before giving a decisive nod.

”Then it’s settled.”

The conversation ended, and Morgan returned his attention to breakfast. A few minutes later, he pushed his chair back and stood.

He picked up his suit jacket, then glanced at Isobel.

”You’re riding with me to the office.”

Isobel looked up, surprised.

”You don’t need to. I can—”

”You’re still in no condition to drive.”

His tone was matter-of-fact, leaving little room for argument.

Isobel opened her mouth to protest, but the look on Morgan’s face made her stop.

After a moment, she sighed.

”Okay.”

Morgan nodded in satisfaction and waited by the doorway.

”Come on. We’re leaving.”

Isobel finished breakfast and followed Morgan out, unaware that the charity gala would soon place her in a room with people she never expected to meet—and awaken old grudges that should have stayed buried.

...

When Morgan and Isobel arrived at Aioryx, heads turned the moment they stepped out of his car together.

Morgan, the company’s notoriously cold and private CEO, rarely allowed anyone into his personal space, much less arrived at work with a woman beside him.

The sight immediately sparked whispers.

The earlier rumors about the two had long been silenced after Morgan publicly clarified their relationship. Back then, Isobel had been nothing more than an indispensable asset—a capable caretaker for his twins.

But seeing her arrive in his car now made people wonder if something had changed.

Whispers quickly spread among the employees.

”She really does seem close to the boss.”

The whispers followed them into the building.

Morgan didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. He walked straight toward the exclusive elevator reserved for the CEO.

Isobel followed behind him, pretending not to notice the curious stares.

As the elevator doors opened, she glanced toward the employees waiting for the regular elevators.

Several female employees were openly staring at her.

Some looked curious.

Others looked envious.

Isobel almost laughed.

By the end of the day, she wouldn’t be surprised if someone had already revived the rumor that she climb the corporate ladder via devious means.

Once they entered the elevator, Isobel turned toward him.

”Brother, who took over my tasks while I was gone?”

”Dean Brown.”

”Dean?”

She nodded thoughtfully.

Dean was one of the company’s promising young software engineers. Eight years older than her, he was known for being capable and meticulous. He had also been working closely with her on Project Lexan.

”Did he manage everything?”

”He didn’t cause any problems.”

Isobel smiled.

Coming from Morgan, that was practically high praise.

When they reached the R&D department, Isobel was immediately surrounded by familiar faces.

”Isobel, you’re finally back!”

”How are you feeling?”

”We saw the news. You scared us!”

”Take it easy for a few days, okay?”

The warmth from her colleagues made Isobel smile.

She chatted with them for a while before heading toward her office.

But the moment she pushed open the door, her smile disappeared.

Someone was inside.

Claire Landers.

She was standing beside the bookshelf, one hand holding a thick binder from Project Lexan.

Isobel stopped at the doorway.

”What are you doing here?”

Claire’s fingers tightened around the binder.

For a fleeting moment, something resembling panic crossed her eyes.

But she recovered almost instantly.

”So, you’re finally back.”

She placed the binder against her chest and looked Isobel up and down.

”Quite the heroine, aren’t you?”

The mocking tone was obvious.

Isobel didn’t react. Her eyes went to the binder in Claire’s hands.

”What are you doing in my office?”

”I’m getting something for Dean.”

Claire’s answer came a little too quickly.

Isobel’s brows furrowed.

”Something? You are from Marketing. This is R&D.”

”Some technical information.”

”From my office?” Isobel stepped forward.

Claire smiled.

”Dean said the information was here.”

”I’m helping with some of the materials for the product launch,” Claire replied, her fingers tightening slightly around the binder. ”There are a few technical details Marketing needs. Dean knows about it.”

Isobel’s eyes narrowed.

”Which technical details?”

Claire gave a small shrug. ”Nothing important. Just some information we need for the presentation.”

Isobel didn’t immediately respond.

Claire’s answer sounded reasonable, but somehow, it answered everything except the question.

Something about her explanation felt slightly off.

Claire had been working in the Marketing Department for years. She had no reason to know which documents were kept in Isobel’s office, much less where they were located.

Yet she had gone directly to the shelf.

Not only that, she had pulled out one of the Lexan binders without searching through anything else.

Isobel’s eyes narrowed slightly.

”What exactly are you looking for?”