Part 12

Adaline sat by her mother's bedside in the ICU. The doctor had informed her that her mother's surgery went smoothly, but due to the lingering effects of anesthesia, her mother remained unconscious. It had been more than twenty-four hours since her mother came out of the operating room, and it made Adaline worry.

Adaline and Emma took turns caring for her mother. Although Altezza had granted her leave until her mother recovered, considering her loan from the company and the embarrassment of continually burdening others with her work, Adaline decided to return to work as soon as possible.

For the past three days, Adaline had been anxious, not only about her mother's condition but also recalling Altezza's words from earlier. Adaline realized that she had entered an unwritten agreement with her boss, and she was waiting for the continuation of his plan.

Surrogate Mother. That phrase kept echoing in her mind. While waiting