Mag-log inThis is a betrayal!Abigail and Mark voiced the same thought in their minds. Yet, just as Mark had suggested earlier, they both chose to frame tonight as nothing more than a one-night stand, setting aside the weight of everything looming behind it.Abigail's kiss was tentative, filled with innocent uncertainty. It was painfully obvious that she was unfamiliar with such intimate encounters. Mark refused to be rough or respond with greedy fervor. Instead, he let Abigail explore the rhythm of their kiss without overwhelming her in return.With an effortless movement, Mark gathered Abigail into his arms and carried her toward the apartment's only master bedroom.This wasn't actually the apartment Jasper had shown Abigail the other day. The one Jasper had shown her was a new unit Mark had specifically prepared for Abigail and Amora to live in eventually. The apartment they were in now was Mark's own private residence, his bachelor pad—a place Lily had never even set foot in.Initially, Mar
Abigail instinctively pressed her fingertips against his lips, cutting him off, then quickly withdrew her hand. She didn’t want to reopen those wounds or listen to his apology right now.“Le-let’s forget about all that,” she stammered nervously.“Then... can we start over?”Abigail froze, unable to utter a word. A sudden, violent dizziness swept over her, leaving her emotions in utter turmoil.“May I kiss you?” Mark asked softly. “This time... I promise I’ll be gentle.”Abigail couldn’t bring herself to speak. Her fingers tightened around the folds of Mark’s bathrobe once more as she squeezed her eyes shut.Like it or not, she still had to fulfill this vile obligation. But once again... being treated with such tenderness was far more dignified than having to surrender her honor to a pimp or a vile man like Derek Flint.Mark gazed at the woman before him in silence. Abigail’s eyelashes were long and naturally curled. Her nose was perfectly straight, and the color had returned to her li
Abigail carefully examined the technical information about the risks and side effects of the stimulant Lily had given her. She clenched her fingers and nervously bit her lip.She had never imagined that the medical effects of such a substance could be so severe, especially when it came to the male reproductive system. No wonder Mark had vehemently refused to take it. Moreover, they had absolutely no guarantee that the unmarked medication was medically approved or had simply been obtained on the black market.But... what were they supposed to do now?If they went through with it without the medication, Abigail couldn't help but feel that the whole arrangement was nothing more than a cruel scheme to facilitate an affair.What if they tried using alcohol? she wondered, but immediately hesitated. She had her own trauma associated with alcohol, so she shook her head in resignation.The bathroom door suddenly slid open. Mark stepped out, his hair still damp and droplets of water clinging to
There were four doors scattered throughout the apartment, each with a different design. Abigail had no intention of finding out what lay behind them. What caught her attention most was the enormous expanse of glass windows overlooking the city, along with a spacious balcony adjoining Mark's study.“Would it be all right if I opened this door, sir?” she called out, raising her voice slightly in case Mark couldn't hear her from the kitchen.“Go ahead,” Mark replied.A genuine smile curved Abigail's lips. She slid open the glass balcony door, and a refreshing evening breeze immediately brushed against her skin.Abigail had always loved windows. Back when she lived in the Spencer family home, her bedroom had a private balcony furnished with an egg-shaped wooden swing and a plush sofa. She and Louisa used to spend time there relaxing, sharing stories, and watching movies together. After moving from one residence to another so many times, Abigail was simply grateful that she'd still had win
“This apartment belonged to Mr. Harrison before he officially got married,” Jasper explained as they stepped into the elevator heading for the floor where Mark's apartment was located. “If your pregnancy test eventually comes back positive and you still intend to move out of Mrs. Margareth's mansion, Mr. Harrison will have you and Amora stay here,” he continued, prompting Abigail to respond with a small nod.After stepping out of the elevator, they walked down the corridor toward Mark's unit. Jasper entered the access code on the keypad, then slowly repeated the sequence so Abigail could memorize it. She committed the numbers to memory.Mark's apartment featured a luxurious industrial loft design, blending modern elegance with a distinctly masculine aesthetic. Its atmosphere was entirely different from both Nora's home and Margareth's mansion.The moment the door swung open, Abigail's eyes fell upon an open-concept modern kitchen featuring a massive kitchen island, matte-black cabinet
“You look absolutely stunning tonight, Abby,” Jasper remarked admiringly with a smile, just after the car doors closed.“Mrs. Harrison insisted that I make Peter fall for me,” Abigail replied with an amused smile, which Jasper returned. They both knew that ‘Peter’ was nothing more than a fictional character. How could they possibly make someone who didn't exist fall for her?But Abigail's smile soon faded. She turned away, reluctant to meet Jasper's eyes, and gazed out through the car window instead.“Mr. Harrison will surely conclude that I dressed up deliberately to seduce him,” Abigail murmured. Her voice was quiet, but Jasper still heard every word.“Why would you think that?” Jasper asked, puzzled.Abigail shrugged faintly. “I'm just drawing a logical conclusion,” she whispered resignedly.“Abby...”“Yes?”“I want to ask you something... Who actually came up with the crazy idea of entering into this surrogacy contract first?”Abigail glanced up at him. “Why are you suddenly askin







