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Chapter 20: The Things I Cannot Control.
publish date:
2026-06-15 23:24:23
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THE CEO’S SURROGATE(WOMB CONTRACT) Chapter 42: The Ghost in the frame.
(Elena’s POV)The mansion felt different after Alex left.Maybe it was because of what he had said.Maybe it was because of the look on Alaric’s face when he saw the footage.Or maybe it was because I could feel it too now.The awareness.The uncomfortable sensation that someone, somewhere, had been watching.The warmth from a few minutes ago had vanished completely.Alaric was already on the phone before Alex reached the end of the hallway.Giving orders.Changing schedules.Increasing patrols.Doing what Alaric Carrington always did when faced with a problem.Taking control.I sat quietly on the edge of the bed and watched him.His voice remained calm.Controlled.But I knew him better now.Enough to hear what was hidden underneath.Fear.Not for himself.For me.For the baby.The realization settled heavily in my chest.“Move two men to the eastern gate.” He said, pausing to think for a bit.“No exceptions.” He added.He paused again as if gauging his words.“I don’t care if it inc
THE CEO’S SURROGATE(WOMB CONTRACT) Chapter 41: something worth protecting.
### (Alaric's POV)For the first time in years, I woke up without immediately thinking about work, the company, or the investigation.And not to think about the endless problems waiting for me beyond these walls.Instead, my attention settled on the woman sitting beside me.Elena.She eventually gave up arguing and let me pull her back into bed.Not because she was weak Because she was exhausted.There was a difference.The morning sunlight poured through the windows, illuminating her face as she leaned against the headboard.She looked thoughtful.Quiet.A little embarrassed.And strangely beautiful.I caught myself staring.Again.Apparently, I had developed a habit."You're doing it again."Her voice broke through my thoughts.I looked up."Doing what?""Staring."I frowned."I wasn't staring.""You were.""I was checking if you're okay.""That's still staring."I almost smiled.Almost."Doctor Rowan specifically told us to monitor you."Elena groaned dramatically."She told you t
THE CEO’S SURROGATE(WOMB CONTRACT) Chapter 40: The morning After.
### (Elena's POV)The first thing I realized when I woke up was that the space was new; it wasn't my room. The second thing I realized was that I, Alaric, was sleeping next to me.My eyes flew open immediately.I couldn’t help staring at his face. The sunlight pouring through the window framed his face in gold, drawing attention to every detail I’d somehow never noticed before. He looked so peaceful asleep, so different from the guarded man I knew when he was awake.The room was comfortably warm and quiet.For several seconds, I stared at his peaceful frame as he slept soundly.Then the memories of last night came rushing back like a prey running away from a predator.The library, The conversation.Ethan.The kiss.My face immediately burned, my heart raced down to my stomach, and my pulse quickened."Oh, God."I buried my face in the pillow.What was wrong with me?I kissed him.Actually kissed him.And then, somehow, I fell asleep beside him.Inside his room.Inside his bed.I want
THE CEO’S SURROGATE(WOMB CONTRACT) Chapter 39: Stay
### (Elena's POV)“What about your brother?” The library fell quiet after I asked his brother.The kind of silence that wasn't empty.The kind filled with things left unsaid. I watched him from where I sat next to him; his gaze remained fixed on the windows.But he wasn’t really looking at the mirror; he was thinking about something far beyond the window. Something only he could see.For a long moment, neither of us spoke. Then I asked the question that I have always wanted to ask."What happened?"Alaric didn't move, nor did he attempt to answer.I knew he understood exactly what I meant."What happened to Ethan?"The silence stretched. Long enough that I thought he might ignore me. Or shut down completely.Instead, he exhaled slowly."He died." My chest tightened at the words. I knew how I felt when I got the news about Maya and how I waited and prayed that she would come home one day, but she never did. I thought she was dead, and the pain wasn’t something I could cry out. I tri
THE CEO’S SURROGATE(WOMB CONTRACT) Chapter 38: The stories we carry.
### (Elena's POV)I found Alaric in the library.Lately, that seemed to be where he disappeared whenever he wanted to think.Or avoid people.Or both.The afternoon sunlight spilled through the tall windows, painting golden streaks across the dark wood shelves.He sat in one of the leather armchairs near the fireplace.A file rested open on his lap.His attention appeared focused on the pages.But I knew better.His eyes hadn't moved in several minutes.He was thinking.Again.Probably about security.Or Margaret.Or the baby.The baby.Even now, the word felt surreal.I placed my mug of water on the small table beside him and lowered myself into the chair opposite his.His gaze lifted immediately."You should be resting."I rolled my eyes.“Can you stop?” I pleaded."What?""The overprotective thing.""I'm being reasonable." He snorted."You've assigned more security guards to me than some countries have for their presidents."His mouth twitched as he smiled slightly."I doubt that."
THE CEO’S SURROGATE(WOMB CONTRACT) Chapter 37: over protected.
### (Elena's POV)By the next morning, I had come to a very important conclusion.Alaric Carrington had completely lost his mind, thoroughly and irreversibly.The proof was everywhere.There were now security guards stationed at every entrance of the mansion.Every hallway seemed to have at least one person walking through it.The front gate had somehow become more secure overnight.Even the gardens were being patrolled.The gardens for heaven's sake.Who exactly was going to attack me through a rose bush?Apparently, Alaric thought someone might.I stared out the dining room window as two security officers walked across the lawn.Then another.Then another.I wasn't entirely convinced they weren't multiplying.A cup of tea appeared beside me.I looked up.Maria smiled sympathetically."You should drink something, Miss Elena."I glanced at the tea.Then I immediately regretted it.The smell alone made my stomach twist."Oh no."Maria sighed."The tea again?""The tea again," I muttere
THE CEO’S SURROGATE(WOMB CONTRACT) Chapter 33: Too many secrets .
(Elena’s POV)The ride back to the penthouse was quiet.Not the comfortable kind.Not the kind Alaric and I had somehow fallen into recently.This silence was heavier.Filled with questions neither of us wanted to ask.Or answer.The city lights flashed across the car windows, illuminating Alaric’s
THE CEO’S SURROGATE(WOMB CONTRACT) Chapter 32: The last person I wanted to see.
(Elena’s POV)The moment dinner ended, I wanted to go home.Not because it had gone badly.Ironically, that was the problem.It had gone too well.Grandfather Carrington hadn’t torn me apart.Lucien had been restrained.Vivian had been polite.And Alaric had casually announced our engagement celebr
THE CEO’S SURROGATE(WOMB CONTRACT) Chapter 31: The family table.
(Elena’s POV)( Two weeks later)If someone had told me a month ago that I would be sitting at the Carrington family dinner table as Alaric Carrington’s fiancée, I would have laughed in their face.If they had also told me I would be nervous about it I would have laughed harder. Yet here I was very
THE CEO’S SURROGATE(WOMB CONTRACT) Chapter 30: A bad day to be human.
(Elena’s POV)By Wednesday morning, I hated everyone,Including myself.Especially myself.I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, staring at my reflection with narrowed eyes.There was absolutely no reason for me to be standing there at six-thirty in the morning, glaring at my own face like it had p
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