The Surrogate-in-law: The Billionaire CEO's Deception

Mom had already left by the time I stepped out of the shower. I had been working non-stop for the past two weeks, and finally, I had a two-day break before my next project began. Wanting to unwind, I popped some popcorn and settled in for a rom-com anime. Usually, I preferred action, but tonight, I felt different. I considered a tragedy but dismissed the thought—too cringe. Hugging my knees, I stared at the screen, the popcorn and ice cream remaining untouched. Watching characters find their happy endings while sympathizing with the second lead, who cried over a love never meant to be, felt... stupid. What was the point of crying? Of agonizing? Of regretting? It was already decided that you wouldn’t be the main character in someone else’s story. If you love, you love selflessly—without expectations, without hope, without dreams. The buzzing of my phone went ignored. Talking to people at the end of the day felt exhausting. All I wanted was a moment to sort out my feelings in

Knox, "I am sorry, Knox! I know that I am a bit stressed about everything. But if you explain properly, maybe Violet will be less disappointed?" Sarah Smith, two years older than me, smiled bitterly, her lips pressing into a tight line as she lowered her gaze. Her fingers trembled slightly as she gripped her coffee cup, her knuckles turning white. The warmth of the drink seemed to offer little comfort as she exhaled slowly, trying to calm herself. I had met her last year at a family gathering—an event I had little interest in. Though I never sought marriage, our conversations had flowed easily, and somehow, we had ended up here. She was the complete opposite of Violet. Where Violet’s presence burned like wildfire, Sarah was gentle, soft-spoken—an ideal match for Silverfang’s expectations. “She’ll be fine,” I murmured, my voice flat as I stared out the window. My jaw clenched slightly, and a flicker of uncertainty passed through my eyes. "She’s just upset that I didn’t meet her

Sam walked toward us, his shoulders slumped, eyes filled with pain. A couple, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, approached him first, followed by my parents and Knox’s. Mrs. Smith, barely holding back her tears, asked in a trembling voice, “How are they? How is my daughter?” Sam glanced around before his gaze landed on me. He took a deep breath and said, “Knox is safe. His left arm and two ribs are fractured. He will wake up soon. But—” A tense silence filled the air as Sam turned to Mrs. Smith. “Sarah is badly injured. She may take longer to walk, but there’s a high chance she will recover, so don’t lose hope. However—” Mrs. Smith’s sobs cut him off. She broke down, clutching her husband. Though I felt relieved that Knox was safe, an ache settled in my chest for the girl he was supposed to marry. “However?” Mr. Smith, who had been trying to stay strong, asked, his voice firm yet shaken. Sam exhaled heavily. “Due to the extent of her injuries, she won’t be able to have children.” A col

Violet, A chill crawled from my toes to the roots of my hair, spreading an unfamiliar unease through my body. It felt as if my world was slowly crumbling beneath me. "What made you think I would agree to this absurd request, Knox?" My voice came out cold, but my fingers trembled slightly. "Did you even consider my responsibilities as CEO? And on top of that—considering the fact that we both decided to stay child-free!" His face crumpled with shame, his lips parting as if to defend himself. But before he could, he exhaled heavily and avoided my gaze. "I know," he admitted. "Then why?" I pressed, my heart pounding painfully in my chest. Knox hesitated before finally speaking, his voice filled with an emotion I couldn't quite place. "When I met Sarah… I realized I was fine with having a child with her. She was the first woman who gave me the strength to want a family." His words were like a knife twisting deep inside my chest. So, I had been the fool all along. The day he told

Violet, I wonder how it feels when someone has their love reciprocated. After the initial suggestion of surrogacy, I thought I would ask for time to think about it. However, I completely forgot that my family had little respect for my decisions. Somehow, they knew Knox was my weakness. Although I hated to admit it, they were right. Maybe after seeing him in that condition, I couldn't say no. Or maybe… I wanted to be connected to him in some way, whether through a child or a fake relationship. Maybe he never saw me as a woman. Maybe he started prioritizing his life partner over me. But I was the one who initiated love for him. I loved him in secret, and I would choose him. It wasn’t about him loving me back. It was about making myself happy with my own love for him. "Violet!" My mother knocked on the door as I rested in my bedroom. I sat up, facing her with an indifferent expression. My relationship with my family wasn’t worth mentioning. It had been strained for the past sev