The Billionaire's Virgin Surrogate のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 31 - チャプター 40

OLIVIA
Racing heart. Sweaty palms. A game of confidence with Mr. Blackwood. 
I folded my arms and leaned back in my chair, feigning ease. I couldn’t let him see how nervous I was—I needed him to believe every word of my story.
“Christian told me what his mother went through just because she was like me,” I said, meeting his gaze. “After his father married her.” I let the words linger, watching for a reaction. “He said he wanted to protect me from that.”
To my surprise, Mr. Blackwood chuckled, settling back in his chair. “Everyone knows what happened to Christian’s mother,” he scoffed. “She was never accepted into the family. Anyone could easily pay any journalist to expose the full story.”
I clenched my fists beneath the table, forcing myself to stay composed. “I didn’t expect you to believe me,” I said evenly. “But I will say this—”
He raised a brow, waiting. 
“Your constant disapproval of me,” I continued, voice steady, “Will only make Christian blame you even more for his mot

CHRISTIAN
I sat in the backseat of the car, staring out the window, my mind racing. Grandfather had summoned me for dinner again, out of nowhere.
These dinners were becoming more frequent than usual and they were always exhausting. 
‘Meet me for dinner tonight.’
That was all the text had said. No explanation. No hint. Nothing.
It felt like I was walking into a blind date except, in this case, it wasn’t the person that was unknown. It was the purpose.
And I didn’t like it one bit. I preferred knowing exactly what I was walking into, preparing myself for whatever lay ahead.
Still lost in thoughts, we pulled into the estate, smoothly gliding into an empty parking spot in the garage. The moment the door opened, I stepped out, adjusting my jacket.
With careful strides, I crossed the forecourt and entered through the main entrance. As I stepped into the grand lobby, I slowed down, catching the faint murmur of voices drifting from the dining room.
Michael was here too?
I clenched m

CHRISTIANI said nothing, and he pressed on.
“I know I made life unbearable for your mother, Christian. But I was just following orders—my parents’ orders. Back then, there was a strict rule in the family, one made from sheer pride and ignorance.” He exhaled sharply. “I see now that I should have stood up to them. I should have protected my son and his wife. I failed them, and I’ve failed you.”
He placed a firm, reassuring hand on my shoulder.
“I won’t fail you again. That’s a promise.”
I sighed, nodding despite the weight still pressing against my chest. “Thank you, Grandfather.”
He patted my back before turning and limping away.
As I watched him go, I exhaled in relief, finally piecing together what had happened with Olivia.
He had confronted her. But instead of blurting out the truth, as I’d expected, she had taken a different approach.
She had used my past, the one I’d indirectly mentioned to her at the desert, against the very man responsible for it.
I scoffed, shaking my

CHRISTIAN
I glanced down at the extravagant gifts piled beside me in the backseat.
Flowers. Novels. Perfumes. A whole assortment.
Was it too much?
A nagging doubt crept in, making me second-guess myself. Maybe I was overdoing it. My gaze lingered on the bouquet, and I suddenly felt hesitant about everything. Were they even necessary? Was it too fucking much?
I reached for them, ready to toss them aside, but then I hesitated again. Would she even read into all this? Overthink the gesture?
If she did, then maybe she was just naive or narrow-minded, even. Because why would anyone assign deeper meaning to something so trivial? Gifts like these were common. Business associates exchanged them. Friends. Even surrogates… Just like her.
So I hoped she wouldn’t misunderstand.
I tapped the screen of my phone, expecting to see a reply. But nothing. 
She still hadn’t responded to my text I sent minutes ago. 
That was odd. By now, she should’ve been back from her lectures since it was alre

OLIVIA
My pupils dilated in shock as I stared at Christian on the podium.
Was I dreaming? Had I really won? My sample had surpassed Ivy’s and everyone else’s?
“What? She won?” Ivy’s voice rang out behind me, laced with disbelief. I didn’t need to look back to know she was fuming. 
Still staring ahead, I was stunned by the results, but a more pressing thought gnawed at me. Had Christian planned this? The idea had flickered in my mind earlier, but now, with the way everything played out, it weighed heavily on me.
I couldn’t help but wonder if it was truly a coincidence that he’d picked my sample over every other person’s?
And if it wasn’t, why would he do that? 
“I can’t believe she won,” Someone muttered behind me, his tone dripping with disdain.
“What’s so special about her sample?” 
As I listened to them, I nearly smirked but held my head high instead, giving them more to look at. For the first time in a long while, I was in the spotlight for something good, not scandalous o