The Accidental Surrogate's Secret のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 10

Candice’s POVI crept closer to the bedroom, my heart pounding in my ears.Through the crack of the door, I heard Violet’s giggle.The air left my lungs, and the ultrasound images slipped from my fingers, fluttering silently to the floor.I stood outside the bedroom door, my heart pounding so violently I thought it might burst through my chest. My stomach churned as Violet’s voice seeped through the thin wood, sweet and saccharine like poison dipped in honey.“Joshua,” she said, her tone light and playful, “I’m pregnant.”Her tone sounds very happy.The world tilted under my feet. My hands began to tremble, and I instinctively reached for the doorframe to steady myself.Pregnant?No. No, this couldn’t be real. Maybe I misheard her. Maybe she didn’t mean it like that. But as the seconds dragged on, her words replayed in my head, each repetition slicing into me like shards of glass.“And it’s yours,” she added, her voice brimming with smug satisfaction.I clamped a hand over my mouth t

Candice’s POVAs Dr. Ruby opened her mouth to speak, I cut her off, my voice steady despite the storm raging in my chest. “The conception was successful,” I said with a smile, stepping forward. “I’m the surrogate.”Ruby’s head whipped toward me, her eyes wide in shock, but I ignored her. My focus was on Dorian Anderson, who stood before me like a living statue, his icy blue gaze piercing right through me.I extended my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Anderson and I am Miss Channing. I look forward to working with you.”He didn’t move.Instead, his gaze dropped to my outstretched hand, lingering there for a moment before sliding back up to my face. His expression didn’t change. If anything, he looked like I’d just offered him something offensive.The humiliation stung, but I quickly dropped my hand, hoping to salvage what little dignity I had left. “Right,” I muttered. “Guess we’re not doing that.”Finally, he glanced over at the man beside him—his assistant, I assumed.“Derek,” D

Candice’s POVJoshua’s laugh sent a surge of anger coursing through my veins. It wasn’t just the sound—it was the blatant mockery, the complete lack of remorse. Without thinking, I grabbed the divorce contract and threw it at him.The papers fluttered in the air before landing against his chest. “There!” I spat, my voice trembling with fury. “I’ve already signed it. All you need to do is sign, and we’re done. You can live happily ever after with your bastard child and your lying mistress!”For the first time, his smug expression faltered. He caught the papers midair, his brows knitting together in mild surprise. “You’re serious?” he asked, as if the concept was unfathomable to him.“Dead serious,” I replied, crossing my arms. “Once you sign, you’ll never have to see me again. That should make you happy, right?”His lips curled into a sneer, and the flicker of hesitation in his eyes vanished. “Fine,” he said, his voice icy. “But don’t think for a second you’re getting anything out of t

Candice’s POV“I… I know I don’t match the physical requirements stated in the contract,” I said, my voice low and slightly shaky. “I know this isn’t how it was supposed to happen.”He didn’t say anything. He just stared at me, as if reading every twitch of my expression. “The truth is… the original surrogate, the one that was chosen for you, had a sudden complication. Something with her health. The doctors said it would be risky for her to continue,” I continued, twisting my fingers nervously on my lap.“I didn’t mean to deceive you,” I added quickly. A beat of silence stretched out like an eternity between us. I couldn’t even tell if he was breathing.Then, finally, his voice came, “So you lied.”“You weren’t authorized. You broke the terms of the contract before even signing it,” he said coldly, his tone unreadable. “But what’s done is done.”My heart skipped.“You will abide by every single term of the contract,” he continued, eyes locked with mine. “Every condition. No deviati

Candice’s POVI sat there, spine stiff and hands clenched in my lap, waiting for the verdict. After a moment of lingering silence, Dorian shifted slightly in his chair.When he finally spoke, his tone was calm—almost too calm. “I assume you’ve finished reading the contract.”I blinked. The words sounded simple, but the way he said them made my stomach twist.My lips parted, but no sound came out right away. I remembered last night—how I’d stared at that monstrous hundred-page document, flipping through clause after clause. I had tried. I really did. But somewhere around clause forty-something, my eyes had blurred, exhaustion had hit, and I’d left it halfway through, the contract sprawled across my bed.Still, I couldn’t bring myself to admit that.“I—yes,” I said quickly, maybe a little too quickly. “I read it.”Dorian raised an eyebrow. “All of it?”I swallowed hard, heart fluttering like a trapped bird. “Yes. I understand my responsibilities.”He leaned forward slightly, his eyes na