Semua Bab The Accidental Surrogate's Secret: Bab 21 - Bab 30

Candice POVJust as Dorian and I were preparing to leave that emotional battlefield masquerading as a family dinner, a sudden roar of thunder cracked through the sky like a warning. Within minutes, the heavens opened, and rain came crashing down in torrents.I stood by the door, watching the rain like it was laughing at me. Perfect timing.Grandfather glanced out the window, then back at us with a calm, authoritative tone. “It’s not safe to drive in this storm. The roads here get flooded quickly. You both should stay the night. We’ll have rooms prepared.”I didn’t miss the small, satisfied glance Grace shot in our direction as she sipped her wine, and Alora’s smug little smile that she quickly tried to hide behind a napkin.Part of me wanted to protest, to say we’d risk it, storm or not—but I wasn’t about to get into an accident just to escape the discomfort. So I swallowed my pride and nodded silently.Later that night, I found myself in one of the mansion’s ornate guest bedrooms. T

Dorian POVAlora sitting across from me, pouring whiskey into two crystal glasses like she still belonged here.She handed me a glass, her fingers brushing mine longer than necessary. I didn’t flinch, but I didn’t meet her eyes either.“To old times,” she murmured softly.I didn’t respond. I just stared at the amber liquid before taking a long sip. The burn of it down my throat. “I was misled,” she said suddenly, breaking the silence. Her voice was quiet. “Back then… I didn’t leave because I stopped loving you, Dorian. I left because people told me things—things that made me afraid. They twisted your image into something dark and dangerous. But I see now… they were wrong.”I didn’t even look at her. I just swirled the drink in my hand, watching the light catch in it like it held a truth I wasn’t ready to say out loud.“I never stopped thinking about you,” she went on, her voice softening even more, sliding into that familiar, seductive tone I’d once been too young to resist. “And wh

Candice POVEverything felt like it was spinning.Grace stood there, glaring at me like I’d committed a crime. Alora was still sprawled dramatically on the floor like the damsel in every tragedy, and the echoes of her fake sobs hadn’t even faded yet when Dorian’s footsteps drew closer.He looked… concerned.Not furious. Not cold. But tense, like something had happened—something he needed to fix.“Is anyone hurt?” Dorian asked, his voice low and urgent, his eyes scanning the scene.Alora didn’t miss a beat.She gasped softly, like she’d rehearsed it a hundred times in front of a mirror. “I… I think I twisted my ankle when Candice pushed me,” she whispered, reaching out a delicate hand toward him. “I can’t really stand up. It’s hurting so bad.”Her voice cracked with just the right amount of sadness, and she even blinked rapidly to force out a few tears. If I hadn’t been standing right there, I might’ve believed her too.But I wasn’t a fool. I saw her smirk when she fell. I saw her eyes

Candice POVThat afternoon, after sitting alone in my room for what felt like hours, I picked up my phone and dialed Ruby’s number. I don’t know why I hesitated. Maybe it was because I hadn’t fully sorted through my own emotions yet. But deep down, I just needed to hear a familiar voice—someone who knew me before everything got this complicated.She picked up on the second ring. “Candice?”“Hey,” I said, forcing a smile even though she couldn’t see it. “Do you want to go shopping with me later this week?”There was a pause. “Shopping?” Ruby’s voice held a note of surprise. “You sure you’re okay?”I let out a small laugh, more tired than amused. “Not really. But I think I just need to get out for a bit. Clear my head.”She didn’t press further, just agreed to meet, and soon we were chatting like old times—or trying to, at least. The truth was, I couldn’t keep it in anymore. The weight of everything was starting to crush me.So I told her.I told her everything—from how I was taken to D

Candice ~~“We shouldn’t do this,” he said quietly, almost to himself.I stood there, stunned, lips still tingling from his kiss, heart still beating faster than it should. I blinked, trying to make sense of the shift. Just moments ago, it felt like something real had happened between us. Something raw and electric. But now he was… pulling away?He took a deep breath, adjusting the collar of his shirt and running a hand through his hair like he was trying to reset himself. Then, without looking at me, he walked out of the VIP room.For a few seconds, I just stood there, frozen.There was a fluttering feeling in my chest—something between embarrassment and disappointment. I didn’t know what I was expecting him to say, but I guess… not that.Slowly, I straightened my own clothes, avoiding my reflection in the mirror. I wasn’t sure I was ready to look myself in the eye just yet. My face still felt hot, and my mind kept replaying the moment over and over again—the way his lips had felt, t