Semua Bab The Surrogate-in-law: The Billionaire CEO's Deception : Bab 11 - Bab 20

Knox, The moment the doctor announced that the pregnancy was successful, a rush of mixed emotions surged through my chest. Before I could even process my own actions—or the pain in my elbow and chest—I reached out to her. Violet, who once wore her heart on her sleeve, now showed no emotion at all. I was grateful. But every time she questioned our promises, guilt twisted inside me like a knife. Still, hearing that I was going to be a father, knowing that Sarah’s dream was finally coming true—I couldn’t stop myself from feeling happy. "Thank you, Vio. You have no idea how much this means to me. Sarah would be so grateful for this." Violet said nothing, only giving a small nod. We used to talk endlessly, like kids with no sense of boundaries. But now, every response from her was careful, calculated—like she was measuring each word before speaking. "Anyway, I hope you’ll be careful and not overwork yourself," Dr. Suzanne, who had known Violet since we were teenagers, warned her ge

With the pure intention of avoiding Knox, I returned home around 11 after having a late-night snack and enjoying the night view from the rooftop of the largest commercial building we owned. Not gonna lie, the rooftop was the only place where I could gather my emotions and thoughts without any interruptions. Since Knox usually went to bed around 9, I assumed he would already be asleep by the time I got home. As soon as I walked in, the first thing I did was take off my heels. My ankles were aching, and my soles were burning. While heading toward the stairs, I planned to soak my legs in water for a while. However, I paused midway when I heard something fall to the floor and shatter into pieces. I turned toward Knox's bedroom. The doctor had warned him not to move without a wheelchair since his ribs were still healing. Narrowing my eyes, I stood still, wondering if I had misheard. It was past 11—Knox should have been asleep by now. But to my absolute horror, I heard his groa

The first red flag I should have noticed about the meeting with the actor and his company was the location they requested—a VIP club. I didn't know what they had planned for this meeting, but as usual, I had a gut feeling that something interesting was about to unfold. The moment my car entered the VIP parking lot, the club grew silent. The coworkers and the manager's footsteps echoed in the hallway as they all stood in two lines. My two bodyguards opened the door. Mirah got out first and held my hand as I stepped out. Not to mention, I was wearing heels, and my foot had been bandaged. My attention shifted to the people—neat and clean—but their expressions changed to pure confusion when I walked toward the door. "What's going on? I heard the CEO of Riverwood is here. Where is he?" one of the waitresses asked. "This is Riverwood's logo. They are the ones. But... is the CEO of Riverwood a woman?" I wasn't surprised by their supposedly whispered words. I had never app

Knox, Certainly, I knew what I was doing. But why I was doing it—I had no idea. My heart clenched at the sight of Violet standing there, stunned, with blood dripping down her chin. She looked emotionless, hollow, and somehow... too distant. It was as if I were standing on the shore while she was on the edge of a cliff—any moment now, she would fall, but not toward me. She would plummet somewhere too far, somewhere beyond my reach. Too late to save. I knew she was tolerating this because of me. The Violet I knew never endured nonsense that disrupted her normal life. She was always composed, sharp, and unwilling to be dragged into anyone’s mess. But now, she was enduring it. For me. "Violet!" I called out as soon as Mrs. Smith rushed forward to calm Sarah down. I hadn’t expected Sarah to react this way. The marriage was just an arrangement between two families, nothing more. Our sole objective was to have children together, to produce an heir—that was the agreement. But… "Vi

Sarah Smith,"Ms. Sarah, we have appointed a psychologist to help you cope with the overwhelming emotions you're feeling right now. Trust me, she's an expert—absolutely perfect for the situation."Sam Riverwood, Violet’s brother, stood near the foot of my hospital bed, his voice calm, his smile professional. He scribbled something in his notebook as he spoke, as if I was just another patient, just another case in his daily life.I barely nodded, eyes fixed on the pale wall in front of me. The silence in the room was thick, but I wasn’t interested in breaking it."Any discomfort? Headache or nausea?" he asked, glancing at the IV drip connected to my arm."No. Thanks." I shifted my gaze to his face. "By the way, Doc," I said, my voice low but clear, "does your sister like my fiancé?"Sam paused, visibly taken aback. His pen stopped midair, and a faint frown formed between his brows. "If you mean romantically... I don’t think so," he replied after a beat, clearly confused by my directnes