All Chapters of Her Sister’s Surrogate: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

Grace’s POVTwo days after the funeral, I found myself wandering through the now silent house. Everyone had finally gone home. The mourners offering sympathy, my mother with her brittle grief, Hunter’s parents with their genuine sorrow. The person they felt sorry for was Hunter. Because no one had known the real Helena… Not even me.Maya had left reluctantly, only after I’d insisted I needed time alone.Hunter had disappeared into his study hours ago. The door firmly closed. He hadn’t emerged since. I wonder if he was drinking again. They hadn’t worked since Helena’s death, but Hunter had meetings with his second in charge every day to keep up to date on events. They both just hadn’t gone into the office.My feet carried me upstairs without really knowing why. I paused outside Hunter and Helena’s bedroom door. I hadn’t been in there since before the accident. I felt like I was trespassing now. But something pulled me forward, my hand turning the knob before I could talk myself out of i

Grace’s POVThe words hung there. Grace wasn’t sure if he expected a reply. Because the way he’d worded it made it feel more like a demand than a question.“Married?” I stared at Hunter. “You can’t be serious.”His expression didn’t change. “I am.”He reached out as if to touch me, but I stood slowly, putting distance between us, needing to think. To breathe. If he touched me, I was unable to think clearly. “Your wife… my sister just died. We just buried her. And you’re proposing?”Hunter’s jaw tightened. “This isn’t about romance, Grace. It’s about practicality. About what’s best for the baby.”“Practicality,” I echoed, the word hollow. “You’re talking about marriage like it’s a business merger.”“In many ways, it is.” Hunter stood as well, his eyes never leaving mine. “You’re carrying my child. This gives us a way forward where neither of us has to give the baby up.”I shook my head, wrapping my arms around myself. “This is insane. You don’t just marry someone because they’re pregna

Hunter's POVThe kiss wasn't gentle or tentative. Grace grabbed my t-shirt, yanking me closer, her mouth hot and desperate against mine. Every nerve in my body lit up like fire.I gripped her waist, fingers digging into the soft flesh through the thin cotton of her tank top. She gasped against my lips, and I swallowed the sound, deepening the kiss until we were both breathless."Grace—" I broke away just enough to speak; my forehead pressed to hers. "We need to—""I don't want to overthink this." Her fingers twisted in my hair, tugging hard enough to sting. "Don't let me think. Just—"She kissed me again, and thinking became impossible.My hands slid under her tank top, finding warm skin. She arched into my touch, a whimper escaping her throat that went straight to my cock. I walked her backward until her knees hit the bed."Tell me to stop," I rasped against her neck, teeth grazing the pulse point. "Tell me this is wrong," giving her one last chance to stop me because I don't think I

Hunter's POVShe settled back against the pillows, legs falling open for me, and something in my chest cracked wide. I positioned myself between her thighs, lowering my body over hers slowly, giving her time. When I kissed her this time, I took my time with it, deep, slow, like I was trying to memorize the taste of her mouth, the way she softened beneath me."I'm going to make this good for you," I said against her lips, meaning every word. My voice came out rougher than I intended. "But you need to tell me if anything hurts. Promise me."She nodded, and her arms came up around my neck, fingers threading through my hair. The trust in that simple gesture nearly undid me right there.I reached between us, gripping myself, guiding the head of my cock back to her entrance. This time I moved with excruciating slowness, watching her face for every flicker of expression, every sign of discomfort or pain. I needed to see it all, needed to know exactly what she was feeling so I could adjust, c

"She was also your sister." I moved closer and reached for her hand. "And she used you. They both did.""I know." Her voice cracked. "I wanted to help you and her. I loved my sister...or at least I loved the person I thought she was. I wanted to matter to my family."The confession really got to me. I totally get it. Helena's lies were all coming out now."You matter," I said firmly. "You've always mattered.""To who?" She pulled her hand away. "My mother? Who sees me as a means to an end? Helena, who only called when she needed something? My father is and was never around. You?"The question hung in the air between us, sharp and cutting."To me," I said quietly. "You matter to me, Grace."She laughed, the sound wet and broken. "Because I'm pregnant with your child. Because I'm convenient.""No." I cupped her face and made her look at me. "Because you're you. You've been a real support system for me lately. Because—" I stopped, the words catching in my throat."Because what?"I couldn