บททั้งหมดของ The Cruel Millionaire's Surrogate: บทที่ 61 - บทที่ 70

**Jonathan**I heard feet pattering and was tackled from behind. “Hi, Mr. Jonathan!” Kiyah greeted me excitedly, looking up at me.“Hi, Kiyah. It’s good to see you. I’m glad you could make it,” I said, easing her away from the barbecue grill.“Uncle Ant gave me this!” she exclaimed, shoving her popsicle towards me.“Uncle Ant, huh? Is that what he told you to call him?” She nodded and broke the popsicle into several pieces before slipping a bit into her mouth.“No fair. I want a popsicle,” Grant fussed as he joined us on the deck.“Me too,” Casey huffed.“Popsicle,” Daisy demanded, following closely behind Casey. She followed him like a shadow. It wasn’t surprising since Grant gave off “touch me and die” vibes like his Uncle Ant.“Okay, you guys can get a popsicle, but you need to meet Kierra and Kiyah first.”“Are they really going to live with us?” Grant asked, eyeing Kiyah cautiously. I knew that look very well. It was the same disapproving side-eye Eliza would give.“Yes, if every

**Kierra**“Why do you want this job?”Is he serious? The money and free housing are enough for me to consider.“While the benefits package is impressive, working for you will allow me to remain a stay-at-home mother. I want to be present for Kiyah as much as possible while we continue to…transition. She seems like she has it all together, but sometimes her grief hits her like a Mack truck, and I want to be there to comfort her. I can’t do that working twelve-hour shifts.”I bit back a smile when he drew a smiley face on the page.“Thank you for your response. Next question: Have you ever worked in childcare before?”“I babysat for newborns to pre-teens throughout high school, but I feel that I gained the most experience after becoming a mother myself.”He nodded.“Do you have CPR and baby first aid training?”“I am CPR-certified. We had an incident once with Kiyah and a French fry. It scared me to death and had me rushing to sign up for CPR classes.”Jonathan sighed. “I had my own ch

**Jonathan**Kierra took off at breakneck speed to rescue Kiyah. I took a gulp from my wine and trailed her at a slower pace. My phone vibrated in my back pocket. I was surprised to see a text from Eliza asking if she could pick up the kids.Jonathan: No.Eliza: No? Why are you keeping the kids from me?Jonathan: I’m not keeping the kids from you. It’s not your weekend. You can pick them up next weekend.Eliza: I know I missed some weekends, but you don’t have to be an asshole.There she goes with the name-calling. I won’t let her bait me.Jonathan: Some? How about most.Eliza: Life happens. Things come up.Jonathan: You’d have to be the unluckiest person alive to have life happen to you every other weekend.Eliza: You won’t keep me from seeing the kids.Jonathan: Have a good day, Eliza.“Daddy, why are they crying?” Casey asked once I arrived at Kiyah’s bedroom.“I think they’re happy,” I answered, watching Kierra console Kiyah, who kept burying her face in her mother’s shirt. I shoo

**Jonathan**“You’re too pretty to smoke,” I said, announcing my presence and sliding the door shut behind me.“There you go hitting on me again.”“That’s me being objective again.”“Of course you are,” Kierra chuckled, offering me a cigarette.“FYI, I’m not good with peer pressure,” I admitted, accepting the smoke.“Welcome to the dark side.”“Thanks. Where’s my welcome basket?” I asked, slipping the cigarette butt between my lips. I leaned in for the light.“I’m sorry, but I’m not as charitable as you.”I snorted. “Noted. I didn’t know you smoked.”“I don’t. Well, at least, not usually. I’ll have one every once in a while, when I’m thinking of him.”“Was Rory a smoker?”Kierra chuckled and ashed her cigarette. “He smoked like a chimney. If this job didn’t claim him, then the cigarettes would.”“You never know. Some people lived to be well in their nineties and smoked two packs a day.”“There are always exceptions to the rule.”“True. Any other vices I should be aware of?”“If I told

**Kierra**It was August, and the sun was relentless. I was grateful for the shade the trees provided, and considered jumping in the pool for a late-night swim after the kids were down. Simone and I decided to pick up sandwiches and salads from a nearby deli and picnic at the park. We barely managed to get the girls to sit long enough to eat before they sprinted to the playground. The girls got along okay, with Kiyah sometimes playing mediator between Nori and Daisy and begging for them to “just get along.”My eyes wandered from the girls when I heard moaning from beside me. “That coffee cake can’t be that damn good.”“Better than sex,” Simone hummed as she devoured the cake.“Poor Anthony,” I laughed. “I’m surprised he didn’t try to join us.”“He would’ve if he could. He’s in physical therapy. But enough about him, how have you been settling in?”“Surprisingly well, if I’m being honest. I thought there would be some transition issues, but Kiyah has been getting along with Jonathan’s