Semua Bab Surrogate for My Cold-Hearted Ex: Bab 21 - Bab 30

Maya’s pulse roared in her ears as she clutched the newspaper, the fake photo staring up at her like some sick joke.It wasn’t her. She knew that. But knowing and proving were two different things.“Adrian,” she whispered, her throat raw. “You don’t actually believe this, do you?”He didn’t answer immediately. His jaw flexed, his hands fisting at his sides. For a man who prided himself on control, the crack of uncertainty in his eyes frightened her more than the entire mob of reporters outside.“It’s everywhere,” he finally said, his voice clipped. “Every outlet, every screen. They claim it was last week. That you—” His jaw locked tighter. “That you met someone while carrying my children.”Her stomach lurched. “That’s insane! I haven’t left this house except for doctor’s appointments. You know that.”His silence stretched like barbed wire between them.Maya’s chest heaved. “You know that,” she repeated, louder this time, almost pleading.Adrian dragged his hand through his hair, pacing

Eleanor’s presence was suffocating.She leaned casually against the doorframe of the library, her silk blouse immaculate, her hair swept into a chignon so severe it looked like it could cut glass. The faint smile on her lips was the kind that said she already knew more than you ever wanted her to.“Don’t let me interrupt,” she said smoothly, her eyes darting to the folder on the table. “Though I must admit, late-night whisperings between my son’s… houseguest and his head of security are intriguing. Almost scandalous.”Maya’s spine stiffened, but she forced her voice to stay calm. “We were talking about logistics. Nothing more.”Eleanor’s eyes lingered on her, sharp as knives, before she gave a delicate laugh. “Of course you were, dear. You always were such a convincing actress.”The insinuation stung, but Maya refused to flinch. Instead, she squared her shoulders, keeping her hands gently folded over her belly.“Adrian asked Marcus to ensure my safety,” Maya said. “That’s all this is.

Maya felt like the ground had opened beneath her feet.She clutched the edge of the doorframe so hard her knuckles went white, staring at Marcus as though he’d spoken in another language.“You’re lying,” she whispered. “You have to be lying.”His gaze didn’t flinch. “Maya, I wish to God I was. But I’ve traced every step, every transaction. The surrogacy contract wasn’t random. It was designed—every clause, every condition—to trap you and Adrian back in each other’s orbit.”Her chest tightened painfully. “But why? Who would—”“You already know who,” Marcus interrupted gently.The image of Eleanor at breakfast, calm and smug, flickered through Maya’s mind. But this was bigger than Eleanor, wasn’t it? This wasn’t just disapproval or cruelty. This was manipulation on a scale that made Maya’s stomach churn.Tears pricked her eyes. “They didn’t just want to ruin me… they wanted to control everything. Even this child.”Marcus nodded grimly. “Exactly.”Maya staggered back, sinking onto the ed

The room froze.Eleanor’s heels clicked against the marble as she stepped fully into the study, her posture regal, her chin tilted as though she were surveying a battlefield she already knew she’d won.“I should’ve known,” Marcus muttered under his breath, his fists curling at his sides.Adrian’s face hardened. “Mother, this isn’t your place.”Eleanor’s eyes flicked to him, cool and sharp, before landing on Maya. “On the contrary, dear. This has always been my place.”Maya clutched the scattered papers to her chest, her pulse hammering. She wanted to scream, to demand answers, but Eleanor’s presence sucked the air out of the room.“What do you mean?” Maya whispered, her voice cracking.Eleanor’s lips curved into a faint, humorless smile. “You poor thing. You really believed all of this was just Adrian’s doing? That my son, brilliant as he is, could orchestrate something of this scale without… guidance?”Maya’s stomach twisted. She looked at Adrian, searching his face, but his jaw was

Maya’s scream tore from her throat before she could stop it. It was raw, primal, the kind of sound that rattled the walls and left her chest heaving.Adrian jolted toward her instantly. “Maya—”“Don’t!” she snapped, clutching the photograph in shaking hands. Her whole body trembled as she stared at the timestamp, the sterile hospital waiting room, her own broken silhouette frozen forever in grainy black-and-white.Her stomach churned. Her throat felt like sandpaper. “How… how did she—how did you—”Adrian’s gaze dropped to the picture. His face drained of color. He looked as if someone had punched the breath out of him.“Maya…” His voice cracked. “What is this?”She barked out a bitter laugh that dissolved into tears. “Don’t you dare play dumb. You can read the date. You can see the place. You know exactly what this is.”His brow furrowed, his voice hoarse. “No, I don’t. I don’t—please, tell me.”Her chest caved in, and the words slipped out before she could stop them. “It was our baby