All Chapters of The Billionaire’s Surrogate : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

ALEXANDER’S POVI’m halfway through a glass of wine when I hear the front door open.It’s the sound of familiar footsteps. I turn, the glass still in my hand.“Look who decided to show up,” I say, smiling.“Alexander bloody Willoughby,” Stephen grins, spreading his arms. He’s tanned now, lines around his eyes deeper than the last time I saw him, but he’s still the same old Stephen. “Man, you look like hell.”“Thanks,” I say dryly. “You too.”He laughs and pulls me into a quick hug, with his eyes the counter. “You’re drinking this early?”“Don’t judge me,” I mutter, pouring him a glass anyway. “Long day.”He takes it without protest, sniffing it like a critic before sipping. “Hmm. Still the good stuff. At least your taste hasn’t gone to hell.”I lean against the kitchen island. “How was the trip?”“Productive.” He drops his duffel bag to the floor and starts recounting how the deal in Madrid finally came through, how the new branch will need restructuring, how one of the partners nearl

EMMA’S POVBernard’s head is warm against my arm, and his tiny breath comes out in slow, sleepy puffs. The TV screen gleams with colors— bright blues and golds dancing across the room as the familiar animation plays again. Our animation. The one they made me watch over and over when I was still their nanny.“Remember this part?” Bernice giggles, her eyes glassy with sleep. “When the bunny falls in the hole?”I smile. “How could I forget? You made me watch it seventeen times.”“It’s eighteen,” Bernard mumbles, correcting me with a grin that barely opens his eyes. “Eighteen times.”I laugh quietly. “Eighteen, then.”For four-year olds, they were brilliant. Thanks to me and whoever’s the tutor at Alex’s grandparents’ house.They lean closer, Bernard’s head on my shoulder, and Bernice’s small hand tangled in mine. My heart squeezes. Everything feels too soft, too safe— like a memory I don’t want to wake up from.“I don’t wanna go back,” Bernice whispers suddenly. “Grandma’s house is borin

ALEXANDER’S POVI slowly walk past the kids’ room.I can hear them giggling before I get to the door.When I lean a little closer, Emma’s soft voice comes through. “That one’s a castle?” she asks, pointing at one of Bernard’s drawings.“It’s not just a castle,” Bernard says proudly. “It’s our house. And that’s Daddy.”Emma laughs. “Oh really? He’s taller than the castle.”“Because Daddy’s strong,” Bernice says, eyes wide and serious. “He fights dragons.”I can’t help the smile that pulls at my lips.Emma’s sitting cross-legged on the floor beside them, her hair tied loosely at the back, a few strands brushing her cheek as she bends to look at their drawings. The twins are talking over each other, and she’s keeping up with both, asking questions and laughing at every tiny detail.For a moment, it’s just beautiful.Too beautiful, maybe. A picture I didn’t know I needed to see.When she glances up and catches me watching, she gives a small, soft smile.I wink at her, pretending not to no

EMMA’S POVThe house smells faintly of vanilla and fresh laundry, sunlight slipping through the long curtains in soft and uneven stripes. The maid didn’t hold back in thoroughly cleaning.Alex’s voice comes through the phone, low and rough. I’m sure he hasn’t slept in days. “They’re stabilizing him for now,” he says. “Grandpa’s conscious but weak. The doctors say it’s mostly exhaustion.”I press the phone to my ear, glancing toward the living room where the children sit cross-legged on the carpet, heads bent over their puzzles. “And you? Have you eaten?”He lets out a tired laugh. “That’s a dangerous question, Emma.”I smile softly, even though he can’t see it. “That’s not an answer.”“I will. I promise.” There’s a pause, a long one. I can hear distant hospital sounds, the squeak of shoes on linoleum, a machine beeping. “How are the kids?”“Good,” I say, watching Bernice hand a puzzle piece to Bernard. “They’ve been calmer since the call this morning. I told them Grandpa will be fine.

ALEXANDER’S POV“Alexander, is this true?”The word true hangs in the air like smoke, bitter and heavy.I can’t breathe for a second. The room has gone still—so still that even the ticking clock on the wall sounds too loud. Emma’s head is bent, her hands folded in her lap. Sophia leans back in her chair, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips.“Grandmother—” I start, but she cuts me off.“What?” Her voice trembles, part outrage, part disbelief. “Don’t you dare try to sugarcoat this for me, Alexander. Tell me the truth. Was she—” She gestures at Emma, her pearls catching the light. “—the surrogate?”My throat feels dry. “Yes,” I say finally, low and steady. “She was. Besides, you never showed me her face and when I tried to find out, there was a disagreement.”Grandmother stares at me like she doesn’t recognize me anymore. Her fork clatters against the plate. “You hid this from me? From everyone? After knowing it was she?”“I did what I had to,” I say. “No one told me to stay away