All Chapters of THE CEO’S SURROGATE(WOMB CONTRACT): Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

(Elena’s POV)Sleep refused to come easily.I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling, replaying the last ten minutes over and over again. His hand on my cheek. The way he’d looked at me.The way he’d apologized the moment I’d stopped him.I smiled into the darkness.Then immediately buried my face in my pillow.“Oh, God…”What was I doing?More importantly…What were we doing?A week ago, we were talking about contracts, obligations, and appearances.Now we were awkwardly standing outside my bedroom, almost kissing like two teenagers who had no idea what to do with their feelings.I turned onto my side.Then onto the other.Then back again.Hopeless.Absolutely hopeless.A knock came at my door.Three soft taps.I frowned.Who knocks at—Before I could finish the thought, the door opened just enough for Maria to peek inside.“Miss Elena?”I blinked at her.“Good morning?”She smiled knowingly.“It will be in about fifteen minutes.”I looked toward the clock.Five forty-eight.I groane

(Elena’s POV — Part 1)I had never imagined a house could become this chaotic.When I stepped into the hallway that morning, two men were carrying a grand piano toward the ballroom while three women argued over flower arrangements.“No, the white roses go by the staircase!”“They’ll clash with the orchids!”“The orchids aren’t staying there!”I stopped halfway down the stairs, blinking.Was this my home?Or had I accidentally wandered into the middle of a royal wedding?“Good morning, Miss Elena.”Maria appeared beside me carrying a tray of freshly baked pastries.She followed my gaze and smiled knowingly.“They’ve been at it since six.”“It’s not even eight.”“They insisted there wasn’t a moment to waste.”I laughed softly.“I can see that.”Everywhere I looked, someone was doing something.Electricians adjusted chandeliers.Florists filled towering crystal vases with white peonies and roses.A string quartet rehearsed in one corner of the ballroom, stopping every few minutes when th

### (Elena's POV — Part 1)The first thing I heard that morning wasn't my alarm.It was knocking.Lots of knocking. I cursed who ever was on the other side of the door."Miss Elena!"Another knock."Miss Elena, please wake up!"I groaned, burying my face deeper into the pillow.Five more minutes.Just five.Another knock came, louder this time.I reluctantly opened one eye and squinted at the clock on my bedside table.Seven-thirty.Too early.Far too early."Come in," I called sleepily.The door swung open, revealing Maria and two women I had never seen before.Both carried garment bags almost as tall as they were.Behind them came another woman pushing a trolley filled with makeup cases. Then a fourth with boxes of shoes.I blinked."...Am I being kidnapped?"Maria laughed and the other two women with her just smiled."No, dear." She stepped aside dramatically."It's your engagement day."The words hit me like a bucket of cold water. I sat up on my bed slowly raked my hand through m

# (Alaric’s pov)There was a strange kind of silence that settled over a room before something unforgettable happened.I had heard it before—Before billion-dollar acquisitions.Before board votes that would determine the future of Carrington Empire.Before the judge announced the winner of the inheritance battle that had placed this company in my hands.Tonight...It was different.The silence wasn't built on fear.It was built on anticipation.More than three hundred guests stood in the ballroom, their conversations fading into whispers as the orchestra softened its melody. Crystal chandeliers bathed the room in a warm golden glow, reflecting off polished marble floors and towering arrangements of white roses. Every camera was pointed toward the grand staircase.Grandfather stepped away from the center of the room with a satisfied smile.The spotlight shifted.Everyone looked up.Including me.For a heartbeat...Nothing happened.Then I saw the edge of white fabric.The ballroom disappeared.I

### (Alaric's POV)The applause lingered long after Elena slipped the ring onto my finger.For a brief second, the world around us disappeared: the camera, the reporters, the investors, the politician- none of them mattered at the moment. All I could see was the woman standing in front of me.She lowered her hand slowly, her engagement ring catching the light from the crystal chandeliers above us. It sparkled brilliantly, but it still wasn't as beautiful as the smile she wore.A smile that had become increasingly rare these past few weeks. One that made every sleepless night worth it."Congratulations!" Everyone said, raising their glasses to toast.The room erupted into another wave of applause as guests rose to their feet. Champagne glasses were lifted into the air.The orchestra began playing once again, filling the ballroom with soft music as congratulations echoed from every corner.Elena leaned closer."I think they're staring." She muttered."I think that's unavoidable," I repl