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Home / Romance / Surrogate Scam Backfires: I Married the Infertile Tycoon / Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

All Chapters of Surrogate Scam Backfires: I Married the Infertile Tycoon: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

30 Chapters

Chapter 1

"Hi, I'm here to get the certified copy of my marriage certificate replaced."At the county clerk's office, Leanne Knight handed over her ID and documents.The clerk took them without looking up, her fingers tapping on the keyboard as she read aloud, "Name, Leanne Knight…"The glow of the monitor reflected off her lenses, cold and flat. A few seconds later, the tapping stopped. The clerk finally looked up at Leanna for the first time, her eyes holding a strange, probing expression. "Miss, where did you get this?"Leanne's heart lurched, but she kept her expression calm. "Here. I got it here.""That can't be." The clerk pushed the damp paper back toward her, her tone firm and final. "There's no record of your marriage registration in our system at all."She pointed at the computer screen, as if she were showing off a joke. "See for yourself if you don't believe me. Leanne Knight, single."Sunlight poured in through the window, but Leanne's vision went dark around the edges. It wa

Chapter 2

The county clerk's office was packed with people. The air felt thick with almost cloying joy as couples huddled close together, smiles spilling off their faces.Aiden Jewell and Leanne sat among them like two isolated islands. They didn't speak to each other, nor did they share any eye contact.The clerk, a young woman, was used to lovey-dovey scenes. It was her first time dealing with a pair this icy. She passed over the forms and a pen, her smile turning a bit stiff. "Please sign here."Leanne picked up the pen without hesitation. Her signature cut across the page in sharp, decisive strokes, like she'd burned every bridge behind her. When she finished, she pushed the pen toward the man beside her.Aiden had been leaning lazily against the back of his chair the whole time, his posture relaxed yet somehow radiating pressure. He took the pen; his fingers were long and clean to the point of being unreal. He didn't rush. Every stroke was steady and controlled.Aiden Jewell. The name

Chapter 3

Night had fallen thick and heavy, like ink that refused to fade. A white Maserati glided silently into Celestia Bay Villas and stopped in front of a brightly lit villa.Leanne turned off the engine but didn't get out right away.She leaned back in her seat, quietly staring at that warm pool of light. That was her and Parker's marital home. Every bit of decor and every piece of furniture had once held all her hopes for the future. Now, that light felt like a poisoned needle, stabbing her eyes until they burned.On her phone screen, the live feed from the hidden camera disguised as an essential oil diffuser was still frozen on the image from ten minutes ago.In the living room, Parker was handing a glass of red wine to Charlotte, who sat on the couch. The tenderness and affection in his eyes were something Leanne had never seen directed at her. Charlotte smiled daintily, her body soft and pliant as she leaned into his arms.They sat on Leanne's custom-made leather couch, specially o

Chapter 4

The air seemed to freeze.For a split second, the muscles in Parker's face went rigid, but he'd already recovered his usual easygoing expression in the next second. His tone even carried a hint of doting reproach."What are you thinking? Our families have been close since we were kids. Charlotte is basically my sister. You know how I've been run ragged with that project at the company, right? I've barely had time to go home. My parents are getting on in years, and I worry about them."Charlotte is good at paying attention to the small things, so she often goes over to check on them for me. She keeps them company."He sighed, looking appropriately frustrated and remorseful. "Honestly, it's my fault for being such an irresponsible son."His explanation was airtight. He praised Charlotte while painting himself as a hardworking, career-focused man who still cared deeply for his parents.Leanne lowered her eyes, her long lashes casting a shadow beneath her eyes, hiding her expression.

Chapter 5

The sound of running water inside the bathroom cut off. Silence, so heavy that even the air felt frozen, spread.A few seconds later, Parker's voice finally came through the door, pitched a shade higher than usual and pulled tight with strain. "Leanne? Why are you up here? I'm washing up. Can you use the bathroom downstairs? I'll be done soon."His voice was muffled by the thick door, but his forced calm and brittle attempt at sounding normal came through crystal clear to Leanne.She leaned lazily against the doorframe like a cat, looking like she had all the time in the world as she tapped a finger lightly against the cold metal doorknob.Tap. Tap.Each soft click landed on the hearts of the two people inside the room like a hammer."Downstairs?" Leanne's tone lifted, carrying a hint of spoiled sweetness and easy entitlement. "No, it's such a hassle, going back and forth. Let's shower together—it'll be faster. I'll even scrub your back, Parker."She dragged out the last syllabl

Chapter 6

The undercurrent of tension accompanied the entire meal.Leanne kept a flawless smile throughout the whole thing. Her posture was elegant as she handled Connie's overly enthusiastic attempts to pile food onto her plate, and her responses to Stephen's probing questions about the business market were perfectly measured.She was every bit the ideal daughter-in-law. With her poise and grace, she made the Jewell family look good.During the latter half of the meal, Parker's phone buzzed. He glanced down at the screen, and the corner of his lips subconsciously curved into the faintest smile before he schooled his features back to normal.He stood up and gave the table an apologetic look. "Sorry, but something urgent came up at the office. I need to hop on a quick video call in the study."Leanne lifted her gaze, letting it skim lightly over his face, her tone carrying just the right hint of concern. "Go ahead. Work comes first."He gave her a gentle look, then turned and left in a hurr

Chapter 7

Leanne's voice was clear and crisp, carrying a hint of pleasant surprise at finally finding someone, as if the amorous scene from just now had never happened.She walked forward, her gaze landing on Charlotte as if she'd only just noticed her. She asked with mild curiosity, "Charlotte, you're here, too? What were you two talking about so intently? We walked right up, and you didn't even notice us."The words sounded gentle enough, but they slid in like a knife wrapped in velvet, landing exactly where it hurt most.Parker broke out in a cold sweat. He stammered and stuttered, but he couldn't get a single word out.Connie stepped up, grinding her teeth. "Charlotte, didn't you say you weren't feeling well and already went home?"Charlotte instantly understood. A faintly embarrassed smile appeared on her face. "I was going to go home, but I accidentally got lost and walked into a spiderweb. Luckily, I ran into Parker…"She trailed off, but it was just enough to explain away why she'd

Chapter 8

The bathroom door closed softly, shutting out the damp, misty heat and the suffocating pressure that seemed to cling to Aiden himself.Leanne was still standing where he'd left her, barefoot, the chill of the marble floor seeping steadily up through her soles. The spot on her wrist where he'd gripped her still felt faintly scorched, a lingering burn that stood in stark contrast to the cold under her feet.She lowered her head and looked at the faint red ring on her wrist, her thoughts a little scattered. Then, she looked up at him again.Aiden gave her a long, searching look, something complicated flickering in his eyes that she couldn't quite read. Then, he let go, took a decisive step back, and walked away.Leanne's lips twitched. She walked over to the mirror and stared at the mess reflected back at her. Her cheeks were still flushed an unnatural shade of red, but her gaze had already cleared.She knew Aiden had a physical reaction to her earlier, but he'd also made it very cle

Chapter 9

"I just… feel like I'm such an idiot." Leanne set down her glass, her fingertips tracing the cold rim. "After all those years together, I never noticed a thing. Every single day Parker spent with me, every word he said, might've been an act. And I, like a complete fool, was happily planning a wedding that was never going to happen."She let out a short laugh and shook her head. "Don't you think it's ridiculous? I've never considered myself stupid, yet I crashed and burned this hard over one man. So no, it's not that I'm hung up on him. I'm disgusted. I'm absolutely nauseated by him, and I'm sickened by the blind idiot I used to be."She was saying this for Aiden's benefit, but also for herself. She needed somewhere to pour it all out, to dump every ounce of humiliation and resentment that had been forced down in her chest these past few days.And Aiden was, without question, the perfect audience. He wouldn't pity her or comfort her. He would just sit there, detached, watching from t

Chapter 10

The early morning sun streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, scattering dappled light across the expensive carpet.When Leanne woke up, the covers beside her still held another person's lingering warmth, the spot on the bed where his body had been still dipped.In the air, there was a trace of a light, crisp cedar scent. It wasn't the generic hotel kind of fragrance, but something that clearly belonged to one particular person.Him. Aiden.For a split second, Leanne's body went rigid. Then, just as quickly, she relaxed.She turned her head and reached out, gently brushing her fingertips over the dent in the mattress. It was empty. He was gone. Unexpected, yet completely reasonable. Last night, he had come back to the master bedroom. They were legally married, so sharing a bed was the most natural thing in the world.Leanne's mind was perfectly clear. This was a transaction. She was using her status as the Knight family's only daughter to shield him from family pressure to

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