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Chapter 51
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The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 52
Jacob POV After my meeting with Dr. Santos, it feels like there’s no more fight left in me. Someone’s used me as a punching bag, and I’m taking every blow to the groin. Instead of going to the hotel, I decided to take a walk around the university to clear my head. Dr. Santos insisted that she send someone to act as a tour guide, but I gratefully declined. Sitting under the shade of a Brazil nut tree, the finish line seems even further away. I came here with the intention of finding answers, but I’m left with even more questions and an overwhelming sense of dread. All around me, students are sitting having their lunch while enjoying the sunshine. With smiles on their faces, they have their whole lives ahead of them, and all I feel is envy. How can I go back and face Emily and Liam, knowing that she may only have a few years left? How do I tell the woman that I love that, yes, even our love is finite? My chest feels tight and I’m struggling to breathe. Is this what Emily feels when
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 53
Jacob POV You know that quote, “You can fool all the people some of the time and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time”? I think it was Abraham Lincon that said it. That’s exactly how I feel entering the apartment after my trip to Sao Paulo. I feel like a fraud, walking over to Emily and Liam and embracing them as if nothing is wrong. I don’t know when I became this person. Maybe it was that day in the doctor’s office, hearing about Emily’s diagnosis for the first time, or maybe it was when I stepped off the plane from Brazil. I breathe in her sweet smell and whisper into her hair, “I missed you so much.” She doesn’t realize the weight of my words and says it back to me. Liam is oblivious to my internal struggle, asking me what I brought him from my trip. “Ahhh, I got you this,” I say and pull out a plush toy from my backpack. “Awesome,” he says and grabs it out of my hand. “It’s so soft, Dad. What kind of animal is it?” “It’s a jagua
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 54
Jacob POV With last night’s love-making still imprinted on my body, I get up at the crack of dawn. Careful not to wake Emily, I get dressed in the dim light of the rising sun. I then make the long drive to the Hamptons. With the city still asleep, I have the road to myself and it doesn’t take me long to get out there. My father, the early riser that he is, meets me on the front porch. “Jacob? I wasn’t expecting you here,” he says and embraces me. I smile at him and say, “Well, actually—” “You’ve come to see Charlotte,” he says with a weary voice. “No, Dad, I’ve come to see you,” I say. He’s surprised and then smiles. “Oh, okay then. Come inside and I’ll get Martha to brew us a fresh pot of coffee.” I follow him inside. The house is quiet. I don’t know for the life of me why he doesn’t just sell it. It’s just him and Charlotte in this place, and it’s much too big for just the two of them. He disappears into the kitchen and then comes back with two steaming mugs of coffee. The
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 55
Nancy POV This isn’t the life I imagined for myself. When I was younger, my mom used to constantly remind me that I’d amount to nothing. When she happened upon my gift of using the power of persuasion to my advantage, she jumped on it. Being the silly girl I was, and desperate for her approval, I went along with her plans to trick willing victims out of their money. I didn’t know at the time that she was just using me—I was just another pawn on her chess board. After years of scamming and hustling people, I grew tired of her ways. Instead of splitting our profits equally, she’d skim a little off the top for me and take the rest for herself. Blinded by our supposed mother-daughter bond, I went along with it… Until Jessica happened. I must have been about eighteen years old. My mother and my father had just gone through a terrible divorce. He never cared much for me, so the split didn’t affect me in any way. Sometimes, I think his disdain towards me stemmed from the suspicion that I
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 56
Charlotte POV Since returning from my much-needed break in Arizona, I can’t say I’m happy to be home. Matthew has taken to wandering around the estate like a ghost, completely ignoring me. As for Jacob, after our confrontation, he’s been AWOL. One would think he’d at least have the courtesy to welcome me back home. But apparently I don’t even warrant a “hello.” I blame it on his generation—they’ve forgotten where they’ve come from, choosing to forge their own paths rather than stay closer to home. Surprisingly, Matthew joined me for breakfast this morning. “So lovely for you to join me this morning,” I say, ridicule dripping from my voice. He looks at me. “I take it you enjoyed your trip?” “Yes, it was lovely. But as they say, there’s no place like home,” I add. “Anything happen in my absence?” “Nothing you need to worry about,” he says and pours himself a cup of coffee. “And how are Jacob and Nancy’s wedding plans coming along?” I ask. He coughs up his coffee, most of it spl
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 57
Emily POV The incandescent lights of the drugstore throw a pale light over the shop shelves, making everything appear dirty and past their sell-by dates. It took me two weeks to make it here. Two weeks of incessant bouts of nausea and lightheadedness. At first, I thought it was the supposed tummy bug still working its way out of my system, but how could it take that long for my body to get rid of it? Another thing I can’t fathom is the involuntary muscle spasms I’ve been getting. They occur at the most unexpected times and I have no way of controlling them. The other day, while taking Liam to the park, I lost my balance and fell in the pathway. It’s like I’m overcome with a sense of inertia, and I lose the coordination to do basic things like walking or just sitting down. Flashbacks to the night before Jacob asked me to marry him are constant reminders that we didn’t use protection. We’re always so careful. On that one occasion, we just forgot. Standing in the feminine hygiene ai
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 58
Emily POV There are moments in your life that you remember crystal clear, like a movie playing in your head. You remember where you were, what you wore, and even the smell that was in the air. This is one of those moments. Standing with Nancy in full confrontation mode, I am ready to pounce like a tiger, willing to rip her to shreds. It may be the pregnancy hormones coursing through my veins or the fact that I’ve had enough of her drama. The only thing going through my head is to get her the fuck out of this place, even if it’s by force. “Nancy, I’m not going to ask you again to leave,” I say, walking to the door. “But don’t you want to know the rest of what I have to say?” she asks, an innocent look on her face. Shouting at her, I say, “No, I want you to get out. Now.” “Tut-tut, Emily. Come, let me show you,” she says and starts walking up the stairs towards Jacob’s bedroom. Following behind her, I’m losing my patience. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” She walks ove
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 59
Emily POV My body is rigid. All I feel is the coolness of the floor against my face. The apartment is silent, a sign that Jacob and Liam haven’t returned yet. I have no idea how long I’ve been passed out. When I look through Jacob’s bedroom window, the sun is setting in the sky. It takes me a while to move, my joints aching from being in this position for a while. Somehow I must have tripped, lost my balance and fallen on my head. I put my hand on the part of my scalp where it hurts and feel a bump. How did I get here? And then I remember my confrontation with Nancy. The black and white photo of Jacob and Jocasta when they were kids is still on the bed, a reminder that Nancy was right all along—I can’t compete with the memory of a ghost. I sit on Jacob’s bed with the photo in my hand, wondering if I close my eyes long enough, this will all go away. But when I open them again, there it is. The truth in black and white. I tell myself not to jump to conclusions; it’s just a photo.
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The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 99
Hope starts clapping at the sound of her name, getting Charlotte’s attention. “Oh my gosh, she’s beautiful,” she gasps. “What are you doing here, Mother?” asks my dad. His agitation is a sign that he’s done playing a welcoming party. “I’ve missed so much, haven’t I? And I only have myself to blame,” she says. Hope clamors to get out of Jocasta’s arms and she puts her down on the grass. Slowly, she lifts herself up and her chubby legs begin the unsteady walk to Charlotte. Charlotte breaks her fall with outstretched arms as she comes crashing down. “There’s a good girl,” she says. “You’re a feisty one, just like your mother.” “You haven’t answered Matthew’s question, why are you here?” asks my wife. Charlotte looks at her, “I suppose I’ve come to make a mence and ask for your forgiveness.” “Don’t you think you’re a few years too late?” asks Matthew. “You’re right, I am. But I wanted to say sorry for all the horrible things I’ve done to all of you,” she coughs. “I know my words of
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 98
Epilogue (One year later) Jacob POV Jocasta cuts up paper-thin slices of watermelon, Liam’s favorite. “Thanks, Mommy,” he says, grabs the bowl from her and dashes outside. The house is quiet and I take advantage of having her to myself for a few seconds. Switching on the old kitchen radio, a slow song plays across the static. She’s clearing up the watermelon peels on the kitchen counter, and I take her by the hand and give her a twirl. She has a daisy in her long hair - a gift from Hope who insisted on putting it in her mouth instead of giving it to her mama. “What are you doing?” she smiles. “I’m serenading my wife,” I say and hold her close while we slow dance with the song. She giggles, “We’re going to be late.” “They can wait,” I say and inhale her sweet scent; she smells like the ocean and baby powder. While the soft male voice is singing about giving a little love this time, I dip her low and kiss her on the mouth. A moan escapes her lips and she kisses me back. Little
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 97
Jacob is stunned. It’s the first time he’s heard this too. We don’t say anything for a few seconds and wait for the heartbreaking news to settle in. “We have Liam and Hope,” I say. “They’re more than we could wish for.” He takes Hope from my arms and cradles her, whispering into her ear, “Yes, much more than we could wish for.” Liam wants a piece of the action and attaches himself to his dad’s leg, “My turn.” We laugh and Jacob bends down and grabs Liam by the scruff of his T-shirt, “Okay Buddy, your turn.” With both of them in arms, Jacob is finding it hard to balance them, “Yep, I think two are enough.” That night I dream of my mother, the dream as vivid as an oil painting. All my past memories are coming back. It’s as if being given a second lease on life had somehow unlocked a part of my brain I had buried for years. I remember playing in the courtyard garden at Mellon Estate and going on holidays with my folks. And then there’s the memory of that photo - it’s the very first
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 96
Emily/Jocasta POV Imagine a door opening between life and death. Which one would you choose? The answer’s not that simple, is it? Death would finally bring me peace, stilling the chaotic world around me. Life is for the living as Liam once told me. But where would that leave me? My fate has been assigned - I am to die from a disease that will ravage my body. Soon, my limbs won’t obey my commands, and I’ll slowly start to lose my mind. That is no way to live. The incessant wail of a baby is calling me, beckoning me to make a decision. It’s the sound of my little girl telling me time is running out - choose now or forever hold my peace. I’ve made up my mind - I choose love. --- I’m laying on a cold, steel table. There’s a commotion all around me. Someone shouts, “We’re losing her!” and I feel something hard putting pressure on my chest. The shock of an electric current jolts my body back to life. I’ve returned to the land of living. “She’s awake! She’s awake!” When I look around m
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 95
I’m in the conservatory with Liam. Dust motes are floating in the sun’s rays while we sit side by side, both of us with a notebook.He’s making squiggles on a page, round and round until the pencil pierces through to the next page. “Do you think Mom loves us?” he asks.“Why do you ask that?” I glance at him and stop drawing. I’m trying to sketch gladiolus flowers from memory but I keep on getting stuck on the intricate detail of the petals. This is my third attempt. I tear the page from the notebook and throw it onto the heap of pages collecting next to me.“Last night she told me I’m not a good boy after I wet the bed. I can’t help it, Emily. Sometimes, it just comes out,” he grimaces.“It’s not your fault, you do know that?” I add. “Mom just gets upset really fast.”“I know, it’s that when she gets like that, I get scared,” he says.I move closer to him, “Do you know, when I get scared, I just tell myself that soon it will be over. Mom doesn’t stay angry for long. You just have to w
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 94
Emily/Jocasta POVYou know when people describe their near-death experiences as walking towards a bright light? Mine was nothing like that.For me, it was falling into a vat of creamy liquid and being suspended between space and time. The protection of the womb-like state offered me comfort and reassurance that I would be fine.Why would I want to go back to a world of uncertainty and sorrow when everything I want is right here?Memories are flashing through my mind, firing off like sparks from a fire, But they are muddled up and confusing. I can’t tell which ones are Emily’s or Jocasta’s. It’s hard to concentrate on just one at a time.I close my eyes and focus on one in particular; it’s of a beautiful woman cradling a baby in her arms. She’s standing in a nursery, and there’s a quilted blanket in the crib.She starts singing a lullaby, and it’s the same one Ophelia sang months ago when I first discovered my real identity. I gasp in recognition - it’s my mother.She can’t see me, but
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 93
The parking garage is quiet and empty. None of the day shift staff have arrived yet. I stand against the cold wall and gather my skittled thoughts.I was wrong to get angry at Thaddeus. None of this is his fault. If there’s anyone to blame, it has to be me. I’m the only one that’s known about Jocasta’s diagnosis.“Jacob,” shouts Thaddeus from the emergency exit. He jogs towards me and tries to speak but struggles to catch his breath.“Look, I’m sorry. I was so desperate for her to get better, that I may have been too hasty to get her on the treatment,” he breathes. “I honestly thought it was going to work.”“I don’t blame you,” I say. “I was angry and lashed out at you.”“Blame me if you want, because I blame myself,” he says. There’s a dejected look in his eye.“No, I should have told her the truth,” I admit.“The truth about what?” he asks and strands upright.This lie is killing me, I can’t let it destroy my wife and baby as well. Maybe if I confess my sins, my punishment might not
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 92
Jacob POVI am woken up by the buzzing of my phone on the nightstand. When I answer, it’s Dr. Richards on the line, “Mr. Collin, you need to come to the hospital now.”My brain sends signals to my limbs to move into action. Like a robot, I mechanically get dressed in the dark and rush to Liam’s room. He’s fast asleep, but I need to get him into the car. I can’t afford to lose precious time by calling someone over to babysit, so I bundle him up and carry him into the elevator.While we’re on our way down to the parking garage, he opens his eyes, “Dad, what’s going on?”I shush him back to sleep and he’s back in dreamland.The drive to the hospital is excruciating. Dr. wouldn’t have called me at this hour if it wasn’t an emergency. My mind keeps on playing different scenarios, all of them leading to the same end results.Keeping my concentration on the road is proving difficult and I struggle to keep to the speed limit, scared that I may get there too late.When I get there, I leave the
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 91
One evening I got a surprise visitor. There’s a knock behind the door and a wispy brunette peeks her head through the crack; it’s Ophelia.“Helloooo,” she smiles. She’s come bearing gifts, carrying a huge bunch of roses.“Wow, are those for me?” I ask.“Yes, she says. “But if you don’t like them, I can give them to the lady down the hall. I walked into her room by mistake thinking it was yours.”I respond by snatching the flowers from her, and joking, “Give them here!”“I’m glad to see you’re in good spirits,” she adds. “Thaddeus says you’ve been feeling very tired.”I sit upright and say, “That’s an understatement. Let’s just say I may fall asleep while you’re gossiping, so you better make it extra juicy.”Ophelia looks nervously around her, “Then I got nothing for you, I’m afraid.”She takes a seat opposite my bed. I can see something’s bothering her. “Hey, what’s up?” I ask her.“It’s Astrid, I haven’t heard from her for the past few months,” she says. “The last time I spoke to her
