“Your body belongs to me now—every curve, every breath, every sound you make. I’ll leave no inch untouched, no part of you unloved, to remind you that you’ll never belong to anyone else.” ========== To protect his inheritance, Christian Blackwood, an arrogant and self-centred billionaire, is forced to take a drastic step: hire a surrogate. Olivia Carter has never needed anyone. But with her brother’s life hanging by a thread and medical bills piling up, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to save him—even if it means signing her body over to a stranger. Christian’s proposition is crazy, strange and exactly what she needs. The terms of the contract are clear—a baby, no emotions, no entanglements and absolutely no love. But from the moment Olivia steps into Christian’s life, sparks ignite. She’s everything he didn’t expect: fierce, vulnerable and utterly captivating. Christian can’t stop himself from wanting more—more of her touch, her laughter, her heart. But Olivia knows better than to fall for a man like him. With secrets, desires and a ticking clock threatening to tear them apart, Christian must decide: protect his heart or risk everything for the woman who’s become his obsession.
Lihat lebih banyakOLIVIA I lay on my back in my room, twirling my phone between my fingers, debating whether or not to follow through with the thought that was stuck in my head. Ever since the car ride with Christian, my mind hadn’t settled. His vague answer about Lydia only made things worse instead of calming me. Who was she to him really? And why wouldn’t he just tell me the truth? He clearly had no problem sharing my secrets with her—about me, about my brother, while lying in bed with her, no less. So why did he suddenly go vague when the topic was about her? I tapped my screen, then let it go dark again. I couldn’t decide. My fingers itched to act, while my brain warned me to stop. I even considered throwing the phone across the room and going to sleep. But curiosity is a dangerous thing, and today, it won. I pulled up my browser and typed in the name I swore I’d never search: Christian Blackwood and Lydia. The moment the results loaded, my heart dropped and I forgot all about self-control.
OLIVIA I sighed for what felt like the thousandth time, sitting in the lecture hall. Voices buzzed around me—conversations, laughter, whispers but none of it mattered. I couldn’t bring myself to care about anything they were saying. The truth was, I didn’t care about much these days. I felt like everything was spiraling beyond my control, like my life had suddenly changed completely. Even the smallest things felt exhausting now, like tasks I’d normally handle without a second thought. Maybe that’s why I hadn’t gone to see Mr. Sylas yet about the 30% he gave me on my project. He claimed it looked like I used AI, but I just didn’t have the strength to defend myself, not when everything else felt so tiring. I’d spent all of yesterday in bed, replaying Lydia’s words over and over in my head. “Is your brother okay?” “Christian had to shove me out of his bed…” I scoffed under my breath, biting down on my lower lip. What had I been thinking? That Christian Blackwood, the same man wh
OLIVIA I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection, searching for any signs that my body had changed since I found out I was pregnant.I still looked the same. Deep down, I knew this restlessness was just paranoia. It had only been a few days since I found out. What difference could several hours really make? Still, the weight in my chest had only grown heavier. The thoughts in my mind, the nervousness, it all seemed to get worse with every passing hour. A beep from my phone pulled me out of my thoughts. I glanced down at it on the dresser and saw a new email notification. It was an invitation to the Blackwood Annual Event, scheduled for three days from now. I sighed and picked up the phone, opening the email. The theme caught my eye right away: “A Night of Masks and Mystery – Gatsby Masquerade Ball.” A small smile tugged at my lips. I remembered talking to Ophelia about it, wondering how she planned to turn such a big, flashy idea into reality and now, I could see
MICHAEL A knock sounded on my office door, followed by a slight creak as it opened. I glanced up from the computer screen to see my secretary standing in the doorway. “What is it?” I asked, already irritated. “There’s a Miss Lydia here to see you.” I nodded. “Send her in.” Moments later, Lydia stepped into the room, a scowl tugging at her features. “What’s with the face?” I asked, eyeing her as she moved across the room. “I went to see your sister,” She said flatly. “Ophelia?” She shot me an angry look. “Do you have another sister I don’t know about?” With that, she dropped onto the couch, clearly annoyed. “Is that why you look like you’ve just been slapped?” She crossed her legs and leaned back, attempting to appear composed. “She was rude,” she said simply. “Exceptionally rude. Ugh, I hate how she makes me feel.” I exhaled, dragging a hand over my face. “I can’t say I’m surprised,” I said, my gaze drifting to the window. “She’s on Christian’s team and she must have
OLIVIA “Phew!” Ophelia said, flipping her hair back as we walked toward her office. “That was a great lunch, don’t you think?” She glanced at me, waiting for a response. I gave her a small smile and nodded. “Of course.” We had barely spoken during the meal, so I was a little surprised she was talking now. I figured the silence earlier was because we were around other people. Maybe she didn’t like being open in public. When we reached her office, she pushed the glass doors open and let out a deep sigh. “Damn,” she muttered, shaking her head. “I haven’t had lunch that big in a long time.” She rubbed her stomach and smiled. I let out a small laugh. That wasn’t true for me. I ate like that all the time. She walked around her desk and dropped into her chair, tossing her head back with another sigh. “Have a seat, please,” she said, motioning toward the chairs across from her. “Thank you,” I said, picking the one that looked softer and easing into it. Ophelia leaned forward, resting
OLIVIA I yawned as I opened my eyes, the soft light coming through the curtains. I rolled onto my side, still under the warm sheets, and let out a heavy sigh. My hand reached out for my phone on the nightstand and when I found it, the screen lit up, too bright for my tired eyes. There was one message and it was from Grace. ‘Paycheck received from Mr. Blackwood. I will deliver it soon.’ I stared at the screen for a few seconds, then tossed the phone aside with a sigh. I had been excited to get my first paycheck, that was before I found out I was pregnant. I sighed again, rubbing my face. Five million dollars, for the baby growing inside me. At first, it felt like a good plan, when James was dying and I was desperate. It was easy back then to make the decision and I barely thought about the future. But now? It felt like I had made a bad trade with someone who didn’t care about me, like I had given away something too important. I sat up, groaning a little, and placed a hand
CHRISTIAN I lifted the glass and downed the liquor in one go, the burn shooting straight to my eyes. I’d been drinking nonstop since Olivia told me she was pregnant. The moment she said it, I froze, too overwhelmed to speak, too stunned to process it even though I’d planned all these weeks ago. I saw the look on her face, the way she tried to smile through it, how her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. She was fighting to be happy, to keep it together. And I had no idea what to say. Instead of dealing with it, I shut down and bottled it all up. Now, I was chasing numbness with alcohol, trying to pretend I had it all under control. Slamming the glass down on the minibar counter, I grabbed the bottle and tipped it, only to realize it was already empty. Groaning, I got to my feet and stumbled over to the shelf lined with more bottles. I grabbed a new one, popped the cap, and took a long gulp before making my way back to the desk. Just then, my office door flew open. “Christian,
OLIVIA I staggered backward, a shaky breath leaving my lips as I stared at the test stick clutched between my trembling fingers. Two lines. That meant it was positive. My fingers trembled harder as the truth settled in—I was pregnant. I shook my head, eyes wide, and when I couldn’t bear to look at the stick any longer, I dropped it like it burned my fingers. I was really pregnant. It had happened for real. A second later, I rushed forward and picked it back up, my hand unsteady. I swallowed hard, staring at the lines again. Calm down, Olivia. You wanted this, you signed up for this and you knew it would happen. I exhaled, trying to calm myself. But how was I supposed to calm down? This wasn’t a walk in the park, I was pregnant. When I signed that contract with Christian, I knew this day could come. I wasn’t naïve. But knowing it could happen and actually living it were two very different things. I hadn’t expected to feel this overwhelmed and uncertain. With a sigh, I ste
OLIVIA My eyes fluttered open against the soft shine of morning sunlight streaming through the window above my bed. I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling, a lazy smile tugging at my lips. No lectures today. Which meant I could guiltlessly walk around and do absolutely nothing. Pure bliss. A whole day away from the emotional, mental, and physical chaos that school came with was magical. And honestly, I needed the break, especially after my last encounter with Miss Elowen. I sat up, letting out a long yawn as I stretched, then swung my legs off the bed and made my way to the bathroom. Reaching for my toothbrush, I squeezed out a blob of toothpaste and began brushing, glancing up at the mirror….and paused. Was that… extra weight I could see? And my chin? I tilted my head slightly. Yep, definitely a little rounder. How did that even happen? It’s not like I’d been over eating lately. Or… had I? Christian never stopped me from ordering whatever I wanted while we were
OLIVIA“I’m sorry, but he needs urgent surgery to survive.” The doctor said.My mother choked on a sob, staggering backwards so violently that if I hadn’t been holding her, she might have fallen to the ground. After hours of worrying, waiting and praying, this was not the sort of news we’d hoped to hear concerning my brother’s health. I felt goosebumps spread over my skin, my heart dropping at the realization that my brother might die. “Please, doctor..” I stepped forward, my hands trembling. “There has to be another way to save my brother. Please help us.”The doctor shook his head. “Unfortunately, the damage is too deep. Surgery is the only way out. And I’d advise you to hurry because he has less than twelve hours to live without surgery.”My chest felt tight as I fought back tears of my own. I shut my eyes briefly and tried to breathe, but it seemed impossible right now. I was feeling way too much, way too soon. It felt like my world was crashing down on me, and if I weren’t car...
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