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Chapter 045
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The Unexpected Surrogate for the Ruthless Billionaire Chapter 046
Uneasy ReconciliationStepping across the corridor, leaving the harsh fluorescent lights of the hospital across his path, Carlos strode up and down. With every pace, his glossy, designer shoes scuffed at the shiny, polished linoleum floor. It was as if every step he made required great effort to execute; his strides felt heavy from the weight brought upon him by the recent events.Dr. Kim had just emerged from the operating room, slightly fatigued, with that slight tinge of relief. "Mr. Fernandez," she called out, and Carlos whirled around, feeling the thump of his heartbeat in his chest. "Isabelle?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "She's stable," Dr. Kim said with a slight smile. "We managed to stop the bleeding. She is in recovery now."Carlos let out the shaking breath he had been holding and felt his knees weaken at the thought of the baby. "And the baby?""Your son's doing fine," replied Dr. Kim. "He is in the NICU but has good vitals. He is a fighter, just like his m
The Unexpected Surrogate for the Ruthless Billionaire Chapter 047
Through the kitchen window, Morris watched seven-year-old Jacob Jr. kicking a soccer ball around the backyard. He seemed to have no regard for the fact that the sun was already below the horizon. Bursts of laughter from the young boy resounded in the air and, for one moment, it didn't lose the ability to warm up Morris's heart in light of the complicated arrangement of their family.A rap at the door drew Morris out of his reverie. Allison entered, her face pulled into equal parts exhaustion and determination. "Hey," she said softly. "How was he today?"Morris came up with a tired smile. "Good. We worked on his math homework, then he wanted to practice soccer. He's getting pretty good."The silence was awkward between them, heavy with unspoken words and lingering resentments. It was now seven years since this co-parenting arrangement was established, yet all of the hurdles seemed sometimes to never be totally out of the way."Jacob's coming by tomorrow to take him to the science museu
The Unexpected Surrogate for the Ruthless Billionaire Chapter 048
It had been an inundation of emotions and realizations during the past couple of months, after which Carlos stood more vulnerable than he ever did. He realized that it was time for him to right his misdeeds with Isabelle, to show her the man he really wanted to be.He took a deep breath and then dialed his assistant. "Anna, need you to clear my schedule for the next week, and book two tickets to Bora Bora. Whatever's most exclusive you find."As he hung up the phone, doubt crawled in like a shadow. Would Isabelle even accept his invitation? Things with her had been strained of late. Their relationship was barely hanging by a thread, but he had to try.That evening, Carlos went home earlier than usual, carrying a bouquet with Isabelle's favorite flowers—lilies. He met her in the nursery, gently swaying their babies, Sophia and Alex, to sleep."Isabelle," he whispered, not to wake up the kids or her. "Can we talk?"She looked up in evident surprise. It was not very often that Carlos man
The Unexpected Surrogate for the Ruthless Billionaire Chapter 049
Family DynamicsThe soft whine of the engines on the private jet hummed through the cabin as Isabelle pressed her face against the window, watching as the blue waters of the Pacific gave way to the familiar cityscape below. She felt Carlos squeeze her hand lightly, and she turned to meet his eyes, filled with both hope and uncertainty."Ready to face the real world again?" he asked, his voice chipping with a hint of his humor.Isabelle smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "As ready as I'll ever be," she returned. Their week in Bora Bora had seemed like a dream, an opportunity to plug back in and heal old wounds, to rediscover that giddy love that brought them together. Now, though, as they made the descent back into the messy lives awaiting them at home, she couldn't but help wonder how well their progress was going to stand up against the stresses that reached out to them from there.As soon as she stepped off the plane, Isabelle's phone buzzed with a message from Mrs. Winston - the
The Unexpected Surrogate for the Ruthless Billionaire Chapter 050
Growing PainsIsabelle Fernandez stood fixed at the wall clock on the counter. 10:30 PM and Sophia still wasn't home. She had promised to come home by 9:00 PM, and Isabelle's gut writhed with worry. She turned toward her phone lying on the counter. A fifth call to make or wake Carlos, usually snoring away in the study?Just as she was about to dial the phone, the creak of the front door announced someone's entrance. In a mad rush to the foyer, relief washed over her as she saw Sophia trying to slip in unnoticed."Where have you been?" Isabelle demanded, a mix of anger and concern in her voice.Sophia rolled her eyes in a manner so reminiscent of Isabelle during those exact years of teenager-hood that it almost made her laugh. Almost. "Chill, Mom. I was just at Jade's house. We lost track of time."The smell of cigarette smoke wafting from Sophia's clothes told an entirely different story. Isabelle's eyes narrowed. "Don't lie to me, Sophia. You reek of smoke, and I know for a fact that
The Unexpected Surrogate for the Ruthless Billionaire Chapter 051
The Business of FamilyWhile Carlos stood before his glass windows observing the beauty of the skyscrapers, his phone buzzed, and he read the message from Isabelle: "The meeting with the principal went as well as could be. We need to talk. Don't be late for dinner."Carlos sighed and ran a hand through his salt-and-pepper mane. All day he had been contemplating the meeting with the twins' principal. He should have attended the meeting, and yet a crisis that fell in his lap regarding a prime customer had him tied up in his office. Once again.Rap, rap, sounded from his door, and his secretary said, "Mr. Fernandez? The board is waiting for you in the conference room."Carlos adjusted his tie. He brushed off thoughts of his family.He went into the conference room to find the prattle dying, all the eyes turning to him with a mix of anticipation and wariness on the faces of the board members."Ladies and gentlemen," he said, the bass voice cutting through the murmur of conversation. "The
The Unexpected Surrogate for the Ruthless Billionaire Chapter 052
Secrets and LiesThrough the hotel window, the Shanghai skyline sparkled, offering a sparkling display of lights that seemed to match the thrum of excitement buzzing in Isabelle's veins. She and Carlos had been in China a week now, fighting their way through endless meetings and tours of facilities, tightrope walking on a high wire that was international business. It was exhilarating, challenging, and utterly exhausting.As she leaned back into the soft couch, her laptop balanced on her thighs, the first signs of a grin began to grow across Isabelle's face. She was good at it—better than she'd thought. All those years running their household and maneuvering through so many social circles had polished her skills as a diplomat, negotiator. Even Carlos had been impressed, deferring to her for counsel at some of the most critical moments of the negotiations.A notification flashed across her screen – a video call from home. She smiled as she hit accept, and her children's faces lighted up
The Unexpected Surrogate for the Ruthless Billionaire Chapter 053
Corporate EspionageTo Isabelle, the Fernandez mansion that once symbolized success and family unity had become a prison. It had been three days since her rushed return from Italy, three days of frantic searching, pleading telephone calls, and sleepless nights. Alex was still missing.Isabelle sat at the kitchen island, her sea of electronics around her, her coffee untouched in front of her. The words of that text haunted her: "Your son is safe. For now. But his debt is now yours. We'll be in touch." What kind of debt? Who is this? And why haven't they contacted her again?Carlos wandered into the kitchen, looking crumpled when he was almost always immaculately dressed, dark circles under his eyes that rivaled Isabelle's own. "Any news?" Isabelle asked, knowing from the defeated slump of her husband's shoulders that there was none. Carlos shook his head and poured himself a cup of coffee. "Nothing. The police are still treating it as a runaway case, but I've hired private investigator
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