All Chapters of THE CEO’S SURROGATE(WOMB CONTRACT): Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

55 Chapters

Chapter 41: something worth protecting.

### (Alaric's POV)For the first time in years, I woke up without immediately thinking about work, the company, or the investigation.And not to think about the endless problems waiting for me beyond these walls.Instead, my attention settled on the woman sitting beside me.Elena.She eventually gave up arguing and let me pull her back into bed.Not because she was weak Because she was exhausted.There was a difference.The morning sunlight poured through the windows, illuminating her face as she leaned against the headboard.She looked thoughtful.Quiet.A little embarrassed.And strangely beautiful.I caught myself staring.Again.Apparently, I had developed a habit."You're doing it again."Her voice broke through my thoughts.I looked up."Doing what?""Staring."I frowned."I wasn't staring.""You were.""I was checking if you're okay.""That's still staring."I almost smiled.Almost."Doctor Rowan specifically told us to monitor you."Elena groaned dramatically."She told you t

Chapter 42: The Ghost in the frame.

(Elena’s POV) The mansion felt different after Alex left. Maybe it was because of what he had said. Maybe it was because of the look on Alaric’s face when he saw the footage. Or maybe it was because I could feel it too now. The awareness. The uncomfortable sensation that someone, somewhere, had been watching. The warmth from a few minutes ago had vanished completely. Alaric was already on the phone before Alex reached the end of the hallway. Giving orders. Changing schedules. Increasing patrols. Doing what Alaric Carrington always did when faced with a problem. Taking control. I sat quietly on the edge of the bed and watched him. His voice remained calm. Controlled. But I knew him better now. Enough to hear what was hidden underneath. Fear. Not for himself. For me. For the baby. The realization settled heavily in my chest. “Move two men to the eastern gate.” He said, pausing to think for a bit. “No exceptions.” He added. He paused aga

Chapter 43: The things I couldn't say

Chapter 43: The Things I Couldn’t Say(Alaric’s POV)Sleep became a luxury I couldn’t afford, as every time I closed my eyes, the image of Elena standing in my office, her hand resting on the photograph, rent-free, ran through my head, like running water.“What was she like?” It should have been a simple question, but instead, it felt like someone had ripped open a wound I’d spent years stitching together.I shouldn’t have spoken to her like that.The thought followed me long after dawn broke over the Carrington estate.When I stepped out of the shower, the bedroom was empty.For one irrational second, I gripped in panic, but then I remembered —she had gone back to her room.I let out a slow breath, annoyed that my mind immediately jumped to the worst conclusion.That had become a habit lately. Everything seemed capable of frightening me now.Even the slightest thing was a strange pain in her stomach, a dizzy spell, a delayed answer, especially her silence.I dressed for work before m

Chapter 44: Choosing Hope

(Alaric’s POV)The drive to the office felt like eternity as my conversation with Alex kept replaying like a videotape.Alex handed me a manifesto, dragging me away from my thoughts.“Lunch with my grandfather?” I asked, realizing that I said it out loud.“ He called, but you didn’t pick up, so he asked me to fix him up in your schedule,” Alex answered, looking at me from the rear window.“Hmmm.” I snorted.“Rearrange the manifesto; I will meet him right away,” I said, passing the tabloid to Alex.“Yes, sire.” He turned the car around as we headed to my grandfather’s house.*******************************************************The first thing my grandfather said to me that morning wasn’t about the company. It wasn’t about the board. It wasn’t about the investigation.It wasn’t even about the anonymous article that had nearly shaken Carrington Group a few weeks ago.It was—“You’ve delayed the engagement long enough.” His voice was soft as a chuckle escaped his lips.I looked up from

Chapter 45: The Weight of Silence.

(Alaric’s POV)It was almost midnight when I got home, and the house was quiet. Another twelve-hour day had disappeared between meetings, security briefings, and the investigation into the men watching the estate.I was exhausted.Yet the moment I stepped through the front door, my eyes searched the room instinctively.Looking for her.Alex noticed, but I didn’t care about that.“I’ll review tomorrow’s schedule, sir.”I nodded absently, still searching.He left without another word.The foyer fell silent again.Then I saw her.Curled up on the sofa in the living room.A blanket wrapped around her shoulders.A book resting upside down on her lap.She had fallen asleep waiting.Something tightened painfully in my chest.She shouldn’t have stayed awake.Doctor Rowan had been very clear.She needed rest.Yet here she was.Waiting for me.I walked over quietly.Careful not to wake her.A loose strand of hair had fallen across her face.Without thinking, I brushed it behind her ear.Her ey

Chapter 46: A place that should have been mine.

(Xavier’s POV)I almost dropped my coffee when I read the headline of today’s news.“…Carrington Group has officially confirmed that CEO Alaric Carrington’s engagement gala will be held next Saturday at the Carrington Estate.”The television continued playing in the background, but I wasn’t listening anymore. My heart stopped for a minute; I was trying to digest the news.I stared at the screen.The news anchor smiled as photographs of Alaric and Elena flashed behind her.One from the shareholders’ meeting.Another from the charity gala.Another of them leaving the company headquarters together.Every photograph looked… natural.Comfortable.Like they belonged together.I hated it.“Honey?” My mother looked at me from across the breakfast table.“Your coffee.” She pointed.I looked down.Coffee had spilled over the edge of my cup and onto the tablecloth.I hadn’t even noticed.“It’s fine,” I muttered.I grabbed a napkin and wiped it away.The anchor continued.“Sources close to the Ca

Chapter 47: The Dress.

(Elena’s POV)The first thing I smelled that morning was coffee.The second was a strong perfume.My eyes snapped open.“Lana?” I asked, wondering how she got here.“Good, you’re awake.” She screamed excitedly.I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head.“No.” I groaned and pulled the blanket over my head.“Oh yes.” She said.She yanked the blanket away before I could protest.“We have exactly forty-five minutes before we’re supposed to leave.”I squinted at the clock on my bedside table.“Eight-thirty?”She smiled brightly.“You’re learning.”I dropped back onto the mattress.“I hate mornings,” I complained.“I know.” She said as she stood up.“I especially hate mornings that involve people.”She laughed.“Unfortunately for you, today’s morning involves dresses.”That made me open one eye.“Dresses?” I asked, getting up from the bed.“Don’t tell me you forgot.” She rasped as she folded her arms dramatically.I stared at her for a few seconds.Then it hit me.The engagement gala.N

Chapter 48: More than a dress.

(Alaric’s POV)By the time I arrived at the boutique, I was twenty-three minutes late.Not because I wanted to be.Because my grandfather had somehow turned a simple discussion about the engagement into a two-hour meeting involving guest lists, security, seating arrangements, and investors I hadn’t spoken to in months.By the end of it, I was ready to cancel the entire gala.Almost—thinking about how he will feel when he finds out about the contract. How do I explain to him used Elena to deceive the whole company and the whole country to exact my revenge? And no one has to know. I will make sure of that, because the repercussions would be grave.I stepped out of the car.Alex met me outside before I reached the entrance.“Everything alright?” I asked.“Yes, sir.” He answered affirmatively. “How’s she?” I enquired further.“She became a little dizzy.” He said, his voice was low, almost as if knowing how I would react.My heart stopped.“What?” My hair flew up.“It passed quickly,” Al

Chapter 49: Between the lines.

(Elena’s POV)The ride home was unusually quiet.Not uncomfortable.Just… quiet.I glanced toward Alaric from the corner of my eye.He was looking out the window, his elbow resting against the door, his jaw tight enough that I could see the muscle twitch now and then.Ever since that phone call at the boutique, he’d been somewhere else.Physically, he was sitting beside me.Mentally…I wasn’t sure where he was.I folded my hands in my lap.“You’ve been staring out that window for twenty minutes,” I said.He didn’t look at me.“I know.” His jaw dropped.“So?” I pressed on. “So what?” He asked, still staring at the window.I sighed, not wanting to give up.“So are you planning to tell me what’s wrong?” “There isn’t anything wrong.”He muttered, his voice low.“You’ve already used that lie,” I said as I gave him a flat look.That finally earned me his attention.“I have?” He turned to meet my gaze.“Twice,” I said pointedly.“I didn’t realize I was repeating myself.” He replied sarcasti

Chapter 50: Almost.

(Alaric’s POV — Part 1)The library fell silent again.Not the uncomfortable kind.The kind that settled after two people had finally said something they had been carrying for far too long.Elena’s hand was still in mine.Neither of us seemed willing to be the first to let go.The warmth of her fingers grounded me in a way I couldn’t explain. For years, silence had been my refuge. It was where I hid from questions, from memories, from everything I didn’t want to feel.Tonight…Silence didn’t feel lonely.It felt shared.My eyes drifted toward the photograph resting on the shelf.The silver frame reflected the glow of the fireplace.I followed Elena’s gaze.She saw it too.“I almost hated her.”The words slipped out before I realized I’d spoken them aloud.Elena turned to me, surprise written across her face.“Hated her?”I gave a humorless smile.“Not because of what happened.”My eyes stayed on the photograph.“Because she reminded me of the man I used to be.”She didn’t interrupt.S

1 2 3 4 5 6

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP