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Chapter 67
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The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 68
Emily POV If life is a series of coincidences, how do I explain meeting Jacob or having Liam back in my life? I’ve come to the conclusion that there are no coincidences, just events that help steer us on our journey to self-discovery. I wouldn’t consider myself someone who believes in the metaphysical side of things, but when Ophelia walked into the room, I felt that it was fate that brought me here to Mellon Estate. It was like looking into a mirror, and I know that she felt it too. If I were to describe it, it felt like I was dangling like a puppet on a string, my thoughts and actions being controlled by some unknown force. Somehow, the universe conspired to bring us together, but that part of the puzzle still hasn’t fit into place. There are so many moving parts that I’m struggling to get a foot in. My thoughts are all over the place. There’s a war going on in my head, and I’m trying hard to keep my internal struggle from spilling over into the real world. Ophelia returns wit
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 69
He comes walking behind us as we head into what I can only describe as a tropical forest. There are different species of birds playing above the canopy and I can’t help but think Matthew would love it here. I wonder if he’s been to Mellon Estate before. “You guys are so lucky to have this place,” I say. “It’s magical.” “When we were kids, we’d pretend we were explorers in search of lost gold. My dad would bury those gold chocolate coins all around every Easter and send us off with a map he’d drawn,” laughs Ophelia. Thaddeus lets out a yelp. “I remember those! One year we stayed out until dusk because the clues on the map were too difficult. He ended up sending a search party to find us.” “We somehow ended up on the other side of the property and got so caught up in finding our gold that we lost track of time,” she says. They both look at each other and smile. One would think the difference in age would be a barrier between them, but their connection is hard to describe. It’s almos
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 70
Thaddeus POV Like a moth to a flame, Emily is intrigued by our family history. But I can’t be certain if it’s curiosity spurring her inquisitiveness. She seems cautious, almost nervous about needling us with more questions. I can see that Ophelia has picked up on it too, but I first need to make certain we’re on the same page. While Emily has gone to the powder room, we work on our strategy. “What do you think?” I ask her. “I think that if we tell her a little at a time, it won’t be an overload of information. I’m scared that if we move too fast, our plan could backfire,” she says. “So, proceed with caution?” I suggest. “Exactly. Also, I’m sensing that she’s really keen to find out about our family, so hit her with that first. Ease her into it slowly and read her body language. If at any time she looks uncomfortable or overwhelmed, pull back,” she adds. “We’ve come this far, I don’t want to do anything that could jeopardize our efforts.” In the past, we’ve never shared much abo
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 71
Emily POV The past does not define who you are. My mom always used to say that. I suppose it didn’t really matter to her because she had memories growing up with parents and a sister. When she was in a contemplative mood, she’d regale us with stories of when she was younger. Some stories stayed the same while others gave us some insight into how she was as a kid. I always got the feeling she was wild and rambunctious, the complete opposite of who she was when she became a parent. I wonder when she stopped being a kid and realized being frivolous and fun were character traits only reserved for silly children. One story I remember in particular was when she was about fourteen years old. She and my Aunt Evelyn decided to skip Sunday school and join a bunch of older boys from their church at the corner store, drinking soda and smoking cigarettes. My grandpa caught them and gave them the whipping of their lives in front of their friends. She shared the account as a warning to Liam and
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 72
Ophelia POV If blood is thicker than water, then how come long-lost siblings don’t recognize each other immediately when passing by on the street? It could be a random stranger and you wouldn’t give them a second glance, all the while knowing that someone you love might still be lost out there in the world. I recall reading an article a few years back about how two people were neighbors for several years without realizing that they were brother and sister. When they were still toddlers, their parents divorced, one taking the other. Both went on to remarry and never mentioned to their kids that they each had a sibling. For years, they knew nothing of each other until the one moved in across the road from her brother. Every morning, they’d do the neighborly thing and greet each other out of courtesy. And then their kids became friends. The only reason they found out was because they finally had a formal introduction and realized they both shared the same last name. I need Emily to
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 73
Emily POV Click, click, click. Like a Rubix Cube, all the colors start aligning into perfect symmetry. For the longest time I always felt like I didn’t belong. I felt like an alien, as if my presence was just simply an annoyance. I sensed it mostly with my mom. My dad tried so hard to make up for her shortcomings. And when Liam became part of our unit, I had someone to align myself with—we were both outsiders. But never in a million years would I attribute my emotional isolation to the fact that I was never my parents’ child. The seed was only planted after my first encounter with Thaddeus. Believing the paradox would mean my folks were instrumental in my abduction. I could not allow my thoughts to go there. Thaddeus and Ophelia are watching me intently. I don’t know what to say—I’m still in shock. They sense my bewilderment but don’t press me any further. Instead, they stand to one side and wait for my next move. I can’t stop my hands from shaking, and the sudden urge to start
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 74
Jacob POV I count down the seconds while Emily’s phone rings on and on. Just when I’m about to hang up, her exasperated voice says, “Hello.” I’ve been trying to get hold of her the entire day and all my calls thus far have gone unanswered. “Where have you been? I’ve been trying to call the whole day,” I say. She says nothing. “Emily, are you there?” I ask. “Yes, I’m here,” she responds. “Look, I don’t want to fight with you. I just want you back home. Liam misses you… I miss you,” I say, now feeling fragile and alone. “I miss you too. I just can’t come home right now,” she says. Her voice sounds detached. “Why not? Where are you? I’ll come get you,” I say, desperate to know where she is. “Jacob, please, I can’t do this with you now. I have to go,” she says. Holding her delicate engagement ring in the palm of my hand, I ask her, “Why did you leave your ring on the bedside table?” “I must have forgotten it,” she mumbles. I know her well enough by now to tell that she’s lying.
The Billionaire's Surrogate Chapter 75
Jacob POV When I start the car, a love song from the sixties blasts through the speakers. The guy croons on and on about regret and turning back the hands of time. I can’t even laugh at the irony of it. The words hit like a punch in the gut. I turn off the radio and drive in silence all the way to the Hamptons. I used to love taking this road when I was a kid, especially when it was Spring Break. Either we were going to spend the break at my grandmother’s home or with the Mellons. I preferred the latter, knowing that we’d spend hours playing outside in the scrub land, searching for buried treasure or protecting our land from intruders while in the lookout tower. I have so many fond memories of that place. I try to think now why I ever stopped going there after the Jocasta incident. Was being around Thaddeus and Ophelia too overwhelming for me? I was so young, I can’t remember not wanting to be there. Maybe the decision was my father’s. I suspect he felt partly responsible for the a
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