Obedient Surrogate No More

Afternoon.

In the secretary's office, inside the rest area.

Breathing heavily, Fiona was recovering from the aftermath of their intimate encounter, while Darwin was tightly embracing her from behind.

Hot kisses were planted on her neck.

Darwin had been away on a business trip for half a month this time, and surprisingly, he didn't bring Fiona, his personal secretary, with him. Fiona wondered if perhaps Mr. Solomon had finally wearied of her after five years together.

To be honest, she was quite happy about it.

Five years ago, burdened by debt and with her grandmother seriously ill, she was in urgent need of a large sum of money. It was at her lowest point that she met Darwin.

People said that she bore a strong resemblance to Darwin's high school sweetheart, whom he still pined for. However, when his high school sweetheart had the accident and fell into a vegetative state, she married a European aristocrat and moved overseas.

Darwin was probably heartbroken over losing his first love and couldn't let go of the past. After meeting Fiona, he helped her pay off her debts, arranged for the best hospital for her grandmother's treatment, and she became Darwin's publicly acknowledged secretary and secret lover.

For these five years, she had hidden her true nature and imitated everything about his first love: gentle, obedient, and eager to please Darwin. She had grown tired of it a long time ago and hoped that Darwin would quickly find someone else.

Unexpectedly, when Darwin returned from his business trip, he didn't even wait for her to finish work before rushing to his residence, storming into the company with a fierce and harsh attitude, nearly wearing her out completely.

After a moment of calm.

"Mr. Solomon, the shareholders are waiting for you to start the meeting," Fiona reminded him softly.

Darwin responded coldly, released Fiona, and headed straight for the bathroom.

Fiona breathed a sigh of relief.

Suppressing her discomfort, she obediently fetched Darwin's spare suit and brought it to the rest area. When Darwin finished showering and came out, she helped him change into the suit, gently tying his tie for him.

He maintained his aloof gaze, yet when he lowered his eyes to look at Fiona, his expressions softened.

As always, she was gentle, obedient, and considerate. He was very satisfied.

"There's a check on the table, 20 million," Darwin said casually. "In addition, the Emerald Pool villa will be transferred to your name."

Fiona was stunned, looking bewilderedly at Darwin.

Could this be the rumored separation agreement?

"Mr. Solomon, why all of a sudden..." Fiona began to ask.

Looking at her shocked and bewildered expression, Darwin's eyes brimmed with disdain. He raised his hand in satisfaction, pinching her chin. "Consider it a reward," he said in a cool, insidious tone.

A reward?

What did she do to deserve such a generous reward?

20 million was already a lot, not to mention the market value of the Emerald Pool villa, which was over 100 million.

Although Darwin had always been generous to her, he had never given her such a large sum at once.

Darwin rubbed Fiona's slightly swollen lips with his thumb, his chilly tone carrying a hint of seduction. "As long as you continue to be obedient and submissive like this, in the future..."

"I'll give you more in the future," he said. Fiona, puzzled, looked at Darwin. "What do you mean by 'in the future'? Does he not intend to break up with her?" Fiona averted her gaze, still pretending to be charming and gentle, and nodded softly.

"Mr. Solomon, I understand." Fiona wondered if it was her imagination, but Darwin's irritation seemed to vanish instantly after she responded.

"Hmm," Darwin responded coldly, "there's nothing going on this afternoon, so you can go back and rest."

"Okay." Fiona nodded.

Afterwards, Darwin left her very quickly. After he walked away, Fiona picked up the check and furrowed her beautiful brows.

Over the past six months, Darwin had clearly grown tired of her. Not long ago, she even unintentionally saw another girl who resembled Lilian more than herself by Darwin's side.

"This shouldn't be happening..." Fiona murmured. At that moment, the phone that had fallen at the foot of the bed suddenly buzzed. Fiona picked it up.

The first thing she saw was a financial news notification.

"Breaking News! Solomon Capital's president is set to marry the young heiress of the dynastic Ross family.

This alliance of the two major financial conglomerates may lead to significant changes in the world's capital structure." Fiona's eyes seemed to sting for a moment.

Coincidentally, the president of Solomon Capital was Darwin. The rest area was still in disarray. Her dress and Darwin's designer suit were scattered all over the floor. Fiona gently touched her forehead and laughed silently.

So, this was the reason behind Darwin suddenly giving her money and a house. Twenty million and a villa to keep her as his obedient bed partner and third party in his marriage? Fiona's stomach churned. She rushed into the bathroom and vomited.

Then, she lifted her gaze and saw her own pale and somewhat disheveled reflection in the mirror. She finally understood the game this scumbag, Darwin, was playing. He was about to get married but couldn't let go of his first love, so he clung onto her as a substitute.

Whoever wanted to be a substitute can take the job. I'm not going along with it anymore! After tidying herself up, Fiona estimated when the meeting would end and prepared her resignation letter to go to the president's office.

When she reached the door, Fiona was about to knock and go in. Then she heard the voice of Darwin's friend, the wealthy playboy of the capital, Wyatt, teasingly from inside.

"Darwin, you're getting married. What are you planning to do with Secretary Woods?"

There was a brief silence in the room, followed by Darwin's cold voice.

"No action needed, same as before."

"Is she willing to be a mistress?" Wyatt asked.

"As long as I give her enough money, she'll do anything," Darwin's tone was full of mockery and contempt.

Fiona froze on the spot, and her heart ached sharply. From the beginning, she had sold herself to Darwin.

In the end, in Darwin's eyes, she was nothing more than a commodity that could be renewed and played with when the price was right.

"Really?" Wyatt's voice suddenly became excited, "So, if I offer a higher price than you, will she sell to me?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the voice of Darwin's assistant, Clarke, came from outside the door.

"Secretary Woods?"

Fiona snapped back to reality.

She turned her head and nodded at Clarke, then knocked on the office door and walked in.

Wyatt, who was just joking moments ago: "..."

Awkward for a moment, he gave a mischievous squint with his eyes and greeted with a warm smile as if nothing had happened, "Hello, Secretary Woods ~"

Fiona thought of Wyatt's words just now, and her stomach churned again. She found him disgusting and ignored him.

She walked straight to Darwin, who had a cold face.

"Weren't you supposed to go back and rest?" Darwin asked in a deep voice, with a clear displeasure in his tone.

"Mr. Solomon." Fiona looked at Darwin. Gone was her usual gentle and obedient appearance. She handed over her resignation confidently, "This is my resignation letter."

Darwin's face turned cold in an instant, "What do you mean?"

"When we were together, we agreed that I wouldn't be a mistress. If you got married, I would leave."

Fiona put down the resignation letter, "I will hand over my work and unfinished projects as soon as possible. You and Mr. Durham can continue, and I won't disturb you anymore."

After speaking, Fiona turned around and walked out.

When she passed by a shocked Wyatt, she stopped in her tracks.

She didn't want to pretend to be docile for another second.

She looked at Wyatt.

Her eyes were cold, as if looking at garbage.

She answered Wyatt's question from earlier.

"No, she's not for sale."

By the time Wyatt snapped out of it, Fiona had already departed.

He looked at Darwin in astonishment, " That lady just now, the elegant Secretary Woods, was your sweetheart?"

Darwin's face darkened. There was a

hint of panic and confusion in his eyes that he himself had never noticed before. Of course, he remembered the agreement he made with Fiona.

But he didn't really believe that Fiona would actually leave just because he was getting married.

Over the years, she had been obedient to him no matter how terrible his demands were...

How could she defy him?

How dare she defy him!

Darwin stood up, ignoring the chattering Wyatt, and with an aura that seemed ready to devour someone, he chased after her in big strides.

Fiona didn't like to drag things out. After submitting her resignation letter, she was immediately ready to start the handover process. But as soon as she returned to the

secretary's office, Darwin, with an icy

presence, followed in.

"Is there anything else Mr. Solomon wants to discuss?" Fiona looked at him, completely devoid of obedience.

Gentle.

Darwin's expression became even

more unpleasant.

"Fiona, am I not good enough to you? What are you fussing about?" Darwin walked step by step towards Fiona, emanating strong pressure.

Fiona's face turned pale.

Instinctively, she wanted to create

distance between herself and Darwin. But Darwin seized her wrist and pulled her closer to him.

"Mr. Solomon, you're married and I'll leave, that was agreed from the beginning," Fiona said in a low voice.

Darwin sneered mockingly, "So, 20

million and that villa, isn't that

enough?"

Fiona's body stiffened.

Recalling Darwin's words just now,

"Once she's given enough money,

she'll agree to anything!"

Her stomach started churning again.

She forcefully restrained herself, struggling desperately to free herself from this man who was humiliating and trampling her.

"Darwin, let go!"

"Fiona, my patience is limited, I don't have time to play games with you. How much do you want? Just name your price," Darwin's tone was icy cold, and he squeezed Fiona's wrist tighter and tighter. As if he wanted to snap that delicate wrist.

Up to now. Darwin still believed that Fiona wanted to leave because he hadn't given enough money. Just like at the beginning when Fiona didn't want to sell herself. But what about later?

When there was a good amount of money, she obediently climbed onto his bed, letting him toy with her. So, it was just a matter of not giving enough money. She wouldn't really want to leave him!

Fiona frowned, looking at Darwin. Thank goodness. All these years, she had always remembered clearly that she was just a substitute. All of Darwin's tenderness and affection was meant for someone else.

If she were to sink into it even a little bit. At this moment, she would have been

left with countless wounds, in

unbearable pain.

"Darwin, I'm not for sale!" Fiona

looked at him, "My mother was

driven to death by a mistress. I will never be a third party."

Inside the secretary's office, they fell

into a brief silence. Only the sound of their breathing remained. No matter how incomprehensible Darwin was, he realized that Fiona truly intended to break things off with him.

"It's been a long time since you visited your grandmother. I'll give you a month's vacation, think it over before deciding," he suppressed his anger and softened his tone.

Grandmother...

Fiona instantly felt like she had fallen into an icy cave. But then she became even more determined and resolute.

"No need to think, I have already decided."

"Fiona!"

Darwin couldn't contain his anger any longer. He had swallowed his pride by descending from his lofty position! Yet she still didn't know how to appreciate it!

"You're just a substitute for Lilian, I've used you for five years and gotten used to it. Do you really think I can't live without you?"

Yes, just gotten used to it.

There were other substitutes, but he

couldn't be bothered to adapt.

"Mr. Solomon, I am aware of my place and won't dare to overstep it," Fiona answered with cold firmness.

"Very well!"

Darwin's anger could no longer be contained. He had lowered himself

by giving her enough leeway! Yet she still couldn't appreciate it! He nodded and released Fiona's wrist.

"Fiona, you may not look the most like Lilian, but you are the most well- behaved among everyone, and that is your only advantage." Darwin looked at Fiona, returning to his usual cold and frosty demeanor.

"Now, you have lost even this one advantage. Since you have made up your mind, so be it."

"Thank you, Mr. Solomon." Fiona suppressed the various emotions surging in her heart and calmly replied, "I will handle the transition of all the work and not cause you any trouble."

"There is no need to transition the

secretary's work to someone else. A

new secretary will come, and before you leave, you should teach her

well."

"Yes."

Darwin left without looking back, radiating intense anger.. He was a proud person to the core, after all. This moment of regret just now was only because she played the role of Lilian too well, and she was very obedient.

Now that she was not obedient, he had no patience for her either. Naturally, he would no longer bother with her.

Fiona glanced at her reddened wrist.

Hmm.

Finally, she was free. Fiona left the company and went to Darwin's house. Most of the time, Darwin had his demands, and she would be either at the accommodation he

arranged for her or in the secretary's

rest area. She rarely came over and didn't have many things.

A carry-on suitcase was enough. Fiona packed meticulously, making sure nothing was left behind before she could leave at ease.

Back at her residence, she started organizing her work notes and some work to be handed over. The handover of secretarial work was not a big problem for her since she had two work notebooks that the other person could fully comprehend.

The trouble was the large-scale infrastructure project she was responsible for following up on last year. It was her first time taking charge of such a big project, and she had put in a lot of effort. Now, leaving midway, she worried that it would affect the progress of the project.

While thinking about it, Fiona's

phone rang. It was a call from the

medical center. Recently, her best friend Ashton, who returned from studying abroad, insisted that she looked too frail, so she dragged her for a medical check-up.

She figured it might be the report from the check-up. She answered the call.

"Miss Woods, this is CBS health center."

"I know, just send the electronic version of the medical report to my email," Fiona replied.

After speaking, she was about to

hang up.

But the other person spoke first, "Miss Woods, you're pregnant!"

Fiona froze, "What?"

"I said, congratulations, you're 8 weeks pregnant!" the voice on the other side was as jubilant as if celebrating the Lunar New Year.

Fiona was stunned.

She was pregnant? How was that possible? She and Darwin had always been strict about contraception!

"Miss Woods, here's the thing, we have the best private maternity hospital in the country, as well as a luxurious postpartum center..." the person enthusiastically advertised.

Fiona was already in a daze and didn't hear a single word.

"I understand, if there's a need, I

will..."

"Contact them."

After regaining her composure, Fiona mumbled a few words and quickly hung up the phone.

Then, she gazed at the steady autumn rain outside the window. Lost in thought for a while. Then, rationality slowly returned, and she quickly weighed the pros and cons in her

mind. She glanced at her flat stomach.

She thought to herself, "This child

cannot be kept."

Fiona couldn't sleep all night, so she

took two days off. Early in the morning, she went to the hospital for another check-up.

The check-up confirmed that she was eight weeks pregnant. She thought and recalled vaguely that two months ago, on Darwin's birthday, there was indeed a moment of risky behavior. Just that one time. Only once...

"Young lady, you're not easily conceiving, so it would be best to keep this child," the doctor said gently, seeing Fiona alone and

looking worn out.

Not easily conceiving, yet pregnant with just one incident? Should she consider herself lucky or unfortunate? Fiona felt bitter in her

heart.

"I will consider it carefully," Fiona said as she left the hospital.

She stood still, lost in thought, as the chilly autumn wind blew around her. Then she bought a plane ticket back home. The plane landed in Serene city. Fiona bought a bouquet of roses, a bunch of purple chrysanthemums, two bottles of good wine, and called a car to West Mountain cemetery.

As soon as she arrived at the

cemetery, a drizzle started to fall. The administrator saw Fiona from a

distance and hurried over with an umbrella.

"Fiona, it's not time yet, why are you

here?" the administrator asked.

"Just came to take a look," Fiona

replied politely.

They exchanged a few pleasantries.

She left a bottle of wine for the administrator. While holding the umbrella, she walked alone towards the depths of the cemetery. Watching her slender figure, the administrator held the wine and sighed with pity.

"What's the matter? Relatives?" the cleaning lady next to them asked.

The administrator shook their head and sighed again, "She's a poor soul. When she was four or five years old, she brought her mother here. When she was around ten, she brought her grandfather.

And half a year ago... her grandmother was brought here. On the day of the old lady's burial, she knelt there all day without eating or drinking."

Fiona, familiar with the place, found the tombstone easily. Her grandfather and grandmother were buried together, with her mother nearby. She placed roses for her grandfather and grandmother.

Her grandfather used to buy a rose for her grandmother every day. The purple chrysanthemums were her mother's favorite flowers. Lastly, she poured a glass of good wine for her grandfather.

"Grandma, grandpa, mom, I came back this time to tell you something."

"I'm pregnant."

"Technically, I shouldn't keep it."

"But all of you are gone... I have no family anymore. This child is my only blood kin."

Fiona took a deep breath. It seemed as if she had made a monumental

decision. "The doctor said it's difficult for me to conceive, so~ I've decided to give birth!"

After a moment of silence, Fiona

smiled and said, "You have spirits in heaven. Please bless her to be born

healthy and grow up well!"

Bay City.

President Solomon's Office was

bustling today.

Secretary.

The news of Woods resigning spread yesterday. It is well known that the difficult Mr. Solomon greatly relies on Secretary Woods. Just when everyone was skeptical, this morning, the new secretary who Clarke directly arranged her in Secretary Woods' office.

Amidst the shock, Miss Bella's appearance as the new secretary also caused quite a stir in the company. Miss Robbins surprisingly bears a striking resemblance to Secretary Woods, with a resemblance to Secretary Woods by about five or six percent.

Regarding the relationship between the president and Secretary Woods in the company, there have always been various speculations.

Now that Secretary Woods has resigned and someone so similar to her has arrived, it is even more terrifying to think about. Rumors have become more abundant and dramatic.

Early in the morning, Darwin went to a meeting with the overseas project department.

By the time the meeting ended, it was already noon. He had just returned to the president's office when Bella came over, looking aggrieved.

"Darwin, I took Secretary Woods' place. Is she unhappy and that's why she doesn't want to come and teach me?"

Darwin frowned, looking at Clarke.

"Where is Fiona?"

When Clarke looked, oh boy.

Has someone come here to play mind games?

"Mr. Solomon, Secretary Woods has some family matters to take care of

and has taken a leave," Clarke quickly said. "I apologize for forgetting to inform you this morning as I was busy preparing for the meeting."

"Family matters? So urgent that she didn't even have time to inform me? It must be something serious," Bella said, her face full of concern like a little white rabbit.

Darwin instinctively kept his distance from her. "Since she's not here, you can go home for now and come back when she returns."

Bella noticed his expression and knew that Darwin was in a bad mood. She coquettishly said a few words and then left. After leaving the president's office. Bella glanced at the secretary's room and in an instant, her expression changed. She bit her teeth hard. Fiona must be intentionally causing trouble for her! She didn't believe Fiona had any urgent matters. This was just a way to assert dominance over her!

Fiona, just you wait! You started this, today's matter isn't over!

"Mr. Solomon, you have a golf game with Mr. Oberlin from Oberlin Construction at three o'clock this afternoon..." Clarke reported Darwin's schedule as usual.

Darwin's expression was very ugly. He took a sip of the freshly brewed coffee, making his expression even worse.

"Call Fiona and tell her to come back immediately to hand over the work!"

She runs off without handing over anything. The people in the president's office are all useless; they can't even brew a good coffee!

"Yes!" Clarke immediately took out his phone.

Darwin glanced at it. He felt even more annoyed. Fiona's return was simply because her grandmother's health had taken a turn. But come to think of it, she seemed to not have returned for over half a year.

"Forget it." Impatiently pushing the coffee aside, Darwin grabbed a document and looked at it with a grim face.

Clarke held his phone, not daring to make a sound.

Silently, he walked to the side and sent a W******P message to Fiona:

"#Sobbing# Secretary Woods, Mr. Solomon has been in a bad mood all morning. Finish up your work quickly and come back to save me!"

After visiting the cemetery, Fiona had nowhere else to go. After receiving the W******P message from Clarke, she thought for a moment and decided to finish the handover as soon as possible so she could leave. The matter of the child must never be discovered by Darwin. He would never allow someone like her to give birth to a child of the Solomon family.

So the sooner she finished the handover, the sooner she left Solomon, the safer it would be to stay far away from Darwin!

Fiona did not linger and flew back to Bay City.

The next morning, Fiona arrived at the company on time. When the people in the president's office saw her, they looked like they were seeing a relative.

"Secretary Woods, are you alright?

Why are you resigning? What are we going to do without you!"

"Yeah, Mr. Solomon's anger is terrifying. I didn't even dare to breathe too hard all day yesterday!"

"Waah Secretary Woods, please don't leave. We won't survive without you to appease Mr. Solomon!"

Just as they were speaking, the exclusive elevator for the president's office lit up. The complaining crowd immediately straightened up and stood neatly by the elevator. After a moment, the elevator doors opened.

Darwin, dressed in a black high-end suit, came out with Bella.

"Good morning, Mr. Solomon."

The crowd said in unison, including Fiona who was standing at the back.

Fiona was still wearing her usual black and white suit, with her soft long hair cascading over her shoulders.

But her expression was no longer gentle, instead it was somewhat detached.

Darwin walked towards her with Bella.

"This is my new secretary, Bella."

Darwin's voice was cold and devoid of any emotions. "Train her well."