CHAPTER 1. IVY. I raised my head to find my boyfriend, Leon, standing at the door, a white towel wrapped around his waist. He held one hand on the towel, trying to keep it from slipping off, while the other rested on the doorframe.My eyes widened at the sight of him, but my heart sank when I noticed my cousin, Hailey, lying on the bed completely naked, desperately dragging the sheets to cover herself.Just a moment ago, I looked at the numbers inscribed on the door of Santaro Hotel before knocking. I was supposed to deliver a package to some customers who had placed an order, but who would have imagined I would be delivering condoms to my fiancé and his side piece?The pain in my heart deepened; it wasn't just any woman—it was Hailey, my own cousin.I felt trapped in a nightmare. A lump formed in my throat, making it difficult to speak or swallow. I held my breath, refusing to believe what I was seeing. "Hailey," I managed to mutter, my voice shaking.In that hotel room, my worl

It felt as though I had been searching for a surrogate for the past two years, even though I only decided to start looking two months ago. I’ve visited several cities and met women who wanted to sell their wombs, but none of them were suitable for the job. Carrying the next prince of Monaco isn’t just any regular pregnancy, and I can’t bring in just anyone. She could easily be used against me.We might present ourselves as one big, loving family, but I know deep down that my brothers would do anything to secure that position for themselves.It didn’t take long to run a background check on Ivy. Her full name is Ivy Alessia Hall. She’s never been married, but she did date a jerk, as Cotti informed me. She has only a high school diploma but a passion for fashion. She has no criminal history, and her parents are deceased. She has no family.It must be tragic to have no one, but it works to my advantage. At least there will be no one to link her to when my family begins their search. With

I finally woke up from a dreamless sleep and squinted at the brightness of the room. Yawning and stretching, I felt more relaxed than I had in a long time. A smile tugged at my lips as I remembered the dream I just had. In it, I had collided with a handsome stranger after meeting that arrogant director at Sky Investments.I didn’t recall every detail, but I remembered saying, “I’m sorry, it was an accident,” as I fell into his arms. He had responded with a charming smile and a grace that made me feel awkward. “I’m not complaining. If it was an accident, then it was a pleasant one.”But that was no dream.The last thing I remembered was accidentally kissing him, and I could still swear he tasted like sweet apple juice. The nostalgia of that moment lingered in my mind until I spun around, and my breath caught in my throat.The sense of calm vanished as I took in my surroundings—the chandeliers, and the luxurious bed. This place was unfamiliar.Where was I?Panic surged through me as I j

“Where have you been?” she asked, holding him tightly. Her eyes sparkled with unadulterated happiness as she embraced him. Luca smiled. “I’m sorry; I should have told you before leaving.” He kissed her forehead. “How is everything going for the wedding?” She frowned. “You asked them to take care of it all, so I don’t know what they have done and what they haven’t.” Luca nodded. “I almost forgot I did. So how have you been since I left?” She rolled her eyes. “Please don’t ask. I thought you…” “Run away because I can’t afford it, right?” He laughed. “Ah, my lovely bride-to-be,” Luca said, his eyes sparkling with mischief. “I see you’re still as organized as ever. Or should I say, as unorganized?” He chuckled, teasing her gently. Sara playfully hit him on the arm. “Hey, I’m just trying to enjoy the ride. You’re the one who wanted to take care of all the details while being invincible!” “Yes, well, I may have taken care of the details, but I didn’t say I was going to tel

At the Edward family mansion..Back at the Edward family house, it was exactly 6:56 pm when Luca joined the ongoing dinner table in the dining room. Everyone was present, with Jacob and his mother inclusive. It was just one person missing that everyone was waiting for.A couple of minutes later, the door swung open and about three maids helped Madam Ivy to the dining table. One of the maids wrapped her hands around Madam Ivy's waist, and the other one had her hands over her shoulders as a wedge. They pulled the chair out and helped her to settle down into it. Meanwhile, as they helped her slowly to the chair, Luca, who had seen her current condition, couldn't help but stifle his laughter, but then it was too late, and his smirk caught everyone's attention except Grandpa, who had his head downwards.Once Sara noticed the smirk on his face, it flashed back into her memory... he has another family! Her face paled up immediately, and she clenched her hands, crumpling her dress under the t