"I thought I was protecting her." His voice cracked. "She always looked so hopeful when people talked about the future. For years, I watched her hurt herself silently, imagining something she could never have. And I couldn't..." He stopped, shutting his eyes. "I just couldn't give her that pain."
"You should have told her," someone whispered.
"I know."
The word was a confession.
Feng Ting lowered himself into a chair, stunned. "So the pregnancy…"
"Was supposed to be the surprise she never expected," Zeyan said, the lie sharp as glass in his mouth. "Yueling and Shuyin were close sisters. When I approached Yueling about being a surrogate, she agreed immediately."
His voice softened, mechanical, and emotionless.
"I wanted to give Shuyin a miracle. Something she believed she could never have. I wanted to see her face when she realized she was going to be a mother."
His throat tightened so much he could barely speak.
"That was supposed to be her surprise."
