Chapter 3 · The Ceo's Lucky Charm Surrogate

But for more than a thousand days and nights, I was there by Samuel's bedside every single day.

I kept him updated on the news, told him if stocks were up or down.

I shared jokes with him, even though he didn't respond at all.

I'd rub my pregnant belly, so the baby could "greet" him.

I thought everyone had feelings, that people weren't made of stone.

I even naively dreamed that when he finally woke up, seeing our adorable baby and me, who'd stayed by his side all this time, even if there was no love, maybe he'd feel some kind of family bond or be moved, just a little.

Turned out, I was just fooling myself.

He had his one and only, and I was nothing but a tool to be tossed aside once my job was done.

"Wah—" The loud cry pulled me out of my despair and back to reality.

It was my boy, the older twin, crying.

Then, his little sister started wailing too.

I scrambled up, fumbling around trying to mix up some formula for them.

But both little ones were bawling their lungs out, faces flushed red, and no matter what I tried, they just wouldn't stop.

I was sweating bullets, thinking maybe something was really wrong.

I clumsily fumbled with their swaddles, trying to check them over.

And then, something freaky happened.

Even in the dim light, I couldn't miss it—right on my son's forehead, two shiny little horns with golden scales suddenly sprouted out of nowhere, making a soft "pop" sound.

They were tiny, like little diamonds, sparkling with an otherworldly glow under the lamp.

I sucked in a breath, stunned, wondering if postpartum hallucinations were messing with my head.

I rubbed my eyes and looked again.

Sure enough, those tiny dragon horns were still there.

Next to him, his sister seemed worn out from crying and let out a delicate little yawn.

As she stretched, a pair of fluffy, golden-red wings suddenly unfurled from her swaddle.

The wings flapped twice, stirring up a soft breeze, and a few strands of downy golden fluff floated through the air.

I was completely lost.

What... what did I just give birth to?

I was just a regular orphan girl, so how on earth did I end up with a dragon and a phoenix for kids?!

I just sat there in a daze, staring at these two little weirdos who'd cried themselves to sleep. My mind was totally blank.

Horns? Seriously?

Wings? For real?

This was the kind of thing in legends, right?

Did Samuel have some kind of wild gene or something?

But he was just a normal guy.

My hands were shaking as I pulled out my phone and started searching, "What do I do if my newborn has horns and wings?"

Literally every result was just telling me to book an appointment with a shrink.

I slumped back, feeling like I'd somehow stumbled into a fantasy novel.

Right then, an old but gentle voice suddenly spoke up in my head.

"Child, if you're hearing this message, it means you've just brought new blood into the Barton family."

I shot up, whipping my head around to check the room.

The little room was empty.

But the voice continued, clear as day in my head. "I'm Samuel's grandfather, Jenson Barton. I'm sorry I never got to meet my great-grandchild."

Jenson Barton! I realized, stunned.

He was the one who stood up to everyone and chose me, an orphan girl, to be Samuel's bride.

He said my destiny was pure, that I was the Barton family's blessing.

But sadly, he passed away from illness before I could even marry into the Barton family.

"The Barton family doesn't just have an ordinary bloodline. We're descendants of dragons. But as the generations passed, our heritage got diluted, and now we're pretty much like everyone else.

"Because our bloodline got so thin, a curse came with it. Most of the Barton men are sickly or doomed to face some major catastrophe.

"I once sought out a mystic, hoping to find a lifeline for the Barton family. The mystic said we needed to find someone whose fate is pure and whose blood is untainted, a destined one, whose pure blood could serve as a catalyst to awaken the sleeping dragon blood in our family.

"Samuel's tribulation may look like a curse, but in reality, it's a blessing in disguise.

"Child, you are the destined one.

"If your children show anything strange or out of the ordinary, don't be afraid, and whatever you do, don't let anyone else find out. Take good care of them. This marks the rise of the Barton family, and it's an incredible stroke of good fortune for you and your kids.

"I've left you a secret asset from the Barton family, something to secure your future with your children. The token is hidden inside the lucky charm I sent to you on your wedding day."

Chapter 3

But for more than a thousand days and nights, I was there by Samuel's bedside every single day.

I kept him updated on the news, told him if stocks were up or down.

I shared jokes with him, even though he didn't respond at all.

I'd rub my pregnant belly, so the baby could "greet" him.

I thought everyone had feelings, that people weren't made of stone.

Turned out, I was just fooling myself.

He had his one and only, and I was nothing but a tool to be tossed aside once my job was done.

"Wah—" The loud cry pulled me out of my despair and back to reality.

It was my boy, the older twin, crying.

Then, his little sister started wailing too.

I scrambled up, fumbling around trying to mix up some formula for them.

But both little ones were bawling their lungs out, faces flushed red, and no matter what I tried, they just wouldn't stop.

I was sweating bullets, thinking maybe something was really wrong.

I clumsily fumbled with their swaddles, trying to check them over.

And then, something freaky happened.

Even in the dim light, I couldn't miss it—right on my son's forehead, two shiny little horns with golden scales suddenly sprouted out of nowhere, making a soft "pop" sound.

They were tiny, like little diamonds, sparkling with an otherworldly glow under the lamp.

I sucked in a breath, stunned, wondering if postpartum hallucinations were messing with my head.

I rubbed my eyes and looked again.

Sure enough, those tiny dragon horns were still there.

Next to him, his sister seemed worn out from crying and let out a delicate little yawn.

As she stretched, a pair of fluffy, golden-red wings suddenly unfurled from her swaddle.

The wings flapped twice, stirring up a soft breeze, and a few strands of downy golden fluff floated through the air.

I was completely lost.

What... what did I just give birth to?

I was just a regular orphan girl, so how on earth did I end up with a dragon and a phoenix for kids?!

I just sat there in a daze, staring at these two little weirdos who'd cried themselves to sleep. My mind was totally blank.

Horns? Seriously?

Wings? For real?

This was the kind of thing in legends, right?

Did Samuel have some kind of wild gene or something?

But he was just a normal guy.

My hands were shaking as I pulled out my phone and started searching, "What do I do if my newborn has horns and wings?"

Literally every result was just telling me to book an appointment with a shrink.

I slumped back, feeling like I'd somehow stumbled into a fantasy novel.

Right then, an old but gentle voice suddenly spoke up in my head.

"Child, if you're hearing this message, it means you've just brought new blood into the Barton family."

I shot up, whipping my head around to check the room.

The little room was empty.

But the voice continued, clear as day in my head. "I'm Samuel's grandfather, Jenson Barton. I'm sorry I never got to meet my great-grandchild."

Jenson Barton! I realized, stunned.

He was the one who stood up to everyone and chose me, an orphan girl, to be Samuel's bride.

He said my destiny was pure, that I was the Barton family's blessing.

But sadly, he passed away from illness before I could even marry into the Barton family.

"The Barton family doesn't just have an ordinary bloodline. We're descendants of dragons. But as the generations passed, our heritage got diluted, and now we're pretty much like everyone else.

"Because our bloodline got so thin, a curse came with it. Most of the Barton men are sickly or doomed to face some major catastrophe.

"Samuel's tribulation may look like a curse, but in reality, it's a blessing in disguise.

"Child, you are the destined one.

"I've left you a secret asset from the Barton family, something to secure your future with your children. The token is hidden inside the lucky charm I sent to you on your wedding day."