The sudden creak of the door broke the conversation, and Zayden and Ryan's heads swiveled in unison, their eyes locking onto Zara, who peeked out from the bathroom door with a flustered expression.
Ryan raised his brows, wondering what she was doing inside the bathroom. He turned his head to Zayden and saw that his face was slightly flushed. Unconsciously, Ryan couldn't help but smile at his boss's reaction.
Zayden sighed and shook his head in reluctance, despite his flustered expression. Looking at her closely, he knew the reason she appeared familiar to him—it was because she was his surrogate, nothing less, nothing more. He didn't want to have the slightest doubt that she was...
"Take her to the guest room," Zayden said as he stood up, knowing that his thoughts could lead somewhere dangerous.
"Why am I still kept here?" Zara questioned, her brows creased, and her eyes nearly popping out due to her intense stare at Zayden.
Zayden signaled to Ryan using his chin. He wondered why Zane pretended to be oblivious to what their father had agreed upon. Or was she not informed?
He turned in their direction to see Ryan lifting Zara. His brows furrowed; his temperature slightly rose at the sight before him, and Zara could feel her back burn from an unknown fire she didn't know Zayden had.
How dare he?
He walked over to where they stood, pulled Ryan away from her, then lifted her off her feet and placed her on his shoulder.
"Get away from me, you pervert," Zara protested as she hit his back fervently, her legs dancing in midair.
However, Zayden was determined not to give up. He understood that if he failed, Ryan would have to escort her to her room.
Therefore, he believed it would be better for him to personally take care of her, as she was his surrogate, and he had made a promise to his father to look after her. He tried to convince himself that he was using his father as an excuse and nothing more.
"Did that red face send you to kidnap me? Drop me down."
"I said, drop me down," Zara repeated in a commanding manner, despite her tiny voice.
Just before she could raise her voice again, he gently dropped her onto the bed.
Zara looked around and immediately covered her chest, her face turning hot as she remembered what he had told her earlier in the bathroom. "I think it would fit perfectly." The thought made her face even hotter.
"I can... can't give you what you want," she stuttered, as her gaze darted to the ground while she protectively covered herself. She shyly tilted her head, blaming herself for stuttering.
Zayden inched closer to her, causing her to instinctively lean back.
Realizing she could fall if she took another step, she stopped moving.
She could tell her heart rate had increased from the way it was beating loudly and fast as a result of Zayden's body, which emitted warmth.
A smirk appeared on Zayden's lips as he said, "You will, Zane, because you are my surrogate."
Before Zara could ask any questions, he abruptly left with a loud bang on the door. Her body flinched slightly at the sound, her hands still covering her chest.
"What does he mean by Zane? And who was his surrogate?" she muttered to herself, tilting her head to the side thoughtfully.
Resting her chin on her hands, Zara mumbled, "I don't recall being Zane the last time I checked."
"Or am I a twin?" she gasped, covering her mouth.
Zayden had said that earlier just to see her expression. It was evident that her father hadn't told her about being his surrogate.
He knew her father well, and he knew how greedy he was—greedy enough to send his daughter to her deathbed without a second thought. It wouldn't affect him since he had another daughter, and Zayden could remember that the second daughter was his favorite.
"I need information on Zane," he told Ryan after meeting him on the stairway. Ryan nodded and left immediately.
Zayden's brows furrowed as he spotted a familiar figure by the window. With his hands against the wall, Alex stood looking out, his face sullen and devoid of all emotion. Zayden knew Alex must have had a reason to be there.
Zayden sat down and crossed his long legs.
"What is it, Alex? Don't you know the importance of a phone?" Zayden said, closing his eyes, his head resting on the chair.
The room remained quiet as Zayden impatiently waited for answers. Finally, Alex spoke, breaking the silence.
"You look so devilishly handsome," he said, turning toward Zayden and using both hands to make a V-shape on Zayden's face from a distance.
Alex was also handsome, with pale skin, a chiseled jawline, and a perfect dimple. His eyes were piercing green, shining like fine champagne. His brows had a strong, angular shape, perfectly groomed, while his brown hair was styled to fall forward like a fringe.
As he settled into the chair, a smile curved across his lips. The effect of his smile was enough to make anyone instantly fall in love.
Zayden's face immediately twisted in anger as he remembered the word Zara had used for him: "You look like a blobfish."
"Can't I come and visit a friend of mine?" Alex said, drawing Zayden out of his thoughts.
"Have you heard of a blobfish? What is it like?" Zayden asked, his curiosity piqued.
He was taken aback by Alex's excessive laughter. "You look like one," Alex said, continuing to laugh until his mouth ached.
Zayden's brows furrowed even more. He hadn't expected Alex to say that too.
Did he really look like one? he asked himself, as his hands went to his cheeks.
"Whoever told you that is right, especially when you make that angry face," Alex said, mimicking Zayden's angry expression by puffing up his face and closing the distance between his brows.
Alex's eyes unconsciously met Zayden's, and for a moment, time seemed to freeze. Zayden's gaze was like a razor-sharp blade, cutting through the air with deadly intensity.
Alex's breath caught in his throat as he felt the weight of that gaze, but he quickly recomposed himself.
He was curious, though, about who had called Zayden a blobfish, but he didn't dare ask, unless he wanted to be doomed.
Getting the reaction he wanted from Alex, Zayden crossed his arms over his chest.
Alex and Zayden had been friends for years. After Zayden saved Alex from his father's brutality when he was fourteen years old, he had fed and clothed Alex.
Surprisingly, Alex was the first person Zayden wouldn't make a deal with. Though Alex had a way of annoying him, he was still the first person Zayden was close to, despite his identity.
Alex had always been thankful to Zayden and had done everything possible to return the favor, even if it lasted forever.
His green eyes stared at the man who seemed to be in deep thought—a man who could bring both death and peace at the same time.
He knew the burden weighed on Zayden, yet he couldn't help but want to grow closer to him.
Despite Zayden's coldness, Alex would always consider him a friend and, if possible, save him from his...
"Don't you have something to say?" Zayden asked, pulling Alex out of his endless thoughts.
"Hm... Ethan is getting married," Alex said after a few seconds, his shoulders tensing as his expression clouded with concern.