Surrogate for the Alpha Prince in a Coma novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Lillian’s POV

Things remained tense with Grayson, but I didn’t think skipping Benedict’s welcome dinner would change that. So when the time came, I changed into a simple and conservative black dress and went down to the dining room.

Outside the dining room, I stopped a moment to take a breath. From the noise within, it seemed as if the rest of the guests had already arrived. I was sure to earn a lot of dark looks and maybe even some foul words as I entered. Their malice shouldn’t bother me anymore. In a lot of ways, it didn’t, but it was difficult to continue to stand strong when people on every side had it out for me.

Yet, to my surprise, when I stepped into the dining room, while I did earn some sharp glances, there were three that were not so.

Clara, standing away from Ophelia and her group, was one.

Josephine and Benedict were the other two.

“What are you smiling at?” Ophelia snapped at Clara, who immediately looked away. Clara remained separated from the rest of the group, a foot or two away at all times. She didn’t try to move closer to them, nor did they move closer to her.

I wondered if they found out about her helping me, but to defend her would only be to make things worse for her. For now, I pretended not to notice.

Benedict and Josephine came up to me.

“It’s good to see you, Lillian,” Josephine said. “How is my brother?”

I didn’t like lying to her, but I would keep my word to Grayson. “He is the same.”

She nodded.

“Hopefully those medicines I brought will change things,” Benedict said. “Do you know if the doctor administered them yet?”

“I’m… not sure,” I said.

“He probably wants to run tests on them first. With everything going on around here, I’m not surprised,” Benedict said. “I’m pleased he’s taking my nephew’s health into such high consideration. He’s a good doctor. Best in the kingdom.”

“Yes,” I said, and hoped he would change the subject.

“Well,” Benedict said. “Since you are my brother’s surrogate, I was prepared to not like you. But I find you delightful instead. What do you say, Lillian? Since you aren’t pregnant, why not imbibe with us tonight? Josephine and I already cracked open a bottle of wine, and she’s been telling me about her asshole ex-fiancé. Why not join us?”

“I’m not sure if I should…” I said. “Grayson might need me…”

“He’ll survive one evening while you have fun,” Grayson said.

“Oh, please join us, Lillian. I really want to get to know you better,” Josephine said. “And these events are such a bore. It’s more fun like this.”

“Alright,” I said. When was the last time I had even been allowed to have fun? I wasn’t much of a drinker, but one

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Chapter 36

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glass of wine couldn’t hurt. Everything had been so tense lately. Maybe a glass could help me loosen up to actually relax, something I hadn’t really been able to do since entering the palace.

With one exception…

My cheeks burned as I remembered Grayson pressing his fingers into me, giving me the relief I so desperately needed at that moment.

“One glass,” I said quickly, trying to distract myself from those thoughts. “A small one, please.”

“There’s a girl,” Grayson said.

“I’ll get her a glass,” Josephine said and hurried to the table. She poured me a glass of white wine and returned handing one of the two glasses she held to me.

I started sipping, but I didn’t really care for the taste, so bitter. I tried to smile at the others though, who seemed encouraged.

“Now, once you are pregnant, you won’t be able to do this,” Josephine said.

“All the more reason to have fun tonight,” Benedict added.

“I’ll just have this one,” I said.

“No you won’t,” said an authoritative female voice from my right. I froze, and so did Josephine.

Benedict merely lifted his drink. “Nice to see you, my Queen.”

“I should have sensed your influence in this, Benedict,” the Queen said. Even though she spoke to Benedict, her glare was on me and me alone. “You should not be drinking in your condition, surrogate.”

“It’s alright, dear sister,” Benedict said. “She’s not pregnant yet.”

“Then she should not be here. She should be there, with Grayson, performing her duties,” the Queen said.

“I’m going… over there…” Josephine said, immediately excusing herself. I couldn’t blame her. To my surprise, though, Benedict stayed, slowly sipping from his own glass.

“You were brought on for one purpose,” the Queen said to me, “and yet you are here, taking advantage of our hospitality while you ignore your duty. Do you have anything to say for yourself?”

I lowered my head. Permission to speak felt like a trap, one I had suffered before with Calvin and my father. Any chance where I had been allowed to speak was immediately turned around, against me.”

“I thought not,” the Queen said. “Hear me. Have your little merriment tonight, but it will be the last. You will fall pregnant before the upcoming ball, or we will send you back to the hole you came from. Do you understand?”

I nodded.

“I don’t hear you.”

“Yes, your Highness.”

“Better,” she said.

“You might be being a little harsh,” Benedict said.

The Queen gave him a deadly glare. “Stay out of this, Benedict. Until an heir can be established, the kingdom remains at risk. Duty before self, always. Or is that not something you honor anymore?”

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Chapter 36

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She didn’t stay for an answer, turning around and abruptly walking off.

It wasn’t until she was across the room and whispers started that I realized most of the dining room had been witness to my scolding. Bad enough that Benedict had to hear, but everyone else too?

Ophelia’s whispers were the loudest and the hardest to ignore, “She’ll be kicked out soon enough. Back on the street where she belongs. Probably to work on the street corners.”

The girls around her – sans Clara – giggled.

Benedict huffed. “Ignore them. They don’t know what they are talking about.”

I nodded, trying to stay brave and calm, not wanting to show my very real internal fear. The pressure was on, more intense than ever before. I doubted Grayson wanted to actually make me pregnant, but how much longer could he keep up the ruse without doing so?

Unless he didn’t care. If I failed to fall pregnant, the only one who would suffer the consequences was me.

I could see it now, the Queen casting me out, Grayson turning his back to me.

On the street, I wouldn’t be able to go home, knowing I’d only be tortured and imprisoned there. But how would I survive? And how long would it be before Calvin, in his fury, tracked me down?

Without the protection of the royal family, Calvin would show me no mercy? My life would be as good as over.

But, on the other hand, if Grayson were to agree and I were to fall pregnant, I would be giving up something that I had hoped to give to my true mate alone. My virginity, yes. But also my first child.

Would my true mate want me if I had borne a child to another?

Either route, I imagined myself alone.

This was an impossible choice.

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