The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 100

Chapter 100

EMMA

I couldn’t sleep anymore.

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Every night for what felt forever, I’d wake up drenched in sweat, my heart pounding so hard it hurt. The nightmares kept coming. Prison

bars. Cell doors slamming. Walls closing in on me until I couldn’t breathe.

By the time morning light filtered through my curtains, I’d given up on rest entirely. I dragged myself downstairs, my hands trembling as

I moved through the empty hallways.

My parents were gone. Just packed up and left for “business” in another state. They didn’t even look me in the eye when they said goodbye. Did they know? Had they figured out I wasn’t their real daughter? The thought made my stomach twist.

Everything I’d built felt unstable now. Blake had been distant. The ballet company kept asking weird questions about my “availability” for the fall season. Even my supposed friends had started acting strange.

I was losing control, and I had no idea how to stop it.

The doorbell rang.

I froze in the hallway. Who would come to our estate this early in the morning?

Christine appeared from the kitchen, concern written across her face. “I’ll get it, Miss Emma.”

“No.” Something in my gut told me this wasn’t good. “I’ll answer it.”

I walked to the front door and pulled it open.

Matthew Redwood stood on our doorstep, immaculate in his smoke-gray suit. His eyes fixed on me with that cold, calculating look I

hated.

“What the hell are you doing here?’ The words came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t care.

‘Good morning to you too, Emma.” His voice was calm, almost pleasant. As if this was a social call. “May I come in? Or would you prefer to have this conversation on your doorstep where anyone could hear?”

My blood ran cold. Conversation about what?”

“About your future,” Matthew said simply. “Or rather, the lack of one.”

Christine appeared behind me. “Miss Emma doesn’t have to speak with you. Leave our property immediately.”

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14:00 Mon, Jun 15

Chapter 100

Matthew ignored her completely, his eyes never leaving mine. “The surveillance cameras along the lake path behind Redwood Medical Center caught some very interesting footage. Aaron Taylor’s final moments before he went into the water. Very clear. Very detailed.”

The world seemed to tilt sideways. My legs felt weak.

“You’re lying,” I said, but my voice came out breathless, shaky. “You’re making this up.”

“Am I?” Matthew’s face twisted into a smile that made my skin crawl. “Aria’s meeting with the building owner tomorrow morning at nine. Once she has that footage officially confirmed and authenticated, she’s taking it straight to the FBI.

“No.” The word barely came out. My throat felt tight, constricted.

“This is ridiculous!” I tried to sound strong, but my voice cracked. “You can’t just accuse me based on some random security footage! Blake

won’t let you get away with this!”

Matthew actually laughed. The sound was harsh, mocking.

“Blake?” He shook his head slowly. “You still think he’s going to save you? You really haven’t been paying attention, have you? He chose her, Emma. He chose Aria. You’re on your own now.”

The words felt sharp, cutting. Because deep down, I knew he was right. Blake had been pulling away from me for weeks. Ever since she

came back.

“The evidence doesn’t lie,” Matthew continued, his voice turning cold and clinical. “Soon, the media will have the story. They’ll photograph every second as the police take you away in handcuffs. Can you imagine the headlines? ‘Prima Ballerina Arrested for Attempted Murder. Your face on every news channel, every website, every newspaper in the country.”

“Stop it,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around myself. But he kept talking.

“The Grant family will disown you. The New York Ballet will fire you within hours. Your fans will turn on you. Every door in high society will slam shut.” He paused, watching me fall apart. “Have you thought about prison, Emma? Small cells, dangerous inmates, no designer

clothes, no applause.”

‘Shut up!” I screamed. “You have nothing!”

‘I know you’re guilty, Matthew said softly. “I know what you did to Aaron. By tomorrow, everyone else will know too.”

My chest felt crushed. Years of building my life, about to crumble.

“How dare you!” Christine burst out, confronting Matthew. “All this for Aaron Taylor? That worthless man who killed your father in that car accident! And you’re defending him?”

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