The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12

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Aria had never looked at me that way. Not when I dragged her from the club. Not when I threatened her father’s medical care. Not even when I told her she meant nothing to me. But now? Pure disgust burned in

those green eyes.

My contract wife-always so careful, so obedient-stood there shaking with rage. This wasn’t the Aria I

knew. The Aria I controlled.

Movement caught my eye. Matthew was unbuttoning her coat, and that’s when I saw them. Her hands. Wrapped in thick white bandages, fingers trembling-whether from pain or fury, I couldn’t tell.

“What the hell happened?” The question ripped out of me before I could stop it.

Aria looked down at her hands, her voice flat and detached. “Someone drugged me at tonight’s gala. I woke

up locked in the wine cellar.” She flexed her bandaged fingers slightly, wincing. “Spent hours trying to break

out. Hurt my hands in the process.”

Wine cellar? Drugged?

She said it so casually, like she was recounting a minor inconvenience. No accusation. No plea for sympathy.

Just facts.

Matthew’s jaw clenched, but he remained silent, his eyes fixed on me with cold judgment.

My neck muscles tightened. The veins there pulsed with each heartbeat. “Emma was injured in a fire years

ago. She saved my life. She’s my responsibility-”

“Of course she is.” Matthew’s voice dripped with contempt. “Emma always comes first, doesn’t she?”

The accusation hit harder than it should have. I turned to Aria. “How bad are your injuries?”

“Minor.” She didn’t look at me, adjusting her coat with careful movements. “Already treated.”

The single-word answer felt like a door slamming shut.

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Chapter 12

“Let me take you to the hospital-”

“No.” She started walking toward the house, dismissing me entirely.

I stepped in front of her. “Aria-”

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She stopped, but her eyes stayed fixed somewhere past my shoulder. “We had an agreement, Mr. Morgan.

Separate lives.” Her tone was perfectly polite, perfectly distant. “I’m simply honoring our contract.”

Separate lives. The words echoed in my head, wrong somehow. When had things changed?

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I remembered six months ago. Aria had stumbled into my office, making a show of looking pale. “Blake, I’m

not feeling well. Could you take me to the doctor?” Another pathetic attempt to get my attention, to make

mẹ care. I’d sent her with the driver, of course. She’d sulked for days when I didn’t come personally.

Now she’d rather turn to Matthew Redwood-her father’s enemy’s son-than ask me for help.

The realization hit me hard. She wasn’t playing games anymore. She wasn’t trying to get my attention. She

was actually choosing someone else.

How dare she? After everything I’d done for her family? The medical bills, the job, the status? And she runs

to Redwood?

My fists clenched involuntarily. Twenty-four years of perfect control, and suddenly everything felt off- balance. This woman, this contract, this arrangement-none of it was going according to plan.

Why did I care who she turned to? She was nothing but a business deal. A five-year contract to clean up a scandal and keep the board happy. In two more years, she’d be gone, and I’d be free to marry Emma

properly.

Emma. The woman who saved my life. The woman I care about most.

So why did Aria’s coldness make my chest tight?

“You’re my wife,” I said, the words tasting strange. “My responsibility-”

“On paper.” She cut me off, her tone matter-of-fact. “Just paper, Blake. Nothing more.”

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Chapter 12

Matthew stepped closer to her, protective. The gesture made something dark and ugly rise in my throat.

‘Aria needs rest,” he said. “I’ll check on her tomorrow.”

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“That won’t be necessary.” The words came out sharper than intended. “I’ll handle my wife’s medical needs.”

“Your wife?” Aria’s laugh was soft, almost amused. But there was no warmth in it. “Interesting choice of

words. You gave another woman our family ring. You spent tonight with her while I was locked in a cellar.

But sure, let’s pretend I’m your wife.”

I had no answer. Emma wearing the blue diamond had seemed right at the time. She was supposed to have

it all along. If Aria hadn’t drugged me three years ago…

But looking at Aria now, bandaged and trembling, something felt wrong about that logic.

“I didn’t know you were hurt.” The admission came out grudgingly. “If I had known-”

“You would have done exactly the same thing.” She turned toward the house, her movements deliberate and

controlled. “Emma calls, you run. That’s the arrangement. I understand perfectly.”

She was right. I knew she was right. So why did it bother me?

Matthew helped her up the stairs, his hand on her elbow. Too familiar. Too comfortable. When had they

gotten close?

‘I can manage from here,” I said, stepping between them.

“Aria?” Matthew ignored me, focusing only on her. “Will you be okay?”

She nodded, exhaustion clear in every line of her body. “Thank you, Matthew. For everything.”

The warmth in her voice when she said his name-warmth she never used with me-made my jaw clench.

Matthew left, but not before shooting me one last glare. I turned to find Aria already heading inside.

“We’re not done talking,” I called after her.

She paused at the door, not bothering to turn around. “Actually, we are. You made your choice tonight. You

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The CEO’s Regret: His Lost Wife’s Secret Twins