The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 134

Chapter 134

ARIA

I froze when the motion sensor lights in the garden suddenly illuminated. My heart nearly stopped when I saw what-or rather who-was

climbing over our garden wall. My daughter Aurora, in her brand new red ballet shoes, was gracefully scaling down the decorative lattice

with surprising agility for a three-year-old.

She hadn’t noticed me yet. I watched as she landed softly on the grass, her movements fluid and practiced. This wasn’t her first time sneaking out. She turned toward the house, probably planning to climb back up to her bedroom window.

“Rory, where have you been at this hour!” My voice came out sharper than intended.

Her little body trembled against my leg. Her eyes widened with fear.

“I… I went outside to play, Mommy. The house was boring. I saw the goldfish in the fountain pool too. They were so pretty!”

My blood ran cold. The fountain. Water. Deep enough for a child to drown.

“You went near the water?” My voice didn’t sound like my own. Images of my father’s funeral flashed through my mind-the closed casket, the flowers, the pitying looks. All because of water. “Rory, you’re just a little girl. How could you go outside alone? Near water?”

I couldn’t stop the tremor in my voice. My throat closed up. I turned away so she wouldn’t see the panic in my eyes. Every parent has fears, but mine went deeper. Water had taken my father. It could just as easily take my daughter. The nightmares I’d had for years suddenly felt too real, too possible.

“Mommy, it’s all Rory’s fault.” She wrapped her tiny arms around my leg. “Rory won’t be so brave again.”

I couldn’t respond. The thought of what could have happened paralyzed me. I heard the soft plop of her tears hitting the floor, but I couldn’t move. Each tear was a knife in my heart, but I had to be firm. This wasn’t about discipline-it was about survival.

“Aria, don’t be angry with her.” Olivia’s calm voice came from the hallway. She had just emerged from the guest room, wearing her silk pajamas. ‘She’s just a child.”

52

Olivia knelt beside Aurora, her voice gentle. “Your mommy isn’t really mad at you, Aurora. She’s scared because she loves you so much and doesn’t want to lose you.”

Aurora sniffled and nodded. “Rory knows Mommy isn’t mad at Rory. Mommy just wants Rory to always be safe.”

I stared at my daughter in surprise. Those words… they sounded too mature for a three-year-old. The unexpected wisdom in her statement broke through my frozen state. I dropped to my knees and pulled her into my arms, letting my dark curls mingle with her soft

hair.

“You’re right, baby. Mommy doesn’t ask for much. I just want you and William to be healthy and safe.”

1/3

14:05 Mon, Jun 15

Chapter 134

I promise I’ll tell a grown-up next time, Aurora said, her little face serious.

\བ༔

52

I wiped her tears away with my thumb. ‘Where did you learn to say that, Rory? About me wanting you to be safe?’

“The nice man in the garden told me.” She dug into the pocket of her pink dress and pulled out a yellow leaf. “He wrote his number here. I need to pay him back for his shoes. I made them dirty with cake.”

I took the leaf, noting the phone number written in crisp, bold strokes. Something about the handwriting seemed familiar. The way the numbers slanted slightly to the right, the precise pressure of the pen… It reminded me of someone I once knew. Someone I tried not to

think about anymore.

Olivia peered over my shoulder at the leaf. “Well, whoever this mystery man is, he seems decent. Teaching Aurora about safety and responsibility. That’s more than most strangers would do.”

“I taught her about taking responsibility for her mistakes,” I reminded Olivia, still staring at the handwriting.

“True,” Olivia agreed. “But reinforcement from others helps. Three-year-olds start testing boundaries, Aria. You need to be firm.”

I nodded. “I know it breaks my heart when she cries, but she needs to understand consequences. Especially about dangerous things like wandering off alone.”

“So, are you going to call this mystery man to thank him?” Olivia asked.

“Should I? Wouldn’t that be too forward?” I glanced at the number again.

“Text him. Less awkward, more appropriate.” Olivia smirked. “My emotional intelligence has improved after dealing with that psycho from Moore Technology for three years.”

“The CEO who keeps rejecting your proposals?”

“Yes! That man finds fault with every tiny detail. I’ve had to become a diplomat just to survive meetings with him.” Olivia rolled her eyes. ‘But enough about my work nightmares. Text your mystery garden man.”

“What if he’s some creep who preys on single mothers?” I whispered, making sure Aurora couldn’t hear.

“Then we track him down and destroy him, Olivia said with complete seriousness. “But he returned your child safely and taught her a valuable lesson. Worth at least a thank you text.”

I pulled out my phone and typed:

[Hello, this is Aurora’s mother. She told me about meeting you in the garden today. Thank you for looking after her and teaching her about safety. She mentioned owing you for cake on your shoes? Please let me know the amount so I can reimburse you.]

I hit send before I could overthink it.

2/3

14:05 Mon, Jun 15

Chapter 134

“There, I said, putting my phone away. “Now let’s get this little escape artist to bed.”

BLAKE

នគ

52

I stood outside Morgan Tower, watching city lights reflect off the glass. My mind wasn’t on the emergency board meeting. It was on that

little girl with green eyes. Eyes that reminded me of Aria.

Three years of building an empire while feeling hollow inside. The board complained I’d become ruthless. They didn’t understand work

was all that kept me from falling apart.

Jack spotted me and rushed over. “Mr. Morgan! I thought you might not show up.”

“You don’t have that much influence over my schedule,” I replied coldly.

Jack winced. “Sir, about the airport… I wasn’t trying to hurt you by mentioning Aria. I just thought-

“You thought wrong. Everyone thought they knew what was best for me. Move on. Let go. As if I hadn’t tried.

‘I checked every camera, every flight manifest,” Jack continued. “There’s no record of Aria leaving through that terminal. Olivia was there to meet her lawyer, not Aria.”

I stopped walking. Something twisted in my chest. Hope dying again. How many times would I let myself believe she might be back? I’d lost count way too many times.

My phone buzzed. A text message. I ignored it. Whatever crisis waited inside couldn’t hurt more than the wound that never healed.

“The board is waiting,” I said, walking away from Jack’s pitying gaze. The text remained unread in my pocket.

Comments

63

Write Comments

S SHARE