The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 153

Chapter 153

BLAKE

I stood near the judges’ area, watching as Nina stormed across the competition hall toward the preschool division. This wasn’t part of the program. Nina was supposed to be judging the junior division today, not wandering into the children’s competition.

Everyone around me whispered in confusion. I kept my eyes fixed on Nina’s determined path until she stopped directly in front of Aurora, the little girl who had captivated the audience earlier. Emma, sitting at the judges’ panel with that self-satisfied expression she always wore, suddenly tensed up. Her posture faltered for a moment.

“Hello, I’m Aurora. Nice to meet you, Grandma Nina, the child greeted with perfect manners.

Nina’s stern expression melted instantly. Then she did something that shocked everyone-she announced she was giving Aurora the first place gold medal. Her assistant rushed forward with a small box containing the medal.

Emma jumped to her feet. “Teacher! I’m the head judge for the preschool division. Have you forgotten?”

Nina turned to Emma with unexpected sharpness. “I may be in my seventies, but my memory remains perfectly clear. Her voice carried throughout the hall. “You seem to be treating this judge’s seat as your personal stage, manipulating competition results as you please.”

I couldn’t stop the smile forming on my face. Emma had been throwing her weight around all day, and watching her get called out publicly gave me a strange satisfaction. The ice queen of the New York ballet world was finally getting a taste of her own medicine.

“This is the National Youth Dance Competition, not a Broadway commercial performance,” Nina continued. “If you cannot maintain impartiality, you may leave the judge’s panel immediately.”

Emma’s face drained of color. Her fingers gripped the armrests of her chair so hard I thought she might break them.

Aurora beamed at Nina. ‘Grandma Nina, you’re so nice! You came to help Aurora!”

“Dear child, I’m not here to favor anyone, Nina responded gently. “I’m here to ensure every child receives a fair evaluation.”

Nina’s expression changed as she looked at Aurora. “You remind me of my most outstanding student. She had a remarkable resemblance to you.” Her voice grew softer. ‘Unfortunately, she suffered a serious injury and had to say goodbye to the stage forever.”

The words hit me with unexpected force. Something about Nina’s description triggered a memory I couldn’t quite place. The way she looked at Aurora seemed weighted with history.

The audience began murmuring. I caught fragments of their conversations.

“Didn’t Emma claim in interviews that she was Nina’s favorite student?”

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Chapter 153

She’s been using Nina’s name to boost her status in the New York art scene for years.”

Who could that mysterious student be?”

I felt a strange tightness in my chest. This seemed important, though I couldn’t figure out why. Why did I care so much about some

former dance student? But the feeling persisted, gnawing at me.

Nina’s next announcement dropped like a bomb: “Little angel, do you like dancing? If you do, I’d like to teach you personally.”

Gasps echoed through the hall. Nina hadn’t taken a new student in over twenty years. Even I knew that much.

Aurora’s response was surprisingly mature: “Grandma Nina, Aurora really likes you, but Aurora is still little. Whether I can be your

student depends on what my mommy says.

Nina nodded approvingly. “Aurora is indeed a well-behaved and sensible child.”

She handed Aurora a business card. “This has Grandma’s phone number. When your mommy agrees to let you learn dancing with me, call

and let me know.”

Aurora accepted the card with solemn ceremony, her small fingers carefully holding the card as if it were made of gold.

Nina then hung the championship medal around Aurora’s neck. The crowd erupted in cheers as confetti exploded overhead.

I made my way to the stage, pushing past several people who tried to stop me. Something about this child drew me in ways I couldn’t explain. It was more than her obvious talent or her adorable appearance. There was something familiar about her that made me feel… protective. When I reached Aurora, I did something completely out of character-I picked her up and tossed her in the air twice, forgetting my usual reserved demeanor.

“Congratulations on winning the championship, Aurora! I’m proud of you!”

Aurora squealed with delight. “Woweeee!” Her small face pressed against my cheek, her happiness infectious. The warmth of her small body against mine sent a strange wave of emotion through me. When was the last time I’d felt this connected to anyone?

I noticed Emma approaching, her expression suddenly transformed into fake sweetness. ‘Aurora, sister Emma congratulates you on winning the championship.”

After seeing her previous behavior, I wasn’t buying this sudden change of heart. She continued her act: “Aurora, Emma auntie was a bit strict with you earlier, but it wasn’t personal. Emma auntie just wanted to help you become better.”

Aurora didn’t hesitate. “Auntie, you’re so fake!” she declared. “My mommy told Aurora that people who really want to be nice to you don’t deliberately cause trouble or target you.”

I almost laughed out loud. Damn, this kid had more backbone than most adults I knew. Whoever her mother was, she’d raised one hell of

a smart kid.

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*Please stay away from me, Aurora added, her expression serious.

*Emma, since Aurora doesn’t appreciate your company, perhaps you should leave,” I said coldly. I shifted Aurora in my arms, turning her slightly away from Emma, a clear signal that this conversation was over.

Emma’s eyes reddened with anger as she turned and stormed off. Another crack in her perfect facade. This was becoming quite the day for

revelations.

Aurora hugged my neck. “Uncle Blake, can you take Aurora to find mommy and William?”

Before I could respond, Olivia appeared out of nowhere, moving faster than I’d ever seen her move.

“Aurora, if you want to find your mommy and brother, godmommy will take you. No need to trouble others!” Her voice had an edge of panic that seemed excessive for the situation.

Wait, what? “Aurora is your goddaughter?” I asked, completely blindsided by this connection. Olivia had never mentioned having any close friends with children, let alone being a godmother.

Olivia looked nervous and defensive. “I… Blake, this is personal stuff. It’s complicated. Let’s just get Aurora out of here first, okay?”

I studied her carefully. Her reaction seemed excessive. Why was she so defensive? What was she hiding? And why did she seem so desperate to keep me away from Aurora’s mother?

Aurora, sensing the tension, started singing: “Don’t be angry, don’t be angry, being angry gives the devil a foothold!”

Both Olivia and I smiled at her innocent words. The tension eased, but my suspicions remained.

‘I’ll get the dance shoes from my car, then you can take her, I offered. I wasn’t ready to let this go, but causing a scene wouldn’t help.

Olivia objected immediately. “That’s not necessary! Aurora has shoes from her mommy-I mean, from us!”

That slip caught my attention. Olivia was hiding something about Aurora’s mother.

“Aurora should decide if she wants my gift, not us adults. My business voice left no room for argument.

Aurora tugged Olivia’s hand. “Godmommy, please? I want the pretty shoes Uncle Blake got me…”

Olivia seemed torn. She glanced toward the backstage area, then checked her phone. Whatever she saw made her shoulders slump. “Fine,”

she muttered.

As we walked to the parking lot, questions swirled in my head. Why was Olivia so protective? Who was Aurora’s mother? And why did this child seem so familiar?

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