The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 186

Chapter 186

ARIA

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1 stood in the doorway of Matthew’s private hospital room at Redwood Medical Center, my stomach dropping at the sight of him. His head

was all bandaged up, left arm locked in a bulky cast. God, this was my fault. Completely my fault.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered, inching closer to his bed. “This should never have happened to you.”

Matthew looked up, his eyes weirdly bright despite everything. “Don’t even start apologizing, Aria. Victoria pushed you down those stairs.

If anything, I’m just glad I was there to break your fall.”

“But your injuries…” I gestured helplessly at his bandaged head and immobilized arm. “This could mess up your entire medical career. And for what? Because Victoria has it out for me? I should go tell everyone we’re just friends, maybe that would help-

“Hold up,” Matthew called as I turned to leave. His voice stopped me dead in my tracks. “We need to talk about something.”

I turned back, catching a strange intensity in his eyes that made my stomach do a weird flip.

“I have feelings for you, Aria. I always have.”

The words hung between us. I froze, my brain struggling to compute what I’d just heard.

“Matthew, do you even hear yourself right now?” I finally managed to stammer.

“Crystal clear.” His voice grew stronger, more determined. “Aria, I’ve had feelings for you longer than you’ve had them for Blake.”

I stared at him, completely blindsided. Matthew continued, words tumbling out now.

“I’ve been a total idiot about feelings. Watching you hung up on Blake made me jealous and insecure. That’s why I pushed you to leave him. Why I stuck around when you faked your death and disappeared to Europe. He took a deep breath. Nearly dying on that operating table made me realize life’s too damn short to keep pretending.”

My mouth opened and closed. The medical report in my hand almost slipped through my fingers. I stood rooted to the spot, utterly

speechless.

“I-I never thought of you that way,” I finally managed. “With everything going on in my life right now…”

Matthew raised his good hand, cutting me off. ‘I get it. You’re not ready for new relationship drama. I’m not asking for an answer.”

He looked straight into my eyes. “I just wanted you to know that while you loved Blake for thirteen years, there’s been someone loving you even longer.”

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14:26 Mon, Jun 15

Chapter 186

That sentence hit me square in the chest. I understood unrequited love better than most.

‘Matthew, thank you… My eyes stung with unshed tears.

“Don’t thank me,” he said, trying to sound casual. “And spare me the ‘you’re such a good guy’ speech.”

When he shifted position, he suddenly winced. “Crap… painkillers are definitely wearing off…”

‘I should grab Olivia to help,’ I suggested, worried by his rapidly paling face.

‘God, no!” Matthew looked genuinely panicked. “Don’t call my sister. She won’t help-she’ll lecture me until I’m begging for a medically-

induced coma!”

I bit my lip, knowing Olivia would eventually find out about his condition. But seeing Matthew’s face growing whiter, sweat beading on his forehead, I decided that could wait.

‘Let me help with the pain,” I offered softly. “What can I do?”

‘I could cut some fruit to distract you,” I suggested, eyeing an apple on his bedside table.

Matthew’s pained expression morphed into something mischievous. “Can you cut it into a bunny shape?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Seriously? You’re hurt and still being this high-maintenance?”

“Pretty please?” He gave me such a pathetic look that I couldn’t say no.

Rolling my eyes, I grabbed the apple and knife. As I carefully peeled it, I noticed the TV playing some cheesy romantic comedy on Netflix.

“Wait a sec, you watch rom-coms?” I couldn’t hide my surprise.

Matthew shrugged, then grimaced at the movement. “They help me unwind. Got a problem with that?”

I smiled, focusing on the apple bunny. ‘Not at all. Just never pictured Mr. Redwood, medical superstar, binging Netflix romance flicks.”

This felt weirdly familiar-taking care of injured Matthew. It reminded me of when we were younger, when he’d messed up his ankle and I’d brought him snacks and books. He’d been just as demanding then.

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14:26 Mon, Jun 15