The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 188

Chapter 188

ARIA

A week later, I arrived early for Matthew’s check-up, carrying fresh fruit. As I approached his examination room, I overheard a conversation that stopped me cold.

“Your left wrist bones are completely shattered, with severe nerve damage, a doctor was saying. “Even with the best treatment, you ll

never hold a scalpel again.”

My world tilted sideways. I felt the blood drain from my face.

“Ryan, you shouldn’t have said that with Aria possibly nearby,” Matthew snapped.

“It’s such a shame,” the doctor continued. “You were Redwood’s ‘top knife.’ You’ll never fulfill your father’s dream of standing at the pinnacle of medicine.”

Matthew’s response was immediate: “Trading my dream for keeping someone I care about safe and unharmed? Worth every bit of it.”

“Ms. Taylor is your heart, your everything, your precious darling,” Ryan teased. “Just don’t tell her about your real injury. Stick with minor

sprain.”

‘I don’t expect her to pay me back or cry for me,” Matthew insisted.

That’s when Ryan noticed me standing in the doorway, tears already streaming down my face.

Matthew jumped up, quickly hiding his injured hand behind his back. “Aria! You’re early.”

“How could you hide something this serious from me?” I demanded, my voice breaking.

“No big deal,’ he attempted to shrug it off. “Would only stress you out more.”

Matthew gently wiped away my tears. “Stop crying. You’ll use up all my good luck for the next decade if you keep this up.”

My heart twisted with grief, guilt, and gratitude. The twins still needed Matthew’s medical help, and here he was, his career destroyed

because of me.

“Don’t you get how important your hands are to your career?” I asked, voice shaking.

“My safety cost you your dream.”

“This isn’t your fault, Matthew assured me. “As a doctor, my job is to help patients. I’m not asking you to repay me.”

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Chapter 188

Blake had taken everything from me… Now, because of me, Matthew was losing his. What could I give him? Security A family. The one thing I could offer was… myself. A partnership built on respect, not destruction.

Emotions overwhelmed me. Without thinking, I blurted out: “Matthew, will you marry me? If you’re willing, let’s get married.”

Matthew stared at me, his face frozen in disbelief. The words ‘will you marry me hung between us, heavy and unexpected.

“You… what?” His voice cracked. “Are you out of your mind? What kind of crazy proposal is this?’

I kept my gaze steady, despite the flutter of anxiety in my chest. “I’m dead serious, Matthew. I want to marry you.”

He ran his good hand through his hair, shaking his head. “Aria, you just found out about my injury and now you’re proposing marriage?

This makes zero sense.”

“It makes complete sense,” I insisted. “For three years, you’ve been there for me and the twins. You’ve shown up when nobody else would.”

Matthew paced the small examination room. “This isn’t how marriage works in real life.”

“Aurora adores you. William asks about you constantly. He even told me last week he wishes you were around more.” I swallowed hard. “My parents think the world of you too.”

His eyes narrowed. “So this is about the kids? About your parents’ approval?”

“Partly,” I admitted. “But also about giving myself a stable future. You make me feel safe, Matthew. I believe building a family with you would be the best choice for all of us.”

The truth was, my marriage with Blake had drained every part of me. The constant power struggles, the emotional warfare, the feeling of never being enough. I couldn’t go through that again.

“I don’t want passionate, all-consuming love anymore,” I said quietly. “I want peace. Stability. A partner who respects me.”

Matthew stopped pacing, studying my face. “And you think that’s me?”

‘I know it’s you.” I reached for his uninjured hand. Plus, if we get married, Blake might finally let go completely. That’s my biggest worry

right now.”

He pulled his hand away. “So I’m your solution to the Blake problem?”

“No, that came out wrong.” I rubbed my temples. “Look, you can totally say no. I won’t hold it against you.”

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