The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 193

Chapter 193

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“She needs to know the truth, I said finally. But how do I even start apologizing for what I’ve done to her?”

Kevin sighed. “Maybe just be straight with her. Then go from there.”

I closed my eyes, memories flooding back. Aria on our wedding day, looking beautiful but resigned. Aria putting up with my coldness day after day. Aria loving me so much despite how I treated her.

“She’s never complained,” I muttered, self-hatred building inside me. “Not once. Not when I forced her to marry me. Not when I accused

her of things she never did. Not even when I missed her birthday party because I claimed I was ‘too busy.”

Kevin nodded grimly. “She’s tough. Always has been.”

“No, she shouldn’t have to be tough, I argued, gripping the sheets tightly. “She should’ve been cherished. Protected. Loved. My voice

caught on the last word.

“I gotta see her,” I said, trying to get up. “Now. Tonight.”

Kevin blocked me. “Whoa, hold up. You just had major cervical surgery after that billboard nearly crushed you. You’re full of painkillers.

You can’t just walk out of here.”

“Then get her here,” I demanded. “Call her. Tell her… tell her I need to talk to her.”

“It’s almost midnight,” Kevin pointed out. “She’s probably asleep or busy.”

I ran my hand through my hair, frustrated as hell. “First thing tomorrow then. Before anything else. I need to tell her everything.”

Kevin nodded. ‘I’ll make it happen.”

After he left, I lay in the darkness, the full horror of what I’d done to Aria washing over me. Six years of blame. Six years of coldness. Six years of treating the woman I once loved-still loved-like she was my enemy.

I pressed my palms against my eyes, trying to stop the burning sensation. No tears came. I didn’t deserve the relief of crying.

Sleep was impossible that night. I kept replaying every moment with Aria since that night six years ago, seeing them differently now. Her insistence that she never drugged me. Her hurt when I turned on her. Her dignity while I acted like a complete ass.

I remembered how she’d look at me sometimes when she thought I wasn’t watching-a flash of the old warmth, quickly hidden when I turned around. How many chances had I missed? How many times had she reached out, only for me to push her away?

I woke up at 4:30 AM, my eyes immediately turning to the door. I couldn’t wait to see Aria, to make things right. I called the nurse right

away.

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14:26 Mon, Jun 15

Chapter 193

‘I need white hyacinths, I told her. “As many as you can find. Fill the room with them.”

The nurse looked confused. “Sir, it’s not even 5 AM.”

“They’re her favorite flowers,” I said, as if that explained everything. “She needs to see them when she comes.”

By 6 AM, the room was transformed. White hyacinths covered every surface, their sweet scent filling the air. Despite the pain from my neck injury, I had the staff help me change into decent clothes while I lay in bed. The doctors had warned that any movement could worsen my condition, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t face Aria in a hospital gown.

I lay propped up against the pillows where I could see the door, watching, waiting. Every time footsteps passed in the hallway, my heart jumped. Every time the door stayed closed, it sank.

Kevin arrived around 7, eyebrows raising at the flower-filled room.

“Going overboard, aren’t you?” he asked.

“Has she said anything? Is she coming?” I ignored his question.

Kevin checked his phone. “I left messages. She’ll be here, Blake. Just be patient.”

But patience had never been my strong suit. By 9 AM, my anxiety had turned to dread.

“Call her again,” I told Kevin. “Maybe she didn’t get the messages.”

Kevin’s phone buzzed before he could answer. His face fell as he read the screen.

“Blake…”

“What? Did she say she’s not coming?”

“Check your phone.”

I grabbed my phone and opened the notification he forwarded. There it was-posted on both Redwood Medical Center’s and Nouvelle Retail Group’s accounts:

“Congratulations to Matthew Redwood and Aria Taylor on their upcoming engagement!”

The phone slipped from my hand and crashed to the floor.

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