The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 198

Chapter 198

ARIA

I stepped out of the elevator at Redwood Medical Center. The smell of disinfectant hit me immediately. I hate hospitals. Always have.

At the nurses’ station, two women were huddled together, whispering.

When they spotted me, the younger one jerked upright so fast I thought she might get whiplash.

“Good morning,” I said, forcing a polite smile. “I’m here to see Matthew.”

They exchanged this weird look that sent alarm bells ringing in my head. The older nurse suddenly found her computer screen absolutely

fascinating.

“Of course, Ms. Taylor,” the younger one chirped, voice way too high. “Mr. Redwood mentioned you’d be stopping by.”

Something’s definitely up. These two couldn’t act natural if their jobs depended on it.

“Did something happen after Matthew returned yesterday?” I asked, that familiar knot of anxiety tightening in my stomach.

Yesterday. The memory of Matthew sitting in my living room hit me with unexpected force.

FLASHBACK

He’d shown up unannounced around noon with a manila envelope, looking serious.

‘I brought your brain scan results, he’d said, sitting on my couch. “I wanted to explain them myself.”

This was the test he’d suggested after I told him about my problems last time.

My heart raced. “Just tell me-is something wrong with my brain?”

Matthew spread several images on my coffee table. “Nothing at all. Your brain is perfectly healthy, Aria. No damage, no problems.”

Instead of relief, I felt confused. “That can’t be right, I keep having memory lapses. Episodes where I remember things differently.”

“Different how?”

“I keep getting flashes of fire in my head.” I pressed my fingers to my temples. “If my brain is fine, why do I keep getting these weird

flashbacks?”

Matthew went quiet, studying me intensely. Finally, he cleared his throat.

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Chapter 198

‘There’s one possibility we haven’t considered. You might have been hypnotized.”

“Hypnotized?’ I nearly choked. ‘Like a stage show?”

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“No. Hypnosis can alter someone’s perception and memories without causing brain damage. It creates a state where false memories can be

planted or real ones hidden.”

The way he described it-so detailed-sent chills down my spine.

“That sounds terrifying.”

“It can be, Matthew said calmly. “In the wrong hands.”

“But that’s impossible. I’ve never been hypnotized. I would remember.”

Matthew just hummed, his eyes flickering away. “Perhaps.”

“This is ridiculous. I’m just stressed. Too many late nights.”

He nodded, but didn’t look convinced.

Then suddenly Matthew asked: “Are you absolutely certain you want to marry me, Aria?”

The topic change threw me. “What? Of course. Why?”

“Blake truly loves you. He would sacrifice everything for you.”

‘Matthew-

“I’m giving you one last chance to go back to him. If that’s what you want.”

His selflessness touched me. “You really are a good man.”

I just want you to be sure.”

“I am. Blake and I have too much history. Too much pain. I can’t go back.”

I took his hand. “You’ve been honest and reliable. You’re who I want a future with.”

“Of course, Matthew stuttered, but I noticed his other hand clenched into a fist.

We spent the next hour planning the wedding. My parents excited about a date two months out. But as we talked, sweat formed on

Matthew’s forehead. His face grew pale.

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Chapter 198

Matthew, are you okay? You look sick.”

I’m fine, he insisted, but his voice sounded strained.

“You should go back to the hospital. Rest. You’re still recovering.”

He didn’t argue, which told me how awful he must have felt.

ร

Now, standing in the hospital corridor, I shook off the memory. The younger nurse was still watching me expectantly.

“No, nothing at all!” she insisted, her voice jumping an octave.

“Stupid woman, if you want to know what happened after I came back, just ask me directly.”

I spun around to find Matthew standing there, looking annoyed but somehow amused. He held up his hand, showing off a fresh bandage

across his palm.

*Jesus, what did you do now?” I moved closer, taking his hand to inspect the damage. The bandage was professionally done, but blood had

already started seeping through.

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