The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 227

The CEO’s Regret: His Lost Wife’s Secret Twins

Chapter 227

ARIA

I hated that I still noticed his clenched jaw, still remembered his touch.

I turned away, disgusted with myself. William needed me focused, not lost in old memories.

A small hand grabbed my wrist as I headed to William’s room. Aurora looked up at me with serious eyes.

“Mommy,” she whispered, glancing where Blake had gone. ‘Is that man our daddy?”

My heart stopped. I knelt down, brushing her curls back. “Aurora, how did you—

“He looks exactly like William in photos,” she said. “And he keeps staring at you weird.”

I sighed. No point lying now. “Yes, Aurora. That’s your father.”

Aurora’s lips pressed together. “William said our daddy was bad.”

“When I left him, he wasn’t good with children,” I explained carefully. “He had problems that made him scared of being a father.”

“So you hid us?” Aurora asked, upset.

“Yes, I admitted, guilt hitting me. “I kept you both secret.”

Aurora twisted her dress. “Did he hurt you, Mommy?”

The question knocked the air from my lungs. How could I explain this to a three-year-old?

“Your father never hit me,’ I said finally. But sometimes people hurt each other without using their hands.”

Aurora nodded solemnly, as if this made perfect sense to her. Is he gonna take us away from you?”

‘No, sweetheart. Blake promised he wouldn’t separate us.’ I squeezed her tiny hands. “You don’t have to call him Daddy if you don’t want

1. You can decide what relationship you want with him.”

Aurora scrunched her nose in thought. I need to think about it. Maybe when William gets better, we can talk about it together

“That’s very smart,’ I agreed.

“If we have a daddy now,” Aurora asked hesitantly, ‘can William and me still stay with you?”

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14:31 Mon, Jun 15

Chapter 227

My throat tightened. Of course. You two will always be with me.”

“But on TV, when mommies and daddies fight, the kids have to go back and forth between houses.”

I pulled her into a hug. “That’s not happening to us. Blake promised we’d stay together.”

Aurora pulled back, eyebrows furrowed. ‘Maybe he’s not as bad as William said.”

Before I could respond, Blake returned from his bone marrow testing. He stopped when he saw Aurora, his expression softening.

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“Hello, Aurora. Would you like Uncle Blake to give you a lift?” he asked, holding out his arms.

Aurora shook her head, stepping behind me. But then she pointed to the bandage on his arm. “Your hand got hurt. You shouldn’t pick up

heavy things. You’ll bleed again.”

Blake’s eyes widened slightly at her concern. “You’re right. Thank you for caring.”

When Aurora went to get a juice box from the nurse’s station, Blake turned to me. “Did you tell her?”

“Yes,” I said. “After everything that happened today, there was no hiding it anymore.”

“How did she take it?”

‘Better than I expected. But she needs time.” I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t push her.”

Blake nodded. “I won’t. And Aria… thank you. For telling her the truth. For being so kind despite everything.”

“Speaking of truth,” I said coldly, “you promised to take Emma for medical tests and then to jail. You better keep your word this time.”

“I promise I won’t break my word again,” Blake said, his voice low. “Jack will bring Emma’s test results to you first thing tomorrow.”

I just nodded, too tired to argue.

‘I should go,’ he said, turning to leave. ‘You need rest.

“Take care of yourself, I muttered, the words escaping before I could stop them.

Blake paused, surprised. A small smile appeared on his face as he walked away.

I watched his retreating back, hating myself for still caring even a little.

The next morning, I was checking emails when a news alert made my phone slip from my fingers and clatter to the floor.

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Chapter 227

“Mommy?” Aurora asked, picking up my phone ‘Did you see something bad?”

‘No, sweetie, I lied, taking the phone back with shaking hands. “Just dropped it.”

When Aurora went to talk to a nurse about her toy rabbit, I read the headline again:

EMMA GRANT, PRIMA BALLERINA, JUMPS FROM PEAK ZERO CLIFF”

The same cliff I had fallen from three years ago.

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