The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 256

Chapter 256

ARIA

སྙཋ

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I looked around the crowded ballroom but couldn’t find her. Something made me check the garden outside. I pushed open the glass doors.

There she was-Rebecca, standing alone by the roses. The garden lights lit her up.

“Rebecca?” I called out, walking over with chocolate cake. “You okay? You just disappeared.”

She turned around, surprised. “Oh, Aria. Just needed air.

“Brought you cake,” I said, holding out the plate. “Elizabeth made it special.”

She took it but didn’t eat. “Thanks.”

Something was wrong. “What’s going on?”

Rebecca sighed. “I’m scared, Aria. Really scared.”

“About what?” Though I already knew.

“The surgery, she whispered. “What if I can’t save William? What if my bone marrow doesn’t work?”

My heart hurt for her. She was carrying my son’s life on her shoulders.

“William’s condition isn’t on you,” I said firmly. “Medicine has limits. No guarantees.”

‘But-

“No buts,’ I cut her off. ‘Nobody’s gonna blame you. What you’re doing is brave.”

Her eyes got watery.

“You’re not just some donor, Rebecca. You’re William’s aunt. Elizabeth’s daughter. Blake’s sister. The surgery doesn’t change that.”

Rebecca wiped her eyes and nodded. “I know. In my head, I know.”

“So stop carrying all this weight,” I said, squeezing her hand. “We’re family. That’s what counts.”

She looked at the cake and took a bite. Her eyes got big. “Wow, this is incredible.”

“Elizabeth knows her desserts, I laughed.

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Chapter 256

Rebecca took another bite. ‘I should go back inside. More food to try.”

I smiled, watching her walk back. She looked lighter. The tension was gone.

🙂

Standing alone in the garden, I gazed at the dark clouds gathering above. The storm brewing matched my mood. William’s surgery loomed

over everything, no matter how bright the birthday decorations.

“What did Rebecca want?”

I turned to find Blake standing behind me, hands in his pockets, concern on his face.

“Just birthday stuff,” I lied, not wanting to burden him with Rebecca’s fears. He had enough weighing on him already.

Blake raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.

*Remember when you tore down my little storage shed?” I asked, changing the subject. The memory still stung, even after all this time.

His face went pale. “What made you think of that?”

*Just remembering,” I shrugged. “You demolished it to build Emma’s dance studio.”

The storage shed had been my sanctuary, my hiding place when Christine’s cruelty became too much. Blake had destroyed it without a

second thought.

“Aria, Blake said, his voice low. “I didn’t know what that place meant to you when I tore it down.”

*You made me clean up the wreckage,” I reminded him. “My old back injury flared up so badly I couldn’t move the next day.”

Blake stepped closer, his eyes pained. “I watched you from the window the whole time. I wanted to help, but I was too stubborn, too

angry.

‘Angry about what?”

“About wanting you and not being able to control it.” His confession hung between us. “I wanted to make you submit, to break your spirit.”

I stared at him, processing his words.

“I’ll rebuild it,” he said suddenly. “Your storage shed. Every detail, exactly as it was.”

I shook my head. “I don’t need it anymore.”

“But-

“I’m not that scared, helpless girl anymore,” I said. “I have a new life now. A career. A family.” I paused. “And Christine is gone. I don’t

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Chapter 256

need a hiding place.”

Blake studied me, admiration crossing his face.

:

“You’ve gotten really good at apologizing,” I observed. “The right words, the right tone.”

I’ve had a lot of practice,” he admitted. “Made a lot of mistakes.”

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He reached for me, pulling me against his chest. “I’ll crawl through dirt for you, Aria. Just don’t leave me.”

1 couldn’t help laughing through my tears. “I just finished calming Rebecca down, and now you’re falling apart on me?”

Before Blake could respond, we heard small footsteps approaching. William and Aurora came running toward us, Aurora’s face smeared

with chocolate.

I pulled away from Blake, my ears burning. Picking up Aurora, I gently wiped her mouth. “Sweetie, you’ve got chocolate everywhere.*

“We finished our cake!” Aurora announced proudly. “Olivia auntie and Matthew uncle said the party’s over, so we came to find Mommy

and Daddy.”

“Time for bed then,” I said, smoothing her hair.

“Not yet!” William protested, unusually emotional. “I want to stay up longer. Please?”

I hesitated, noting the desperation in his eyes. Blake and I exchanged glances, understanding immediately. With the surgery in two days, William wanted to squeeze every moment from tonight.

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