The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 280

Chapter 280

ARIA

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The crowd around us started whispering. All eyes turned to Matthew, who stood stiffly by the screen that had just exposed his betrayal.

Emma cackled. “See? Your brother destroyed Aria’s life too. So drop the righteous act, Olivia. You got no business standing beside Aria now. Not when your own flesh and blood helped ruin her.”

I watched Olivia’s shoulders slump. Her face crumpled with shame that wasn’t even hers. She turned toward the exit, ready to walk away.

Hell no. I wasn’t letting Emma win this round.

I grabbed Olivia’s hand, stopping her. She turned to me, eyes wide.

“Don’t go,” I said firmly.

Olivia looked at me, tears streaming down her face. “Aria, I can’t… My brother-”

I cut her off. “Your brother made his choices. You made yours.” I turned to Emma. “Why shouldn’t Olivia stand by me? She’s my friend, my

sister. She has every right to support me.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “Are you serious? Aria, Matthew brainwashed you. He erased your memories. He’s her brother! How can you still

want her around?”

“Because I don’t blame people for what others did,” I shot back, squeezing Olivia’s hand. “Matthew’s choices aren’t Olivia’s fault.”

Emma’s face twisted. “Matthew destroyed your memories and helped me steal your life with Blake! And you just don’t care?”

‘I didn’t say I forgive Matthew,” I said coldly. “But I won’t punish Olivia for his mess.”

Olivia squeezed my hand back, tears in her eyes.

Emma snorted. “Oh, how noble of you, Aria. Always so forgiving.”

‘I’m not forgiving anyone who hurt me,” I said, my jaw clenched. “And that includes you, Emma. That slap was just the beginning. I’m

going to make you pay for what you did. I’ll destroy everything you have-your reputation, your career, your social standing. When I’m

done, you’ll wish you’d never messed with me.”

Emma’s smug expression vanished. I saw actual fear in her eyes. She knew I meant business.

She turned to Blake, suddenly desperate. “Blake, please,” she begged, dropping to her knees. “Help me. I’ve been with you for sixteen years. I gave you everything-my support, my care, my heart. Yeah, I made a mistake, but haven’t I paid for it with years of devotion?

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Chapter 280

Once I leave, I promise I’ll never bother you and Aria again.”

Blake stared down at her, his face completely empty. Then, slowly, deliberately, he stepped forward and placed his foot on Emma s knee,

pressing down.

Emma gasped in pain. “Blake, what are you doing?”

“Who needs your devotion? Blake asked, his voice ice cold. “Who needs your support or your heart? Did I ever ask for any of it?”

“But-

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*If not for you,” Blake continued, pressing harder, “Aria and I would have been together sixteen years ago. All you’ve given me is pain and

lies. You stole sixteen years from us.”

Emma’s face twisted with pain and desperation. “You can’t mean that! Everything I did was because I love you!”

Blake pressed harder. Something cracked. Emma screamed.

“Blake,” I said quietly. “That’s enough.”

He glanced at me, then slowly removed his foot. Emma collapsed, clutching her injured knee, sobbing.

“You’re only saying this to make her happy!” Emma shouted through her tears. “You’re denying everything we had just to please Aria!”

I stepped closer to Emma, bending down to look her in the eye. “Emma, stop kidding yourself. If Blake really cared about you, he would’ve married you years ago. He would’ve built a life with you. But he didn’t. Even with me gone, he never committed to you. That tells you

everything.”

Emma glared at me, pure hatred burning in her eyes.

“You never won,’ I continued. “Not once in sixteen years. Even with all your schemes and lies, you failed completely.”

Emma tried to stand but collapsed from her injured knee. She crawled backward until she hit the wall. Her eyes darted around the room

until they fixed on something-or someone-in the shadows.

Her expression changed. A slow, sly smile spread across her bloody lips.

“You think you’ve won?’ Emma said, suddenly calm despite her pain. “Let me tell you something, Aria. You may have Blake now, but your

happiness won’t last. There are eyes watching you from the shadows, waiting to strike.”

I frowned. ‘What are you talking about?’

“You’ll see,” Emma replied, her smile widening. “Behind you, always lurking, is someone who has been watching everything. Someone who

will make you pay.”

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