The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 36

Chapter 36

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My head hurt. The cut on my temple stopped bleeding, but it still throbbed. A few stitches later, I was free to go. The staff had called an

ambulance for me.

I walked into the hallway as Aria came down the stairs. She looked terrible-messy hair, puffy eyes. Good. She deserved to feel bad.

We crashed into each other before I could move aside. She stumbled back and grabbed the railing.

“Watch where you’re going,” I snapped. My hand went to the bandaged temple.

Her eyes went wide when she saw my injury. “Blake, I—*

“Save it.” I cut her off. “I don’t need your fake concern now.”

She flinched but pulled herself together. “I’m sorry I left yesterday. It was wrong.”

“Wrong? It was cruel.” I walked past her to the kitchen. “A few stitches, thanks for asking.”

Aria followed me. She kept her distance. “I shouldn’t have walked out. I just—”

“Made me feel bad? Welcome to my world.” I poured coffee and spilled some on the counter. “Dammit.”

The house phone rang as I grabbed a towel. Aria answered it while I cleaned up the mess.

“Yes, he’s here,” she said. Then she covered the receiver. “It’s Richard Grant. He’s inviting us for lunch today. A thank you lunch.”

My first instinct was to decline. The last thing I wanted was to spend an afternoon with Aria and pretend we were a happy couple. But Richard was an important business ally. Refusing his invitation would be unwise.

“Tell him we’ll be there.”

The drive to the Grant estate was silent and tense. I focused on the road. Aria stared out the window. My head still throbbed.

A butler greeted us at the door. He led us through the grand foyer to the dining room. Aria walked beside me. Her shoulders were tense. She’d changed into a simple blue dress.

Richard and Elaine Grant stood to greet us. Richard was a distinguished man in his sixties with silver hair. Elaine was warm and elegant.

“Blake, Aria! So wonderful to have you both.” Elaine embraced Aria first, then me. I hope you’re hungry.”

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Chapter 36

“Everything looks amazing,” Aria said. Her voice was soft.

“Please, sit. Richard gestured to the chairs.

We settled in. Elaine immediately turned to Aria.

“Aria, dear, I wanted to thank you properly for coming to the hospital when I had my car accident. Elaine reached across the table. She held Aria’s hand. “It meant the world to me. You stayed the entire day.”

Wait. What?

“It was nothing, Mrs. Grant.” Aria’s voice was quiet. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“Nothing? You cancelled your plans and sat with me for hours. I felt so much better having you there.”

I felt something shift in my chest. That day. The divorce day. She’d left because of this?

My eyes went to Aria. She kept her gaze down. Her fingers twisted in her lap.

“I’m completely recovered now, thanks to the doctors and your support.” Elaine continued. “But I wanted you to know how much that

meant to me.”

I’d been so angry that day. Thought she’d run off because she couldn’t handle the divorce. Because she was being dramatic. But she’d gone to the hospital. For Elaine.

Something uncomfortable twisted in my gut. I’d been wrong. Completely wrong.

“Blake, you have a wonderful wife. Richard pulled me from my thoughts. “You’re a fortunate man.”

I didn’t know what to say. So I just nodded.

After lunch, Elaine stood. “Aria, would you come with me? I want to show you something.”

“Of course, Mrs. Grant.”

“Blake, you should come too.” Elaine glanced at me.

We followed her outside. Across the manicured grounds stood a small structure-a carriage house. Weathered but charming.

“This is where Aria and Christine lived when they first came to work for us.” Elaine explained. “We converted it into housing for them.”

Aria stopped walking. Her whole body went still.

“I thought you might want to see it again.” Elaine’s voice was gentle. “It’s been years.”

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Chapter 36

Aria’s face changed. Something vulnerable and raw appeared in her eyes.

We walked to the carriage house. Elaine unlocked the door.

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