The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 38

Chapter 38

ARIA

Monday morning arrived with a vengeance. Nausea washed over me the second I opened my eyes.

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But that wasn’t what kept me up last night.

Blake took me to see my childhood home yesterday. The carriage house where Mom and I lived. He actually stood there and said he’d bring me back whenever I wanted. Was that real? Did I matter to him even a little bit? Maybe he could give me some warmth. Just a tiny bit. That’s all I needed.

God, I was pathetic. Clinging to scraps of kindness from a man who’d made it clear I was his second choice.

I dragged myself to the office, praying nobody would notice how pale I looked. The fluorescent lights felt too bright. Every sound seemed too loud.

Jack practically sprinted to my desk around ten, nearly knocking over my coffee mug.

“Did you see the news?” He was bouncing on his heels.

I glanced up from my spreadsheet. My eyes hurt from staring at the screen. “What news?”

“Goldstein Jewelry! Their top guy got arrested yesterday.” Jack scooted his chair closer. “Assault allegations. Half a dozen employees finally

came forward.”

My insides churned. This wasn’t morning sickness.

“One woman couldn’t take it anymore-ended her life last Tuesday,” Jack continued quietly. “But she left a digital trail. Emails. Voice

mails. Everything documented.”

I dropped my pen. “Holy shit.”

“Board of directors threw him out immediately. Didn’t even let him clean out his office.” Jack’s jaw tightened. ‘Should’ve happened years

ago.”

‘No kidding. The words felt heavy in my mouth. “Way overdue.”

Jack nodded and rushed off to spread the gossip to someone else. The news made me feel sick. How many women had that monster hurt? How many had stayed silent because they were afraid?

I checked my watch. Time for my prenatal vitamin. I grabbed my purse and headed to the break room.

C

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13:50 Mon, Jun 15

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

Chapter 38

ARIA

Monday morning arrived with a vengeance. Nausea washed over me the second I opened my eyes.

But that wasn’t what kept me up last night.

。55

Blake took me to see my childhood home yesterday. The carriage house where Mom and I lived. He actually stood there and said he’d bring me back whenever I wanted. Was that real? Did I matter to him even a little bit? Maybe he could give me some warmth. Just a tiny

bit. That’s all I needed.

God, I was pathetic. Clinging to scraps of kindness from a man who’d made it clear I was his second choice.

I dragged myself to the office, praying nobody would notice how pale I looked. The fluorescent lights felt too bright. Every sound seemed

too loud.

Jack practically sprinted to my desk around ten, nearly knocking over my coffee mug.

“Did you see the news?” He was bouncing on his heels.

I glanced up from my spreadsheet. My eyes hurt from staring at the screen. “What news?”

“Goldstein Jewelry! Their top guy got arrested yesterday.” Jack scooted his chair closer. “Assault allegations. Half a dozen employees finally

came forward.

My insides churned. This wasn’t morning sickness.

“One woman couldn’t take it anymore-ended her life last Tuesday,” Jack continued quietly. “But she left a digital trail. Emails. Voice mails. Everything documented.”

I dropped my pen. “Holy shit.”

“Board of directors threw him out immediately. Didn’t even let him clean out his office.” Jack’s jaw tightened. ‘Should’ve happened years

ago.

“No kidding.” The words felt heavy in my mouth. “Way overdue.”

Jack nodded and rushed off to spread the gossip to someone else. The news made me feel sick. How many women had that monster hurt? How many had stayed silent because they were afraid?

I checked my watch. Time for my prenatal vitamin. I grabbed my purse and headed to the break room.

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13:50 Mon, Jun 15

Chapter 38

The bottle of folic acid felt heavy in my hand. I unscrewed the cap and shook one pill into my palm. The break room was empty. Thank

God.

I filled a paper cup with water from the cooler and swallowed the pill quickly.

Back at my desk, I opened my email and froze.

Horror washed over me cold and fast.

The pill bottle. I’d left it in the break room.

My heart started hammering against my ribs. I shot out of my chair and practically ran back down the hallway.

Please let it still be there. Please let nobody have seen it.

I pushed through the break room door. The bottle sat exactly where I’d left it on the counter. Right next to the coffee maker where

anyone could see it.

I snatched it up and shoved it deep into my purse. My hands were shaking.

*Pregnancy brain is no joke,” I muttered under my breath.

I took a deep breath and headed back to my desk. That was too close. Way too close.

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The rest of the afternoon dragged. Every minute felt endless. I kept my head down and focused on work. Anything to avoid thinking about what almost happened.

Five o’clock couldn’t come fast enough.

I was halfway across the parking lot when Blake appeared out of nowhere. He blocked my path to my car.

*Emma reserved a room at Sapphire Club. His voice was flat. Emotionless. “She wants you to join us for dinner.

My stomach dropped. The last thing I wanted was another evening of Emma taking subtle jabs at me while everyone pretended not to

notice.

“You two should go ahead.” I kept my voice professional. Polite. “I’ve got work to finish tonight.”

Blake’s eyebrows drew together. ‘Work? On a Monday evening?”

“Reports are due tomorrow. I’m behind. The lie came easily.

“The reports can wait. His tone left no room for argument.

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Chapter 38

I tried again. “I really don’t think-

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