The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 46

Chapter 46

EMMA

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The VIP room finally emptied out. Victoria and her clique had stayed way too long, dissecting every detail of Aria’s dramatic exit. I kept

my mask of concern perfectly in place until the door clicked shut behind the last one.

Alone. Finally.

I pulled out my phone and called Blake. One ring. Two. Three. Four. Making me wait. Of course he was.

“Blake?” I softened my voice, adding just the right touch of worry. “I feel awful about tonight. That’s not how I wanted things to go.”

Silence. Just the sound of his breathing on the other end.

“I know you must be upset with me.” I threw in a little catch in my voice. “Could we talk? Maybe I should reach out to Aria directly and

clear the air? I hate that she might think-

What exactly were you trying to accomplish tonight, Emma?”

His voice. Ice cold. Not what I expected.

‘I don’t know what you mean. I was just trying to-*

‘Drop it.” He cut me off. ‘You engineered that entire scene. Every word calculated to embarrass her.”

This wasn’t going right. He should be consoling me, not attacking.

“That’s completely unfair! I was being supportive!”

“Really?” His laugh was sharp. “Then explain how you knew about the Williams situation. I never mentioned it to you.”

Fuck. I’d slipped up.

‘Blake, it wasn’t like that. I heard rumors, people talk, you know how the circle is-

“Save your performance for someone who’ll buy it. His tone dropped even colder. And that little announcement about the carriage house?

In front of everyone?”

*How was I supposed to know that place mattered to her? The words came out too defensive. Dial it back, Emma. “It’s just an old carriage house on our estate. If I’d realized she had some sentimental attachment, obviously I would have handled it differently-”

“Stop lying.”

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Chapter 46

Two words. They landed like a slap.

‘I’m not-

‘I’m done, Emma. I won’t be bringing Aria around you anymore.”

2)

My stomach dropped. “Blake, please, you’re misunderstanding-

“The only thing I was doing tonight was thanking Aria for everything she’s done!” The desperation leaked through despite my best efforts. “That’s why I organized this whole thing! To show her there’s no bad blood between us!”

“By broadcasting her personal life? By discussing the demolition of her childhood home like it’s casual dinner conversation?”

“The carriage house was supposed to be a minor detail! I thought she wouldn’t care! It’s just an old building-

Click.

The line went dead.

I stared at my phone. He hung up. Blake Morgan actually hung up on me.

Heat flooded my face, sweat breaking out on my forehead as rage surged through my chest. This couldn’t be happening. This wasn’t how tonight was supposed to go.

Ten years. TEN FUCKING YEARS.

I pulled him from that burning building in Manhattan-at least, that’s what he believes. And now he’s defending her? That nobody? That housekeeper’s daughter?

My arm moved on instinct. The phone sailed across the room, smashing into the wall with a satisfying crack. The screen splintered, pieces scattering across the carpet like shattered glass.

I lifted my heel, ready to grind the remains into dust.

“Wow. You’re actually terrifying when you let the mask slip.”

I whipped around. Matthew Redwood lounged against the doorframe, arms crossed, looking entirely too amused. In his hand, he toyed with something small-a cheap pink butterfly keychain.

‘Get the hell out,’ I hissed.

Such a warm welcome.” He pushed off the frame, strolling into the room like he owned it, still playing with that tacky keychain. “And here I thought we were on friendly terms.”

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Chapter 46

I straightened up, smoothing my hair back into place. No point keeping up the act with Matthew. He’d seen through it years ago

“What do you want?”

“Just admiring the show. He gestured at the destroyed phone with the keychain. “Blake really got under your skin, didn’t he?”

“Go to hell.”

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“Already on my way there.” His smirk widened. “But I’m curious-does Blake know how completely unhinged you are? Or do you save this

special side just for private moments?”

I laughed coldly. “That’s rich coming from you. Mr. Perfect Heir who can’t decide whether he wants to destroy Aria or fuck her.”

Something dangerous flashed in his eyes. “Watch yourself, Emma.”

“Or what?” I stepped closer. “We both know you’re all bark. You and I, we’re cut from the same cloth. Neither one of us has any moral high

ground here.

He tilted his head, considering, pocketing the keychain. “Maybe. But at least I don’t pretend to be a saint.”

“No, you just pretend you don’t spend every waking moment obsessing over a woman you’re supposed to hate.” I smiled sweetly. “How’s

that working out for you?”

‘Better than your decade-long delusion is working for you.” He moved toward the door. “At least I’m honest about what I am.”

I was already rebuilding my mask, piece by piece. By the time I reached the door, my face was serene again. Elegant. Composed. The Emma Grant everyone expected to see.

ARIA

The alarm went off at 5 AM. Still dark outside. Perfect.

Blake usually left for his morning run at 6:30. If I left now, I could avoid him completely. After last night’s disaster, I couldn’t face him.

God, what was I thinking? Yelling at him about the carriage house. Making a scene. Contract wives don’t make scenes. They smile and nod and take whatever gets thrown at them.

I dressed quickly and slipped out of the penthouse. The sky hung heavy with clouds. No sunrise today. Matched my mood perfectly.

The butterfly keychain. Damn it.

I’d been so upset about the carriage house that I’d left Dad’s keychain in the VIP room. Just grabbed it from his storage locker a few days ago-one of the few things of his I had left.

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Chapter 46

Every year, there was less of him. His clothes donated. His books given away. Soon all I’d have were memories and that body in the

hospital bed.

The keychain was stupid. Cheap pink plush with plastic wings. But he’d bought it for me at a carnival when I was seven. For my little

butterfly, he’d said.

Now even that was gone.

The Sapphire Club looked different in daylight. Less magical, more like what it really was-an overpriced bar for rich people with too

much time.

The same front desk girl from last night sat there, looking bored.

“Hi, I left something in the VIP room last night. A keychain?”

She barely glanced up. “Nothing in lost and found.”

“Could someone check the room? It’s small, pink, shaped like a butterfly-

Movement at the door caught my eye. A man walked in with a woman on his arm. Tall, broad shoulders, confident stride.

My breath caught.

I knew that silhouette.

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