The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 57

Chapter 57

ARIA

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54

The work gloves from the shed were too big, but better than nothing. The first piece of wood was heavier than expected-waterlogged and rotting. I dragged it to the dump area, my back already aching.

One down. Hundreds to go.

The sun blazed overhead. Sweat soaked my blouse within minutes, Music drifted from the house-Emma’s party had started.

A rusted bracket caught my sleeve, tearing fabric and skin. Blood dripped down my arm, bright red against pale flesh. When had I gotten so pale? When had I started looking like a ghost?

I wrapped the cut with torn fabric and kept working.

The pile never seemed to shrink. My vision blurred from heat and exhaustion, but I kept moving. One piece at a time.

“Christine, these desserts are incredible!” Emma’s voice carried from the house. “You’re going to make me gain ten pounds!”

Someone laughed. “Please, Em. You could eat whatever you want and still look perfect.”

“You’re too sweet to me.”

I drove a splinter deep into my palm reaching for the next board. This time, I felt it. Sharp and immediate, cutting through the fog of

exhaustion. Blood ran down my wrist, mixing with dirt and rust.

Beautiful. Now I matched the debris-broken and discarded.

But I kept moving. Kept hauling. Kept breathing. For the baby.

‘Just hold on a little longer.” I whispered to myself, to the baby, to whoever might be listening.

The sun started its descent, painting the sky in shades of amber and rose. How many hours had passed? Time meant nothing when your world narrowed to lift, drag, drop, repeat.

The party guests emerged for their evening cocktails just as I struggled with a particularly large piece of metal framework. My legs shook. My back spasmed. Blood had soaked through my makeshift bandage, dripping steadily onto the ground.

“Oh my God!” One of Emma’s friends shrieked. ‘Is that actual blood?”

The group froze. Emma’s hand flew to her mouth in exaggerated shock. And Blake…

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13:54 Mon, Jun 15

Chapter 57

Blake’s face turned to stone, a hard pulse flickering in his jaw.

I met his gaze across the distance, my bloody hand still gripping the metal frame.

Emma rushed forward, her heels clicking against the pavement. “Aria! What happened? Why didn’t you say you were hurt?”

Really? Was she serious right now?

54

‘Get inside. You need those wounds cleaned immediately.” She reached for my arm, then pulled back when she saw the blood. “This looks terrible. If Elaine sees you like this, she’ll blame me for not taking better care of you.”

Ah. There it was. Not concern for me, but worry about how she’d look to her mother.

‘I’m not done yet. My voice came out flat, mechanical. “Can’t leave until everything’s cleared.”

“That’s ridiculous. Look at yourself.

I turned away from her, reaching for the metal framework again. That’s when I really looked at it. Really saw it.

The decorative curves. The careful welding. The small imperfection in the corner where Dad had to restart because I’d distracted him with

questions about his work.

This wasn’t just debris. This was the garden frame my father had made for the Grants fifteen years ago. He’d spent weeks on it, crafting each joint by hand, proud to contribute something beautiful to the estate he served.

Now it was garbage. Just like everything else my family had touched here.

‘Pathetic.” I muttered.

“What was that?” Emma leaned closer.

“Nothing that matters. What was the point? These people would never understand what it meant for a gardener’s daughter to see her father’s work torn down and tossed aside. We were the help. Our contributions only mattered until something shinier came along.

I bent to grab the frame again, but a hand clamped around my upper arm. Hard.

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