The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 61

Chapter 61

EMMA

Aria had everything. Everything that should have been mine. And the worst part? She wasn’t even grateful. She walked around like she deserved it all-the Morgan name, the position at Blake’s company, his ring on her finger.

The gardener’s daughter. That’s all she was. Yet somehow she’d convinced everyone she was better than me. More elegant. More intelligent. More worthy.

I thought back to the party earlier. How I’d made sure the music was extra loud when I saw her struggling with those heavy beams. Made sure everyone’s laughter carried across the yard. Blake would see how happy we were without her. How much better things were when she

wasn’t around.

But it hadn’t worked out that way.

Blake had walked into my beautiful party and killed the mood instantly. He’d sat there like a corpse, not touching the food I’d personally selected, not engaging with anyone. My friends had been too terrified to make conversation. The whole event had been a complete

disaster.

And it was Aria’s fault. Everything was always Aria’s fault.

She’d ruined my party. Ruined my plans. Ruined my life by existing.

But Mom and Dad didn’t need to know that. They’d bought my performance, especially Mom. Dad might take longer to convince, but I’d win him over eventually. I always did.

I moved to my vanity, staring at my reflection. Still beautiful. Still perfect. Still everything Aria could never be, no matter whose ring she

wore.

Tomorrow I’d apologize. Play the reformed friend. And then I’d find another way to destroy her.

Because Blake was mine. Had always been mine. And I’d be damned if I let some nobody keep him.

I waited until the house went quiet before letting my real feelings surface. The rage had been building all day, pressing against my chest until I couldn’t breathe.

That pathetic piece of trash. That nothing. How dare she make me look bad in front of my parents?

I grabbed the framed photograph from my desk-the one from the engagement party where Aria stood beside Blake, that smug smile on her face-and the silver letter opener.

The first stab felt incredible. The blade tore through her face.

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Chapter 61

“I hate you.” The blade went in again, right through her eyes. ‘I hate your face. Your voice. The way everyone thinks you’re so special.

The glass cracked. The photo tore. I imagined the real Aria breaking the same way.

“You should be dead!” The words ripped from my throat. “Why didn’t you die in that fire? Why did you have to survive?”

Aria. It was always Aria.

“He was supposed to be mine!” I drove the blade deeper into the photograph. “We were perfect together! Then you survived and ruined

everything!”

The photo was destroyed now, shredded and torn, but I couldn’t stop. What if Blake found out she was pregnant? He’d never let her go then. His pride, his family’s expectations-he’d keep her forever. They’d have their perfect little family, and where would that leave me?

On the outside. Always on the outside.

“Miss Emma?”

I spun around. Someone stood in my doorway-when had I left it open?

Christine Taylor stepped into the light, and my blood ran cold. Aria’s mother had just caught me stabbing her daughter’s photograph and screaming about her death.

“Mrs. Taylor- I started, but didn’t continue. Why would I explain myself to the housekeeper?

“Oh, sweetheart! Be careful with that thing!” She rushed forward, gently taking the letter opener from my hand. “You could hurt yourself.

These edges are sharp.”

I stared at her. She wasn’t angry. Wasn’t horrified. She looked… worried? For me?

She glanced at the destroyed photograph on my desk, Aria’s face torn to pieces. “That girl,” she said softly. “She has a talent for bringing

out the worst in everyone.”

“What?”

Christine’s smile was sad but knowing. “Aria has always been this way. Stubborn. Manipulative. Never knowing when to back down, when to accept her place. Even as a child, she only caused problems.”

My brain struggled to process this. “But… you’re her mother.”

“Which is exactly why I know what she’s really like.” Christine sat beside me on the bed, still holding my hands. “She’s good at making people feel sorry for her. She plays the victim beautifully. But I see through it. I always have.”

This couldn’t be real. This had to be some kind of trap.

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Chapter 61

“Sometimes I wish you were my mother instead, I said carefully, testing the waters.

Tears filled Christine’s eyes. ‘Oh, Emma. Sweet girl.”

She pulled me into a hug that smelled of perfume and flowers. Nothing like what a housekeeper should smell like. Everything about Christine Taylor was wrong, was contradictory, was perfect.

“Don’t you worry about a thing,” she whispered against my hair. “I’ll help you. Aria stole Blake from you, but we’ll fix that. I’ll make sure you get him back where he belongs.”

“You’ll help me?”

“Of course I will.” She pulled back, cupping my face. “You deserve happiness. You deserve Blake. And I’m going to make sure you get both.”

I hugged her tighter, hiding my smile against her shoulder. This was perfect. Better than perfect. Aria’s own mother was going to help me destroy her.

Dear Christine, I thought as she rubbed soothing circles on my back. You’d better not disappoint me.

ARIA

Consciousness came slowly, swimming up from deep water. Everything hurt. My back screamed with each breath, hands throbbed under fresh bandages, head pounding like a war drum.

But I was alive. And I could move. That had to count for something.

I forced myself to sit up, biting back a groan. My body protested every inch, but I’d survived worse. The bandages on my hands were professional work-Blake must have called his personal physician. How thoughtful. Fix the damage after causing it.

The room was empty. No sign of Blake. Probably for the best. I didn’t have the energy to deal with him and his mood swings right now.

My phone buzzed on the nightstand. The sound sent spikes through my skull, but I reached for it anyway.

Unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Mrs. Morgan?” A crisp, professional voice. “This is DNA Diagnostics Laboratory. I’m calling to inform you that your test results are ready

for pickup.

My heart stopped. The paternity test – mine and Christine’s. In all the chaos, I’d almost forgotten.

‘I’ll be there within the hour.”

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‘We’re open until five today. Have a good afternoon, Mrs. Morgan.*

I hung up and forced myself out of bed. Every muscle protested, but this couldn’t wait. I needed those results.

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The shower was torture. Hot water on raw wounds, movement that sent fire through my spine. But I gritted my teeth and pushed through. Clean clothes were a challenge with bandaged hands, but I managed. One button at a time. One step at a time.

My reflection looked like hell. Pale skin, dark circles, wrapped hands like some kind of mummy. But my eyes were clear. Determined.

Blake thought he’d broken me yesterday. Thought he’d won whatever sick game he was playing.

He was wrong.

I grabbed my keys and headed for the door.

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