The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 65

Chapter 65

ARIA

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The words tasted bitter coming out, but I forced myself to keep talking. Play the submissive wife. Don’t make waves. Just survive until the

divorce.

Blake’s face darkened with each word. Funny how my compliance made him angrier than my defiance ever had.

After Jacob cornered me outside that café, everything became clear. I had bigger problems than Blake’s cruelty. Real threats. Real danger. A man who claimed to love me now wanted to destroy me. Fighting with my husband over torn-down buildings and public embarrassment

was pointless.

I needed out. Fast. Before Jacob made good on his threats.

“You’re saying you were wrong?” Blake sounded suspicious.

“Yes. I was wrong to question your decisions about Emma.” It hurt to say that. “You should do whatever makes her happy. Tear down whatever you want. Build whatever she needs.”

“You think I tore down that carriage house just to please Emma?”

I didn’t answer directly. Why bother? We both knew the truth.

“The storage room really would make a nice dressing room,” I said instead. “I’m sure Emma would love it.”

“What a thoughtful suggestion.” His voice could have frozen hell. “Maybe I’ll take you up on that.”

‘Great. Can we discuss accelerating our divorce timeline? I’d really appreciate-*

I didn’t wait for his response. Just turned and headed upstairs, needing distance between us before I said something I’d regret.

The next few days passed in a strange new rhythm. I became the perfect employee, the compliant wife. No arguments. No defiance, Just quiet obedience.

Blake hated it.

We ate meals together in silence. Rode to work without speaking. I followed his orders to the letter, never questioning, never pushing back. And with each passing day, his mood grew darker.

He watched me constantly, those ice-blue eyes burning with something I couldn’t identify. Frustration? Confusion? Rage? All of the

above?

C

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Chapter 65

Good. Let him stew. I have bigger concerns than Blake Morgan’s feelings.

AGE

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By the fourth day of our new dynamic, the tension was suffocating. I brought him contracts to sign, planning a quick escape back to my office.

“Stay. The command stopped me at the door. “I need coffee.”

I turned slowly. Blake’s office had an entire Italian coffee setup-espresso machine, grinder, the works. He was obsessed with coffee,

treating it like an art form. And now he wanted me to make it?

‘I can ask Jack to-

‘Did I ask for Jack’s coffee?” He leaned back in his chair, watching me with predatory focus. “I asked for yours.”

Memories flooded back. Me, desperately studying coffee preparation techniques, trying to impress him. Watching him make Emma her special blend, their heads close together as he explained each step. The intimate ritual they shared while I watched from the sidelines.

“Mr. Morgan, I have other things-

“What’s wrong, Ms. Taylor? Think you’re too important now? The company can’t function without you for ten minutes?”

The mockery in his voice made my teeth clench. But I kept my expression neutral. Play the game, Aria.

“Of course not. I’ll make your coffee.”

I handed the contracts to Jack on my way back, telling him to handle the follow-up. Then I returned to Blake’s office and his ridiculous

coffee setup.

Select the beans-Blake preferred a medium roast Colombian. Grind them fine but not too fine. Measure precisely-he liked 18 grams for a double shot. Preheat the portafilter. Level the grounds. Tamp with exactly 30 pounds of pressure.

My hands moved automatically, muscle memory from those pathetic months when I’d tried so hard to be the perfect wife. The machine hissed as I pulled the shot, counting the seconds. Twenty-five for the perfect extraction.

Steam the milk to exactly 150 degrees. Pour with a steady hand, creating the microfoam Blake insisted made all the difference.

I set the cup on his desk, finally meeting his gaze. He’d been watching the entire time, something unreadable in his expression.

“Didn’t know you still remembered my coffee preferences.”

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

Chapter 66

“Will that be all, Mr. Morgan?”

His face hardened. “When exactly are you going to stop this act?”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“This!” He gestured between us. “This compliant robot routine. It’s driving me insane.”

Seriously? He wants me defiant so he can punish me, but my obedience makes him angry too? There’s no winning with this man.

“Would you prefer I visit your office less frequently? I can have Jack-

“Get out.”

I left quickly, but not before hearing the crash of porcelain against the wall. So much for appreciating my coffee-making skills.

Blake didn’t contact me the rest of the day. I left at exactly five, refusing to stay late for a man who threw my efforts against walls.

Outside Morgan Tower, a familiar figure waited by the entrance.

“Aria. Matthew stepped forward, his usual arrogance replaced by something almost humble. “We need to talk.”

“I’m really not in the mood-

“I know about the threats.” He cut me off. “The ones from high school. My mother let it slip during a fight. She hired people to threaten you, to say they’d sell you to human traffickers.”

The memories flooded back-those men in dark suits following me, their cold voices on the phone describing what they’d do. The suffocating fear had driven me to the lake’s edge one night, ready to jump. If that stranger hadn’t pulled me back from the water, I wouldn’t be here. The gangster-like intimidation had nearly broken me completely.

‘I’m sorry.” The words seemed to hurt him. “I knew she hated your family, but I didn’t know she’d gone that far. Not until this week.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because you deserved to know. And…” He ran a hand through his hair. Because I’m hoping you can forgive me. Not for what she did, but for not protecting you from her.”

Matthew Redwood, apologizing? What parallel universe have I stumbled into?

‘I need to go,” I said, too exhausted to process this revelation.

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