The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 77

Chapter 77

ARIA

“You fucking moron!”

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The voice sliced through the warehouse. A woman stormed through the doorway, black coat billowing behind her, face hidden behind oversized sunglasses and a medical mask. Even disguised, something about the way she moved triggered recognition in the back of my

mind.

“We handed you a fortune on a silver platter, gave you more money than your pathetic family would see in three generations, and you cave because this slut batted her eyelashes?” Her heels struck the concrete with each aggressive step toward Jacob.

Jacob’s face flushed crimson. “You’ve got some nerve showing up here! You’re the most twisted bitch I’ve ever had the misfortune of

meeting!

She laughed a sound of breaking glass. “Twisted? I dragged you out of your miserable existence, stuffed your pockets with cash, and gave your dying mother access to treatments she’d never afford otherwise. I’m the best thing that ever happened to you, and here you are, ready to throw it all away for this worthless piece of trash?”

My wrists screamed against the rope. The nylon had already broken skin, blood trickling down to pool in my palms. This woman knew

Jacob. She was the puppet master behind everything.

“You want her dead so badly? Do it yourself,” Jacob shot back, though his hands trembled. “You and your mystery partner can get your

own hands dirty for once.”

“Gladly.”

She moved with frightening speed, heels crunching through broken glass and debris scattered across the floor. She bent down, selected a particularly vicious shard from a shattered window, and stalked toward me with deliberate menace,

No hesitation. No monologue. Just cold, efficient violence.

The glass bit into my upper arm. Fire exploded across my skin as the jagged edge tore through fabric and flesh. Blood bloomed instantly, soaking my sleeve, running warm down to my elbow. I twisted away, curling into myself, protecting my stomach. My baby. Nothing else

mattered.

“Hold still, you bitch!” She grabbed my hair, wrenching my head back with brutal force. My neck cracked.

The second slash came before I could brace-a burning line across my thigh. Then another along my ribs. Each cut was calculated,

designed to cause maximum pain without hitting anything immediately fatal. This woman wanted me to suffer first. My body screamed to

fight back, to uncurl and defend myself, but I kept my arms locked around my middle. The baby had to survive.

This psychopath was actually going to kill me. Blood soaked through my clothes, making my skin slippery. The metallic smell filled my

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Chapter 77

nostrils, making me gag. My vision blurred at the edges. How much blood could I lose before-

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My spine erupted in agony. That old injury flared to life. Nerve pain shot down my back, but I barely registered it. Physical pain meant nothing compared to losing this child.

She raised the glass again, aiming for my throat this time. The sharp edge glinted in the dim light. This was it. I was going to die in this

abandoned warehouse, tied up and bleeding, all because Emma Grant couldn’t stand competition.

What a pathetic way to go.

Jacob’s hand shot out, catching her wrist inches from my jugular. The glass trembled between us. “Jesus Christ! You’re actually going to

murder her?”

“Let go of me!” She struggled against his grip. “What, suddenly grew a conscience? Or is it simpler than that-you think she’s pretty? Want to play knight in shining armor for a beautiful damsel?”

“This isn’t about-

“Oh, spare me.” Her laugh was vicious. “Men are all the same. Show them a pretty face and they forget everything else.”

She turned to me, and even through the mask I could feel her smile-cruel and triumphant. “Still protecting that stomach, I see. Still clinging to hope that Blake Morgan’s bastard might survive. Still haven’t figured out he’ll never want it?”

Ice flooded my veins. She knew. This stranger knew about my pregnancy.

Jacob’s eyes widened. ‘Wait-she’s pregnant?”

The woman ignored him, extending her hand toward Jacob. “Give me the phone. The burner you used for the ransom call.

“If you contact Blake, he’ll trace the signal. He’ll find this location in minutes-

“I said give it to me!

She snatched the phone from his hand, her fingers flying across the screen. Those perfectly manicured nails. That particular way she held

the device, pinky extended.

I knew those hands.

“Here’s what’s going to happen,” she said, eyes locked on mine. “I’m calling Blake right now. If he says he cares about you even just one pathetic little admission-I’ll let you go. Both of you.” Her gaze dropped meaningfully to my stomach. All three of you, technically. But if

he doesn’t…”

She let the threat hang in the air as she dialed.

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Chapter 77

“Yes?’ Blake’s voice filled the warehouse, cold and sharp. “Where’s Emma? Is she safe?’

The woman’s eyes glittered with malicious glee. “Fascinating. You don’t even ask about your wife.”

A pause. Then: “Why would I?”

“She’s here with me right now. Bleeding. Hurt. Possibly dying. Don’t you want to know her condition?”

“No.”

Just that. No hesitation. No conflict. Just a flat, cold refusal.

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“I’m offering you a chance,” the woman pressed, voice dripping with false sweetness. “One simple sentence. Say you care about Aria Taylor,

and I’ll release her immediately. That’s all I’m asking for.”

“No.”

No hesitation. No thought required. Just no.

“You won’t even lie to save her life? Not even pretend for thirty seconds?”

“I won’t say it.” His voice was absolute steel. “Now tell me-is Emma safe or not?”

The woman looked at me, victory written across every visible inch of her face. Jacob stared between us, horror and confusion battling in

his expression.

“You’re a heartless bastard, Blake Morgan,” the woman said.

“Are we finished?”

She hung up, laughter spilling from her throat. “God, that’s beautiful. He can’t even fake concern. Couldn’t even lie to save your miserable

life.

Jacob stared at me with naked pity. He couldn’t comprehend that level of coldness,

Neither could I, honestly. Even expecting it hurt.

“You know what the really tragic part is?” The woman circled me slowly, glass crunching under her heels with each step. “You’re still protecting his baby. Still curled up, bleeding everywhere, all to save a child he’ll never acknowledge. A child he’ll probably demand you

abort the second he finds out about it.”

I lifted my head, meeting her covered gaze. Blood ran down my arm, my leg throbbed, my back screamed, but suddenly everything felt

crystal clear.

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Chapter 77

Is that what you expected? My voice came out steady despite everything. ‘Did you think I d break down? Beg him to save me? Cry for a

man who never loved me in the first place?”

She stopped pacing.

This was your plan all along, wasn’t it?’ I shifted position, ignoring the fresh pain that shot through me. Get me here. Force him to choose. Prove publicly that he doesn’t care. Well, congratulations. Mission accomplished.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Really?” I laughed, and it made my ribs scream. “Then why don’t you take off that ridiculous disguise, Emma? We both know it’s you

The warehouse went silent except for my ragged breathing.

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