The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 83

Chapter 83

ARIA

I saw the shock register on his face before I let my eyelids fall shut again.

Too tired. Too broken. Too done with everything Blake.

But sleep wouldn’t come. My body screamed with every breath. The leg throbbed where they’d operated, but that pain was nothing

compared to the memory flooding back.

Matthew leaning over me in the OR, syringe in hand. “Aria, you need anesthesia. The pain will be-

“No.” My hand shot out, gripping his wrist. “I can’t.”

“You’re going through major surgery. Without it, you’ll feel everything.”

“I know.” Tears streamed down my face. “Matthew, please. I’m pregnant.”

His face went white. The other doctors exchanged confused looks.

“The anesthesia,” I whispered. “It could harm the baby. I can’t risk it.”

“Aria.” Matthew’s voice softened. “Modern anesthesia is safe for pregnancy. We can adjust the dosage-”

“No.” I shook my head frantically. “I’ve read the studies. There’s still risk. Any risk is too much.”

He stared at me for a long moment. Then he set down the syringe and barked orders to continue without it.

I’d felt everything. Every cut. Every stitch. Every moment of agony as they tried to save what was left of my leg.

All while protecting the life growing inside me. A life Blake could never know about.

Now he sat beside my bed, watching me with those ice-blue eyes that once made my heart race. Now they just made me sick.

“You’re awake. His voice cracked. ‘Should I get the doctor? Do you need anything?”

‘Get out.”

7.6

The words scraped from my throat. Everything hurt, but nothing hurt worse than seeing him there, playing concerned husband after

choosing Emma over me. Again.

“Aria, please-

1/3

13:58 Mon, Jun 15

Chapter 83

I said get out. I forced my eyes open, meeting his gaze. ‘I don’t want to see you. Not now. Not ever.”

‘I’m not leaving. He leaned forward, reaching for my hand. ‘Let me explain-

*Explain what?” I jerked my hand away despite the pain it caused. “How you forced me to deliver that ransom? How you chose to save Emma first? How you let them destroy my leg while hers got priority treatment?”

51

He stood abruptly, hands clenching at his sides. Then he was beside the bed, gripping my shoulders. Not hard enough to hurt more than I

already did, but insistent.

‘Look at me.”

I tried to turn away but he held firm.

“I made the wrong choice. I know that now. But Emma’s career-*

“There it is.” A bitter laugh escaped my throat. “Emma’s career. The prima ballerina. Can’t let her lose her precious stage, right?”

His jaw tightened. I’d hit the truth.

“And me?” I glanced at my bandaged leg. “I’m just the housekeeper’s daughter. Already couldn’t dance because of my back. What’s one more destroyed limb?”

“That’s not what I-

“That’s exactly what you meant. My whole body started shaking. “You made your choice clear, Blake. Emma matters. I don’t.”

‘I never said that-

“You didn’t have to say it!” The words came out in a scream. “You showed me! In that warehouse, when you chose her. When you let them operate on her first. When you-

My voice broke. I couldn’t finish. Couldn’t say aloud what we both knew-that he’d thrown away whatever remained between us the moment he picked Emma over me.

“Aria.” His voice dropped to something almost pleading. ‘I do care about you. That’s why I’m here.”

“Don’t.” I shook my head, fresh tears streaming down my face. “Don’t you dare tell me you care. If you cared, you wouldn’t have put me in that situation. If you cared, you would’ve chosen differently. If you cared-

I stopped. Because the truth was simpler and more devastating than any accusation.

“If you cared,” I said quietly, “I wouldn’t be lying here wishing I’d died in that warehouse.”

2/3

13.58 Mon, Jun 15

Chapter 63

The color drained from hit face Ana

Yes. ) locked straight at him, letting him sere the emptiness made me. Because being dead would hum

how little i matter to you. How little I’ve always mattered.

The door burst open. Olivia waddled in pregnant belly first, carrying a bowl of fruit. Her face went from concerned to furious in seconds.

Comments

4

Write Comments