The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9

EMMA

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Two kitchen staff rushed past us toward the service area, their urgent voices catching my attention.

“That banging from downstairs is getting worse,” one said to the other.

“Sounds like something fell in the wine cellar,” his colleague replied. “Should we check it?”

My blood ran cold. Aria. She was still alive down there, making noise, trying to escape.

Blake noticed them too, his brow furrowing. “What are they talking about?”

“Probably just wine racks settling.” I kept my voice casual, but my mind raced. If those idiots went to check,

they’d find her. Game over.

“The private cellar’s been making weird noises,” a waiter said as he passed. “Like crashes. Maybe an

earthquake shifted something.”

Blake stepped toward the service area. “Maybe we should-”

“Blake!” I grabbed his arm. “My hand really hurts. Can we go to the hospital? I think the graze is worse than

it looks.”

He looked at my hand, then back where the staff had gone.

“It hurts so much…” I said softly, my voice breaking as I blinked back tears.

I hated playing weak. Hated how easily tears came when I needed them. But I’d spent three years in Europe perfecting this act, learning exactly what made Blake Morgan tick. His hero complex. His need to protect me

because I’d “saved” him from that fire.

The lie that started everything.

“Please?” I made my voice small, fragile. “I know it seems silly, but I’m really worried. And after everything that happened tonight…”

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Chapter 9

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That did it. His expression softened. He wrapped an arm around me. “You’re right. Let’s get you checked

out.”

As we walked to his car, my phone buzzed. A text from the man I’d hired: “Package delivered as requested.

Cellar door secured. No witnesses.”

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Good. Aria was exactly where she needed to be. Now I just had to keep Blake away long enough for the lack

of oxygen to finish what I’d started.

“Thank you for taking care of me,” I murmured as he opened the passenger door. “You’re always so good to

me, Blake.”

“You saved my life,” he said simply. “Taking you to the hospital is the least I can do.”

If only he knew the truth. That his precious savior was the reason his wife would die tonight.

The wine cellar was airtight. The oxygen would run out. By the time anyone found Aria Taylor, she’d be nothing but a corpse. And I’d be there to comfort Blake through his grief, just like I’d planned.

“Drive faster,” I urged as we pulled away from the hotel. “My hand really hurts.”

Every minute counted now. Every second Blake stayed away from that hotel meant Aria had less chance of

survival. The thought should have bothered me. Instead, I felt only satisfaction.

She’d stolen three years of my life. Now I was taking all of hers.

MATTHEW

Where the hell was she?

I’d ditched Victoria-said I had a hospital call-and checked every corner of this hotel. Aria wouldn’t just

vanish. Not during Blake’s big event. She took her job too seriously for that.

Something was wrong.

I hit the terrace, ladies’ room, coat check. Nothing. Staff shook their heads when I described her. A blue-

water dress, gorgeous-hard to miss. But she’d gone invisible.

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Chapter 9

Screw it. I’m going home.

But as I headed toward the exit, a maintenance worker ran past me, nearly dropping his tools.

“Sorry, sir! So sorry!” He scrambled to steady them.

“Fine.” I stepped aside. “What’s the rush?”

“Wine cellar’s going crazy. Heard massive crashes from down there. Like someone wrecking the place.” He shook his head. “Boss is gonna kill me if the premium bottles got damaged.”

Wine cellar. Crashes. Aria missing.

No. Not her.

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My feet moved before my brain. Years of Mom’s conditioning cracked. Screw the hate. Screw the walls. All I

saw was that eight-year-old girl, scared of thunder, hiding under Grant’s oak tree.

I followed the service corridor down. Down. Down. Three flights of stairs to the basement level. The air grew

cold, damp. Stone walls replaced drywall.

Comments

R Visitor

2 Comments >

Matthew hates her and calls her “cheap help” not 5 minites ago and then in a snap, he’s overly worried about her and helping her? Makes no sense.

7 days ago

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11:26 Wed, Jun 10

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