The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 97

Chapter 97

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Her voice broke on a sob. The fight left her all at once, leaving her limp in my arms.

“I know,” I said quietly, still holding her. “I know you do.”

Martha appeared in the doorway. “Perhaps some tea first, Mr. Morgan?*

I guided Aria to the dining room chair, keeping one hand on her shoulder so she couldn’t run. “Tea, then soup. And you’re finishing all of

it.”

“You can’t make me, Aria whispered, but the fight was gone.

I leaned down close to her face. “Watch me.”

Martha brought chamomile tea with honey. Aria stared at the cup without touching it.

“Drink,” I ordered.

“Or what?” Aria’s voice was hollow. “What are you going to do, Blake? Force it down my throat?”

“If that’s what it takes.” I sat across from her, making it clear I wasn’t moving. “I’ve got all night.”

“You’re insane.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “This is insane.”

“Drink the tea, Aria.”

“Stop calling me that!” She slammed her palm on the table. “You lost the right to use my first name when you chose Emma over me!”

There it was. The real issue beneath all the anger and grief.

‘I never chose Emma.”

“You stood by her side at the funeral!” Aria’s voice rose again. “While my father’s body was being lowered into the ground, you were

holding her hand! Do you have any idea what that felt like?”

I had no good answer for that. Not one she’d accept right now.

“Drink the damn tea,” I said instead.

Aria stared at me for a long moment, then picked up the cup with shaking hands. She took one small sip, then another, her expression

blank.

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Chapter 97

“Happy?’ she asked bitterly.

“Thrilled.” I nodded to Martha, who brought out the soup. “Now eat.”

She managed three spoonfuls before pushing the bowl away. “I can’t.”

‘You can and you will.”

‘I’ll throw up if I eat more. Her voice was flat. “My stomach isn’t used to food anymore.”

I studied her face, looking for deception, but found only exhaustion. “Fine. Small amounts every few hours then. But you’re finishing this

before you go upstairs.”

“You’re unbelievable.” Aria closed her eyes. “My father just died and you’re playing dictator over a bowl of soup.”

“Your father would want you to take care of yourself,” I said quietly.

Her eyes snapped open, fury blazing. “Don’t you dare use him against me. Get out!”

“No.”

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“I said get out!” She stood abruptly. “I don’t want you here. I don’t want your fake concern. Just leave me alone!*

I rose slowly, deliberately, letting my height intimidate her into sitting back down. “I’m not going anywhere. You’re stuck with me whether

you like it or not.”

“Why?” The question came out broken, desperate. “Why won’t you just let me go? You got what you wanted. You broke me. So why are you

still here?”

Because I can’t lose you. Because seeing you like this destroys me.

But I couldn’t say any of that. Not yet.

“Finish the soup, Aria.”

She looked at me with something close to hatred, then picked up the spoon with trembling fingers. Each bite seemed to take enormous effort, but she forced them down.

When the bowl was finally empty, she stood without a word and headed for the stairs. This time, I let her go.

I waited until I heard her bedroom door close before pulling out my phone and calling Jack.

“Tell me what you’ve found, I demanded.

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Chapter 97

‘Not much, sir. We’ve gone through all hospital records and security footage. No sign of Emma Grant anywhere near the hospital.”

I cursed. “The footage must have been tampered with. Get our tech team on it. I want every frame analyzed.”

“The footage is too clean, Jack said. “Too perfect. Someone’s hiding something.”

Get me proof, Jack. I need to know who did this.”

“Why not tell Miss Taylor about your suspicions?”

I thought about Aria’s hollow eyes, her accusations, her hatred. “She won’t believe me. She’ll think I’m trying to manipulate her again.”

“This feels bigger than Emma,” Jack said slowly. “Someone with serious resources is behind this.”

“Find me the truth. Whatever it takes.”

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