The CEO's Regret: His Lost Wife's Secret Twins novel Chapter 99

Chapter 99

“Let go. But she had no strength left.

I didn’t set her down. Instead, I turned and walked toward the back of the house.

“What are you doing?” Panic crept into her weak voice.

“Taking you to the kitchen.”

‘Put me down.”

“No.”

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She tried to struggle, but her body was too weak. By the time we reached the kitchen, she’d given up, going limp in my arms. I set her on

a stool at the marble island and stepped back.

‘Stay there.”

“Blake, I don’t want-

“I don’t care what you want.” I moved to the refrigerator and started pulling things out. Eggs, butter, bread. “You think the food’s

poisoned? Fine. I’ll make it right in front of you.”

She stared at me. “You can’t be serious.”

‘Do I look like I’m joking?’ I set a pan on the stove and turned on the heat. “You’re going to sit there and watch me make this. Then

you’re going to eat it.”

“I’m not hungry.”

“That stopped being relevant days ago.”

I cracked two eggs into a bowl, whisked them roughly. My hands were steadier now that I had something to do. Something concrete.

Aria sat motionless, watching my every movement. She looked like a trapped animal, ready to bolt but too exhausted to move.

I added butter to the pan, watched it melt and sizzle. Poured in the eggs. The smell filled the kitchen-normal, safe, ordinary.

“See?” I glanced at her. “No poison. No drugs. Just eggs.”

She didn’t respond. Her hands gripped the counter edge, knuckles bone-white.

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Chapter 99

I dropped bread in the toaster. Stirred the eggs. They were cooking too fast, getting slightly brown at the edges, but I didn’t care. This

wasn’t about making perfect food.

The toast popped up. I slid the eggs onto a plate, added the toast, and walked around the island.

‘There.” I set the plate in front of her. “You watched me make every bit of it. Now eat.”

She stared at the plate like it might explode. “Blake, I can’t-

“Yes, you can.” I picked up the fork and scooped up eggs. “Open your mouth.”

‘No.’

“Aria.” I moved closer, fork raised. “I will stand here all night if I have to.”

“You can’t force me.”

“Watch me.”

We stared at each other. I saw exhaustion warring with stubbornness in her eyes. Saw hunger fighting fear. Her hands trembled violently.

“One bite,” I said quietly. “Just one.”

“Why?” Her voice cracked. “Why do you even care?”

“I don’t know.” The honest answer. “But I can’t watch you die like this.

Something in my tone reached her. She opened her mouth slightly. I brought the fork to her lips, and she took the smallest possible bite.

She chewed slowly, like it hurt. Swallowed. Waited.

“Nothing happened,” I said. “Another bite.”

This time she didn’t argue. Then another. I fed her systematically, watching her face for any sign she might get sick.

She ate half the eggs before pushing the fork away. “That’s enough.”

“It’s not nearly enough.”

“Blake, I can’t. I’ll throw up.”

I set the fork down, studying her. She looked slightly less gray. That was something.

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Chapter 99

“Tomorrow, we’re doing this again,” I said. “And the day after that.”

‘You can’t-

“I can. And I will.” I moved closer, trapping her against the counter. “You want to investigate your father’s death? Fine. But you’re eating

first. Even if I have to cook every meal and feed you myself.”

She looked up at me, confusion swimming in her eyes. “I don’t understand you.”

“Join the club.” I reached out and tucked hair behind her ear. She flinched but didn’t pull away. “But you’re not dying on my watch.

Her phone rang, shattering the moment.

She fumbled for it, nearly dropping it before getting it to her ear.

“Hello?”

I watched her face transform. Color flooded her cheeks, then drained away.

“The hospital security office contacted us,” a male voice said, loud enough for me to hear. “Someone came forward with surveillance footage from the lake area. It shows exactly what happened when your father drowned!”

Aria’s grip on the phone turned desperate, and she looked at me with eyes full of terror and hope.

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