Chapter 81
Mia’s POV
The pendant lay in my palm. Morning sunlight caught the delicate metalwork, creating shadows that danced across my bedroom wall. Gas pressed against my legs, his warm presence grounding me as I traced the intricate pattern with trembling fingers.
I was sunable to tear my eyes from the pendant since the morning. Why would Kyle send it now? I’m almost certain it was Kyle who sent it. But why did he always have the pendant? Did Taylor give it to him?
“Did Taylor give it to him?” I whispered to Gas, who tilted his head at my voice.
The questions swirled in my mind like a storm. I really want to ask Kyle. All of this.
No. I couldn’t call him. I don’t want to dial that well-rehearsed number.
“Come on, buddy.” I grabbed Gas’s leash from its hook by the door. “We need some air p>
He bounded to his feet immediately, tail wagging with enthusiasm. At least someone’s mood wasn’t complicated.
The loose maxi skirt I pulled on still mostly hid my growing bump, though soon even that wouldn’t be enough. My reflection caught my eye as I passed the hall mirror. I looked tired. I don’t like I look tired.
“No running today, okay?” I told Gas as I clipped on his leash.
He gave me his patented head tilt, all innocent confusion, but his tail wagged harder. Sometimes I swore he understood more than he let on.
We walked farther than usual. I chose the lake. The path was empty this early, just us and the occasional duck paddling across the still water. Fall had painted the trees in shades of gold and crimson, their reflection creating a double world of autumn fire.
Gas loved it. He ran far away and then came back happily. I slowly followed behind him. From time to time, Gas comes back to check if I’m keeping up.
“What do you think I should do, Gas?” I sank onto a weathered bench, letting him rest his head in my lap.
He responded by licking my face enthusiastically, his whole body wiggling with the effort to get closer.
“Yeah, that’s about as helpful as I expected.” But I couldn’t help smiling as I hugged him close, burying my face in his warm fur.
At least his love was uncomplicated.
The walk back felt longer, my feet protesting every step. Maybe we had gone too far after all. The babies seemed extra active today, as if picking up on my anxiety. My hand drifted to my stomach, a habit I couldn’t seem to break.
I saw him before he saw me.
Kyle sat on the steps leading to my building, his usual perfect appearance notably disheveled. His hair stuck up at odd angles like he’d been running his hands through it, and was that… stubble? I’d never seen him anything less than immaculately groomed.
There was even a small cut on his left face.
Gas tensed beside me, a low growl rumbling in his chest.
“How did you find my address?” I didn’t wait for him to answer. “Kyle Branson has his way p>
He took a step toward me, then stopped when Gas’s growl deepened. “We need to talk, Mia p>
“I don’t think we do p>
He moved closer anyway, reaching for my arm. His fingers touched the exact spot he’d grabbed at the wedding, making me flinch. The bruises were still forming, purple-blue against my pale skin.
Chox S THE TRUTH
He registered my reaction. Kyle pulled his hand back as if burned. “I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you p>
“Is that what you wanted to say? Kyle. I don’t need your apology. i think I made myself clear. Gas pressed closer to my legs, still watching Kyle warily. I patted Gas, head to calm him down.
Kyle’s forehead furrowed, and there was a complex emotions in his eyes. “Can we talk? Please p>
Please. When had Kyle Branson ever said please to me?
“There’s nothing to talk about.” I moved to step around him, but he blocked my path. “Move, Kyle.” I couldn’t keep the bitterness from my voice.
He flinched like I’d struck him. “Mia, I love you p>
The words hung in the air between us suddenly. What did I hear? I feel like I’m hallucinating. These are the words I’ve prayed for and longed to hear years. I actually laughed, though it came out more like a sob. These are the words I’ve dreamed of, but they’ve come in such a situation.
This is insane.
“Kyle, do you know what love is?” I looked at Kyle quietly, “If you don’t know love, you shouldn’t just say it p>
I wanted to go in, but Kyle didn’t move.
“Mia, please,” he pleaded for the first time.
Kyle had never been so humble. I felt my heart skip a beat. But I knew it was just an ironic illusion.
“Perhaps you can explain why you suddenly fell in love with your ex-wife?” I looked straight into Kyle’s eyes.
“Mia, I fell in love with you a long time ago. Do you remember?” Kyle looked at me pleadingly.
I felt that this was the most ridiculous sentence I had ever heard
“So you ask me to sign a marriage contract? Is this how you love me p>
“I messed up, Mia.” Kyle’s voice was depressed. “I’ve loved you since I was eight years old, trapped in that warehouse, terrified until you appeared p>
I felt like my heart had been suddenly struck by something. Kyle’s voice suddenly became very far away.The world tilted dangerously. My knees threatened to give out.
I can hardly make a sound. He took a step closer, ignoring Gas’s warning growl. “I gave you that pendant because I needed something to remember you by. Because you made me feel safe when my own father had abandoned me to die p>
Each word felt like a physical blow. I could see myself desperately saying, “This can’t be true. You met me and fell in love with me. And then 15 years later, you treat me like a broken doll p>
The light in Kyle’s eyes suddenly faded. “I spent years looking for you.” His voice had taken on an almost desperate quality. “I thought the girl was Taylor. I was wrong p>
Hahaha. How funny.
“You were wrong.” The words tasted like ashes. “You were wrong, so you married me without recognizing me. You were wrong, so you treated me like I meant nothing while you ran to her every time she called. You were wrong, so I lost our babies on those marble stairs while you carried her to safety p>
Tears spilled over, hot and unstoppable. Gas pressed his head against my stomach.I tried hard to wipe away my tears. But they flowed even faster.
Kyle’s voice seemed to be choking as well, “Mia, I was wrong. I want to make amends p>
7.3
“sa,” Nate finally said, sliding the decaf latte toward me “How far along p>
“Almost five months.” I wrapped my hands around the warm cup, needing something to do with them. “With twins p>
His eyebrows rose slightly. “That explains the rapid changes in your energy levels. Have you been getting enough rest? Proper prenatal care p>
Nate did not show any emotional fluctuations and questioned me like a doctor. This made me feel very strange. Although this may be related to his professional habits.”Dr. Matthews has been monitoring everything closely.” I couldn’t quite meet his eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I just… didn’t want to complicate things p>
“You won’t complicate anything.” His voice held no judgment, just genuine curiosity.
This affirmative sentence sounds even more strange. I forced a smile. I gestured vaguely between us. “Well, our friendship. I didn’t want to ruin it by being the pregnant divorced woman with all this baggage p>
“Mia.” He waited until I looked at him. “I just want you to know. You’re my friend, Mia. That doesn’t come with conditions or expectations p>
The simple honesty in his voice made my throat tight. Maybe I’m just overthinking it.
“Now that’s just ridiculous.” He leaned back, taking a sip of his own coffee. “Who’s taking you to your appointment this afternoon p>
I blinked. “How did you p>
“Your mother whispered it to me..” At my surprised look, he added, “We doctors do occasionally communicate about our patients p>
Mom had the grace to look slightly sheepish. “I was worried about you going alone p>
“I’m perfectly capable p>
“Of course you are,” Nate cut in smoothly. “But you shouldn’t have to be. Let me drive you? As a friend,” he added quickly. “And maybe a medical consultant if you have questions p>
Before I could respond, another knock echoed through the apartment. Gas’s ears perked up again, but his tail kept wagging.
“Popular morning,” Mom observed dryly.
I pushed myself up from the table, one hand automatically going to my lower back where the twins seemed to be practicing their gymnastics routine. The door opened to reveal Thomas Wallace, looking unfairly put together in what was probably a custom suit.
Awkward. It seems like another person knows I’m pregnant. Scarlett really did it. Asking her single brother to take care of her divorced friend.
“Scarlett called,” he said by way of greeting, then stopped short at the sight of Nate. Something complicated passed between the men recognition? Assessment?
“Dr. Pierce.” Thomas’s voice held that particular tone of old money meeting new.
“Mr. Wallace.” Nate’s response was equally measured.
Great. Just great. I resisted the urge to bang my head against the doorframe.
“Do you two know each other?” I asked.
They looked at each other. “We have some common friends, I assume,” Thomas answered.
“I was just offering to drive Mia,” Nate said, his casual tone somehow making it clear he’d gotten there first.