The Unwanted Wife and Her Secret Twins (Mia and Kyle) novel Chapter 191

Mia's POV

"Kyle!" I exclaimed, shock and anger flooding through me. "What are you doing?"

Kyle stood over Thomas, his chest heaving, fists still clenched at his sides. "Stay away from my wife," he growled.

"Ex-wife," I corrected automatically, moving to Thomas's side. "Are you alright?"

Thomas touched his jaw gingerly, wincing. "I'll live," he muttered, his eyes never leaving Kyle's face. "Though your ex-husband seems determined to change that."

Gas barked frantically, clearly distressed by the sudden violence. Several park-goers had stopped to stare, and I realized with horror that this scene was likely to make tomorrow's gossip columns if any of them recognized Kyle.

"This is ridiculous," I said, helping Thomas to his feet. "Kyle, you need to leave. Now."

"I'm not going anywhere," Kyle retorted, his voice tight with barely controlled rage. "Not while he's with you."

I stepped between the two men, one hand protectively on my belly. "This is none of your business, Kyle. Thomas was helping me take Gas for a walk. That's all."

"That didn't look like 'all' to me," Kyle replied bitterly, gesturing to where we had been standing moments before. "Unless dog-walking now involves his tongue down your throat."

I felt heat rush to my face, both from anger and embarrassment. How dare Kyle make a scene like this? And yet, beneath my indignation, there was a treacherous flutter in my stomach at the raw possession in his voice, the unmistakable jealousy in his eyes.

"That's enough," Thomas interjected, straightening his coat with as much dignity as he could muster. "You're causing a scene, Branson. Mia doesn't need this kind of stress right now."

Kyle took a menacing step forward. "Don't tell me what she needs. You don't know her. You don't know anything about her."

"And you do?" Thomas challenged, refusing to back down despite the throbbing in his jaw. "The man who publicly humiliated her? Who let her fall down the stairs when she was pregnant? That man knows what she needs?"

I closed my eyes briefly, wishing the ground would open up and swallow me. This was mortifying on every level—two grown men arguing over me in a public park, airing private matters for anyone to overhear, while I stood between them like some prize to be won.

"Stop it, both of you," I hissed. "People are staring."

Indeed, a small crowd had gathered at a discreet distance, watching the drama unfold with poorly concealed interest. I thought I saw someone with a phone pointed in our direction and felt my stomach sink. This was exactly the kind of publicity nightmare I'd been trying to avoid.

"Go home, Kyle," I said, keeping my voice low and controlled despite the emotional turmoil inside me. "You're drunk again, aren't you?"

"I'm not drunk," Kyle insisted, though there was a slight slur to his words that suggested otherwise. "And I'm not leaving you here with him."

"I don't need your permission or your protection," I replied, my patience wearing thin. "I'm perfectly capable of deciding who I spend time with."

I nodded, not trusting myself to speak just yet. The twins were unusually still, as if they too were processing the emotional storm that had just swept through.

"I'm sorry about..." Thomas gestured vaguely to his mouth, looking uncomfortable. "I misread the moment. That was inappropriate."

"It's fine," I assured him, grateful for his straightforward acknowledgment. "It's been a confusing time for everyone."

Thomas nodded, his expression thoughtful. "For what it's worth," he said after a moment, "I don't think Kyle is as indifferent to you as you believe."

I laughed, the sound brittle even to my own ears. "That wasn't indifference just now. That was possession. Kyle hates losing what he considers his, even when he doesn't actually want it."

Thomas studied my face for a long moment.

"I want to go home," I said simply, deflecting the deeper question. "It's getting cold, and I'm tired."

Thomas nodded, accepting my evasion without pressing further. "Of course. Let's get you and Gas back to the apartment."

As we walked slowly back toward his car, I couldn't help glancing over my shoulder, half-expecting to see Kyle still standing there, watching us. But the path was empty, the spot where he had stood now occupied by a young couple laughing together, oblivious to the drama that had unfolded there moments before.

Kyle was gone.