The Unwanted Wife and Her Secret Twins (Mia and Kyle) novel Chapter 199

Mia's POV

I stared at the photograph, my brain struggling to process what I was seeing. The woman in the picture looked exactly like Diana Porter. But the timeline didn't make sense. If Diana Porter had only given birth to a daughter, how could she be the mother of Nate and his brother?

"Yiayia," I began hesitantly, "did Thea ever use another name? Perhaps for work or... before she married?"

Yiayia tilted her head, considering the question. "No, always Thea. Short for Dorothea." She smiled fondly at the photograph. "My beautiful Dorothea."

Not Diana, then.

I thought about how to say this." Yiayia, did Thea ever mention having a sister?Yiayia's eyes narrowed slightly. I added, "You may not believe it, but I've seen someone who looks exactly like Thea. Someone from many years ago. "

Yiayia's weathered hands stilled on the table. She studied my face intently, and her shoulders relaxed slightly.

She reached out and stroked my cheek gently, her palm warm against my skin. "You have honest eyes," she said. "Like my Thea."

She glanced around the restaurant, ensuring the other patrons were out of earshot, then leaned forward. "Is truth, I am not mother who give birth," she confessed in a lower voice. "Cannot have children, me. My husband and I, we adopt."

"Thea was adopted?" I whispered, my heart beginning to race.

Yiayia nodded. "Many years ago. She was tiny baby, so beautiful." Her eyes grew distant with memory. "There was talk, yes. Talk that Thea had twin sister, adopted by different family. But all records sealed, you understand? Private."

"A twin," I breathed.

Yiayia's expression darkened. "Adoption place was... not good place. Cold people. Say twins must be separated, better chance for good homes. My husband, he want to take both babies. Those people say no, already promised other baby to rich family. Very cruel."

"So you never knew who adopted Thea's sister?" I sighed, "She was gone, yiayia, I am sorry."

"Yiayia," I said carefully, "did you ever tell Thea or Nate about this? "

Yiayia's eyes widened. "No, no. Never tell boys they adopted. Never tell about sister. "

Her intensity surprised me. "I promise," I said quickly. "I won't tell him."

She nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Good girl. Now, more food for babies."

Before I could protest, Yiayia had bustled away to the kitchen, returning moments later with a plate of pastries drizzled with honey.

"Eat," she encouraged, pushing the plate toward me. "Growing boys need sweet things too."

I obediently took a bite of the flaky pastry, the honey melting on my tongue.

"You come back after babies born," she declared, not a question but a statement of fact. "Bring my Nate. Bring little ones. Yiayia make special food for new mothers. Help milk come good."

Just as I was about to step toward the curb to hail a cab, I felt it—something hard pressing against the back of my head.

"Don't move," a deep voice commanded. "Don't scream. Don't try anything stupid."

My blood froze in my veins. The container slipped from my fingers, hitting the sidewalk with a dull thud.

"Do exactly as I say," the voice continued, "or I'll put a bullet through your head right here."

I couldn't see his face, but I could feel his breath against my ear, smell the acrid scent of cigarettes on his clothing. My hands instinctively moved to my belly, a futile attempt to protect my unborn sons.

"Please," I whispered, terror constricting my throat. "I'm pregnant."

"I know exactly what you are," the voice replied, without a hint of compassion. "Now walk. Nice and slow. To the black car at the corner."

My legs moved mechanically, propelled by fear. The sidewalk before me blurred as tears filled my eyes. All I could think was: Not like this. Not when they're so close to being born.

The black car waited at the curb, its engine running, windows tinted so dark I couldn't see inside. As we approached, the rear door swung open.

"Get in," the voice ordered, the pressure against my head intensifying.

I had no choice but to comply.