The Unwanted Wife and Her Secret Twins (Mia and Kyle) novel Chapter 211

Mia's POV

I sat in the rocking chair, holding Alexander against my chest. He was doing remarkably well as already gaining weight and breathing with minimal assistance. His tiny fingers had wrapped around my pinky with surprising strength, and I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

"Look at you, little fighter," I whispered, gently stroking his cheek with my finger. "So strong already."

Nurse Maria approached with Ethan, carefully transferring him from his isolette to my other arm. Though still smaller than his brother, Ethan had made significant progress. The doctors had reduced his ventilator settings yesterday, a positive sign his lungs were developing well.

"There we go," Maria said softly. "Mama's got both her boys now."

It's a magical feeling. Both my sons nestled against me, their synchronized breathing creating a rhythm that seemed to match my heartbeat. Alexander squirmed slightly, his mouth making little movements that the nurses said were early attempts at sucking. Ethan remained quieter but equally alert, his dark blue eyes occasionally fluttering open to look at the world around him.

"Oh!" I gasped as Ethan's tiny hand found my finger, gripping it firmly. I rubbed my cheek against his.

I looked down at the boys, studying their tiny features. Alexander had my coloring, but his jawline was all Kyle. Ethan's eyes, though still the generic newborn blue, had Kyle's shape. It was strange to see these echoes of him in our sons while the man himself remained conspicuously absent.

"Your daddy would be so proud of how brave you both are." I whispered to them.

"Hey there, mama bear!" Scarlett's cheerful voice came from the doorway. She entered carrying an oversized gift bag with tiny elephants printed on it. Morton followed with a bouquet of flowers so large it nearly obscured his face.

Scarlett sett down the bag and coming to peer at the twins. "Oh my goodness, they're even more gorgeous than yesterday! Is that possible?"

I smiled at her enthusiasm. "They gain a little cuteness every hour, I think."

Morton arranged the flowers on the windowsill before approaching. "They look strong," he observed with his typical understated manner. "Good color."

"The doctor says Alexander might be ready for bottle feeding next week," I shared proudly. "And Ethan's oxygen requirements are decreasing daily."

"That's fantastic news," Scarlett exclaimed, already rummaging through her gift bag. "Which means it's the perfect time for these!"

She pulled out two tiny hand-knitted beanies. One was blue with yellow stripes, the other was yellow with blue stripes.

"I had them specially made," she explained. "Organic cotton, super soft for sensitive preemie skin."

"They're beautiful," I said, genuinely touched. "Thank you, godmother."

These past few days, Scarlett has been coming over almost every day. I haven't asked Kyle about it. They haven't mentioned him either. I really want to know why Kyle doesn't want to see his children. But there's an even more terrifying thought that I haven't been able to bring myself to say out loud: Is Kyle really alive?

"How is he, Morton?" I asked abruptly.

The room fell silent.

"Mia—" Morton began.

"Kyle," I said firmly. "You're in contact with him, aren't you?"

Morton's hesitation told me everything I needed to know.

"Please," I continued, my voice softening. "I'm tired of being kept in the dark. If something's happened... if he's worse than you're telling me... I need to know."

Scarlett sat on the edge of my bed, taking my hand. "Mia, honey—"

"Is he dead?" I guessed I scared the boys. Alexander began to whimper, and I gently bounced him to soothe him. "Just tell me the truth. If he's gone, I need to know. I can handle it."

"No," Morton said immediately. "Kyle is not dead."

Maria approached cautiously. "Mrs. Branson, your blood pressure..."

I took a deep breath, conscious of the tiny bodies still nestled against me. Getting upset wouldn't help them.

"I'm fine," I assured her, though the pounding in my chest suggested otherwise.

After Maria had taken the twins back to their isolettes, I turned to Morton again.

"Mia," Scarlett began tentatively, "I know this is a shock—"

"A shock?" I turned to her, "Scar, Kyle is such a jerk. He just abandoned me and the babies like that? And he thinks he's so cool?“ I looked down at my hands, surprised to find them trembling. "He made this decision unilaterally. Without consulting me. Without even considering what his sons might need from him."

"Kyle believes he's doing what's best," Morton offered.

"Don't," I cut him off. "I know you can still get in touch with him. Tell him to hurry back."

I looked back at the isolettes where my sons lay sleeping, innocent and unaware that their father had chosen to remove himself from their lives before they'd even had a chance to know him.

"And if he don't. From now on," I said, my voice steadier than I felt, "Kyle Branson does not exist in our lives. If he wants to vanish, then he's gone. I won't spend my life or my sons' lives waiting for a man who couldn't be bothered to stay."

Morton nodded slowly. "I'll convey your feelings to Kyle, should he contact me."

I said nothing.

I was fine. My sons were fine. We would be fine without Kyle Branson. We all would.