The Unwanted Wife and Her Secret Twins (Mia and Kyle) novel Chapter 213

Mia's POV

"Do you still love him?"

Thomas's question hung in the air between us. I stared at him, caught completely off guard.

Do I still love Kyle?

A month ago, I would have answered without hesitation. No. Of course not. That chapter of my life was closed.

But now.

The memories flooded back without warning. Kyle bursting through that door, gun raised. The look in his eyes when he saw me bound and terrified. The way he'd placed himself between me and danger without a second thought. The feeling of his blood, warm and sticky, spreading beneath my hands as I begged him not to die.

I looked down at the twins, peacefully sleeping in their matching bassinets. Alexander's tiny fist curled beside his cheek. Ethan's mouth making those dreamy sucking motions. Both of them carrying pieces of Kyle in their features.

"I'm sorry," Thomas said softly, noticing my silence. "That was unfair of me to ask."

"No, it's okay," I replied, tucking Ethan's blanket more securely around his tiny body. "I just don't have a simple answer anymore."

Thomas moved closer, his voice gentle but determined. "Mia, I've been thinking a lot lately."

Something in his tone made me look up.

"I know this is inappropriate to say,," he continued. " I held back because I knew you didn't feel the same way. I thought I needed to be patient, to wait for the right time."

I opened my mouth to speak, but he shook his head.

"Please, let me finish. After everything that's happened, nearly losing you, I've realized that life doesn't give us guarantees. We don't know how much time we have."

I had a feeling I knew where this was going.

"Thomas—"

"I care about you, Mia. More than as a friend." He held my gaze steadily. "And I care about these boys. I want you to know that I'm willing to be here for all three of you. In whatever capacity you need."

I stood frozen, unsure how to respond.

"I'm not asking for an answer right now," he added quickly. "I know this isn't the right moment. You've just brought your babies home. You're still recovering. And Kyle..."

"Kyle left," I said, surprising myself with the bitterness in my voice.

"Yes, he did." Thomas's expression softened. "And I would never do that to you. I want you to know that there's more to the world than just Kyle Branson."

I looked back at the twins, buying myself time to think. Scarlett had been right all along. Thomas wasn't just being friendly. He had deeper feelings.

"I don't know what to say," I admitted finally.

"You don't have to say anything." Thomas smiled. "I just wanted you to know where I stand. No pressure, no expectations. Just... a possibility."

The anger that had been simmering inside me for weeks bubbled to the surface. What kind of man abandons his premature twins? What kind of father misses their homecoming? What possible justification could Kyle have?

I'd spent six weeks making excuses for him. Maybe he was more seriously injured than they told me. Maybe he needed specialized treatment elsewhere. Maybe he was giving me space to recover without the stress of our complicated relationship.

But deep down, I knew I'm just fooling myself.

The image of Kyle bleeding in my arms flickered through my mind again.

I heard my mother's voice in the hallway, speaking with Thomas about lunch arrangements. Their easy conversation drifted through the partially open door.

I looked back at my sons, so innocent, unaware of the chaos that had surrounded their entry into the world.

My phone felt heavy in my hand. I opened my contacts and hovered my finger over Kyle's name. Delete contact.

My finger trembled above the screen. I couldn't do it.

I put the phone away and returned to my sons. I adjusted their blankets, checked their breathing, touched each tiny cheek with feather-light fingers.

"We'll be okay," I promised them softly. I bent down and kissed each of my sons gently on their foreheads.

"Let's go see what Grandma and Thomas are up to," I whispered. "I think I smell her famous chicken soup."

I won't call Kyle anymore. Instead, I'm going to find him. If I can't find him, he's out of my life for good. Out of my heart. Maybe it'll be Thomas, or maybe it'll be someone else, but they'll all be better than that damn Kyle.