The Unwanted Wife and Her Secret Twins (Mia and Kyle) novel Chapter 286

Mia’s POV

Thomas led me onto the dance floor, his hand warm and steady against my lower back. The music was soft and romantic, something classical.

Around us, other couples moved in elegant circles. I caught glimpses of expensive jewelry catching the light, designer gowns swirling across the polished floor.

But all I could focus on was the weight of Thomas’s hand in mine.

“Look at me,” Thomas said quietly.

I lifted my eyes to meet his.

“Not at them,” he continued, his thumb brushing across my knuckles. “At me.

“Better?” he asked, spinning me gently.

“Better,” I confirmed.

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“You know,” Thomas said, his voice taking on a lighter tone, “I’ve never slow danced on a cruise ship before.”

“First time for everything,” I replied, managing a small smile.

“How am I doing?”

“You’re not stepping on my feet, so that’s a good start.”

Thomas laughed softly. “High praise indeed.”

The music shifted slightly, becoming more upbeat.

“Mama! Uncle Thomas!”

Alexander and Ethan came running toward us, their faces beaming with excitement. They’d apparently escaped from Nate’s supervision and found us on the dance floor.

“It’s so beautiful, Mama!” Ethan said, his eyes wide as he took in the elegant scene around us. “Everyone looks like they’re in a movie!”

“Can we dance too?” Alexander asked hopefully, bouncing on his toes with barely contained energy.

“Of course you can,” Thomas replied immediately, bowing formally to them with exaggerated ceremony. “May I have the honor of dancing with these two distinguished gentlemen?”

The boys giggled at his formal tone, clearly delighted by the attention.

“I don’t know how to dance like the grown–ups,” Alexander admitted, suddenly shy.

“That’s okay,” Thomas assured him. “The best dancing happens when you’re just having fun.”

Chapter 286 Line of Fire

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He took Alexander’s small hands in his, guiding him through a simple box step while Ethan watched with fascination.

“See? Just step and step and step,” Thomas demonstrated, his voice patient and encouraging. “There’s no wrong way to do it.”

After a moment, Ethan joined in, taking Thomas’s other hand. Soon both boys were spinning and stepping with Thomas at the edge of the dance floor.

Watching them together, my heart began to settle.

Alexander broke free from Thomas’s hands and began attempting what could generously be called

breakdancing, his small body spinning on the polished floor with complete abandon.

“Alexander James Williams,” I called out, trying to hide my amusement. “This is not that kind of dance floor.”

“But Mama, I’m expressing myself through movement!” he protested, pausing mid–spin.

Ethan, meanwhile, had found his own rhythm.

“Look, Mama!” Ethan called out. “I’m dancing in patterns!”

“Mathematical dancing,” I observed. “Very impressive.”

The screaming in my heart began to quiet.

My boys were happy. They were safe. They were loved.

Everything else was just noise.

“Mama, watch this!” Alexander announced.

“Very creative, sweetheart,” I said, applauding his efforts.

The song was winding down, and couples around us were beginning to separate and move toward other parts of

the salon.

“Can we get some more of those fancy drinks?” Ethan asked, his face flushed from dancing.

“And maybe some more dessert?” Alexander added hopefully.

“I think we’ve had enough sugar for one evening,” I said, but I was smiling. “How about some water and maybe one more small snack before we think about heading home?”

“But Mama, the party’s not over yet!” Alexander protested.

He was right. The evening was still young by cruise ship standards. But I’d had enough of today’s chaos. Enough revelations, enough emotional upheaval, enough carefully orchestrated humiliation.

I was ready to take my children home, tuck them into their own beds, and pretend this entire evening had been nothing more than a bad dream.

Alexander and Ethan stayed close to me as we navigated through the crowd, their small hands gripping mine

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Chapter 286 Line of Fire

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tightly.

“Mama, there are so many people,” Ethan observed.

“Stay right beside me,” I instructed. “Don’t let go of my hands.”

We were making our way toward the area where we’d been sitting earlier when it happened.

Alexander, distracted by something he’d spotted across the room, stepped slightly to his right just as a woman in a sparkling black dress was passing.

The woman immediately recoiled, pushing my son away from her as if he were some kind of pest.

“Watch where you’re going!” she snapped, her voice loud enough to draw attention from nearby guests.

Alexander stumbled backward, his face flushing with embarrassment and confusion.

I looked up at the woman’s face.

Ketty Morrison.

Taylor’s faithful sidekick from high school. The same woman who’d confronted me outside the bar just days ago.

It seemed someone was determined to walk directly into my line of fire tonight.

“He barely touched you,” I said, my voice dangerously quiet.

Ketty looked down at me with the same superior expression she’d perfected in high school. “Your brat needs to learn some manners.”

“What did you call my son?” I asked, my voice dropping to barely above a whisper.

“I called him what he is,” Ketty replied with obvious satisfaction.

“Take that back,” I said, my voice deadly calm.

It seems that someone is determined to get in my way.

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