The Unwanted Wife and Her Secret Twins (Mia and Kyle) novel Chapter 328

The children had been asleep for twenty minutes when I finally worked up the courage to call Thomas. My phone felt slippery in my palm, and I had to wipe my hands on my jeans twice before I could dial properly. The apartment was quiet except for Gas’s gentle snoring from the foot of Alexander’s mattress and the distant hum of traffic outside.

“Mia?” Thomas’s voice sounded tired, like he was speaking from the bottom of a well.

“Hi,” I said, settling into the kitchen chair farthest from the bedroom. “I wanted to let you know Madison’s doing well. She ate three plates of pasta for dinner and helped the boys build a castle out of blocks.”

“Thank God.” The relief in his voice was immediate and genuine. “I’ve been worried sick. How is she emotionally?”

I traced patterns on the kitchen table with my finger, following the wood grain. “She’s scared, but she’s tough. She asked if she’ll ever see her mother again, and I didn’t know what to tell her.”

Thomas was quiet for so long I thought the call had dropped. “Mia, there are things happening that I can’t… things are more complicated than I thought.”

“What do you mean?”

“Theo’s family. They’re not just upset about the financial fraud. They’re claiming that Victoria…” He stopped, and I could hear him breathing carefully. “They think Victoria had something to do with Theo’s death.”

The words settled between us like stones dropping into still water. I thought about Victoria’s perfectly manicured mask.

“Thomas…”

“I don’t know what to think anymore. The family hired private investigators months ago. They think she might have been… interfering with it. There’s no proof yet, but they’ve reopened the investigation into his death.”

I thought about Madison’s thin arms, her desperate hunger, the way she’d devoured those sandwiches like someone who never knew when the next meal would come.

“Where does that leave you?” I asked.

“They’ve subpoenaed me. Apparently I was one of the last people to see Theo before he died.” His voice cracked slightly. “Mia, I saw how quickly he deteriorated those last few weeks. I should have

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Chapter 328 Pain isn’t always something to be avoided

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asked more questions.”

I could hear the guilt eating at him.

“You couldn’t have known,” I said softly.

We sat in silence for a moment. I could hear Thomas’s breathing, uneven and careful, like someone

trying not to cry.

“Thomas, what does this mean for Madison? Are they going to question her about her parents? About what she might have seen or heard?”

“I won’t let that happen. She’s five years old. She’s been through enough.”

“But if there’s an investigation,”

“Then I’ll make sure she has the best child psychologist, the best legal representation, whatever she

needs. I won’t let them traumatize her further.”

The protectiveness in his voice reminded me why I’d fallen for him in the first place. Despite everything that had happened between us.

“She’s safe here,” I said. “For as long as she needs to be.”

“Mia…” Thomas’s voice went soft. “I know I have no right to ask this, but thank you.”

“Thomas.”

“I know you need space. I know I’ve broken your trust. But I want you to know that whatever happens with the investigation. You and the boys are still the most important thing in my life.”

I pressed my free hand to my forehead, feeling the familiar ache. “We’ll figure it out,” I said.

After I hung up, I sat in the dark kitchen for a long time.

All of us making choices for other people. All of us convinced we knew what was best.

I picked up my phone and called my mother.

“Darling?” Her voice was alert despite the late hour. “Is everything alright?”

“Mom, I need you to come over. After you arrive, I need to go somewhere.”

“Of course. Where are you going?“–

I looked toward the bedroom where my children slept, Madison’s small form curled trustingly between my sons. They deserved better than adults who made decisions based on fear.

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“I’m going to find Kyle.”

My mother arrived forty–five minutes later, carrying an overnight bag and a thermos of tea that smelled like chamomile and honey. She took one look at my face and set both items down without a

word.

“How long do you need?” she asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe all night.”

She nodded, settling into the kitchen chair I’d been occupying. “The children?”

“Asleep. Madison might wake up scared–she’s still adjusting.”

“I remember when you were that age,” she said quietly. “You used to have nightmares about losing me in grocery stores.”

I grabbed my keys from the counter, then stopped. “Mom, what if I’m making a mistake?”

“What kind of mistake?”

“What if Kyle left for a good reason?”

My mother studied me with the careful attention she’d always given to her paintings, like she was trying to capture something essential about the moment.

“Darling, you’ve spent four years wondering. Whatever Kyle’s reasons were, you deserve to hear them from him. And if it hurts…” She shrugged. “Pain isn’t always something to be avoided. Sometimes it’s just information.”

I kissed her forehead, breathing in the familiar scent of her lavender perfume. “Thank you.”

“Drive carefully.” She caught my hand as I turned to leave.

Mount Sinai Hospital at eleven–thirty PM was a different creature than during the day. The main lobby was mostly empty, just a few scattered visitors clutching coffee cups and visitor badges, their faces wearing the particular exhaustion that comes with medical vigils. The fluorescent lights seemed brighter somehow, casting everything in stark relief.

I approached the information desk, where a security guard with kind eyes and gray hair looked up from a crossword puzzle.

“Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for someone who might be a patient here. Kyle Branson.”

He typed the name into his computer, frowning at the screen. “Are you family?”

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“I’m his…” I stopped, realizing I didn’t know how to finish that sentence anymore. “I’m his ex–wife.

Chapter 329 You look terrible