The Unwanted Wife and Her Secret Twins (Mia and Kyle) novel Chapter 331

Mia’s POV

Kyle’s eyes went red–rimmed, but he didn’t look away. He dragged his hand across his face once, roughly, like he was angry at his own reaction.

I could see him rebuilding his walls even as we sat there, even as tears still clung to his lashes. “Kyle.”

“My father was barely present when I was growing up.” His voice steadied, taking on that businesslike tone I knew meant he was compartmentalizing. “I managed fine. Better than fine.”

“This isn’t about your father.”

“You said Ethan figured it out. Smart kids adapt. They find ways to make sense of things.”

I wiped my nose on my sleeve, tasting the salt that had dripped to my lips. “He shouldn’t have to make sense of this.”

“No.” Kyle’s voice dropped. “He shouldn’t.”

For a moment, something shifted in his expression–softer, more vulnerable–before he caught himself.

“He asked me once,” I said quietly, “if some daddies just disappear. Alexander was building something with blocks and Ethan just–he looked up at me and asked that. Like it was a fact he was trying to confirm.”

Kyle’s hand stilled on the tape. “What did you tell him?”

“I told him that sometimes grown–ups make mistakes that hurt the people they love.” I pulled my knees closer to my chest. “I told him that didn’t mean the daddy stopped loving them.”

“Did you believe that when you said it?”

The question caught me off guard. I studied Kyle’s face, looking for the trap in it.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “I wanted to.”

Kyle nodded slowly. “I never stopped loving them, Mia.”

“You disappeared, Kyle. Completely. For four years.

Kyle’s breathing became more labored. He pressed his hand to his chest, and I realized disconnecting from the oxygen might have been a bad idea.

“You need to-”

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“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. You can barely breathe.”

“I’m fine enough for this conversation.”

We sat in silence for a moment. I could hear voices in the hallway, the distant sound of elevator doors opening and closing.

“Tell me about the illness,” I said finally.

Kyle shifted against the wall, and I could see the effort it took. “What do you want to know?”

“How long do you have?”

“The doctors said six months. That was three months ago.”

The words hit me like a physical blow. “Three months.‘

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“Maybe less. The progression has been faster than they expected.”

I felt fresh tears threatening.

“They ask about you sometimes,” I said. “Not as much as they used to, but sometimes. Alexander asks if his daddy is in heaven like Madison’s daddy. Ethan just gets quiet when the other kids talk

about their fathers.”

Kyle closed his eyes. “Maybe it’s better if they think I’m dead.”

“Don’t say that.”

“It’s going to be true soon enough.”

The tears came again.

Kyle’s eyes snapped open when he heard me crying again. “Stop,” he said, his voice rough but firm. ” Mia, stop.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can.” He shifted closer, the movement clearly costing him effort. “I spent four years trying not to make you cry anymore. Don’t do this to yourself.”

I wiped my face with both hands, but the tears kept coming. “You think you can just—just tell me to stop crying and I will?”

“I think you’re stronger than you think you are.” Kyle’s voice had that edge to it, the one that used to come out when he was trying to fix something. “You raised two children alone. You built a business.

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You survived everything.”

“I didn’t survive it.”

Kyle reached out like he was going to touch my face, then stopped himself.

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