Chapter 24 Revelations
**Mia’s POV**
The silence in the room shattered at Kyle’s words. My father’s face drained of color as he stared at Kyle’s hand gripping his wrist, recognition slowly dawning in his eyes.
“Kyle… Kyle Branson?” Dad’s voice wavered, all his previous authority crumbling. The name carried weight – everyone in the business world knew what crossing a Branson meant.
“Mr. Hawthorne.” Kyle’s voice remained perfectly controlled, but ice cold. “I suggest you lower your hand. Now.”
Dad jerked away as if burned, his eyes darting between Kyle and me. “What are you doing here? This is a family-”
“Mia is my wife.”
The words fell like bombs in the elegant living room. I watched the impact ripple across their faces – Dad’s jaw going slack, my stepmother’s perfectly arranged features freezing in shock, Taylor’s eyes widening in genuine surprise for once.
“Wife?” Dad choked out. “That’s impossible. She’s been-”
“We’ve been married for three years.” Kyle’s tone left no room for argument. His stance was protective, but not aggressive – every inch the powerful CEO defending what was his. “And I won’t stand by while you threaten her.”
Taylor moved forward, her designer heels clicking softly on the hardwood. “Kyle,” she said, her voice honey–sweet, reaching for his arm. “There must be some misunderstanding. Mia’s just upset because-”
Kyle stepped away from her touch, but his expression remained neutral. Not cold, not angry – just distant. “There’s no misunderstanding, Taylor. The Havers project appointments went through proper channels. Mia earned her position through merit and expertise.”
“But…” Taylor’s lower lip trembled. “I thought… after everything we’ve been through together…”
“I know.” Kyle’s voice softened slightly, colored with old affection “You’ve been important to me, Taylor. Ever since we were children. When we were both in danger, you helped-”
Taylor’s face transformed so quickly I almost missed it. The color drained from her cheeks, her eyes widening in what looked like genuine fear. “Kyle, don’t-”
“I’m grateful for what you did back then,” Kyle continued, oblivious to her growing panic. “But that doesn’t change the fact that
“I have to go!” Taylor’s voice cracked. She spun around, practically running from the room, her sobs echoing dramatically through the house.
My stepmother recovered first, her practiced smile sliding back into place. “Kyle, dear, surely we can discuss this reasonably. After all, Taylor’s always had such special feelings for you, and this.. situation… with Mia must be quite a shock-”
“The only shock,” Kyle cut in, his voice hardening again, “is that you think you can interfere with my wife’s career based on Taylor’s lies.”
Dad found his voice, anger overriding his initial fear. “Now see here, Branson. Taylor is-”
“Your daughter. Yes, I’m aware.” Kyle’s eyes narrowed. “Just as I’m aware of how you’ve treated your other daughter. How you abandoned her mother. How you’ve spent years enabling Taylor’s manipulations.”
“You have no right-
“I have every right.” Each word fell like ice. “Mia is my wife. Her mother is under my protection. And if you ever raise your hand to her again, I will ensure that every business contact, every client every potential investor knows exactly what kind of man Percival Hawthorne really is.
The
threat landed precisely. Dad’s face went
from red to white,
his business reputation being his most prized
possession.
You‘
i wouldn‘
n’t dare-
“Try
TE
me.‘ Kyle’s voice remained perfectly level. “One phone call, Mr. Hawthorne. That’s all it would take to start Remember that the next
time you think about threatening my wife”
He turned to me then, his expression softening fractionally. “Let’s go.“.
The drive home passed in thick silence. Questions burned in my throat, fighting to be asked.
Finally, as we pulled into our driveway, I couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Why?” The word came out barely above a whisper. “Why did you do that?”
Kyle’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “It’s what a husband should do.”
your downfall.
The words hit like physical blows. I felt my breathing quicken, my eyes burning. “Don’t.” My voice cracked. “Don’t you dare talk
about
three years, you’ve never-”
what a husband should do. In the past
The
words stuck in
my throat.
Kyle sat
in silence,
no defense offered.
