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Chapter 97 Biological Father
*Mia’s POV*
+25 BONUS
The café was exactly halfway between our old house and my new apartment. Neutral territory, my lawyer had called it when suggesting the location. Through the window, I could already see Kyle a his perfectly tailored suits. He was early.
corner table, looking impeccable as always in one of
My phone buzzed with a message from Robert: *Remember, you’re not obligated to agree to anything today. This is just a preliminary discussion.*
I took a deep breath, smoothing my sweater over my clearly visible bump. No point trying to hide it now—my pregnant status was splashed across every gossip site and society blog in the city. The headlines ranged from sympathetic (“Pregnant Ex–Wife of Business Tycoon Targeted in Shocking Attack“) to scandalous Kyle Branson’s Secret Love Child Drama“).
Kyle stood as I approached, something flickering in his eyes as they dropped to my stomach. For a moment, neither of us spoke. “You’re looking well,” he said finally, his voice carefully neutral.
“Kyle…let’s skip the small talk.” I settled into the chair across from him, grateful for the table between us. “We both know why we’re here.”
He stared at me for a moment.A waitress appeared with water and menus. Kyle waved her away with that particular gesture that somehow conveyed both authority and dismissal.
“So… How far along?” he asked once we were alone.
“Five months.” I met his gaze.
Something shifted in his expression. Is it pride? Possessiveness? I’m pretty sure he’s not pleased.
“Were you ever going to tell me?”
“Eventually.” I took a careful sip of water. “Once I’d figured out how to handle the legal implications.”
“Legal implications?” His voice held a dangerous edge. “They’re my children, Mia.”
“Biologically, yes.” I kept my tone even. “But legally, the situation is complicated. We were divorced when they were conceived.”
“A technicality.”
“No, Kyle. A reality.” I pulled out my phone, showing him the article my lawyer had sent. “In most states, children conceived after divorce have no automatic presumption of paternity. You’d have to petition the court to establish rights.”
His jaw tightened. “You really think I won’t?”
I sighed, “I don’t know. Kyle, I don’t want us to go to court. I don’t think we’ll get to that point.”
Kyle was silent for a long time. “Mia. Why can’t you give me another chance? They’re my children too.”
“Biologically, yes. If you need an heir, you have many options.”
I looked at Kyle quietly. He looked as if he had eaten a nail You think it’s because I need an heir?”
“Kyle, I don’t think you understand how you feel.“You found that was the girl. That’s why you feel grateful. You misunderstood it as “love“. That girl could be anyone.“
“But she is you.” he said.
“Yes, but you thought she was Taylor before. She can be anyone. If you think you love her. You just fell in love with your memory.”
“Don’t psychoanalyze me.”
1/3
TEX
+25 BONUS
“Isn’t it?” I leaned forward slightly. “Would you be sitting here, claming some deep connection, if you hadn’t realized who I was? If you still thought I was just your convenient ex–wife?”
“That’s not fair.”
“No?” I laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Tell me something Kyle. If Taylor walked through that door right now, pregnant with your child, what would you do? Would you fight this hard for those rights?”
His silence was answer enough.
“Exactly.” I pushed my water glass away, suddenly nauseated. “Ts isn’t about the babies, not really. It’s about your guilt over not recognizing me.”
“You don’t know what this is about,” he said, his voice dropping dangerously low.
“No.” The word came out rough. “I exactly what this is. y…?
don’t love me, Kyle. You don’t even know me.”
“And what about you?” His question caught me off guard. “When you fell in love with me, did you
really know me?”
But my voice shook slightly. “I admit I loved you. Kyle. I was infatuated with you like an idiot. I saw all of you, Kyle. You just never bothered to see me.”
He was quiet for a long moment. “I see you now.”
“Because you have to.” I blinked back sudden tears. “Because circumstances forced you to look. That’s not love, Kyle. That’s obligation.”
“You don’t get to tell me what I feel.”
“No? Then tell me this—if I hadn’t gotten pregnant that night, would you have ever looked closer? Would you have ever recognized the truth about me and Taylor and everything else?”
His silence spoke volumes.
“That’s what I thought.” I started to stand, but his hand shot out, catching
“Let me try,” he said, his voice rough with emotion I’d never heard before.
“Better?” I pulled my hand away. “You can’t even admit that your feelings
love.”
my wrist.
prove that I can be better.”
re based on guilt and obligation rather than actual
“And you can’t admit that you’re using these babies to punish me for past mistakes.”
The accusation hit hard. “You think that’s what this is about? Punishment?”
“Isn’t it?” His eyes blazed.
“I never-”
Movement caught my eye. Nate standing in the café doorway. I hadn’t told him about meeting Kyle, but somehow, he’d known.
How did Nate know I was here? Did Mom tell him? He always seems to appear at just the right moment.
“This conversation is over.” I pushed myself up from the table, one hand automatically going to my lower back weight was starting to strain.
ere the twins‘
Kyle stood too, reaching for me, but Nate was suddenly there between us.
“Everything okay?” he asked quietly, his eyes never leaving Kyle.
“Fine.” I managed a small smile. “Just leaving.”
“Mia-” Kyle started, but Nate cut him off.
2/3
Chapter 97 Biological Father
+25 BONUS
“I think she said this conversation is over.”
Something dangerous flickered in Kyle’s eyes. “This doesn’t concern you”
“Actually, it does.” Nate’s voice held quiet authority. And anger.
“Mia.” Nate’s hand touched my elbow gently. “Let’s go.”
I realized I was shaking, tears threatening despite my best efforts. One of the twins kicked sharply, as if sensing my distress.
“Go home, Kyle.” My voice came out steadier than I felt. “Go back to your life. We’ll be fine without you.”
“They’re my children too.”
I met his gaze one last time. “Being a father takes more than DNA
I let Nate guide me toward the door, away from Kyle’s thunderous expression and the weight of years of complicated history.
“My car’s outside,” Nate said quietly.
I nodded.
Outside, the autumn air felt sharp in my lungs. Nate opened his car door for me, ever the gentleman.
“How did you know? Are you following me?” I asked as he pulled away from the curb. I tried to joke. But I do feel like Nate always seems to show up just in time.
“Scarlett texted me. She worried about you.” He glanced at me briefly.
“I’m fine.”
“Your hands are shaking.”
I looked down, he was right. “It’s just… complicated.”
“Life usually is.” He navigated smoothly through traffic. “Want to talk about it?”
“Not really.” I pressed a hand to my stomach, feeling the babies shift. “I just want to go home.”
“Okay.” He didn’t push, just drove in comfortable silence.
“Thank you, Nate.” I said softly.
Nate just nodded.
