His Secret Baby: Six Months After Divorce (Mia and Ethan) novel Chapter 31

* Chapter 31

Chapter 31

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Mia took her job seriously. Always had.

Being late for a board meeting was a massive deal. If word got out that she’d been negligent, it would trash her reputation and kill her career.

She had to clear this up.

Leo forwarded the screenshot to Ethan immediately.

Mr. Hale, is it possible you missed Mia’s text about taking the day off?”

Ethan glanced at the screen, his brow furrowing. He pulled up his chat with Mia.

The last message was from days ago just a routine work update. There was nothing from today.

His eyes darkened instantly. He snapped his phone shut, a cold, dangerous energy radiating from him.

Seeing that look, Leo shut his mouth and stayed quiet.

Ethan spent the rest of the afternoon buried in work.

Around evening, Chloe Bennett showed up at the office with a “homemade” dinner, acting all sweet.

But she wasn’t even in his office for five minutes before she came stomping back out.

It was just one stupid text! You don’t have to be such a jerk to me!”

With her eyes red and watery, she threw the words over her shoulder and stormed off in a rage.

Leo had finally figured out what was going on. He called Mia immediately to explain the whole mess.

Mia had spent the entire afternoon waiting for Leo to get back to her.

She never imagined this would be the reason. Chloe had gone into her phone and deleted the messages.

Ms. Carter, try to call me directly next time you need time off, okay?” Leo said over the phone.

Got it. Thanks, Leo.” Mia hung up, her head throbbing with a dull ache.

Early the next morning, she fought with the doctors until they finally gave in and let her go.

Lila showed up with breakfast, but the hospital bed was already empty. A nurse told her Mia had checked herself

JUL.

‘Grandma, do you think something’s wrong with Mia?”

Back in Mrs. Hale Sr.’s room, Lila couldn’t keep it in. She was pacing. “The nurse didn’t even want her to leave, but she insisted on going. She didn’t even tell me she was leaving.”

Mrs. Hale Sr. was sitting by the window, catching some sun. Her brow furrowed. “Mia was in the hospital?”

Lila froze. Shit.

She’d completely blanked. They were supposed to be keeping this a secret from Mrs. Hale Sr.

“No wonder you’ve been so distracted since yesterday,” Mrs. Hale Sr. said. “Always disappearing the second I look

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for you.”

Mrs. Hale Sr. stood up, her face turning grim. “Tell me the truth. Now.”

Lila didn’t hesitate. She spilled every single detail.

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“Grandma, what if she’s sick? Like, actually sick, and she’s just trying to hide it from us?”

Knock on wood!” Mrs. Hale Sr. muttered, waving her hand as if to ward off a curse. “Don’t say such things. It’s bad luck. Go pull her charts, then you’ll know for sure.”

Lila didn’t waste a second. She rushed off to get Mia’s medical records.

Ten minutes later, she walked back into the room. Her face was pale, her expression heavy with shock.

“Grandma… something big has happened… something huge.”

The fever had broken, but the lingering cold symptoms left Mia in a total fog. She spent the rest of the day drifting in and out of a heavy, groggy sleep.

That night, Nina jumped on a FaceTime call. It took her all of two seconds to realize something was wrong.

“Listen to that congestion,” Nina said, frowning at the screen. “Are you sick?”

Mia took a slow sip of her sweet pear soup, her movements sluggish. “Yeah. Ran a fever, but I already went to the hospital.”

Nina was already standing up, grabbing her keys. “I’m coming to get you. You’re staying at my place until you’re back on your feet.”

“No, don’t,” Mia said quickly. “You have a kid at home. I’m not risking getting the little one sick.”

Nina’s voice turned dead serious. As someone who had been through it all, she wasn’t playing around. “Mia, being sick while pregnant is no joke. Especially when you’re all alone. This is not the time to be a martyr.”

Mia nodded repeatedly, trying to soothe her friend. “I know, I know. I’ve already seen the doctor. The fever’s gone, so I’m over the hump. The baby is the priority, I promise.”