His Secret Baby: Six Months After Divorce (Mia and Ethan) novel Chapter 32

Chapter 32

*Fine. But you call me the second you need anything,” Nina sighed, finally backing down. Then, her tone shifted, becoming more guarded. “Anyway… I saw the news. They’re saying your ex-husband is getting engaged right after New Year.”

The news had come straight from Miranda’s mouth.

Mia shook her head, staring blankly at her drink. “I’ve been busy. I haven’t been checking the news.”

“Is it that you haven’t been checking,” Nina said, seeing right through her, “or that you’re too scared to look?

The news about Ethan Hale and Chloe Bennett’s upcoming engagement was blowing up.

Unless

you were living under a rock, it was impossible to miss.

Mia Carter stayed silent.

Nina Torres’s voice suddenly turned smug. “But the latest word is that Chloe and Ethan had a huge blowout. They’re giving each other the silent treatment right now.”

“Really?” Mia’s mind flashed back to that deleted leave request.

Ethan never let his personal life mess with his work.

Especially not for something as major as a Board meeting.

Was it because of the fight?

Seeing that Mia was totally checked out and had zero interest in talking about Ethan, Nina told her to get some rest and ended the call.

Mia clicked on her browser. She didn’t even have to type anything; Ethan’s name was already the top trending search.

The rumors were true. They really were at each other’s throats.

It was the first day of the official Bayview holiday break, just a few days before the Lunar New Year.

Mia’s cold had mostly cleared up. She was getting ready to visit Mrs. Hale Sr. at the hospital when Lila Hale called.

‘Mia, you’re out of the hospital?” Lila sounded awkward, like she was hiding something.

Mia was too busy getting her things together to notice the tone.

Yeah, it was just a minor bug. No need to stay cooped up there. I’m fine now actually, I was just about to head over and see Grandma.”

Lila hesitated for a second. “Oh, okay. See you in a bit then. Grandma actually has something she wants to talk to you about.”

Mia hung up and drove straight to the hospital.

Halfway to the hospital, Mia’s left eyelid started twitching like crazy. It wouldn’t stop, not even when she arrived.

After parking the car, Mia pressed a finger against her eye, trying to settle the nerves. She grabbed the premium

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health gifts she’d bought for Mrs. Hale and stepped out.

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The door to Mrs. Hale’s room was slightly ajar. Mia could hear the muffled, broken sound of voices coming from inside.

“She’s not just gonna tell you, Grandma.”

“Ugh, fine! I’m not asking her. You want to know? You ask her yourself!”

“Well, there goes that dream…”

Lila kept muttering, her voice mixing with Mrs. Hale Sr.’s occasional heavy sighs.

Mia knocked on the door. The room went dead silent instantly.

A few seconds later, footsteps approached. Lila rushed over to pull the door open.

“Mia! You’re here!”

“What’s up?” Mia asked, catching the way the other girl was scanning her. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Lila shook her head frantically and pulled Mia inside. “Nothing! You’re just in time. Grandma’s been asking for you all morning!”

The faint scent of disinfectant filled the hospital room. It hit Mia right in the gut, making her stomach churn.

She’d stopped taking her morning sickness meds a few days ago. It hadn’t taken long for the nausea to come roaring back.

The doctor had warned her she was more sensitive than Nina. This sickness was going to be a long haul, and she couldn’t just stay on pills forever.

“Mia,” Mrs. Hale Sr. said, a warm, kind smile on her face. “Come here, honey. Have a seat.”

Mia set the gifts down and went to sit. Before she could even get settled, Mrs. Hale grabbed her hand.

“Mia, honey, you…”

Mrs. Hale’s voice cut off mid-sentence.

She stared at Mia, the words right on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn’t seem to force them out.