His Secret Baby: Six Months After Divorce (Mia and Ethan) novel Chapter 39

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Chapter 39

New Year in Northbrook was always the coldest time of the year.

Every year for the holidays, Mrs. Hale Sr. gave all the staff time off. She wanted it to be strictly family time.

But this year, Miranda and the rest of the family had flown abroad for vacation. The massive estate felt empty and dead quiet.

‘Grandma, should we try calling Mia one more time?”

Lila wasn’t ready to give up. “It’s way more fun when she’s here. We can make dumplings and stay up for the

countdown.”

Mrs. Hale Sr. rolled her eyes at her. “You just want her here to do all the work, don’t you?”

Since Mia had married into the family, she’d been the backbone of the holiday dinner for the past two years.

She was an incredible cook even Miranda, as picky as she was, had to admit that.

Because of her, the holidays were the one time the family actually felt like a family. Both the old lady and Lila nissed that warmth.

Of course not!” Lila shot back instantly. “I just think it’s sad for Mia to be all alone on New Year’s. I don’t buy that the actually wants to be by herself. She was probably just being polite at the hospital.”

Fine. Give her a call and see what she says.” Mrs. Hale Sr. wanted her there, too.

it didn’t matter whose baby Mia was carrying or if she’d ever get back together with Ethan. Mrs. Hale Sr. still

oved her to death.

Lils hit Mia’s number immediately.

The phone rang for a few beats before Mia finally picked up.

Lils?”

Mia, are you home?” Lila asked. It was dead quiet on Mia’s end nothing like the usual noise of the orphanage.

it was 9:00 AM, Mia had barely managed two hours of sleep before the call dragged her awake.

Yeah, I’m home,” Mia rasped, her voice thick and scratchy. “What’s up?”

‘Grandma still wants you to come over for New Year’s,” Lila whined. “The staff are all on holiday, and my parents are out of the country. It’s just us left at home. We’re literally starving over here…”

Lila didn’t actually plan

on making Mia lift a finger. She just knew that playing the pity card was the only way to convince Mia to show up.

But Mia knew her too well. She saw right through the act.

Every New Year, when Mia handled the massive holiday dinner alone, Lila was always right there by her side, helping out. She was always terrified Mia would work herself to death.

“Lils, I can’t. It’s not right for me to be there,” Mia said, a hint of exhaustion in her voice,

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Lila didn’t skip a beat. “Don’t even worry about that! Ethan’s heading out to see Chloe soon. He won’t even be home tonight! It’ll just be me and the grandparents.”

Just as the words left her mouth, Ethan walked down the stairs.

“Erhan, Grandma wants Mia to come over for the New Year. You don’t have a problem with that, do you?”

Lila shot him a pointed look, her eyes pleading.

Mia kept saying it was “inappropriate,” but Lila knew the real reason. It was Ethan. He was her boss, and even worse her ex-husband.

If Ethan just gave her the green light, Mia would definitely come.

Ethar walked to the kitchen island and started grinding coffee beans. His voice was ice-cold. “New Year is for Family.”

The room went dead silent.

Mia couldn’t see him, but she could picture his face detached, hard, and completely indifferent.

Ethan, you!” Lila choked out. She realized he was flat-out refusing, and she was fuming.

Besides,” Ethan added, his voice dropping a few more degrees. “I’m sure Ms. Carter has no interest in coming over anyway.”

His tone was frozen. Not a single hint of warmth.

To Mia, the message was loud and clear: Know your place.

They weren’t family anymore. What business did she have being there?

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