His Secret Baby: Six Months After Divorce (Mia and Ethan) novel Chapter 49

< Chapter 49

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Chapter 49

Mia couldn’t figure him out. She let out a long sigh and went quiet.

You should’ve just taken Jaxon Rivers’ offer when he tried to headhunt you,” Nina said, her voice sharp over the

phone.

Riverside is still in Northbrook, sure, but it’s a hell of a lot better than being stuck with Ethan. In five months, you’re going to be showing. If he catches on then, you’re done. You won’t even be able to run.”

Mia wasn’t suicidal. She never planned on trying to pull off a pregnancy right under Ethan’s nose.

Trying to lie her way out of it and betting he’d never catch her? That was way too big of a gamble.

I’ll figure something else out,” Mia sighed.

Wait…” Nina’s voice perked up. “Call Jaxon. See if he’ll cover your buyout. If he agrees to pay the two million, you ust jump ship to Riverside.”

Mia didn’t even have to think about it. “No way.

Jaxon would pay the two million just to spit in Ethan’s face, I know that. But I’d be useless at Riverside. I’d just be he traitor who sold out Bayview. My reputation in this industry would be trashed. I’d never be able to hold my head up again.”

And that’s not even the main problem. You know what’s going on with me. Starting a new job while hiding a ›regnancy is straight-up fraud. If Riverside finds out and comes after me, it won’t just be about the money

nymore.”

Hiding a pregnancy was a major breach of contract. Mia was backed into a corner, stuck between a rock and a iard place.

Nina let out a long, dramatic groan. “This is a nightmare. You should’ve never stepped foot in Bayview. Meeting Ethan Hale completely ruined your life. Seriously, Mia, look at you. You’re a catch. You could’ve married some great guy and been living the dream by now.”

Enough,” Mia sighed. “I have to get back to work. We’ll talk tonight.”

She hung up quickly. Even in the privacy of the stairwell, she didn’t dare let the word “pregnant” slip out loud.

She turned and headed back toward her desk.

As the heavy door swung shut, cutting off the last sliver of light from the hallway, a shadow stirred in the dim corner of the landing.

Chloe Bennett pulled the door open just a crack, her eyes narrowing as she watched Mia sit back down at her

workstation.

Mia’s words were playing on a loop in her head.

Jaxon Rivers was trying to poach Mia? He was actually willing to pay her $300,000 buyout?

Mia’s long-winded excuses and her worries about Ethan’s reputation didn’t matter to Chloe. She hadn’t even processed them.

< Chapte 24

Only those two facts stuck.

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М

Chloe’s eyes glearned with a sudden, sharp idea. She smoothed out her dress, checked her reflection, and grabbed the thermos of homemade soup before stepping out into the hall.

“Ethan! Look, I made your favorite soup myself,” Chloe chirped, pushing open the door to Ethan’s office. Her voice was pure sugar. “Remember what you told me? You said if we ever fought, as long as I made you soup and ‘punished’ myself by taking the stairs to deliver it, you couldn’t stay mad at me…”

Her flirty, whining voice trailed off as she stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind her.

I’m so sorry, Ethan. Seriously. Besides, it wasn’t even my idea. Taking it all out on me is just plain unfair.”

“I’m exhausted. Are you really not going to forgive me? Do I have to hike up these stairs every single day just to get back on your good side?”

The door was ajar, but Mia’s head was spinning.

She couldn’t make out his exact words.

All she knew was that Ethan’s voice was changing. His cold, distant tone was bleeding into something softer.

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