His Secret Baby: Six Months After Divorce (Mia and Ethan) novel Chapter 75

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Chapter 75

Those two words slipped from her lips, soft but heavy. They hit Ethan like stones skipping across a frozen lake.

Ethan froze mid-drag. The cigarette between his teeth twitched, and a long trail of ash broke off, scattering across the floor.

“We aren’t just boss and employee,” Mia said, her voice steady, “We’re exes. And even if we weren’t, we’re still a man and a woman who shouldn’t be this close.”

Mia had stayed up all night thinking. The real problem wasn’t Chloe or Miranda. It was Ethan.

“Chloe is your fiance. It’s only natural she doesn’t want another woman around you,” she continued. “And your mother? It makes sense that she doesn’t want her former daughter-in-law loitering right under her nose.”

I understand why they can’t stand me. But you, Mr. Hale you knew exactly how they felt, and you kept me here anyway. Maybe you wanted to spite Chloe, or maybe you were just trying to prove your mother can’t control you. Either way, it was a mistake. And it’s making my life hell.”

The office was dead silent. Every word Mia spoke was sharp, logical, and cold,

She looked perfectly composed, but underneath that mask, she was drowning in weeks of suffocating stress and

silent hurt.

You don’t have to care about my feelings. I get that,” she said, looking him dead in the eye. “But look at this mess. It’s proof enough that you played this move wrong. I’m the wrong pawn for your game.”

She got it all out in one breath, but Ethan just stood there, dead silent.

His face was a mask, those sharp features partially hidden behind a swirl of cigarette smoke.

He looked cold, distant, and completely unreadable.

Mia met his eyes and caught a flicker of doubt.

What was he doubting? Did he think her desire to stay out of trouble was an act? Did he think she was playing hard to get just to stay?

She couldn’t think of any other reason for that look.

She hesitated before adding, “And please tell your mother she can relax. I know my place. I know I’m not ‘Hale family material.”

Ethan took the cigarette from his lips and waved away the smoke.

“Then what makes you think you’re ‘Rivers family’ material?”

Mia blinked, stunned. When had she ever mentioned wanting to be part of Jaxon’s family?

She saw the faint mockery in his eyes and felt her temper flare. “Whether I get into the Rivers’ house or not is none of your business. The point is… I’m resigning.”

“Did Jaxon Rivers offer you the two million?” Ethan asked, his voice sharp.

Two million dollars. Her buyout clause.

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He still wasn’t going to let her leave on good terms. He wasn’t going to make this easy.

“I’ve worked my tail off for you all these years,” Mia said, her voice tight. “I’ve put in the time and the effort. Can’t you just… give me a break and let me go?”

Ethan crushed his cigarette into the ashtray and stood up. He walked toward Mia, his cold, imposing presence closing in on her like a cage.

“No.”

The word was sharp, hissed through his gritted teeth.

His gaze was icy as he stared down at her small face.

Suddenly, he reached out, his hand landing on her cheek right where the slap mark still burned.

His thumb was warm against her soft skin, sending a jolt of electricity through her entire body.

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