The Billionaire Regretted Losing His Invisible Wife novel Chapter 198

Chapter 216 Four Years Later

Mia’s POV

The alarm chimed precisely at 5:00 AM, and I silenced it with a practiced tap before it could complete its first ring. My morning ritual began as it always did-fifteen minutes of meditation, thirty minutes on the Peloton, a quick shower, and exactly twenty- three minutes to dress, apply my minimal makeup, and arrange my hair into a sleek chignon.

By 6:15 AM, I stood in my kitchen, scrolling through email notifications on my tablet while the espresso machine hummed. My calendar for the day glowed on the screen: 8:00 AM presentation to the board of Leblanc & Williams Architects (our Paris-based partnership had officially expanded to New York two years ago), 10:30 AM site visit to the Chelsea wellness center, 1:00 PM lunch with the editor of Architectural Digest (they wanted to feature our latest sustainable luxury project), 3:00 PM video conference with our Tokyo clients, and then I saw-

“Alexander James Williams! Ethan Edward Williams! Get in here right now!”

My carefully ordered morning shattered, hands on my hips, surveying the disaster before me. Gas, our loyal golden retriever who had been with me through everything, sat in the bathtub looking utterly dejected. A patch of fur on his back was singed black, the acrid smell of burnt hair still lingering in the air.

Two identical faces peered around the corner, eyes wide with that mixture of innocence and guilt only four-year-olds can

master.

“We were just trying to make him sparkly, Mama,” Alexander offered, always the first to speak. With his dark hair and curious eyes, he was my little instigator. The planner. The one who came up with the ideas that Ethan, the more cautious but ultimately willing accomplice, would help execute.

“With my hair straightener?” I asked, arching an eyebrow. “The one I specifically told you never to touch?”

Ethan, slightly smaller than his brother but with the same determined chin, stepped forward. “Gas wanted to look fancy for his date with Bella.” Bella was Nate’s female border collie. Nate had six dogs now and boys loves all of them. According to the twins, our dogs had a very complicated love life that rivaled any soap opera.

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling. These two would be the death of me.

“Gas doesn’t need to be ‘sparkly’ for Bella,” I said firmly. “And electrical appliances are absolutely off-limits. We’ve talked

about this.”

“But-” Alexander began.

“No buts,” I cut him off, checking my watch. “Now I have to cancel my morning and take Gas to the vet.”

The twins exchanged a glance. My phone buzzed, and I glanced at the screen to see a text from my assistant Camille:

Leblanc arriving early. ETA 10:00. Meeting room prepared.

Perfect. Just perfect.

I took a deep breath, the techniques from my meditation app kicking in automatically. “New plan. You two, get dressed for preschool. Shoes, jackets, backpacks by the door in ten minutes. I’m calling Nate.”

The twins scurried off, suddenly eager to cooperate now that they knew Nate was involved. I dialed his number, and he answered on the second ring.

“Let me guess,” his warm voice came through the speaker. “The dynamic duo has struck again?”

“Gas has been subjected to a makeover,” I explained, running a soothing hand over the dog’s head. “Can you possibly take him

to the vet while I handle this meeting? The boys can miss preschool today–they’d love a day with the dogs.”

“Of course,” Nate replied without hesitation. “I’ll be there in twenty.”

Chapter 26 four years later

11

“You’re a lifesaver,” I said sincerely.

“Just the local friendly dog rescuer,” he chuckled. “See you soon.”

+20 Bonus

Four years had softened a lot of edges. Nate and I had found our way to a genuine friendship after everything. He’d moved back to New York two years ago to expand his pediatric practice, but maintained his home in Paris as well. We’d both worked hard to put the past behind us, and somehow, it had worked. The twins adored him and his pack of rescue dogs.

I headed to my bedroom to finish getting ready, checking emails on my phone as I walked. The Chisholm project was progressing well. The Paris studio had sent updated renderings for the Marseille renovation. My calendar for the next month was packed with meetings in three different countries.

Four years ago, I couldn’t have imagined this life. Leblanc & Associates had become Leblanc-Williams Architectural Design, with studios in Paris and New York. My therapeutic design approach had gained international recognition, with a waiting list of clients seeking spaces that healed as well as housed. We specialized in rehabilitation centers, children’s hospitals, and trauma recovery spaces, though we’d expanded into high-end residential projects as well.

I selected a charcoal pencil skirt and cream silk blouse from my closet, slipping into the four-inch Louboutins that had become my professional armor. As I fastened my grandmother’s pearl earrings, I glanced at the photo on my dresser-the twins on their third birthday, faces smeared with chocolate cake, grinning with wild abandon.

My phone buzzed again with a text from Thomas:

Dinner still on for tonight? I’ve got a surprise for the boys.

A smile tugged at my lips as I typed my reply:

Assuming they don’t burn the apartment down before then, yes. What surprise?

His response came immediately:

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