The Billionaire Regretted Losing His Invisible Wife novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8 The Wrong Lock

Kyle’s POV

The scotch burns a path down my throat. Glass after glass. The bottle’s nearly empty now, but the anger still burns hotter than the alcohol.

Divorce.

The word echoes in my mind, mocking my control. How dare she? After everything I’ve given her-the lifestyle, the security, the position-she dares to hand me divorce papers?

My office is too quiet. Too dark. The city lights spread out below my penthouse window, a sea of possibilities I’ve always controlled. Until now.

I pour another glass. My hand is steady, even if my thoughts aren’t.

“Is everything a game to you, Mia?” The words taste bitter in the empty room. “You used to look at me like

Like what? Like I was worth something more than my bank account.

She never said it. Not once in three years. I told myself that meant it wasn’t there.

The memory of her in that hospital bed flashes unbidden. Pale. Broken. Different from the Mia I know. The Mia who always smiled, no matter how cold I was. The Mia whose eyes followed me across every room, holding something I refused to name.

My phone buzzes. Taylor. Again.

I stare at her name on the screen until it goes dark. Strange. There was a time when Taylor’s calls made my heart race. Now they just… irritate.

Something’s changed. Or maybe something’s been changing for a while, and I’ve been too blind to see it.

Taylor. She has my pendant. The one I gave to that brave little girl all those years ago. The one who held my hand in the darkness when the kidnappers locked us away. She was so small, yet so fierce. So protective.

But lately… lately something feels wrong. When Taylor wears the pendant, it doesn’t sit right. Like a key in the wrong lock. And when she talks about that time, about the kidnapping, her details never quite match my memories.

The glass shatters in my grip. I watch blood mix with scotch, dripping onto imported marble.

The memories come unbidden now, blurred by alcohol and time:

That little girl’s voice in the dark: “Don’t be scared. I’ll protect you.”

Her small hand in mine, steady despite her own fear.

The pendant-my mother’s gift-pressed into her tiny palm: “To remember me by.”

Her green eyes in the darkness…

Green eyes.

Like Mia’s.

I shake my head, dispelling the thought. It’s impossible. Taylor has the pendant. Taylor is the girl. She must be.

But…

“Sign the papers.” Mia’s voice echoes in my mind. Not weak. Not begging. Strong, despite everything I’ve done. Everything I’ve failed to do.

The phone buzzes again. Taylor’s face lights up my screen. In the photo, she’s wearing my pendant. It sits wrong against her throat. It’s always sat wrong.

I swipe to decline the call.

“Sir?” Linda’s voice comes through the intercom. “Mrs. Branson discharged herself from the hospital an hour ago. Against the doctors’ advice.” A pause. “She’s at the house. She’s packing her things-moving out, she says.”

Mia. She’s supposed to be in the hospital. She’s supposed to be resting. She’s supposed to be-

The rage returns, hot and sudden. How dare she? She’s my wife. Mine.

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