The Billionaire Regretted Losing His Invisible Wife novel Chapter 86

Chapter 87 The Past Comes Calling

Mia’s POV

“Mommy, where are you?” My voice echoed through our house. The hardwood floors creaked under my mary janes as I searched each room. “I’m gonna find you!”

Hide and seek was our special game, the one that always made Mommy smile ever on her sad days. And she’d been having more sad days lately, especially after Daddy started working late.

“Found you!” I giggled, spotting her shadow behind my bedroom door. She swooped me up into a hug that smelled like jasmine and safety.

“You always do, clever girl.” She peppered my face with kisses until I squealed. “Now it’s my turn to seek. Remember the rules?”

I nodded solemnly. “Don’t go past the garden gate. Stay where you can hear me call.”

“That’s my smart cookie.” She covered her eyes, starting to count. “One… two…”

I ran on tippy-toes, trying not to let my shoes click against the floor. The garden was my favorite hiding spot, full of Mom’s roses and the big hydrangea bushes perfect for ducking behind.

The afternoon sun painted everything golden as I weaved between flower beds, looking for the perfect spot. A butterfly danced

past, its wings catching light like stained glass.

“Meow?”

The soft sound made me freeze. A kitten? I’d been begging Daddy for one, but he always said no.

“Here, kitty kitty.” I followed the mewing toward the garden gate, forgetting Mom’s rules in my excitement.

The man standing there was tall, his shadow falling long across the grass. He held a tiny orange kitten that pawed at the air.

“Would you like to pet her?” His smile seemed kind, even if his voice was scratchy like he had a cold. “She’s very friendly.”

I knew I wasn’t supposed to talk to strangers. But the kitten was so cute, its fur like sunset clouds.

“I’m not allowed past the gate,” I said, but took a small step closer.

“That’s okay.” He crouched down, holding the kitten through the bars. “See? You can reach her from there.”

I stretched out my hand, fingers just brushing soft fur. Something sharp pricked my neck.

He suddenly leaned in close to me. I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my neck. Then darkness.

The concrete floor scraped my palms as I stumbled through darkness. My pretty white socks were dirty now, torn at the knees where I’d fallen. Somewhere far away, water dripped with a steady plink-plink-plink. The kitten is gone.

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