The Unwanted Wife and Her Secret Twins (Mia and Kyle) novel Chapter 44

Chapter 44 Waiting

Chapter 44 Waiting

Mia’s POV

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The hospital corridor seemed to stretch endlessly, its polished floors reflecting the harsh fluorescent lights. I watched as they wheeled Mom through the double doors marked “Authorized Personnel Only,” her small form dwarfed by the hospital bed. My fingers pressed against the cold glass of the observation window until she disappeared from view.

“Mrs. Branson?” A gentle touch on my arm made me turn. The nurse her name fag read “Emma“-smiled warmly. “Why don’t we get you settled in the waiting area? It’s going to be a long surgery.”

I let her guide me to a private waiting room, noticing absently that it was far more luxurious than the standard hospital spaces. Plush chairs, soft lighting.

“Can I get you anything?” Emma asked. “Some hot chocolate perhaps? Or juice?”

“No, thank you.” My voice sounded distant, even to my own ears.

She frowned slightly. “You should try to eat something. Dr. Pierce mentioned you might skip breakfast. Let me at least bring you some tea.”

Before I could protest, she disappeared, returning moments later with a steaming cup and a soft blanket. “The waiting room gets chilly,” she explained, draping it over my shoulders.

Time seemed to move strangely. Nurses appeared periodically with updates, each one kind but carefully neutral. “Everything’s proceeding as expected.” “Dr. Pierce is very pleased with the progress.” “Your mother’s vitals are stable.”

I couldn’t eat, couldn’t drink, though various staff members brought an endless stream of offerings–orange juice, more tea, small sandwiches that sat untouched. My hands wouldn’t stop trembling, no matter how tightly I clasped them together,

“Mrs. Branson?” A different nurse this time. “Would you like to lie down? We have a resting room-”

“No.” The word came out sharper than intended. “I need to stay here. In case… in case there’s news.”

The hours crawled by. I tried to focus on my breathing, on the steady tick of the wall clock, on anything but the image of Mom lying unconscious under bright surgical lights.

Finally, after what felt like years, the doors opened. Nate appeared, still in his surgical scrubs but with his mask pulled down. I stood so quickly the blanket fell to the floor.

“Everything went perfectly,” he said, his smile reaching his tired eyes. “The procedure was completely successful. Her vitals remained stable throughout, and initial responses are very promising.”

Relief crashed over me like a wave. My knees buckled as the tension of the past hours suddenly released. The last thing I saw was Nate’s expression changing from satisfaction to alarm as darkness swept in.

Kyle’s POV

I’d been watching from the executive suite above the surgical floor unable to stay away despite my promise to give Mia space. Through the observation window, I could see her sitting rigidly in the waiting room, refusing comfort from the staff I’d

instructed to take special care of her.

“Sir?” Linda appeared at my elbow with fresh coffee. “The latest update from the operating room shows everything is proceeding well.”

I nodded, not taking my eyes off Mia. She looked so small in that large room, her shoulders tight with anxiety. Every protective instinct I possessed screamed at me to go to her, but I knew my presence would only add to her stress.

Hours passed. I conducted three video conferences and reviewed countless documents, all while keeping one eye on the waiting room below. Mia hadn’t moved, hadn’t eaten, though I watched various staff members try to coax her.

Finally, Pierce emerged from surgery. Even from my vantage point, I could see the success written in his bearing. Good. I’d

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Chapter 44 Waiting

+25 BONUS

researched him extensively before allowing him to take the case. Is reputation was excellent, though something about him set my teeth on edge.

was about to leave when I saw Mia sway on her feet. Without conscious thought, I was moving, taking the private elevator down to the surgical floor. I reached her just as she started to fall, catching her before she could hit the ground.

“Careful with her.” Pierce stepped forward, his tone professional but with an edge I didn’t like. “She’s exhausted and hasn’t eaten all day.”

“I’m aware of my wife’s condition,” I said coldly, lifting Mia into my arms. She felt too light, too fragile. “Where’s the nearest private room?”

Pierce’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Follow me. Though I have to say, this is the first time I’ve seen the great Kyle Branson looking rattled.”

“Mind your own business, Doctor.” I adjusted my hold on Mia as we walked. “Just focus on your patient.”

“Technically, Mia is also my patient’s family member, which makes her wellbeing my concern.” He opened a door to a private room. “She’s been under immense stress. The kind that comes from more than just worry about her mother.”

The implied criticism made my jaw clench. “I’ll take care of my wife. That’s not your concern.”

“Dr. Pjerce?” A nurse interrupted, holding a tablet. “We have the initial post–op readings.”

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