The CEO's Unwanted Bride

The Woman From His Past

Chapter 11 —

She arrived on a Tuesday.

Mia was in the living room reading when Clara knocked and entered with the careful expression she used when delivering news that required cushioning.

"Miss Harper — Mrs. Cole — there's a visitor downstairs. A Ms. Sophia Reeves. She says she's a... personal acquaintance of Mr. Cole."

Something in Clara's tone made Mia look up from her book.

"Send her up," she said, because she was the wife of this house, and she was not going to hide in a room.

Sophia Reeves was exactly the kind of woman you'd expect a man like Ethan to have in his past. Tall. Elegant. The kind of beautiful that was also a weapon. She walked into the penthouse like she remembered the layout, her eyes moving across the room before they landed on Mia.

For one second, something flickered across her face. Surprise, maybe. Or recalculation.

"You must be the wife," Sophia said. Her smile was perfect.

"And you must be the reason for Rule Four," Mia replied pleasantly.

A beat of silence.

Sophia laughed — genuine, surprised. "He told you about me?"

"He told me enough."

It was a bluff. Ethan had said almost nothing. But Sophia didn't know that.

They sat across from each other in the living room and made polite conversation that was really a negotiation, and by the time Ethan's key turned in the door forty minutes later, Mia had learned three things: Sophia was his ex-fiancée. She had ended the engagement. And she was back in New York permanently.

Ethan walked in, saw Sophia, and went very still.

"Sophia."

"Ethan." She rose. "I should go. I just wanted to introduce myself to your wife." Her eyes cut to Mia briefly — assessing, almost respectful. "She's not what I expected."

"What did you expect?" Mia asked.

Sophia picked up her bag. "Someone easier to dismiss."

She left.

The room was very quiet.

"Are you alright?" Ethan asked.

Mia set down her tea. "Are you?"

He looked at the door Sophia had walked out of. Then back at Mia.

"Yes," he said. And she believed him.

"Good." She stood. "I'm maki

ng dinner. Don't be late."