The Wife He Replaced

Chapter15

Chapter 15 A Voice He Wasn't meant to Hear

Rita's pov.

"Are you certain about this?" Ethan asked me. His voice was really low and calm.. I could tell he was tense.

I did not look at him. My eyes were fixed on the papers in front of me. I had not read a word in the last five minutes.

"I do not do things halfway " I said to him.

"That is not what I asked you, " he said, pressing me for an answer.

I let out a breath and put the pen down. "Then ask what you really want to know."

Ethan leaned forward a little, his eyes sharp. "Are you ready for what this will bring?"

Victor. The past. Everything I had buried.I froze. "I do not have the luxury of not being ready." I said.

The door opened before Ethan could say anything "Mr. Hayes, they are ready for you " his assistant said.

Ethan looked at me for a long time like he wanted to say more. Then he stood up.

"We will talk later." I gave a nod, already pulling back into myself. Because conversations like that one require honesty. Honesty is dangerous.

The moment the door shut behind him the silence in the room became really uncomfortable. It was too quiet. Too still.

My hand reached for my phone without me even thinking about it. I did not even realize I was holding my breath until It rang.

My heart skipped a beat. The name on the screen made me feel soft inside instantly.

Aria. Everything else just faded away. New York. Victor.The tension. All gone.

I answered the phone right away.

"Hey baby..." My voice changed without me trying. It was softer, warmer and real.

"Mummy!" Her voice came through loud and clear wrapping around my heart like something precious. Just like that. I could breathe again.

I leaned back a little in the chair. I closed my eyes for a second. "Hey sweetheart, " I whispered. "Did you just wake up?"

"Yes, " she said quickly. "Aunty Maya said I should call you." of course she did. I smiled a little. "I am glad you did."

"Are you working again?" Aria asked me.

"Mm-hmm " I hummed softly. "It is a busy day."

"Do you miss me?" The question was simple. It hit me harder than anything else.

My chest got tight. Hurt. "Every second, " I admitted quietly.

"I miss you more." She said. I let out a breath, my fingers tightening around the phone. "That is not possible."

"It is " she insisted, her tiny voice stubborn in a way that was really familiar. Despite everything, I smiled.

"I will be back soon, " I said gently.

A lie. Maybe... Not anymore. "When?" she asked me. There it was. The question I was not ready to answer.

"Soon " I repeated, softer this time. I could feel her hesitating in the end.

Children always know. Always sense what adults try to hide.

"Mummy..." My heart got tight. "Yes baby?"

"Are you sad?" The question caught me off guard. Completely. I froze.

Because I had spent years learning how to hide it. From the world. From myself. But from her? I never could.

"No, " I said,finally trying to sound steady. "I am just... Tired." Then softly …

"Did he make you sad again?" My entire body went still. Cold. Victor.

I swallowed hard, my grip tightening around the phone.

"Aria..." "I do not like him, " she said quickly. "He made you cry before."

My chest got tight. Hurt so much. Because she remembered. Of course I told her how much he hurt me.

"He is not important, " I said firmly. A lie I needed her to believe. A lie I needed to believe. "Okay " she said, though she did not sound convinced.

I softened my tone. "Listen to me... You are safe alright?"

"I know." "I will call you later."

"Promise?" My eyes closed briefly.

"Promise."

We stayed on the line for a second longer.

Neither of us are speaking. Just... Breathing. Holding on.Then…

"I love you Mummy." My throat got tight.

"I love you more." The line went quiet.

The call ended.

And like that, The warmth disappeared.

I opened my eyes slowly. That is when I felt it. That presence. My body went rigid.

My instincts screamed before my mind could catch up. I turned -Slowly.

There he was. Victor. Standing a few feet away. My heart stopped. I did not hear him come in. I did not hear the door open.

I did not hear anything. He had been there.

Long enough.

His expression… Was wrong. Not cold.

Not distant. Shaken. His eyes were locked on me. Sharp. Searching. Unreadable.

"How long have you been standing there?" I asked him, my voice was too steady.

He did not answer immediately, His gaze did not leave my face. "Long enough."

The words landed like a threat.

My pulse spiked. I did not let it show.

"What do you want?" I asked him, colder this time.

His jaw got tight slightly. That was not what gave him away. It was his eyes. Still watching me closely.

"You have a child."Not a question. A statement. The air in the room shifted instantly. Danger.

I held his gaze. Unflinching. "You should not eavesdrop, " I said calmly.

"I was not trying to."

". You stayed."

His face suddenly changed . Annoyance.

"Who is he?"The question hit me harder than I expected. Sharp. Direct.

My eyes narrowed slightly. "Excuse me?"

"The child " he said, his voice lower now. "Who is the father?"

There it was. Possessive. Demanding. Like he had the right.

"You do not get to ask me that."

"I heard her." He said

My heartbeat slammed harder. My expression did not change.

"You heard a conversation that had nothing to do with you.”

"She said he made you cry."

My breath caught for a fraction of a second. A mistake. A small one. But enough.

Victor's eyes sharpened.

"Who is he Rita?" I stood up slowly meeting his height refusing to let him tower over me.

"Not you." The words cut clean. Precise.

Silence.Heavy. Explosive.

Something shifted in his expression.

Something dangerous.

Because this time around, he did not look in control And that… That was new.

"You have changed, " he said quietly. I held his gaze. Unmoved. "You have not." Another hit. Another c***k.

His eyes darkened.He did not step back.

"If there is something I need to know .."

"There is not " I cut in sharply. Our eyes locked. Clashed. Refused to yield.

Because this was no longer about the past. This

was war. Neither of us was ready to lose. Deep down...A quiet dangerous truth settled between us.

Victor had heard enough. Now..

He is going to start looking…