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Chapter 9 - Too Early for War
Last Updated:
2025-04-25 13:34:31
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Regretful Heart: CEO's Tears Over Her Pregnancy Chapter 10 - Breakfast for Two
Vienna’s POVI tried to shake off Desiree’s silent comment as I followed them into the dining area. Two plates were already on the table when I took a seat. One plate held a heart-shaped fried egg, yolk perfectly centered, garnished with a touch of chopped herbs. That one sat in front of Warren. Desiree set the second plate down in front of herself. There was no third plate. No breakfast for me. I stared at the table for a moment, half-expecting someone to say something.“Oh! Sorry, Vienna,” Desiree said, with theatrical surprise. Her tone was sweet, but only because Warren was there. “I thought you’d already eaten.”Right. As if she hadn’t clearly been the first one up this morning.I gave her a tired smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes. “No problem. I’ll make myself something.”Warren offered me a weary smile, as if he were apologizing on Desiree’s behalf.I turned and walked back into the kitchen. The egg carton was still out on the counter, one burner still warm. I cracked an e
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Vienna’s POVI packed up the carefully crafted pastries, making sure they were presented perfectly."Did we get a last-minute order?" Bella asked, glancing over. "I thought we were finished for the day.""Oh… no," I said, barely masking the dread in my voice. "It’s for Warren’s parents. Family dinner tonight.""I see," Bella said slowly. She walked over to help me pack, then looked at me intently. I forced a small smile as her eyes searched mine."Something’s wrong, isn’t it?" she asked gently, concern etched across her face. She knew me too well."Just not feeling great," I said, keeping my tone light. Evasive, but true enough. I wasn’t ready to unpack everything. Not yet.The day at the bakery dragged on. The scent of bread—usually comforting—felt oppressive today. My stomach twisted any time I stepped too close to the ovens.Bella tried to cheer me up, floating through the kitchen like a burst of sunshine. But there was nothing she could do. My mind kept looping back to this morning
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Vienna’s POVI closed my mouth again and looked down at my plate, the bite of salmon suddenly tasting like ash. The moment had passed. Whatever strength I had summoned to expose Desiree’s miscarriage evaporated under Warren’s gaze—a silent message that said, don’t make this harder than it has to be.Desiree, of course, filled the silence effortlessly."I just stayed up too late last night," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, her tone light. "That’s probably why I look a little worn out today.""A girl your age should be glowing, not dragging herself around like an old woman," Monica said, reaching across the table to pat her daughter's hand with performative concern. "You need to take better care of yourself, my darling."Desiree nodded sweetly, playing the role of a humbled daughter. She was nothing like the smug woman who’d mouthed "He likes me this way" just hours ago.I stirred my soup slowly, taking small sips. It was delicious, but my stomach still felt like it
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Vienna’s POVI sat there frozen, watching in disbelief as her foot slid slowly—teasingly—up my husband’s leg.How dare she?I didn’t know whether to scream, kick her foot away, or walk out of the restaurant entirely. But before I could do any of those things, Warren abruptly pulled his leg back.I blinked. Did he just… reject her?For a fleeting second, hope stirred. Maybe—finally—he saw it for what it was. Maybe he recognized how wildly inappropriate her behavior had become.Or… did he only pull away because he knew I was under the table? Because he realized I could see?I tried to push the doubt down. He was my husband. He pulled back because he wanted to set a boundary. Because he knew it was wrong. Because he didn’t want her.Right?But when I rose slightly from under the table to return to my seat, I caught the way Warren looked at her. There was something in his expression. Something unreadable. Something that made my stomach tighten.It wasn’t guilt. It wasn't a surprise.It wa
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Vienna’s POV"Oh, uh—" I stammered, forcing a smile, "it’s nothing. I do hope to have children one day."It wasn’t a lie. Just… not the whole truth.Elliot beamed at me like I’d just made his year. "Well, I look forward to that," he said, already picturing his future heir toddling around the Luxe boardroom.Across the table, Monica’s lips tightened. Desiree rolled her eyes like the idea of me carrying Warren’s child was personally offensive.Warren gave me a small smile—but it didn’t reach his eyes. It was the kind of smile you give a polite stranger, not your wife. I couldn’t tell what it meant. Guilt? Discomfort? Detachment?Dinner ended after Monica and Desiree stubbornly declined to try any of my desserts. We opted for the restaurant’s specialty instead. As the waiter re-packed my pastries into a neat box, Elliot leaned in with a mischievous wink and said, "I’ll be sure to enjoy these."We exited the private room moments later. Finally, this torture was over. Warren reached out to
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Vienna’s POV"I, uhm… this is—" I started to explain, my voice faltering.But Warren cut me off, his voice sharp and low. "Why the hell did you make me wait so long at the parking lot?"I blinked at him, caught off guard by the anger flashing in his eyes."I was getting worried," he snapped, not even giving me a chance to speak. "Then I find you chatting happily with some stranger outside the bathroom.""Hey!" I said, raising my hands in disbelief. "That’s not fair. You were the one networking inside for half an hour. You left me standing outside with Desiree."His jaw clenched. I could tell he didn’t appreciate hearing her name spoken with such venom."She was threatening me," I said, my voice tightening. "I needed a moment to breathe. That’s all I was doing here.""Right," Warren said, voice dripping with sarcasm. "A moment to breathe—with another man?"I stiffened. "You shouldn’t throw around baseless accusations, Warren. We were talking about desserts. That's it."Fred, who had bee
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Vienna’s POVI had no choice but to endure the humiliation and discomfort as Warren carried me toward the car. How dare he treat me like I was nothing more than a tantrum-throwing child?“Warren! Put me down!” I cried out. But I knew it was useless. When Warren made up his mind—especially in anger—there was no reasoning with him.His arm was clamped firmly around the backs of my thighs. One hand gripped the crook of my knees, the other pressed into my ribs—too hard. My abdomen protested, a sharp reminder of the life growing inside me. I clenched my jaw and tried not to squirm.We passed by the valet stand. Staff members glanced sideways, then pretending not to see. One of them muttered, “Couples these days... all into that kinky roleplay stuff.”My cheeks burned hot as I heard another woman giggle behind her hand. The humiliation tasted bitter. Warren ignored it all—my struggles, my pain, the stares. He just kept walking like I wasn’t his wife but a problem to be handled.Only when w
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Vienna’s POV“She’s had that habit since puberty,” Warren shrugged, his eyes fixed on the road. “The whole foot thing. She used to do it as a prank to annoy me during family dinners. I guess I just got used to it.”A cold shiver ran up my spine. Used to it?“So she’s been foot-flirting with you for years?” I asked quietly, unable to keep the edge from my voice.“She’s not flirting,” he said, exasperated. “She’s just… tactile.”“Tactile?” I repeated, incredulous. “Warren, she slid her foot up your leg under the table. That’s not being playful. That’s not a joke. That’s an adult woman making a move on her married stepbrother.”He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “You’re reading too much into it.”I stared out the window, my heart thudding wildly. How many times had it happened? While I was sitting next to them? While we were dating? Engaged? Married?I swallowed hard, choosing my words carefully. “Even if you’ve brushed it off before, the fact is we’re married now. And a prank fro
Last Updated : 2025-04-30
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Regretful Heart: CEO's Tears Over Her Pregnancy Chapter 27 - The Offer
Vienna’s POV“What are you doing here?” I asked, my eyes widening in surprise as Fred stepped into the hospital room.He gave me a small, apologetic smile. “I stopped by your bakery earlier today, but found it closed. The florist next door told me about the accident. I just… wanted to check in, see if you were okay.”I blinked, momentarily stunned by the gesture. Of all the people I’d expected to walk through that door today, Fred wasn’t one of them. But his thoughtfulness disarmed me. “Oh. That’s… really kind of you. Thank you.”He took a cautious step forward and placed the bouquet gently on the bedside table. The subtle fragrance drifted through the air—clean, calming. Almost comforting.From the corner of my eye, I saw Bella straightening in her chair. Her expression shifted from curiosity to interest, eyebrows arching slightly as she looked him over—then at me, then back at him.I cleared my throat awkwardly. “Fred, this is Bella—my best friend and coworker at the bakery.”He tur
Regretful Heart: CEO's Tears Over Her Pregnancy Chapter 26 - Half of a Heart
Vienna’s POVWarren's mouth opened, but no sound came out. His eyes were wide, disbelieving. He staggered back, as if the word "divorce" had physically knocked him in the chest. Then, slowly, he sank into the chair beside the hospital bed."Vienna..."His voice barely made it above a whisper. He looked at me, searching for something—a sign that I was bluffing, that I didn't mean it. That this was some emotional fluke he could reason with."A-are you serious?"The pain in his eyes nearly made me cave. Vulnerable, pleading, raw. But I couldn't let it sway me.I knew this was going to be hard. For both of us."You don’t love me anymore," I said, my voice low but steady. "Not the way you used to. I can’t keep going in this loop, Warren—defending myself in my own home, competing for space in my own marriage, trying to read between the lines of what you really feel…"He flinched like my words had slapped him."That’s not true," he said, his voice hoarse. "I—I do love you.""Then why is it
Regretful Heart: CEO's Tears Over Her Pregnancy Chapter 25 - Ashes and Apologies
Vienna’s POV"I’m so sorry, Vienna," Warren said, gripping my hand so hard it almost hurt. His voice trembled with urgency. Desperation. But I felt nothing stir in me—not rage, not relief. Just an eerie sort of quiet."Listen, V, I can explain," he said quickly. "I swear. It’s not what it seems.""Then what is it, Warren?" I asked quietly."It’s simple, really," he rambled, drops of sweat forming on his brow. "I was showing Desiree around the hotel when the front desk radioed in—this tour group showed up way too early. One hundred people. It was chaos."He paused, watching me as if waiting for a reaction. I met his gaze with a blank stare."You see, I had to step in and sort it all out," he continued. "And somewhere in the middle of all that, my phone must’ve ended up in Desiree’s bag. I didn’t even know until the group was all settled and I returned to the office."He looked at me, like that explanation should make everything okay.I stared at him, my face still unreadable. His clamm
Regretful Heart: CEO's Tears Over Her Pregnancy Chapter 24 - Too Little, Too Late
Vienna’s POVThe first thing I became aware of was the beeping. Soft, rhythmic. Then the sterile scent of antiseptic, and finally—the ache.I blinked slowly, my eyes adjusting to the bright hospital ceiling above me. The light was harsh, cold. The room smelled clean. Too clean. Lifeless."V?" a familiar voice gasped. "Oh my God, you’re awake!"Bella’s face filled my blurry vision. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days. Her eyes were red, her lipstick smudged, hair pulled back in a hasty ponytail. She reached for my hand and squeezed it tightly."The baby’s okay," she said quickly, as if she needed to say it before I could ask. "They said you inhaled too much smoke, but the baby’s heartbeat is strong."Relief surged through me, then immediately twisted into something heavier. Guilt, confusion… defeat.Bella's relief quickly gave way to anger. "Why didn’t you tell me?" she asked, voice cracking. "You’ve been pregnant and hiding it from me? From everyone?""I—" I tried to speak, but
Regretful Heart: CEO's Tears Over Her Pregnancy Chapter 23 - Smothered Hope
Vienna’s POV"Since when are you so uptight, Warren?" Desiree said as she dipped into yet another exaggerated stretch, bending low enough to flash her cleavage straight through the mirror. "Must be her influence," she added, glancing at me upside-down from between her legs with a smirk.I scoffed, turning away from the show.The sheer absurdity of it all would’ve been laughable if it hadn’t been happening in my own home. With my husband. A performance of manipulation in leotards.I paced away through the long hallway, back to the kitchen.I heard Warren mutter something faint—"Desiree, you need to stop this..."—but I didn’t stay to hear more. I didn’t want another half-hearted defense made for my benefit. I was done having her in my house. Done with her petty games.I busied myself in the kitchen. I made a simple breakfast—toast, a soft-boiled egg, and fruit. I prepped a lunch box for Warren, packing in a fresh scone and a sandwich.As I was heading upstairs to change for work, I pas
Regretful Heart: CEO's Tears Over Her Pregnancy Chapter 22 - Mirror Games
Vienna’s POVThe morning light crept through the blinds as I sat up slowly in bed, rubbing the dull ache behind my eyes. I hadn’t slept much. Maybe an hour here, another there—none of it restful. The mattress beside me was cold. Empty.Again.I got up and wrapped my robe around me. My limbs felt heavy, my chest even more so. The echoes of last night’s argument still played through my mind like a cruel loop. Warren had thrown words at me he couldn’t take back. Words that lodged deep and left bruises.I padded into the kitchen barefoot, already feeling the familiar swirl of nausea rise. I poured myself a cup of ginger tea, hoping it would settle things.The house was unusually quiet—eerily so.No Warren. No Desiree.I checked the living room. Empty. Her blanket from the sofa had been folded, which meant she’d either cleaned up after herself or someone had done it for her.I leaned against the kitchen island, sipping my tea, trying not to overthink. At least Warren had come back to bed
Regretful Heart: CEO's Tears Over Her Pregnancy Chapter 21 - Broken Silence
Vienna’s POVI shot up in bed, yanking the sheets with me.“Are you kidding me?”Warren stayed where he was, arms crossed over his bare chest, jaw tight. “I saw the way you looked at him, Vienna.”My breath caught. “You’re really going there right now?”“The way you smiled. How soft your voice got. You don’t talk to me like that anymore.”“This is ridiculous,” I said, pushing my hair back with both hands. My heart was pounding. “Fred? This has nothing to do with Fred.”“Oh no?” Warren scoffed.“This is about you. And me. And everything you keep sweeping under the rug. You want to pretend it’s some stranger that’s changed things between us, but the truth is, you’ve been distant for weeks. Long before tonight.”His jaw clenched again. “It’s too much of a convenience, Vienna. This mystery man shows up, and suddenly you want nothing to do with me.”“It has nothing to do with Fred, Warren,” I shot back. “It has everything to do with your precious stepsister. You’re always there for her. But
Regretful Heart: CEO's Tears Over Her Pregnancy Chapter 20 - Not Tonight
Vienna’s POVA heavy silence stretched between us. Until Desiree’s giggle broke it.“All the guys at the club tried to get into my pants. I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t rescued me, big brother,” she slurred from the couch. I rolled my eyes. Seriously?“You’re always there to save me…” Her voice was soft, dramatic, full of false sweetness. “Always…”She trailed off mid-sentence, snoring softly a moment later. She laid there, passed out on the sofa with one leg hanging over the edge.I shot Warren a look—half skepticism, half exhaustion.He avoided my eyes, carefully draping a blanket over her body as if tucking in a child. Then he stood and gestured silently for me to follow him.We walked into the kitchen. As soon as the door closed behind us, he started.“I’m tired of this, Vienna,” he whispered harshly. “Tired of always being under your microscope. Of your constant suspicion.”I folded my arms. “You left me in the theater. Alone. For someone who didn’t need you. S
Regretful Heart: CEO's Tears Over Her Pregnancy Chapter 19 - Lipstick & Lies
Vienna’s POVAs the theater lights brightened, I wiped beneath my eyes with a tissue. At least my new mascara actually lived up to its waterproof promise. Small victories.In the distance, I spotted Bella waving gently, concern etched across her face. I raised my hand in a half-hearted wave.The crowd trickled out slowly, discussing their favorite scenes—moments I had completely missed. I just sat there, until Bella made her way toward me with James quietly in tow.James lingered a polite distance away while Bella slipped her arm around my shoulder, leaning in close.“Are you okay, V?” she asked softly.I didn’t sugarcoat it. “I’ve been better.”Bella studied my face, reading more than I said. “Do you want to grab a late-night snack? Might help you decompress a little.”I shook my head. “Thanks, but I think I just want to go home and crawl into bed.”Bella sighed, then gave me a warm hug. “Take care of yourself, Vienna. Seriously. You deserve only the best.”I gave her a watery smile.
