Page 76 of The Alpha King’s Hidden Mute Mate

She turned her head, looked at Ethan, and slipped her arm through his.

"Yes," she said, voice calm as a weather report. "She's my daughter. And Ethan—is her father."

Ethan froze. The pause was brief, almost imperceptible—then he reached out, wrapped his arm around Mia's shoulders, and smiled with a nod.

"Yes," he said. "She's our daughter."

The little girl—Lily—looked up at Ethan, then at Mia, and stayed obediently quiet.

Those words hit like a hammer to my chest.

I looked at them—Mia, Ethan, and that child—standing together like a perfect family portrait. Sunlight bathed them, gilding them with golden light. They looked so harmonious, so complete, so—

So like they didn't need me.

Mia held the child and turned to leave. Ethan walked beside her, one hand naturally resting on her waist. She showed no resistance, even leaning slightly toward him, as if relying on him.

I stood there watching their backs recede.

Those sunflowers were still clutched in my hand, petals glowing golden in the sun. I looked down at them, then looked up at the direction she'd disappeared.

Then I threw the bouquet into a nearby trash can.

I turned and walked in the opposite direction.

But after three steps, I stopped.

That child's eyes were gray-blue. She had eyes exactly like mine.

Chapter Sixteen

Mia

I lied.

When I said "Ethan is her father," I saw exactly what it did to Zane's face—like someone had carved a hole in his chest and all the light was draining out. His face went bone white in an instant, those gray-blue eyes wide, lips parted like he wanted to speak, but something was choking his throat.

I watched that expression, and something inside me twisted.

But I shoved the feeling down. Hard. Like stamping out a spark until it died completely.

Why would he look like that? Like he actually gave a damn about me.

Lily squirmed in my arms and said quietly, "Mommy, that man looks so sad."

"You're seeing things," I said, my voice steadier than I expected. "We don't know him."

Lily tilted her head, studying me with those gray-blue eyes—identical to her father's—with an insight beyond her years. "But he keeps looking at you," she said. "Like a puppy watching its owner."

I felt something squeeze my heart.

I took a deep breath and changed the subject. "Baby, what do you want for dinner? Pasta or pizza?"

"Pizza!" Lily's attention shifted instantly, waving her little hands. "With cheese! Lots and lots of cheese!"

I carried her quickly toward the car waiting by the curb, Ethan beside me, one hand naturally resting on my waist—a gesture meant for Zane, I knew, but I didn't push him away. Because right now, I needed that barrier. I needed a shield between me and the man who broke my heart.

When the car door closed, I finally breathed.