Read The Unwanted Wife and Her Secret Twins novel by Artemis Z.Y. Updated 2025 -26 - The Unwanted Wife and Her Secret Twins Chapter 278

The Unwanted Wife and Her Secret Twins Chapter 278

 The Cruise

Mia’s POV

The children were bouncing with excitement the moment we stepped onto the cruise ship.

“Mama, look how big it is!” Alexander grabbed my hand, pulling me toward the massive windows that overlooked the harbor.

“It’s like a floating palace,” Ethan added.

I held both children’s hands tightly until they started wiggling in protest.

“Mama, you’re squeezing too hard,” Alexander complained, flexing his fingers.

“Sorry, babies,” I said, loosening my grip slightly.

This was new territory for all of us.

The ship was massive, with multiple decks stretching as far as I could see. Everything gleamed with the kind of polished luxury that screamed serious money.

Our high school graduation party had been held on a cruise ship too. But I hadn’t paid attention to anything that night except Kyle dancing with Taylor while I stood alone by the punch bowl.

I remembered spending most of that evening hiding in the bathroom, crying over mascara that had cost me three weeks of allowance money.

What a fool I’d been.

That was twelve years ago. Hard to believe how much had changed.

That desperate teenager now felt like a stranger.

Things I once thought were so important no longer mattered.

The main salon was already filling up with elegantly dressed guests. I recognized a few faces from business events, but I didn’t know many people here personally.

Thomas appeared beside me with drinks. “Wine for you,” he said, handing me a glass of white wine. “And virgin daiquiris for the gentlemen.”

“These taste like candy!” Alexander announced after taking a sip.

“But fancy candy,” Ethan clarified seriously.

Thomas leaned close to my ear. “I need to make the rounds and greet some business partners. Will you be alright here with the boys for a few minutes?”

“Of course,” I said. “We’ll explore the buffet.”

He kissed my cheek and disappeared into the crowd of suits and designer dresses.

The children immediately gravitated toward the elaborate food displays. Towers of shrimp, artisanal cheese

boards, and what appeared to be an entire roasted pig with an apple in its mouth.

“Can we try everything?” Alexander asked, his eyes reflecting the fairy lights strung overhead.

“One of everything,” Ethan negotiated. “For research purposes.”

I laughed. “Reasonable portions only. And nothing too exotic until we know how your stomachs will handle being on a boat.”

While the boys carefully selected items from the children’s section of the buffet, I found myself listening to the conversations around me.

The wealthy guests were all greeting each other with air kisses and exclamations of “Darling, you look divine!” and “It’s been far too long!” Everyone seemed to know everyone else, or at least pretended to. There was an elaborate dance of social positioning happening, who kissed whom first, who got introduced to whom, who was included in which conversation circles.

It felt like watching a real–life episode of some reality show about rich people. The kind where everyone smiled with their mouths but not their eyes. I could practically see the invisible scoreboard keeping track of who wore what designer, who brought which date, who had the most recent plastic surgery.

A group of women in expensive jewelry were clustered near the champagne fountain, their voices carrying over the soft jazz music.

“Did you hear about the Field family announcement?” one woman in a diamond necklace was saying.

“Finally found their missing heir, apparently,” another replied, adjusting her fur stole despite the warm evening.

“I heard she’s been living under an assumed name for years. Completely off the radar.”

“Well, she’s certainly not off the radar anymore. Not with that inheritance at stake.”

I perked up at the name. Field. That sounded familiar.

“The original heir died four years ago, didn’t he?” Diamond Necklace continued. “Car accident?”

“Terrible tragedy,” Fur Stole murmured. “Left the entire empire without a clear successor.”

“Until now,” a third woman added. “This mystery daughter is going to be one of the wealthiest women in the country.” The source of thɪs content is

“Assuming she’s legitimate,” Diamond Necklace said with obvious skepticism.

“Oh, she’s legitimate alright. DNA tests, birth certificates, the whole nine yards. The Field family lawyers are very thorough.”

The Field family. I rolled the name around in my mind as I sipped my wine.

Where had I heard that name before?

Field. Field. Miss Field.

Then it clicked.

The woman at Maxwell’s office. The one who’d been arguing about an engagement announcement. Margaret had called her Miss Field, and Maxwell had seemed annoyed by her presence. She’d been dressed expensively.

Maxwell’s fiancée. Miss Field.

“Mama, can we go look at the ocean?” Ethan tugged on my dress.

“In a minute, baby,” I said, still listening to the gossip.

“They say she’s never made a public appearance,” Fur Stole was continuing. “Tonight might be the first time anyone gets a real look at her.”

“I wonder what she’s like,” Diamond Necklace mused. “Growing up without knowing her true heritage must have been quite a shock.”

“Money changes people,” the third woman observed darkly. “We’ll see what kind of person she really is now that she’s inherited billions.”