The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife

Hazel's POV

I drifted back to consciousness in the gentle shadows of Damian's office. A single lamp cast warm light across the room, and through the window, darkness had settled over the city. Confusion clouded my mind as I tried to piece together how I'd ended up here. The last clear memory was sitting at my desk this morning, fighting against an overwhelming wave of exhaustion that seemed to pull me under.

A familiar warmth encircled my ankle, sending tiny shivers up my leg. Even before my eyes found him, I knew that touch belonged to Liam. My feet had somehow found their way onto his lap, and his hands moved in slow, gentle circles around my ankles.

"There you are, my angel. How do you feel?" His voice carried that rough edge that always made my pulse quicken.

"Disoriented. What time is it? I don't remember lying down here at all." The words came out thick with sleep and confusion.

"Past eleven. Fiona prepared some special tea to help you relax, and she didn't hold back with whatever she put in it. Said you needed proper rest." A tired smile played at the corners of his mouth. "I found you collapsed over your desk and carried you here to Damian's couch. Thought you'd prefer waking up here rather than in my office."

"You thought right." I pulled my feet from his lap and attempted to stand, but my body felt like it was moving through thick honey.

"Take it slow. You've been out for hours. Your body needs time to catch up," he murmured, his palm moving in soothing circles across my back, drawing an involuntary sigh from my lips.

"Those flowers they sent..."

"Handled. But we need to talk, Hazel. Really talk."

"Fine. What do you want to say?" I surrendered with a heavy sigh. Running away wasn't an option anymore, not if I planned to keep working here.

"Food first." He reached for a Chinese takeout container on the coffee table, extending it toward me along with a pair of chopsticks.

"I need to clean up first."

"Damian's bathroom is all yours. Here's your bag."

I took my purse and escaped to the small bathroom tucked inside the office. The bright lights made me wince as my eyes adjusted. When I finally looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself. My clothes were wrinkled beyond repair, my eyes swollen from crying, my hair a tangled mess. After using the facilities, I splashed cold water on my face, brushed my teeth, and did what I could to make myself presentable.

When I emerged, the main lights were on, revealing Liam in the same spot with his arms braced on his knees, head buried in his hands. He looked completely defeated. I set my purse on a nearby chair and settled beside him on the couch.

He lifted his head, and our eyes met. His reflection matched mine perfectly. Dark shadows beneath his eyes, the telltale redness of tears, hair disheveled from running his fingers through it. He'd shed his jacket and tie, rolled his sleeves up, and left several buttons undone on his shirt. Slowly, he leaned back against the cushions and offered me a sad smile. Even in this broken state, he remained the most devastatingly handsome man I'd ever encountered.

"Better?" I nodded in response. "Good. Let's eat, then we'll talk."

He handed me the container again. We ate without speaking, finding an odd comfort in the shared silence. When we finished, he produced a box of caramelized bananas that we split between us. After clearing away the empty containers, he returned to his spot but turned to face me, one knee drawn up on the couch.

"My angel, I know Clairemont and his daughter have been terrorizing you, making your life hell. I tried to negotiate with them through my attorney. I offered them everything, every single thing I own, including all the companies, just to get them to leave you alone forever. But they refused." His voice cracked slightly. "Their only condition for backing off was for me to go through with this godforsaken marriage."

"And you agreed."

"I did, my angel, because I couldn't see any other way out, and it's destroying me from the inside. I despise that woman. I can't fathom how I ended up in bed with her. I've tried to remember that night, but there's nothing there. They're poison, and I won't let them continue tormenting you. That's why I said yes. I sealed the agreement with them yesterday. I planned to tell you this morning, but they beat me to it with those disgusting flowers."

"They won't stop. They'll never give me peace as long as I'm here."

"Yes, they will. I went to their house, took that vile thing they sent, and made it crystal clear that if they don't back off, there won't be a wedding. If they want this marriage, they'll leave you alone."

"I don't know what to believe anymore. I don't know if I can stay here."

"Please, Hazel, don't go. If you promise to stay with me, I'll destroy that entire family."

"I can't do that. I love you too much. But you're going to have a baby with that unstable woman. You can't abandon your child to her."

"I know." The words came out exhausted, and he dragged both hands down his face.

"I should go home. You need rest too." I stood and grabbed my purse.

"Let me drive you."

"Better not. Damian arranged a driver for me. He should be downstairs."

"He is. Can I at least walk you down?"

"Of course."

We left the office without another word, our footsteps echoing in the empty hallway as we made our way to the parking garage. When the driver opened my door, Liam suddenly pulled me against him, his mouth crashing down on mine. The kiss was desperate and hungry, our tongues dancing together with fierce urgency, our hearts hammering the same frantic rhythm. His arms tightened around my waist as mine wound around his neck, neither of us wanting to break the connection. Before releasing me, he caught my bottom lip between his teeth, pressed his forehead to mine, and closed his eyes as if trying to memorize this moment. I forced myself to step away from his embrace and slipped into the car, knowing I was heading toward another sleepless night drowning in tears.