The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife

Liam's POV

The morning light had barely crept through my office windows when my phone shattered the silence. I picked up to hear Stella's weary voice on the other end.

"The devil himself wants a word with you."

I knew exactly who she meant. There was no escaping this conversation. Stella connected the call, and Clairemont's grating voice immediately assaulted my ears, launching into what he clearly thought was an intimidating lecture.

"How dare you humiliate my daughter in public like that? She returned home devastated, sick with worry and heartbreak because of your cruel treatment. Liam, you're about to become a married man. You need to give my daughter the respect she deserves."

"What respect, Clairemont? The respect due to a manipulative woman who seduced a drunk man to get pregnant and trap him? Because that's exactly what she earned." My blood was already reaching boiling point.

"You will not speak about my daughter that way!" Clairemont's voice exploded through the phone.

"Are you forgetting who signs your paychecks?"

"Liam, you need to sit down with my daughter properly. There's a wedding to plan, and countless details to arrange. You're coming to dinner at our house tonight."

"Absolutely not. If you want this conversation, we'll meet for lunch at Savannah." My tone left no room for negotiation. "Noon sharp, and we'll resolve everything once and for all."

I immediately called Damian, who agreed to join me without hesitation. At noon, we entered Savannah to find Clairemont already positioned at a table like some self-appointed monarch holding court.

"What's he doing here?" Clairemont's eyes narrowed with disgust as they landed on Damian.

"You brought your backup, I brought mine," I replied with a cold smile. "If you show Damian even the slightest disrespect, this lunch ends before it begins."

Clairemont grumbled but backed down. A waiter appeared with a bottle of premium champagne, which immediately ignited my fury. There was absolutely nothing here worth celebrating.

"Take that back. We're not toasting anything," I told the waiter firmly.

"Nonsense, we're celebrating your engagement to my daughter."

"Like hell we are!" I turned back to the waiter. "Remove it. We won't be drinking."

The waiter retreated with the champagne. Just as I felt the familiar sensation of a snake coiling around my throat, I snapped to attention.

"Get your hands off me."

Clairemont stepped back, releasing her grip. She had arrived with her mother, both dressed in coordinating outfits that made my stomach turn. I wanted to disappear into the floor.

"Sit down! And if either of you even thinks about insulting Damian, this entire wedding charade ends right now." I could already read their intentions from their expressions. "So what exactly do you want?"

"Darling, let's eat first and discuss business afterward," Clairemont purred.

"Clairemont, I'm barely tolerating your presence as it is, so get to the point." I was ready to strangle her.

"Sweetheart, I'm planning our engagement party and..."

"I already told you there won't be any party!"

"Liam, she's my only child, and if she's getting married, there absolutely must be a celebration," Clairemont interjected.

"Here's what's going to happen. We'll go to the courthouse and sign marriage documents with complete asset separation and an ironclad prenuptial agreement. I've purchased an apartment where we'll reside, but you'll have your bedroom and I'll have mine." I fixed Clairemont with a hard stare. "You and I will simply coexist under the same roof because of this pregnancy."

"But I assumed you'd live in your family's estate," Clairemont's mother finally spoke up. "That magnificent house with the gorgeous gardens. My daughter deserves that lifestyle."

"Your daughter will never step foot in my parents' home or my penthouse," I replied to the witch.

"Liam, marriages don't function that way," Clairemont protested.

"Well, that's exactly how this one will function," I shot back.

Suddenly, an escalating wail filled the restaurant, sounding like a toddler's meltdown. I turned to see Clairemont sobbing dramatically. Dear God, it was absolutely revolting. Every time she cried, I felt both disgusted and genuinely alarmed.

"I want a party! I want one! Daddyyyy..." she looked at Clairemont with her mouth hanging open pathetically.

Damian discreetly sent me a text message:

"Agree to the party and buy yourself time. Postpone the wedding three months using party planning as justification. Maybe we can pressure her into the DNA test before the ceremony?"

Damian had just thrown me a lifeline. It was brilliant strategy. I hadn't realized it, but they'd inadvertently given me negotiating leverage.

"Fine, I'll agree to the party, but strictly on my conditions." The spawn of Satan looked at me with some grotesque open-mouthed grin, mucus streaming from her nose.

"And what conditions are those?" Clairemont demanded.

"The wedding happens in three months. I'll assign the company's event coordinator to organize this circus." I stated flatly.

"Absolutely not, Clairemont's pregnancy will be showing by then." The mother from hell complained.

"As if she wants to hide it anyway!" I replied sarcastically. "It's either this arrangement or no party whatsoever."

"I accept!" Clairemont answered before Clairemont could object.

"Excellent! In that case, this lunch is finished. I'll have our event coordinator contact you directly. Ready to leave, Damian?" I was already standing.

"Not so quickly, Liam. We have numerous other matters to discuss." Clairemont attempted to reassert control.

"I can't imagine what those would be." I remained calm but firm.

"Your living arrangements, the honeymoon, your attitude toward my daughter..." Clairemont listed.

"My attitude remains unchanged, there won't be any honeymoon, and our living situation is already arranged with time for property inspection. Everything's settled! Excuse us."

Damian and I escaped as rapidly as possible, returned to the office, and ordered takeout that we consumed in the break room, finally able to breathe freely again.