The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife

Hazel's POV

Saturday morning unfolded peacefully in our apartment. I sat cross-legged on the living room carpet, watching Leo stack colorful blocks while Chloe lounged across the sofa, her legs draped over the armrest. We chatted about weekend plans, grateful for the rare break from our usual Saturday obligations. Liam had scaled back the mandatory family meetings, calling them only for truly urgent matters.

The shrill ring of my phone from the kitchen counter interrupted our lazy conversation. I glanced at the caller ID and frowned at the unfamiliar yet somehow recognizable number. Medical office. Strange.

"Hello?"

"Hazel? This is Rachel from Dr. Evans's office. How are you doing, sweetheart?"

"Oh, Rachel! I'm doing well, thank you. How about you?"

"Wonderful, dear. I was actually expecting your call to reschedule that appointment you had to cancel. It's been quite some time now."

My stomach dropped. The appointment. How could I have completely forgotten? "Oh my God, Rachel, I'm so sorry. These past few weeks have been absolutely chaotic."

"Not to worry, honey. I'm actually calling because I'm updating patient files today, and yours is sitting right here on my desk. Since you're currently without birth control coverage, I thought perhaps you'd like to come in today? Dr. Evans has an opening this afternoon if you're interested."

The words hit me like ice water. Without birth control coverage. My mind raced, trying to calculate dates, but everything felt fuzzy and distant.

"Rachel, could you check my file? How long has my coverage been expired?"

"Let me see here... looks like about two months now. You had the subcutaneous implant that lasts twelve months..."

Her voice faded into background noise as panic seized my chest. Two months. Two months without protection. The elevator incident with Liam flashed through my memory with crystal clarity. This couldn't be happening again. Not now. Not with everything so complicated.

I must have made some sound because suddenly Chloe was beside me, gently taking the phone from my trembling hands. She spoke briefly with Rachel before hanging up.

"Hazel, look at me. Breathe with me." Chloe's voice cut through the fog of my panic.

I stared at her as if she were speaking a foreign language. My chest felt tight, like someone was squeezing all the air from my lungs. Chloe gripped my hands firmly, demonstrating slow, deep breaths until I could match her rhythm.

"Chl... the elevator... it was a month ago..." I struggled to form coherent sentences.

"I know, honey. I've scheduled your appointment for this afternoon. Go shower and get ready while I ask Noah to watch Leo." Chloe had already shifted into crisis management mode.

Thirty minutes later, we hurried out of the building, leaving Leo in Noah's capable hands. Noah noticed my distressed state but wisely didn't press for details when Chloe remained tight-lipped. She knew he'd immediately contact Liam if he suspected anything serious.

Outside the medical building, Chloe squeezed my ice-cold hands and met my eyes steadily.

"Whatever happens in there, we'll handle it together. You're not alone in this."

A single tear escaped down my cheek as we walked inside. Rachel greeted us with her characteristic warmth, quickly preparing chamomile tea when she noticed my obvious anxiety. Dr. Evans emerged from his office moments later, beaming at us both.

"My favorite patients! I've been wondering when you'd visit."

"Hello, Dr. Evans," Chloe embraced him fondly. Since Noah's family had essentially adopted her, she'd grown close to his uncle as well.

"I'm doing wonderfully, though I don't see nearly enough of you these days. Austin kept me busy with the latest genetic research conferences, but I expected more visits from you living so close now."

"Life here moves at lightspeed," Chloe laughed. "Plus you're always traveling to exciting places."

"And Hazel, how have you been managing?" Dr. Evans turned his attention to me, extending his hand.

"Terrified, honestly. I've made a potentially catastrophic mistake." My voice cracked with emotion.

"Let's not assume the worst before we know anything definitive. Come, let's get you properly examined." Dr. Evans guided us into his private office.

He began with routine medical questions, weaving in lighthearted stories and gentle humor to ease my tension. Once my breathing had normalized, he asked me to change into a gown for the physical examination. His professional silence during the exam only heightened my anxiety. He collected blood samples personally, marking them urgent for the laboratory.

"Results will take approximately an hour. Let's wait comfortably." Dr. Evans led us to a small sitting area within his office, serving coffee and pastries that Rachel had arranged.

We discussed our adjustment to city life and Leo's development. I mentioned my parents' move to the farm, and Dr. Evans promised to visit them during his next trip to Crestwood. The conversation helped pass the time, though my stomach remained knotted with apprehension.

Rachel's gentle knock announced the arrival of test results. Dr. Evans reviewed them carefully before raising his eyes to mine.

"Hazel, you are pregnant. Congratulations on this wonderful news. Leo will have a sibling..."

The room spun violently around me. My vision tunneled as consciousness slipped away.

I awakened on the leather couch with Dr. Evans monitoring my blood pressure. The reality crashed over me in waves. Pregnant. Again. Chloe watched me with barely contained excitement dancing in her eyes.

"I'm getting another godchild!" she announced joyfully.

"Only you could make me smile right now," I managed through tears and nervous laughter. "At least this time I know who the father is!"

Our shared laughter filled the room, breaking some of the tension.

"Hazel, you're incredibly resilient. This pregnancy will be different," Dr. Evans assured me. "I'll have Rachel schedule all your prenatal appointments immediately to prevent any missed visits. I'm prescribing prenatal vitamins, anti-nausea medication, and other necessities."

"Thank you," I nodded, feeling slightly more grounded.

"Chloe, I cannot tell Liam about this. Not yet." I noticed Dr. Evans's expression shift behind his glasses.

"That's going to be nearly impossible, Hazel. The girls would keep your secret forever, but Noah and Sterling have become close friends. My boyfriend isn't exactly known for his discretion," Chloe warned.

"My nephew was never reliable with confidential information," Dr. Evans agreed. "Hazel, if you'll permit me to say so, Liam deserves to know. I understand your situation is complicated, but..."

"Wait, how do you know about Hazel and Liam?" Chloe interrupted, clearly surprised.

"Noah introduced us recently. Liam needed information about DNA testing procedures. Actually, I came in today specifically to meet with him. You might encounter him when you leave," Dr. Evans admitted reluctantly.

"Noah didn't mention any of this to me," Chloe muttered irritably.

"Doctor, I need your complete discretion. Liam is getting married very soon, and I won't be responsible for disrupting his life," I pleaded, knowing he would honor patient confidentiality.

Armed with prescriptions and a complete appointment schedule, we prepared to leave. Dr. Evans extracted promises for future social visits with his family. Stepping out of his office, I exhaled with relief at the empty waiting room. But as we finished saying goodbye to Rachel and turned toward the exit, I found myself face to face with Liam and his insufferable fiancée clinging possessively to his arm.