The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife

Hazel's POV

The weekend stretched endlessly before me like a battlefield I had to cross alone. My mind felt fractured, thoughts scattered in every direction as I tried to make sense of what was happening to my body and my life.

Sunday afternoon, I gathered my closest friends at my apartment. The weight of my secret pressed against my chest as I looked at their expectant faces. When I finally told them about the pregnancy, chaos erupted in the best possible way. Chl, Scarlett, and the others immediately launched into a heated debate about who would earn the coveted title of godmother.

"I'm already Leo's godmother, so I'm obviously out," Chl announced with mock disappointment, which only intensified the competition among the others.

"Scarlett, I need you to promise me something," I said, my voice more serious than I intended. "Don't tell Levi yet. I want to handle that conversation myself when I'm ready."

They all nodded solemnly, understanding the gravity of keeping Liam in the dark about his child.

Monday morning hit me like a freight train. Every muscle in my body felt heavy, and an overwhelming fatigue seemed to seep into my bones. I could barely keep my eyes open as I sat at my desk, trying to focus on the documents in front of me.

"Hazel, wake up," Damian's gentle voice cut through the fog in my brain. "Come on, you need to lie down on the couch in my office."

I lifted my head from where it had been resting on my desk, blinking in confusion. "What happened?"

"You were sleeping at your desk. I think I should give you a few days off," he said, concern evident in his voice.

"I fell asleep?" The realization hit me with a wave of irritation. "I think I'm having a really severe stress crisis."

Damian knew better, of course. The way he looked at me told me he suspected exactly what was wrong, especially after Liam had spotted me at the doctor's office on Saturday.

"I think you should see a doctor, Hazel. I'm starting to worry about you. You're so pale lately. Could this be anemia? Are you eating properly?" Damian extended his arm to help me stand, and I gratefully accepted the support as dizziness washed over me.

"Actually, Damian, I can barely keep anything down. I've already lost several pounds," I admitted, leaning against his shoulder for stability. But the moment I got close, a wave of nausea hit me, and I jerked away abruptly. "Oh my god, Damian, what is that smell?"

"Smell? What smell?" He lifted his arm, sniffing himself with genuine confusion. "It's just my cologne, Hazel. The same one I wear every day."

"No, it's not the same! It's way too strong!" I said, making a disgusted face that I couldn't control.

"Wow, friend, what an ugly expression," Stella teased as she walked into the room and caught sight of my horrified look.

"She said I smell terrible, Stella!" Damian said with an exaggerated pout.

"That's impossible! You're the best-smelling man I know. Your cologne is even better than Adrian's. Let me investigate." Stella proceeded to sniff around Damian like a detective searching for clues. "No, you smell absolutely delicious."

"You don't find it overwhelmingly strong? Nauseating?" I insisted, still fighting the urge to gag.

"Friend, it must be because you haven't been eating properly and your senses are getting hypersensitive," Stella said diplomatically, trying to mediate the situation.

"Come on, lie down in my office for a while, and I'll order something for you to eat. Something really appetizing," Damian said, treating me like a fragile child. "What sounds good to you?"

"Chocolate cake!" The words tumbled out of my mouth with surprising enthusiasm, my eyes practically sparkling at the thought.

Damian left the room chuckling at my sudden excitement. Stella instructed me to rest because I looked incredibly weak, then followed him out. Two hours later, I woke up alone with a perfect slice of chocolate cake waiting for me. I sat up and demolished that cake with an intensity that surprised even me.

After washing my face in the bathroom, I found Stella at her desk and asked her to join me for coffee.

"Did you eat the cake?" she asked, studying my face with concern.

"Yes, I devoured it. I've been really exhausted lately, Stella. Damian mentioned giving me a few days off and I think I should accept. It might be beneficial until things stabilize."

"Maybe that's wise. They suspect something serious is happening with you," Stella warned me carefully. "All three of them have been asking me questions."

"Damn it! Last time I didn't experience anything like this. Now it feels like I'm dying," I said with a frustrated pout.

"My mom always said every pregnancy is completely different," Stella laughed knowingly.

"Sweetie, how are you feeling?" Fiona appeared in the break room and immediately inquired about my wellbeing.

"Not very well, Fiona," I replied honestly.

"Would you like me to get you anything special?" she offered kindly.

"No, thank you."

"You really need to see a doctor, and soon," Fiona said before leaving the break room with a worried expression.

I returned to my office, but it wasn't long before Liam appeared in my doorway, his presence filling the entire space.

"My angel, how are you feeling?" He knelt beside my chair and asked with genuine concern.

"Just perfectly fine, thank you!" I replied with deliberate coldness.

"You're not fine, Hazel. If you were fine, you wouldn't have needed to visit the doctor. Tell me what's wrong because I'm worried about you," he insisted, his eyes searching my face.

"You should worry about your precious fiancee instead," I replied grumpily, and suddenly tears started flowing down my cheeks. These damn hormones were going to be the death of me.

Liam immediately scooped me up and carried me into Damian's empty office, closing the door behind us.

"My angel, I care deeply about you," Liam said while holding me close. "Tell me what's troubling you."

"Nothing significant, Liam. Go spend time with your hell-spawn fiancee," I tried to break free from his embrace, but he tightened his hold and actually laughed.

"I took her there because I needed her to undergo a test at a trusted facility. But I had to maintain the role of devoted fiance to convince her to do it."

"What kind of test?" I asked, my curiosity overriding my anger.

"DNA test. Noah's uncle informed me about one that only requires the mother's blood, completely safe, and one hundred percent accurate. So I took her there under the pretense that it was just routine testing for the prenuptial agreement and that we would go for a pleasant walk afterward. She has no idea she underwent a DNA test. But everything was carefully planned. You can ask any of the guys, including Noah. They know the entire strategy," he explained while cradling me in his lap.

"Do you honestly think this child isn't yours?" I asked quietly.

"I'm almost completely certain, my angel," he answered confidently. "Now tell me what's wrong with you. You've been acting strangely for days, feeling sick constantly. Damian suggested it might be an ulcer. Is that accurate?"

"It's nothing serious. Just stress taking its toll. You know it hasn't been easy lately," I replied, being as evasive as humanly possible. "Damian offered me a few days off, and I think I should accept."

"If it will help you feel better, my angel." He pressed a gentle kiss to the top of my head.

Liam remained there, simply holding me for what felt like an eternity. Just embracing me in comfortable silence. I felt so perfectly safe in his arms that I wished time would stop completely.