The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife

Hazel's POV

Stella burst through my office door, his face flushed with urgency. "Hazel, we have to leave now. Damian called and said to get to his place immediately. Something major is happening and everyone's already there."

"This whole situation feels off. Damian and Allen have been acting completely bizarre lately," I said, grabbing my jacket.

"I picked up on that too. But we need to move. He emphasized it was critical and the driver's waiting downstairs in the garage."

I snatched my purse and followed Stella out. Caleb appeared behind us, radiating more tension than I'd ever seen from him. He escorted us to the car and climbed into the front passenger seat, which struck me as odd.

As we pulled out of the building's parking garage, movement caught my eye through the window. That woman Victoria stood near the main entrance, watching our departure. Ice water seemed to flood my veins. What the hell was happening?

Damian's house came into view and my breath caught. Every single person from our inner circle was there. Even the girls had arrived. Evelyn's face filled a laptop screen via video call. The most disturbing detail was that tears streaked down everyone's faces. My mind immediately conjured the worst possible scenarios, my knees buckled, and darkness swallowed me whole.

Consciousness returned slowly. I found myself stretched across the living room sofa with Liam kneeling beside me, his fingers intertwined with mine. His eyes were rimmed red with unshed tears.

"My angel, are you with me?" His voice carried a weight of deep concern.

"I'm terrified. What's happening? Why is everyone gathered here?" Confusion clouded my thoughts.

"Stay calm, my angel. Everything's going to be alright. We'll explain everything, but first I need to know you're okay." Liam lifted my hand to his lips, pressing gentle kisses across my knuckles.

"Is this about your parents' crash?" He shook his head firmly. "The company then?" Another denial.

Before I could continue my questioning, Dr. Evans rushed into the room, making a beeline toward me.

"Dear child, how are you feeling?" His tone was gentle and reassuring. Liam rose to give him access to me.

"I think it was just low blood pressure," I replied weakly.

"Fortunate that I live in Damian's building complex and was home when they called," Dr. Evans explained. "May I conduct a quick examination?"

"Please do, doctor."

After checking my vitals thoroughly, Dr. Evans determined it was nothing alarming, just blood pressure dropping due to the overwhelming stress I'd been enduring recently.

"Hazel, you desperately need tranquility and rest. You understand this, don't you?" His expression turned serious.

"Yes, but so much chaos keeps happening around us."

"If you don't prioritize your wellbeing, I'll contact your father to collect you and take you to the countryside estate."

"Absolutely not, Dr. Evans. Nobody is removing Hazel from my side," Liam interjected forcefully. "I'll handle everything that needs fixing."

"You'd better, Liam." The doctor's warning glare was unmistakable.

"Doctor, could you remain here a bit longer? I need to share something with Hazel, but I'm concerned she might have another episode," Liam requested, sending my anxiety skyrocketing again.

"Easy there, girl. Drink this herbal tea," Chloe pressed a warm cup into my trembling hands.

"Of course I can stay. Should I wait in another room?" Dr. Evans offered.

"Not necessary, doctor. I believe you'll appreciate what I'm about to reveal." Liam's smile seemed genuine this time.

"Wonderful. I'm particularly fond of happy endings." Dr. Evans settled back and accepted the coffee Damian extended to him.

"I'm completely lost. When I arrived everyone was sobbing. Now it appears to be positive news. Someone please explain what's going on," I demanded, my nerves fraying.

"My angel, Allen located the woman I've been searching for," Liam announced, and my breathing became shallow. "Breathe deeply, my love. Stay with me."

"Where is she?" I managed to ask.

"Closer than you could imagine," Liam replied mysteriously. "But there's more. When I terminated your employment, before we discovered it was all fabricated, Damian asked his detective friend in Crestwood to investigate your background. We'd completely forgotten about it. The detective only delivered his report today. It seemed irrelevant since we'd resolved our issues, and I should never have questioned your integrity. However, this report contains extremely significant information."

"You sent investigators after me?" I shouted, fury rising in my chest.

"Hazel, you cannot become agitated," Dr. Evans cautioned firmly.

I forced myself to breathe deeply, summoned what little composure remained, and faced Liam directly.

"It was unofficial, Hazel. Stupid decision, but we were operating blind," Damian attempted to justify. "It was my suggestion."

"My angel, look directly at me. Breathe slowly and center yourself. Now tell me, how exactly did you meet Leo's father?" Tears began pooling in Liam's eyes.

"Why does that detail matter now, Liam?" I asked, confused by the sudden topic shift.

"It matters tremendously, my angel. Please tell me. I need to hear it in your own words," Liam pleaded earnestly.

"You despise me for this, don't you?" I said, recognizing in his expression that he already possessed the truth. "But if you want to inflict this punishment, if you need to hear my confession directly, fine. Three years ago, I attended the annual masquerade ball in Crestwood. I'd recently ended a lengthy relationship, and Chloe kept insisting I attend this ball and enjoy myself. I ended up drinking more than usual. I was with my friends at a private gathering. At some point, a man approached me near the dance floor and asked me to dance. We danced, talked, and eventually he led me to a secluded corner of the venue, a corridor leading to the emergency exit. It was dark and deserted. He kissed me and, well..." I paused, my eyes burning with unshed tears, unable to meet his gaze. "Afterward, he stepped away to answer his phone and vanished completely. We wore masks, so I never saw his face clearly. We didn't use protection. I'd stopped taking birth control after my breakup, and days later I discovered I was pregnant. Leo became the greatest blessing of my entire life."

"You both surrendered to that moment. It was intense, powerful, and consuming," Liam suddenly continued my narrative. "You couldn't locate him because you never learned his name. When he was about to introduce himself, his phone interrupted, and since the reception was poor, he stepped outside to take the call. He was delayed, but when he returned, he couldn't find you anywhere. You had vanished. And he spent two long years searching for you."

"You found Leo's father," I whispered.

"Yes, my angel, we did," Liam smiled through his tears.

"I don't understand what you're saying."

"My angel, you're the woman I've been desperately seeking! I am Leo's father!" Liam was crying openly now. "Leo is my son!"

"What kind of cruel joke is this, Liam?" I looked around wildly, and everyone was weeping. Nothing made sense.

"Honey, the man from that night was Liam," Chloe said gently. "Do you understand now?"

Shock paralyzed me completely. I felt Dr. Evans wrapping the blood pressure cuff around my arm again. Words refused to come. I stared at Liam, unable to comprehend how this was possible.

"My angel, I attended that ball with my parents. My father was receiving an honor at that event. Damian and his parents were there too. I watched you enter the party and was completely captivated. I observed you throughout the entire evening. When you finally separated from your friends, I approached and asked you to dance. We connected on a supernatural level. When my phone rang, it was Owen calling about an emergency here. My parents had departed early, and the helicopter carrying them had vanished from radar. Search operations were beginning. The signal was terrible, so I stepped away and gestured for you to wait. After speaking with Owen, I rushed back to get your contact information, but you had disappeared. I searched everywhere but couldn't locate you. That night I found you and lost you simultaneously. That same night I lost my parents."

"Liam, it was really you?" I sobbed uncontrollably.

"Yes, my love, it was me! I searched for you endlessly!" Liam was euphoric now. "Look at me. Our son is my exact replica. He has my eyes. We connected instantly when we met. I should have suspected. My boy, Hazel, my precious boy. And he carries my father's name, exactly as I always dreamed. You have no idea how ecstatic I am!"

"You're Leo's father? Oh my God." I placed my hands on either side of his face.

"Sweetie, take this medication." Dr. Evans handed me a small pill and water glass. "Take it now. You're extremely agitated and it could be dangerous."

I swallowed the pill and water obediently. My heart hammered against my ribcage.

"Liam, I need to tell you something important," I said, attempting to wipe away my streaming tears.

"That we're expecting another baby? I already know, my love, and I'm the happiest man alive." Liam placed his warm hand on my belly.

"Hazel, we had to inform him because with the news he had for you, we needed a strategy to prevent giving you and my new godchild cardiac arrest," Noah rushed to explain.

"Your new godchild, Noah? Not even if hell froze solid!" Damian complained loudly. "You're already Leo's godfather. This one will be my godchild and that's non-negotiable."

"Shouldn't the actual parents choose the godparents?" I protested weakly.

"This isn't a democratic process, Hazel!" Damian's declaration made everyone laugh despite the emotional chaos.

"My angel, I need you to know that Clairemont's pregnancy was completely fabricated and we've uncovered everything. Victoria means absolutely nothing to me. I love you beyond measure. I'm dying to see my son. And..." Liam was practically bouncing with excitement.

"Doctor, I'm feeling drowsy," I told Dr. Evans beside me.

"Yes, dear, that's the medication taking effect. You'll sleep peacefully for a while." Dr. Evans confirmed, and I closed my eyes, surrendering to the approaching slumber.