The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife

Hazel's POV

On Monday morning, we dropped Leo off at daycare together. I made sure to update his information, adding Liam as an authorized pickup person. The staff smiled warmly as they watched us together, clearly pleased to see Leo with both parents.

At the office, Liam kept steering me toward his executive suite instead of my own workspace.

"Liam, you're going the wrong way. My office is over there," I pointed out with amusement.

He stopped abruptly, running a hand through his hair. "Right. Sorry, I keep forgetting we don't share the same space yet."

I spotted Owen emerging from my office, grinning like he'd won the lottery.

"Well, well, if it isn't the power couple of the century!" Owen called out cheerfully. "Don't worry about me cramping your style anymore. I've moved back to work with my original boss. Sitting out front listening to you two was becoming torture."

Heat flooded my cheeks. "Owen, we never..."

"Sweetheart, these walls aren't as thick as you think," he interrupted with a knowing wink. "I know exactly what kind of meetings happen in the executive office."

Liam's lips curved into a wicked smile. "Can't argue with facts, angel."

"Everything's already been relocated," Stella called out from her desk without looking up from her computer. "No need to thank me."

Inside my office, I found everything perfectly arranged. Like every Monday for the past months, fresh tulips graced the small side table with a handwritten note: "You make me the happiest man alive. Forever yours, my perfect love."

Tears pricked my eyes unexpectedly. These pregnancy hormones were turning me into an emotional mess. I pulled Liam close for a kiss, savoring the familiar scent of his cologne.

"So you've officially stolen my best assistant?" Damian appeared in the doorway, pressing a brotherly kiss to my temple.

"You stole her from me first," Liam shot back playfully.

"Keep talking and I'll steal her back permanently," Damian threatened with mock seriousness.

I left them to their good-natured bickering and invited Stella for coffee. I was dying to hear about her evening with Logan. We settled into the break room as Stella described her conflicted feelings about her date with Logan versus her complicated situation with Adrian.

Liam, Damian, and Owen joined us shortly after, followed by Fiona bustling in with her usual energy.

"About time you two sorted yourselves out," Fiona announced, gesturing between Liam and me with obvious satisfaction.

"Sit down, Fiona. We have major news to share," Liam said, practically vibrating with excitement as he launched into our story about Leo, our relationship, and our plans.

Fiona's face lit up progressively brighter. "That gorgeous little boy is your son! He has your exact eyes, and your father's too. I'm absolutely thrilled for both of you." Her expression shifted to concern as she noticed Stella's subdued mood. "But what's wrong with you, dear? You look miserable."

"Nothing gets past you," Stella sighed, explaining her breakup with Adrian.

"That man's an absolute fool for letting you slip away," Fiona declared firmly. Then her expression grew serious. "Oh, before I forget, this might be nothing, but after everything that's happened, I learned my lesson about staying quiet. My friend in the cafeteria mentioned that Clairemont and Bianca were there recently. Bianca seemed extremely nervous about something."

Liam's relaxed posture immediately tensed. "When was this? Did your friend overhear anything?"

"She didn't catch their conversation, thankfully," Fiona assured him.

Liam was already pulling out his phone. "Mitchell, I need you to check the cafeteria security footage immediately. Clairemont and Bianca were there within the last few days. Find that footage and send it to me. And I want to know why this wasn't reported to me directly."

After thanking Fiona, we returned to our respective work areas. The afternoon brought us back together in Liam's office with Damian and Owen for an emergency meeting.

"Mitchell recovered the footage," Liam announced grimly. "Someone had deliberately deleted it. IT had to use special recovery software to retrieve it. We definitely have informants in our security team. I've already contacted Allen, and Mitchell is conducting a full investigation of all security personnel."

Damian leaned forward anxiously. "How serious is this? How are they managing to corrupt so many people inside this company?"

"Let's see what we're dealing with," Liam said, pulling up the video.

The footage revealed far more than we'd expected. Bianca clearly knew detailed information about our private business. We needed to find leverage to make her talk.

"So that's how they manipulated the pregnancy test at your trusted laboratory," Owen observed. "I'll contact the lab owner immediately. He needs to investigate which staff member was compromised. This is destroying their credibility."

"Good thinking, Owen. There is some positive news though," Liam added. "Mitchell confirmed that Victoria is currently in Norway. We're monitoring her movements, and we'll know immediately if she attempts to return."

"At least that particular threat is neutralized for now," Damian said with visible relief.

"True, but I'm considering hiring external security for Hazel and Leo," Liam mused aloud.

"That could be risky," Owen cautioned. "We don't know outside personnel, and it would be easier for them to infiltrate our protection."

"I've considered that, but I'm genuinely worried." The security breach had clearly shaken Liam's confidence.

"Liam, I trust Caleb completely. He never let anyone near me. And the guard monitoring Leo is his brother. I don't think we need external help," I said, trying to ease his concerns.

"Maybe you're right, but I'm still concerned," Liam insisted. "Let's maintain current protocols and stay vigilant. At least Miranda agreed to move in with us."

We spent the remainder of the afternoon addressing work issues, and time flew by unexpectedly quickly. At home, Leo was absolutely euphoric, playing with building blocks on the floor alongside George and Miranda. The moment he spotted his father, he launched himself into Liam's arms with pure joy.

At dinner, Liam invited George and Miranda to join us at the table. Then he surprised us with another announcement.

"I'm incredibly happy with how my life is developing. And I want to propose something important to you, Hazel." Liam took my hand gently. "After my parents died, I stayed at Damian's house for several days. I couldn't bring myself to enter my childhood home. I would drive to the gate but couldn't go inside. So I bought this apartment and asked George to maintain everything. Thank you for that, George."

"Always my pleasure, Liam," George replied warmly.

"But after seeing Leo's room set up here, and knowing our family is expanding, I kept thinking about how happy my parents would be to watch their grandchildren grow up in that house. How happy I would be raising my family there." Tears began flowing as Liam spoke. "Hazel, I want us to move into my parents' house. It's enormous, has incredible gardens, and I know we could be truly happy there."

"Liam, I would be happy with you living in a forest cabin," I said with complete sincerity. "Are you absolutely certain you want to live there?"

"I am certain. It's in the same gated community as Damian's house, very close by. I think it would be perfect." Liam searched my eyes hopefully. "We could visit tomorrow before work, and then you could ask the girls to help with any decorating. Stella has excellent taste."

"I would love that. And so would the girls," I agreed, making everyone laugh.

"It will be wonderful returning to that house. There's an aura of pure joy and happiness there. Your parents were so happy there, and your grandparents before them," George commented with obvious emotion.

"Then it's absolutely perfect," I declared decisively.

The next morning, we visited the house as planned. It was absolutely breathtaking. I gasped when Liam opened the front doors. Everything was immaculate and perfectly organized, as if a family still lived there. Liam explained that George had maintained everything flawlessly over the years. His mother had completed a major renovation just two months before the accident.

The house was magnificent and sprawling, built in European style with two full stories, soaring double-height ceilings, painted pristine white with a dramatic dark roof. The front featured gorgeous gardens bursting with flowers and an elegant fountain. Massive glass windows flooded every room with natural light. Inside, the luxury was truly impressive. The backyard boasted a swimming pool, tennis court, sauna, and even more extensive, meticulously maintained gardens.

I watched Liam's face as we moved through each room. Instead of sadness, his smile grew progressively wider. He seemed completely natural and comfortable.

"Liam, it's absolutely wonderful! How are you feeling about being here?"

"I'm so glad you love it, my angel. I feel incredibly good. I'm imagining how happy our children will be here, filling this house with life and laughter. So, do you want to live here with me?"

"I would love living here! Leo will go absolutely crazy over these gardens."

"Then I'll call my mother's architect friend as soon as we reach the office. She's a phenomenal professional who can work with you and the girls on any changes you want to make."

"But I don't want to change anything!" I said with complete honesty. "Unless you want to, but I think it's absolutely perfect as is!"

"Seriously, my angel? Are you sure?" When I confirmed with a smile, he continued, "Thank you! I feel like my mother prepared this house specifically for us! I couldn't enter before because something was missing. It was missing you and our children." Liam declared through tears, kissing me tenderly.

"Can we have our wedding in the garden?" I asked excitedly.

"My God, you're absolutely perfect!" he said, kissing me again. "That was my mother's dream! She would have adored you."

We explored the entire house, making countless plans and sharing dreams. We finally left around lunchtime and went to a charming bistro near the office. While waiting for our meal, my phone rang with an unfamiliar number. I answered on speaker, and my heart stopped when I heard Miranda's voice through desperate sobs.

"Hazel, sweetheart, they took Leo. I don't understand what happened. Mitchell drove me to pick him up from daycare. I got out and collected Leo normally. I was putting him in his car seat when everything went black. I woke up in the hospital. The doctor said someone struck me in the head, but Leo wasn't there, and I couldn't reach Mitchell. I don't know what happened, but someone took Leo."