The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife

Simon's POV

Walking down the aisle with Evelyn's steady arm supporting me, I marveled at how Hazel had transformed our backyard into something magical. Every detail spoke of her meticulous planning and love. Rustic wooden benches mixed with wrought iron garden seats created an intimate atmosphere for our guests. Massive arrangements of tulips in every imaginable color lined the walkway, their vibrant petals catching the afternoon light.

The altar itself took my breath away. A simple wooden table stood beneath an archway draped in flowing white fabric, more tulips cascading from every corner. But what nearly undid me completely was the front row. Two empty seats held silver-framed photographs of my parents, each adorned with a single white tulip. Hazel had found a way to include them in our most precious moment, ensuring everyone knew they were here with us in spirit.

Evelyn settled beside their photos, and I had to blink back tears before I completely lost my composure.

When our wedding party began their procession, I was struck by Hazel's brilliant vision. Each of the girls wore a different colored dress, matching the tulip theme perfectly. Purple, red, yellow, orange, and pink flowed down the aisle in vibrant succession. They looked like a living bouquet, beautiful and harmonious against the garden setting. Ten chairs flanked the altar, five on each side, positioned so our closest friends could face our guests. The girls took one side, the men the other, creating a perfect frame for what was about to unfold.

Then the music changed, and my heart stopped.

The curtains parted, revealing Hazel on her father's arm, and I forgot how to breathe. Her dress was perfection in its simplicity. White silk flowed from a halter neckline, secured with long tulle straps that wrapped around her neck and cascaded down her bare back in an elegant bow. Layers of tulle created a skirt that seemed to float with each step, while delicate lace appliques decorated the bodice and scattered across the flowing fabric like fallen petals.

My mother's tiara nestled in her hair, which was swept into an intricate low bun that showcased the antique piece perfectly. As she moved toward me, she seemed to glide rather than walk, ethereal and radiant. When our eyes met, her smile was pure sunshine, filled with love so complete it nearly brought me to my knees.

This woman was about to become my wife. The reality hit me like a physical force.

The ceremony began, each word weighted with meaning we had waited so long to speak. When the time came for rings, Leo appeared carrying a small wooden box, his face serious with the importance of his role. He walked straight to the altar and handed me the box before settling himself on the platform edge between Hazel and me, completely disrupting Chloe's careful choreography but making the moment absolutely perfect.

Inside lay the rings I had designed specifically for us. My parents' wedding bands had been combined with my grandparents', yellow gold intertwined with platinum and diamonds to create something entirely new yet deeply rooted in family history. Each ring was formed from two, symbolizing how our separate lives were becoming one. The engraving inside read "I will love you from January to January" - a promise that spanned all seasons, all years, all of time.

After we exchanged vows and I finally got to kiss my bride, I asked our guests for one more moment of patience. This was for Leo, something I had been planning since I found it in the bank vault. I called him over and pulled out a small velvet box, removing the bracelet my father had given me at birth.

Two small plates hung from the delicate chain. The original bore the inscription "May you always walk protected. Daddy loves you" along with my name on the back. I had added Leo's name beside mine and included a second plate with my own message: "It took me a while to find you, but I won't let you go anymore."

As I fastened it around his small wrist, I felt the weight of generations of love passing between us. Then I took the official paperwork from the notary, Leo's new birth certificate with my name listed as his father, and handed it to Hazel with trembling hands.

Lifting Leo into my arms, I turned to face our gathered friends and family. "I present to you my beloved son, Leo Vance Sterling."

Taking Hazel's hand, the three of us walked back down the aisle together as rose petals rained down around us and applause filled the air. We were officially a family.

The reception was everything Hazel had envisioned. Despite having few connections in Crestwood, she had managed to create the perfect guest list. Her former boss and his family were there, along with the other Dalton brother, mixing seamlessly with our close friends and my business associates. We danced until our feet ached, talked until our voices grew hoarse, and celebrated until the sun began to sink toward the horizon.

Our honeymoon would have to wait until I could properly organize the company transition, but tonight was about beginnings. Our friends had spent the afternoon transforming our bedroom into a romantic sanctuary, complete with candles, flowers, and silk sheets that promised intimate hours ahead.

Hazel had planned the reception to end precisely at six o'clock, and like everything else she organized, it went off without a hitch. The catering staff efficiently dismantled the decorations while security personnel ensured our privacy. George assured me they would work quietly and leave us completely undisturbed, staying only long enough to clean up and prepare breakfast for tomorrow morning.

With everything handled and our guests departing with full hearts and happy faces, I finally had my bride to myself. I pulled Hazel into my arms, her wedding dress rustling softly against my suit, and whispered in her ear, "It's time for the 'alone at last' part of the evening."

She looked up at me with eyes that sparkled with anticipation and love, her smile promising everything I had dreamed of. "At last," she breathed, the words carrying years of waiting and wanting.

Without another word, I swept her up into my arms and headed for the stairs, carrying my wife toward our bedroom and the beginning of our life together as husband and wife.