The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife

Hazel's POV

Around four in the afternoon, Felix knocked on my door to announce that detectives had arrived to see me. The plural form caught my attention, making me wonder who else had come along. I told her to show them in just as Liam appeared in the doorway behind the approaching officers.

"Aurora! Carlos! I appreciate you coming here to take my wife's statement," Liam said, his tone warm and welcoming as he greeted the two men.

"Our pleasure, Sterling. And thank you again for the wedding invitation. It was truly a magnificent celebration," Inspector Aurora responded with his characteristic politeness and professional courtesy.

"Having you and your family there meant everything to us at such an important moment. You gave me back the woman I love, so your presence was essential," Liam replied, pulling me close against his side. "Let's handle this in my office, angel."

We settled into Liam's spacious office, where Inspector Carlos opened his laptop and began collecting my personal information. After recording all the basic details, they launched into their questioning. The initial inquiries focused on standard background information about how long I had known the brothers and Clairemont, what my relationship was with each of them, and similar foundational questions. Then they shifted to the kidnapping itself. I walked them through how I was taken and described everything I had witnessed during my captivity.

"Is there anything else you remember that might help us locate this Clairemont character?" Inspector Aurora pressed, leaning forward slightly.

"Unfortunately, no, Inspector," I responded. "Though I do recall hearing Caleb mention to his brother that he couldn't reach Sky. But I have absolutely no idea who that person might be," I added, thinking back to the conversation I had overheard between the two brothers.

"Sky? Now who could that be? Perhaps Bianca? That's entirely possible," Aurora mused aloud. "Did they say anything else that might provide us with a lead?"

"Mitchell told Caleb he needed to dispose of the cell phone, and then mentioned that he had only used that particular number to contact me. They had destroyed and thrown away my phone, from what I gathered. He was insisting there was no way to trace the number back to them. I also heard Mitchell say that kidnapping Leo was merely bait to get to me," I answered, recalling the brothers' conversation clearly.

"What exactly do you mean by that?" Aurora asked, his eyebrows furrowing.

"They had no idea that Leo is Liam's son because we only discovered that ourselves just days before the kidnapping occurred." I quickly recounted the story of how I became pregnant and how Liam eventually learned the truth about everything.

"I was the investigator Liam hired to look into Hazel's situation," Inspector Carlos interjected. "I'm familiar with the entire story. Aurora, did we recover any cell phones from the brothers during their arrest?"

"No, we found no electronic devices whatsoever," Aurora confirmed.

"Perhaps we should return to the location where Hazel was held and search for those phones. I confiscated two cell phones in Crestwood, one belonging to Clairemont and another to Ethan, but we never found Bianca's phone anywhere. Nothing on the devices we did seize led us to Clairemont," Carlos recalled thoughtfully.

"Excellent suggestion. Let's go back to Hazel's prison location. Do you think the Crestwood police department would conduct another thorough search of the farm where they held Leo?" Aurora proposed.

"Absolutely. I'll speak with them about organizing that search," Carlos assured him.

"Hazel's cell phone was recovered, wasn't it?" Aurora wanted to confirm.

"Yes, one of my tech specialists has it," Liam informed them. "I'll have him bring it over immediately."

Within minutes, Tobias Victor entered the room carrying my damaged phone sealed in a plastic evidence bag. He explained that while he couldn't recover much data, he had managed to extract the list of incoming and outgoing calls. On the day of my kidnapping, I had received only one call from an unknown number. When he attempted to call it back, no one answered. However, they had successfully tracked my location because they identified the cell tower near where my phone had last been active.

"Yes, I only received Caleb's call that day," I confirmed.

Tobias Victor handed the cell phone and a card containing the phone number to Inspector Aurora, who thanked him professionally.

"This is extremely valuable information. How could I have overlooked this?" Aurora criticized himself. "Hazel, I need to ask you one more thing."

"Yes, Inspector?"

"Ethan, who was involved in your son's kidnapping. You two were in a relationship, correct?" Aurora wanted to verify.

"Yes, Inspector, unfortunately. For four years. We ended things about three years ago, almost four, roughly a month before the charity ball where I met Liam without knowing his true identity," I explained.

"That was quite a lengthy relationship," Aurora analyzed before asking his next question. "What was his occupation while you were dating?"

"Inspector, when we began dating, Ethan was nineteen and I was fifteen. He had ambition but lacked work ethic. He failed his college entrance exams and started working at the town's airfield. He performed general maintenance and helped with various tasks there. He disliked the job, but since Chloe's father had secured the position for him, I constantly encouraged him not to disappoint Mr. Dalton," I said, remembering that distant period of my life. "But why are you asking, Inspector?"

"Because Ethan claims he's known Clairemont for over three years, but refuses to elaborate. Do you know anything about this or remember him meeting someone during that time? Or do you recall him ever mentioning Clairemont's name?"

I considered this carefully, but couldn't remember hearing Clairemont's name before I started working with Liam. "Inspector, I honestly don't know," I replied.

"You mentioned Ethan worked at the airfield?" Carlos asked, and I nodded confirmation. "Crestwood only has one airfield, apart from the city airport."

"Yes, why?" I asked.

"Because helicopters cannot land at the airport, only at the airfield," Liam said quietly, as if a realization was dawning on him.

"I don't understand," I said, feeling confused.

"My parents' helicopter, Hazel!" Liam spoke, his eyes filling with sadness.

"Oh my God!" I pressed my hand to my lips. "You think that..." I couldn't even finish the sentence.

"It's definitely a possibility," Carlos said, then explained to Aurora about Liam's parents' death. They suspected Ethan might have been involved in sabotaging the helicopter. "Hazel, think very carefully, do you remember anything else?"

"But the day of the ball was also Ethan's wedding day to my cousin. It would have been impossible for him to be at the airfield that night," I remembered, trying not to accept the possibility that Ethan could have sabotaged Liam's parents' helicopter.

"Actually, it's not impossible," Carlos stated. "Do you remember anything else?"

"Carlos, about three months before the ball, I was still with Ethan. One day he came home extremely excited because he had received a scholarship for a helicopter maintenance course, which could help him earn a promotion and better salary," I remembered. "He started the course enthusiastically, but I don't know if he completed it because we broke up a month before the ball."

"You said Mr. Dalton helped him get the job. Why?" Aurora asked.

"Chloe and I have been close friends for years, and her parents think very highly of me. I was frustrated because Ethan couldn't find employment and wasn't pursuing education. Chloe spoke with her father, who knew the airfield owner, and that's how Ethan got the position," I replied.

"Fascinating," Aurora responded. "It would be beneficial if we could interview someone who attended the wedding."

"My parents were there," I said.

"Your parents attended the wedding of the ex who betrayed you?" Aurora looked confused.

"He cheated on me and married my cousin. Her mother is my mother's sister," I explained.

"Girl, that's really something!" Aurora made an amusing expression mixing surprise, shock, and confusion.

"You want to know the worst part? I caught them having sex in my bed, in my house, on my mother's birthday," I said, laughing at Aurora's expressions.

"Honestly, the guy is completely stupid! I met your cousin, an unpleasant woman, and she doesn't even compare to you," Carlos commented. "With all due respect, Liam."

"That's perfectly fine, my wife is indeed wonderful!" Liam said, smiling at me.

"But as you told me, Carlos, sometimes life helps you get rid of the wrong things!" I commented with a smile.

"That's absolutely true, and this Ethan has terrible character, Hazel," Aurora agreed. "Would you mind telling me how you started dating him?"

"I was too young. A boyfriend of that same cousin introduced us. I wasn't particularly interested, but at my cousin's birthday party, she pushed so persistently that I ended up kissing him. After that, he began pursuing me. He was kind, charming, and persistent. I thought he genuinely cared for me, so we started dating," I explained. "Later, even though I wasn't satisfied with certain things, I convinced myself I liked him. That's how it lasted as long as it did."

"I understand. Good thing it ended and you found someone worthwhile," Aurora commented.

"Absolutely true!" I confirmed, smiling at my husband.

"Hazel, would you mind providing us with your parents' and Mr. Dalton's contact information?" Aurora asked. "We should speak with them."

"Of course, I'll write it down for you." I took paper and pen from Liam's desk, wrote down the contacts, and handed them to Aurora.

"Just one final question, Hazel. I know Ethan was no longer working at the airfield. Would you know why and when he left?" Carlos asked.

"As far as I know, he left shortly after getting married. He was terminated. But I don't know the specific reason," I informed them.

"Hazel, thank you very much for your time," Aurora said gratefully.

Damian entered the room just as the detectives were preparing to leave, with his usual charismatic and carefree attitude.

"Well, well, so much authority in here!" Damian joked while greeting the detectives. "Good seeing you here, detectives. My redhead called and said it's girls' night out tonight, Liam. For God's sake, is your wife already tired of your face?"

"No, my friend, I keep my woman completely satisfied. The culprit for this emergency is our esteemed Inspector Carlos!" Liam said while everyone laughed.

"What do you mean, me?" Carlos asked as I frowned at Liam.

"Vera, Felix didn't ask for secrecy," Liam justified.

"She also didn't tell you to broadcast it," I replied to him.

"Hazel, we'll discover it anyway. I just hope I won't be punished because of the detective," Damian said. "But since we're without our beautiful women tonight, I thought we could organize a small game at my place. What do you think? Aurora, you too."

"Guys, I appreciate the invitation, but today is my mother-in-law's birthday. You know how it is, after thirty years of marriage, the wife makes me sleep on the couch if I don't attend," Aurora smiled.

"Now that's a good idea, Aurora," I narrowed my eyes at Liam, making everyone laugh.

They arranged their game while the detectives said goodbye and left with Damian. I returned to my office and noticed the pie still sitting on the table. What would I do with it? I checked my schedule and reminded Liam about the video conference with the Chinese clients. Perfect timing!