The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife

Hazel's POV

The week dissolved into routine work and quiet evenings, both Liam and I settling into the rhythm of our new life. Friday morning brought George knocking on our bedroom door with news that made my heart leap.

"The house is finished, Mrs. Hazel. You can move in whenever you're ready."

We spent the weekend orchestrating our move with military precision. Liam insisted on hiring professional movers while I directed traffic from a lawn chair, watching our friends transform chaos into order. By Sunday afternoon, we were hosting an impromptu pool party in our new backyard, the scent of grilled burgers mixing with chlorine and laughter.

I smoothed down my new flowing dress, grateful for the extra fabric around my middle. Four months pregnant meant my regular clothes had become instruments of torture, cutting into my expanding waistline like wire. The shopping trip with the girls earlier that week had been a necessity, not luxury.

But exhaustion clung to me like a second skin these days. Liam had started his campaign to get me to quit work, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive every time he caught me yawning or rubbing my lower back.

"This pregnancy is different, angel," he'd say, concern etching lines around his eyes. "With Leo, you were unstoppable. Now you can barely make it through lunch without a nap."

He wasn't wrong. My first pregnancy had been a breeze compared to this relentless fatigue that made even simple tasks feel monumental. I'd agreed to discuss it with Dr. Evans at my upcoming appointment.

The morning of the appointment arrived with Liam practically vibrating with nervous energy. He paced our bedroom while I got dressed, checking his watch every thirty seconds.

"We should leave early," he announced for the third time. "Traffic might be heavy."

"Liam, we live fifteen minutes from the hospital."

"But what if there's construction? Or an accident? What if—"

I silenced him with a kiss. "Breathe. Everything's fine."

Dr. Evans greeted us with her trademark warmth, her eyes immediately dropping to my midsection. "Hazel, look at you! That belly is much more prominent than it was with Leo at four months."

"Trust me, I've noticed," I said, settling onto the examination table. "I feel like I'm carrying a bowling ball. And I'm constantly starving. I wake up at three in the morning demanding sandwiches."

Liam chuckled. "She ate an entire rotisserie chicken yesterday. By herself."

"Every pregnancy tells its own story," Dr. Evans said, preparing her equipment. "Let's run some blood work first, then we'll take a peek at this little one with the ultrasound."

As she drew blood, Liam drummed his fingers against his thigh, radiating anticipation. When she finally wheeled over the ultrasound machine, he practically launched himself out of his chair.

Dr. Evans applied the cold gel to my belly, her expression shifting as she moved the probe across my skin. The easy smile faded, replaced by intense concentration. She paused, adjusted the screen, then looked again.

My stomach dropped. "Is something wrong?"

"Liam, please sit down," she said quietly, not taking her eyes off the monitor.

"What? Why? Is the baby okay?" Liam's voice pitched higher.

"Sit down first."

Liam sank into the chair beside me, his hand finding mine in a desperate grip. I could feel his pulse hammering against my palm.

Dr. Evans turned the screen toward us, pointing with her stylus. "Do you see these two distinct sacs here?"

"Twins?" I whispered, my throat suddenly dry.

She shook her head slowly. "Not twins, Hazel. Quadruplets."

The word hung in the air like a bomb waiting to explode.

"Four?" Liam's voice cracked. "Four babies?"

"Four babies," Dr. Evans confirmed, adjusting the image. "Two here, two there. Two separate placentas, which is actually good news for their development."

Liam went completely still beside me, his face draining of color. Then, as if someone had flipped a switch, he erupted.

"Four babies!" He shot to his feet, nearly knocking over his chair. "Hazel, do you hear this? Four! We're having four babies!"

Tears started streaming down my face, but they weren't tears of joy. They were tears of overwhelming panic.

"How am I supposed to handle four newborns?" The words tumbled out between sobs. "I can barely function with this pregnancy. Four babies crying, four babies needing to eat, four diapers—"

"Hey, hey," Liam was beside me instantly, his hands cupping my face. "We'll figure it out together. You're not doing this alone."

"Would you like to know the genders?" Dr. Evans asked gently.

Through my tears, I managed to nod.

"One boy and one girl in each placenta. Perfect symmetry."

"Can we hear their heartbeats?" Liam asked, his voice thick with emotion.

When the rapid flutter of four tiny hearts filled the room, Liam completely lost his composure. He buried his face in his hands and sobbed like his heart was breaking open with joy.

After we'd collected ourselves, Dr. Evans's tone grew serious. "Quadruplet pregnancies are extremely rare and high-risk. Complete bed rest for the remainder of your pregnancy is non-negotiable. The babies will likely arrive prematurely, possibly as early as thirty weeks."

We left the hospital with a pharmaceutical list longer than my grocery receipts and Liam treating me like I was made of spun glass. He wouldn't even let me walk to the car.

Back home, Liam immediately started making calls, summoning our entire friend group for an emergency dinner. No matter how much Chloe begged over the phone, he refused to reveal the news.

"It's a surprise," he kept saying, his grin threatening to split his face in half.

We told Leo first, watching his eyes grow wide with wonder.

"Four babies, Mommy? Like a whole team?"

"Something like that, sweetheart."

He immediately pressed his ear to my belly, chattering away about all the games they'd play together.

By dinner time, Liam had procured a wheelchair from somewhere, refusing to let me walk even short distances.

"What the hell happened?" Chloe burst through the door, her face pale with worry. "Why are you in a wheelchair? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I assured her, shooting Liam a look. "Your cousin has just gone into full protective mode. Dr. Evans put me on bed rest, and Liam decided that means I can't use my legs."

"Bed rest?" Stella's brow furrowed. "That seems extreme for a normal pregnancy."

"Well, it's not exactly normal," Liam said, unable to contain his excitement any longer. He knelt beside my chair with Leo in his arms. "Tell them, buddy."

"Mommy has four babies in her tummy!" Leo announced proudly.

The room went dead silent.

Chloe's mouth fell open. "Four? Like, four separate babies?"

"Two boys and two girls," Liam confirmed, practically glowing.

The silence stretched on until Owen finally spoke. "You're serious. You're actually serious."

"Dead serious," Liam laughed. "And since you're all here, we've solved the godparent situation. Each couple gets one baby."

The explosion of voices that followed was deafening, everyone talking at once, asking questions, expressing shock and excitement. Through it all, Liam beamed like he'd just won the lottery.

"George," he called toward the kitchen, "better make extra food. I still have to call Hazel's parents."