The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 109

109 The Mother of His Child

Hazel’s POV

The past two weeks had been pure bliss. Every morning, I woke up in Liam’s arms, his warmth enveloping me like a cocoon. Every night, we fell asleep tangled together after making love. The bite mark on my shoulder had faded, but the memory of that passionate encounter in his office remained vivid in my mind.

“Ready to go home?” Liam’s deep voice broke through my thoughts as he appeared in my doorway.

I smiled up at him, gathering my things. “More than ready.”

He looked devastatingly handsome in his charcoal suit, his violet-blue eyes softening as they met mine. These small moments-leaving work together, knowing we were heading to the same place-filled me with contentment I never thought possible.

“I was thinking we could pick up some Thai food on the way,” he suggested, helping me into my coat. His fingers lingered on my shoulders, a casual intimacy that still gave me

butterflies.

“Sounds perfect,” I agreed.

We walked hand in hand to the elevator, shoulders touching. The doors closed, and Liam immediately pulled me into his arms, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“I missed you today,” he murmured.

I laughed softly. “We had lunch together three hours ago.”

“Three hours too long,” he replied with a smile that made my heart flutter.

The elevator doors opened to the underground parking garage. Liam kept his arm around my waist as we walked toward his car. Our footsteps echoed in the concrete

space.

“Well, isn’t this sweet.”

The cold, familiar voice cut through our bubble of happiness. My body tensed before I

even turned around.

Isabella Clairemont stepped out from behind a concrete pillar. Her blonde hair was perfectly styled, her red lips curved into a malicious smile. She wore an elegant cream-colored dress that hugged her slender figure.

“Isabella,” Liam’s voice turned to ice. “What are you doing here?”

She ignored him, her gaze fixed on me. “So this is what you replaced me with, Liam? Your secretary?” She spat the word like it was dirty.

I felt Liam’s arm tighten around me. “Leave now, Isabella. I have nothing to say to you.”

“Oh, I think you’ll want to hear what I have to say.” Her smile widened, predatory. “Especially since it concerns our future together.”

“There is no future between us,” Liam said firmly. “There never was.”

110

Isabella laughed, the sound echoing harshly against the concrete walls. “That’s where you’re wrong.” She turned her attention back to me. “Did he tell you about me? About

us?”

“There was no us,” Liam growled. “One night, Isabella. That’s all it was.”

“One very productive night, as it turns out.” Her hand moved to rest on her stomach. “I’m pregnant, Liam. With your child.”

The world around me seemed to stop. My ears filled with a distant ringing. Pregnant? Isabella was pregnant with Liam’s baby?

“You’re lying,” Liam’s voice sounded far away.

Isabella reached into her purse and pulled out a white plastic stick. “See for yourself. Two lines. I’m carrying your baby.”

I felt my legs weaken beneath me. The garage seemed to spin. Liam’s child. The thing he wanted most in the world. A family.

“How convenient,” Liam said coldly. “After weeks of silence, you suddenly appear

this claim.”

with

“Believe what you want,” Isabella shrugged, tucking the test back into her purse. “But you know what kind of man you are, Liam. You won’t abandon your child.” Her eyes slid to me, triumphant. “Your little secretary fling is over.”

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“Enough!” Liam shouted, his voice bouncing off the garage walls. “Leave now, Isabella,

before I have security remove you.”

“I’ll go,” she said sweetly. “But this isn’t going away. I’ll be waiting for your call.” She turned and walked away, her heels clicking loudly on the concrete.

The silence that followed was deafening. I couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. My vision began to darken around the edges.

“Hazel?” Liam’s voice sounded concerned. “Hazel, look at me.”

I tried to focus on his face, but everything was blurry. The last thing I remembered was

his arms catching me as my knees gave out.

I blinked slowly, disoriented. I was sitting on the leather sofa in Liam’s office. How had I gotten here?

“She’s coming around,” a female voice said.

My vision cleared to reveal Stella kneeling in front of me, her worried face searching mine. Owen stood nearby, a glass of water in his hand.

“What happened?” I asked, my voice sounding strange to my ears.

“You fainted,” Stella explained gently. “Owen and I were heading out when we saw Liam carrying you to the elevator.”

The memory crashed back into me. Isabella. Pregnant. Liam’s child.

“Where’s Liam?” I asked, looking around frantically.

“He went with Damian to handle the situation,” Owen said, handing me the water.

“He’ll be back soon.”

I took a shaky sip. “Isabella claims she’s pregnant.”

Stella’s eyes widened. “What? That can’t be right.”

“She had a test with her,” I whispered, feeling tears welling in my eyes.

“Those can be faked,” Owen said firmly. “Mr. Sterling didn’t believe her for a second.”

The office door burst open, and Liam strode in, his face a mask of worry. He rushed to

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109 The Mother of His Child

my side, kneeling where Stella had been.

“Hazel, thank god,” he breathed, taking my hands in his. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m okay,” I lied.

He turned to Stella and Owen. “Thank you both for staying with her.”

They nodded, understanding the dismissal. Stella squeezed my shoulder as she left, giving me a reassuring smile.

When the door closed behind them, Liam sat beside me on the sofa, still holding my

hands.

“Isabella is lying,” he said firmly. “I’m certain of it.”

I tried to steady my breathing. “What if she isn’t?”

His jaw tightened. “Then we’ll deal with it. But first, I need to know the truth.”

“Where is she now?” I asked quietly.

“Damian took her to Emmett’s lab for a blood test. We’ll know for certain by morning.” His thumb stroked the back of my hand. “Whatever the results, it doesn’t change anything between us.”

But it would. We both knew it would.

“If she is pregnant…” my voice broke.

“If she is pregnant and it’s mine-which is a massive if-then yes, I will take responsibility for the child,” he said steadily. “But I will never marry Isabella or be with her in any way.”

A tear slipped down my cheek. “A child needs both parents.”

“Co-parenting exists for a reason,” Liam said firmly. “Isabella knew exactly what she was doing when she confronted us together. She wanted to hurt you, to drive a wedge

between us.”

7

I wiped away the tear. “It’s working.”

“Only if we let it,” he insisted, cupping my face. “Hazel, look at me. I love you. Nothing changes that.”

But his words, meant to comfort, only highlighted the painful reality. Liam wanted children. He’d told me how much he dreamed of being a father. If Isabella was truly pregnant with his child, how could he not want to be there fully?

“I know how much having a family means to you,” I whispered.

His expression softened. “It does. But family is about love, not obligation. You are my family now, Hazel.”

I looked into his beautiful eyes, seeing his sincerity. But I also saw the complicated road ahead if Isabella’s claim proved true.

“We should go home,” he said gently. “You need rest.”

I nodded, letting him help me to my feet. As we walked back to the elevator, I couldn’t shake the feeling that our perfect bubble had been irreparably punctured.

In the car, Liam kept one hand on my knee, as if afraid I might disappear. “I promise you, Hazel, we will get through this.”

I tried to believe him. I wanted to. But as I looked at his profile-the strong jaw, those unique eyes—all I could think about was a baby with those same striking features.

Liam’s child. Not with me, but with Isabella.

“I know,” I said softly, turning to look out the window as city lights blurred through my

tears.

I felt Liam’s hand tighten on my knee. “I won’t let her take you away from me.”

But it wasn’t just about Isabella anymore. It was about a potential child—an innocent baby who deserved a father fully present in their life. How could I compete with that?

How could I ask Liam to choose?

I turned to look at him, my heart breaking at the determination in his eyes. He truly believed we could overcome this. But the sad reality was that if Isabella was carrying his child, our relationship would never be the same again.