The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 120

120 A Kiss and a Confession

“Who knows what?” I asked, placing my purse on the counter.

“Are you sure? Because-”

I took another sip of wine, giving myself a moment. “It was… nice. Different.

“Was it good?” Chloe asked.

“And he looked…” Stella paused, searching for the right word. “Devastated. But he said

it was for the best.”

“And how did you feel afterward?” Scarlett asked, her tone softening.

“Different how?” Scarlett pressed.

“Honey,” Thea said gently, “nobody expects you to flip a switch and stop loving him. Healing isn’t linear.”

The afternoon sun filtered through the office windows as I stepped off the elevator. My lips still tingled from Levi’s kiss, and I couldn’t help but touch them briefly before composing myself. The familiar hum of office activity surrounded me as I walked toward my desk, my mind replaying the lunch date.

“And?” Thea prompted.

“Levi knows the situation,” I told them. “He said he’s patient.”

For the first time since walking away from Liam’s penthouse, I didn’t cry myself to sleep. The ache in my chest was still there–I doubted it would disappear anytime soon -but alongside it was something new. A tiny ember of hope, fragile but persistent.

“What is this?” I asked, dropping my keys into the bowl by the door.

“That good, huh?” Stella grinned knowingly.

“When you still love Liam,” Chloe finished for me.

“She’s here!” Thea’s voice rang out.

Before I could answer, my phone chimed with a message. I glanced down to see Levi’s

name on my screen.

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She studied me for a moment, then nodded. “How was it? The date, I mean.”

1 stepped into my living room to find Chloe, Scarlett, and Thea sprawled across my furniture, wine glasses in hand and a pizza box open on the coffee table.

“Mr. Sterling. He knows about your lunch date with that architect.” Her eyes scanned my face. “Someone saw you, two at Havana and mentioned it to Damian, who of course

told him.”

“At Havana,” Thea countered. “Which he reserves for special occasions. And then there was a walk in the garden.”

*Can’t stop thinking about that kiss. Best lunch I’ve had in years. Still on for dinner tomorrow?*

I tucked my phone away. “I have work to do.”

Another round of excited squeals filled the room.

“He knows,” she whispered urgently.

“Fed, bathed, and sound asleep,” Scarlett reported. “We’ve been here an hour already.”

The room fell silent as they waited for my answer. Part of me wanted to keep this new, fragile thing private–just mine–but these were my best friends. The women who had held me through countless tears.

The rest of the workday passed without incident. I focused on quarterly reports and meeting preparations, grateful that Liam was out of the office at investor meetings. Each time thoughts of him threatened to surface, I reminded myself of how light I’d felt sitting across from Levi, laughing without the weight of heartbreak pressing down

on me.

A smile tugged at my lips as I read his message.

Maybe, just maybe, I could find my way back to happiness after all.

I nodded, blinking back sudden tears.

“It was,” Chloe affirmed, squeezing my hand. “Now tell us about this restaurant. Was it as amazing as social media makes it look?”

“Intervention? Celebration? Wine night?” Chloe shrugged, holding out a glass to me.

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“Take your pick.”

Chloe nudged my leg with her foot. “Come on, spill. How was it?”

I smiled, typing back a simple, *Me too. Goodnight, Levi.*

“That sounds like him,” Thea smiled. “Just… be honest with him. And with yourself”

“I know.” I picked at a loose thread on the couch. “But it feels strange. Starting something new when I still…”

“It was just lunch,” I insisted.

“I’m not discussing your brother’s kissing technique with you,” I told Thea, who pretended to gag.

“And I want details later,” she called after me as I walked back to my desk.

Heat crept into my cheeks as all three women stared at me expectantly.

“And?” Thea wiggled her eyebrows.

By the time they left, close to midnight, I felt wrapped in the warmth of friendship and possibility. I cleaned up the wine glasses and pizza box, checked on Leo one more time, and finally got ready for bed.

“I’m sure, Stella.” My voice came out firmer than intended. “Liam and I are over. We

both need to move on.”

By the time I pulled into my driveway that evening, exhaustion had settled into my bones. The porch light was on, and I could see movement behind the curtains. Opening the front door, I was greeted by the excited chatter of female voices.

As I slipped under the covers, my phone lit up with one final message from Levi: *Sweet dreams, beautiful. Looking forward to tomorrow.*

“And?” Chloe prodded.

“I’m trying,” I said. “Today felt like a step forward.”

“So,” Thea leaned forward as/I settled onto the couch, “are we going to pretend you didn’t just have lunch with my incredibly hot brother?”

“But you can’t keep your life on hold waiting for someone who won’t fight for you,”

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Scarlett added.

“And what?”

“And I said yes.”

“He asked me to dinner tomorrow night,” I admitted.

Stella’s eyes widened when she spotted me. She darted over, grabbing my arm and pulling me into the empty break room.

My stomach tightened. “And?”

“Levi is a good man,” Scarlett said. “Trust me, I wouldn’t let him anywhere near you if he wasn’t.”

Hazel’s POV

“Don’t play dumb,” Scarlett said, eyeing me over her glass. “Levi texted me right after. Said it was the ‘best lunch of his life.“”

“Because my brother can’t keep his mouth shut when he’s excited about something,” Thea grinned. “Or someone.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “How do you know that?”

“Easy,” I admitted. “No complications, no drama. Just good food and conversation.”

“That’s fair,” Thea laughed. “But based on your blush and the fact that you’re not denying it was good…”

“Did he kiss you?” Chloe asked bluntly.

I considered the question carefully. “Lighter. Like maybe moving on isn’t impossible

after all.”

I swallowed hard, ignoring the pang in my chest. “It is for the best.”

I kicked off my heels and accepted the wine. “Where’s Leo?”

Grateful for the slight subject change, I launched into a description of Havana’s lush decor and mouthwatering food. We spent the next hour talking and laughing, the conversation drifting to other topics–Thea’s latest photo shoot in Paris, Scarlett’s new client, Chloe’s plans to expand her boutique.

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“We had lunch,” I confirmed, taking a long sip of wine.

“Yes,” I finally said quietly. “He kissed me.”

Their reactions were immediate–Thea squealed, Scarlett clapped her hands, and Chloe raised her glass in a silent toast.

I peeked into Leo’s room. My son was indeed fast asleep, his dark curls splayed across his pillow, tiny fist clutching his favorite stuffed elephant. I pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead before returning to my friends.

“You deserve that feeling,” Chloe said firmly. “You deserve someone who makes things

easy.”

“And what?”

“It was nice,” I conceded, then sighed at their expectant faces. “Fine. It was more than nice. It was… gentle but confident. Sweet but definitely not innocent.”

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