The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 141

141 An Unexpected Confession, An Unexpected Offer

141 An Unexpected Confession, An Unexpected Offer

I stood up, gathering my purse. “Please, Owen. Don’t tell him. Give me time to figure this out.”

neededS

brown eyes

wann with concern.

“You haven’t touched your tea,” Levi noted, “What’s wrong, Hazel? You said you to talk.”

I blinked in confusion. “What?”

Hazel’s POV

“Let me buy you lunch,” he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

“And what good would that do?” I hissed, suddenly angry. “Destroy his business? Complicate his life? I won’t be the woman who ruins everything for him.”

The silence stretched between us. I waited for shock, for anger, for questions about the father. Instead, Levi’s face broke into a smile.

“When,” Owen insisted. “Secrets like this always come out, Hazel.”

“You’re right, I don’t.” His voice softened. “But I know Liam. And this will destroy him

when he finds out.”

“A baby.” His smile widened. “Hazel, that’s amazing news.”

Tears filled my eyes. I was too tired to keep pretending.

“You don’t understand,” I whispered. “It’s… it’s not yours.”

I broke down then, sobbing in his arms. Relief, gratitude, and confusion warred within

1. me.

I shook my head. “No. And he can’t be.”

I managed to work through the morning, but by lunchtime, exhaustion weighed on me like a lead blanket. I needed fresh air. Grabbing my purse, I headed for the elevator, only to find Owen stepping in beside me.

I stared at him, dumbfounded by his calm reaction.

“He doesn’t know about the baby yet, but he’s a good man. He would make a good

father.”

141 An Unexpected Confession, An Unexpected Offer

Back at the office, I worked mechanically, my mind elsewhere. By six, everyone had left except for me. I stared at my phone, at Levi’s message asking to meet tonight. I had to tell him. I had to tell someone.

His smile was radiant as he pulled me close again, his hands gentle on my still–flat stomach. “We’re going to be great together, all three of us. I promise.”

When we broke apart, he searched my face. “Is that a yes?”

As his lips found mine again, I pushed away the image of violet–blue eyes that tried to invade my thoughts. I was making the right choice. The safe choice. Wasn’t I?

“Don’t mention it. Take it easy today, okay? I’ll handle the Henderson account.”

Owen’s jaw tightened. “So you’re going to lie to everyone? To Liam, to Levi, to your

child?”

“Why would you do that?” I asked, genuinely bewildered.

His smile faltered only briefly. “I know.”

“You know?” Now I was completely lost.

“Thank you,” I said, blinking rapidly to hold back tears.

I wiped my tears roughly. “I’m handling it my way. I have a… friend. He cares about me.”

“Does he know?”

“That’s wonderful,” he said, reaching for

I took a deep breath. “I’m pregnant.”

my

hands.

I nodded slowly. “I want to let things flow between us, Levi. I want to see where this goes.”

“Cut the bullshit, Hazel.” Owen’s voice was gentle despite his harsh words. “The constant bathroom trips, the sensitivity to smells, the fatigue… I have four sisters, two of whom have kids. I know pregnancy symptoms when I see them.”

His words stung because they held truth. “I’m doing what I think is best.”

My heart dropped to my stomach. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

141 An Unexpected Confession, An Unexpected Offer

“But here’s the thing, Hazel.” He moved to sit beside me, taking my hands in his. “I care about you. A lot. I was going to wait to tell you, but… I think I’m falling in love with you.”

Levi didn’t press for details. Instead, he lifted my chin and looked into my eyes. “Then let me be there. Let’s do this together.”

Two hours later, sitting in Levi’s apartment, I felt like I might throw up again – and this time, it wasn’t the pregnancy.

The sincerity in his gaze undid me. Here was a good man offering me safety, stability,

–

and love everything I needed right now. Everything my baby needed.

“Levi,” Owen guessed correctly, his expression darkening.

Tears sprang to my eyes again. “Levi-”

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, embarrassed. “It’s just really strong today.”

He sighed heavily. “I won’t say anything yet. But you need to tell him, and soon. Before that wedding happens.”

His kindness nearly made me cry. Damn hormones.

Without hesitation, Damian grabbed tissues and wiped the cologne off his neck. “No problem. I’ll switch to something lighter until you’re feeling better.”

“That’s not your decision to make. That baby is his too.”

“You have no right to judge me,” I snapped. “You don’t know what it’s like.”

When I returned to my desk, pale and shaky, Damian was standing there with a

concerned look on his handsome face.

“Good for nausea,” he explained simply.

“Thanks for the compliment,” I mumbled, slumping into my chair.

Without overthinking, I climbed onto his lap and kissed him deeply. His arms wrapped around me, strong and secure.

“We haven’t been together that way yet,” he said gently. “And you’re already showing symptoms. I figured it was from before we started dating”

“Am I?” He leaned forward. “You’ve been avoiding Liam for weeks. Every time he enters

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141 An Unexpected Confession, An Unexpected Offer

a room, you find a reason to leave. You’re hiding something, and I think we both know

what it is.”

He leaned closer, and I instantly recoiled from the scent. “Is it my cologne? You look like you’re about to be sick again.”

“Is the biological father in the picture?” he asked carefully.

“You okay, Hazel? You look terrible.” His directness was typical Damian.

The dam broke. Tears streamed down my face as I nodded, unable to speak.

“It’s his, isn’t it?” Owen asked quietly.

As Damian walked away, I caught Owen watching from across the office with narrowed eyes. Great. Just what I needed – more scrutiny from Liam’s best friend.

“Because when you meet someone special, you don’t walk away just because things get complicated.” He brushed a tear from my cheek. “I want you, Hazel. And I want this baby too.”

Owen cursed under his breath. “He has a right to know, Hazel.”

“Let me finish,” he said softly. “I know this baby isn’t biologically mine. But I want to be there for both of you. I want to be this child’s father in every way that matters.”

The smell of Damian’s cologne hit me like a freight train as I walked into the office. My stomach lurched violently, and I barely made it to the bathroom before my breakfast made a reappearance. Pregnancy nausea was proving to be my constant, unwelcome companion.

Twenty minutes later, we sat at a quiet café far enough from the office to avoid being overheard. Owen ordered me ginger tea without asking, and I raised an eyebrow.

I shook my head vigorously. “No. And he can’t, Owen. He’s engaged. The merger depends on his marriage to Isabella.”

“If,” I corrected.

“No, you’re doing what’s easiest,” Owen countered. “Running away instead of facing the truth.”

I stared down at my tea, pánic rising. “You’re mistaken.”