The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 117

117 A Painful Bargain and a Desperate Plea

117 A Painful Bargain and a Desperate Plea

“Hazel-“1

When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathing hard, tears streaming down my

face.

“Neither do I.” I stood up, needing distance between us. “But I know I can’t be the other woman. I can’t share you, especially not like this.”

His hands fell to his sides, his magnificent eyes swimming with pain. I slipped into my car, forcing myself not to look back as I drove away, leaving my heart behind in that dark parking garage with the only man I’d ever truly loved.

“No.” I wiped away tears. “I respect myself too much. I love you too much to watch this destroy us both.”

We ate in silence. The sandwich tasted like cardboard in my mouth, but I forced it down, knowing he was right about needing food. The quiet between us was loaded with all the words we couldn’t say, all the dreams we couldn’t share.

My racing heart slowed. “Thank you.”

An uncomfortable silence stretched between us. The events of the past few days came flooding back–the funeral flowers, the card, my breakdown. And Liam’s impending marriage to Isabella.

I remembered the calming tea Margaret had offered when she found me crying at my desk. “It wasn’t your fault.”

His face crumpled. “I don’t know. I don’t have all the answers yet.”

The silence that followed was deafening. We stared at each other, two people desperately in love, trapped by circumstances beyond our control.

“I had no choice, Hazel.” His voice broke. “They wouldn’t stop targeting you. The flowers, the card–that was just the beginning.”

“Then stay.” He moved to kneel in front of me, taking my hands despite my resistance. “Stay with me. Be with me. I don’t care what the world thinks.”

“Please.” The single word held such desperation it made me flinch. “Please don’t leave.

117 A Painful Bargain and a Desperate Plea

I need you there.”

“I’ll drive you home,” he finally said, his voice empty.

“And?” I whispered, already knowing the answer.

Hazel’s POV

“There’s a bathroom through that door.” He gestured to his right. “I had Stella bring some of your things. You might want to freshen up.”

“Just past eleven.” He leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “You’ve been asleep since

morning.”

“I tried to pay them off.”

“What time is it?” My voice came out scratchy.

“It was.” His eyes held such raw pain it made my chest ache. “I had you moved here so

you could rest properly. Damian’s been working from the conference room.”

“I’ll find a way out of this.” His eyes were pleading. “I’ll break the deal.”

“You need to eat something,” he said, not meeting my eyes.

“The Clairemonts.” His voice was hollow. “I offered them money. A lot of money. Everything I have.”

I couldn’t breathe. “Why would you do that?”

My stomach dropped. “Liam—”

“To watch you marry another woman? To know you’ll be having a child with her?” The tears spilled over. “I’m not that strong, Liam.”

“To make them leave you alone.” His eyes found mine, filled with a desperate intensity. “To free us both from this nightmare.”

Tears welled in my eyes. “So you’re sacrificing yourself.”

The walk to the parking garage was the longest of my life. Each step felt like moving through quicksand, pulling me further from the man I loved. Neither of us spoke. What was there to say? Our perfect love story had crashed into the jagged rocks of reality.

Then his lips crashed onto mine–desperate, hungry, filled with longing and sorrow. I

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117 A Painful Bargain and a Desperate Plea

melted into him, knowing this might be our last kiss, wanting to memorize every

sensation. His hands tangled in my hair, mine clutched his shoulders. We poured every ounce of our broken hearts into that kiss, a final, aching testimony to what could have

been.

At my car, I turned to say goodbye, but the words died in my throat. Liam looked destroyed–as broken and hollow as I felt. Without warning, he pulled me against his chest, his arms wrapping around me like he’d never let go.

When I returned, Liam had set out a simple meal on Damian’s coffee table- sandwiches, fruit, and bottled water.

My heart cracked a little more. “So you agreed.”

His hands framed my face, thumbs wiping away tears. “I love you. Only you. Always

you.”

I pulled away reluctantly, my heart shattering. “Goodbye, Liam.”

I nodded gratefully and made my way to the bathroom on unsteady legs. The woman staring back at me in the mirror looked haunted–pale skin, tangled hair, puffy eyes. splashed cold water on my face, brushed my teeth with the travel toothbrush Stella had provided, and pulled my hair into a neat ponytail.

“You already have.” The words tore from my soul.

“I can’t lose you,” he whispered against my hair, his voice ragged.

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