The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 139

139 A Secret Test in a Tender Moment

I pulled back to look at his face. “How be sure?”

you

“The contract can wait,” he insisted. “Your health can’t.”

“Let me go,” I whispered, even as my body betrayed me by leaning into his warmth.

“I need to get back to work,” I insisted.

“Clearly you do,” he countered, draping his suit jacket over me. “Sleep. I’ll handle Liam if he asks where you are.”

Without warning, he lifted me and sat down in Damian’s executive chair, settling me on his lap. I was too weak to fight him.

Before I could respond, Damian appeared in the hallway. “There you are. Come on,

office.” you’re lying down in

my

“He mentioned something about a health crisis after Leo was born,” Liam pressed.

“You’re engaged,” I reminded him sharply. “What do you want from me, Liam?”

“Thanks,” I whispered, taking the bottle.

The door clicked shut, and silence fell. I could feel him watching me. After a moment, the leather couch dipped as he sat on the edge beside me.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were sick?” he asked.

“Leave us,” Liam commanded.

Damian snorted. “Yeah, and I’m the Queen of England.”

I swallowed hard. “It’s just stress,” I lied. “Work, Leo, everything.”

“It’s nothing,” I said, trying to sit up. “Just a bug.”

A wave of nausea hit me so suddenly that I couldn’t hide it. I bolted from my chair, barely making it to the bathroom in time. After emptying what little was in my stomach, I rested my forehead against the cool tile wall.

“She’s been off all week,” Damian replied. “Today’s the worst I’ve seen.”

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139 A Secret Test in a Tender Moment

My fingers trembled as I typed an email, each word blurring before my eyes. The morning sickness had taken on a new level of intensity today. Every scent in the office -coffee, perfume, even paper–made my stomach lurch violently.

We sat in tense silence for several minutes. His heartbeat was steady under my ear, his expensive cologne thankfully not triggering my nausea. Being this close to him was both torture and comfort.

“Sit down before you fall down,” he ordered.

He ran a hand through his hair. “I want you to tell me what’s wrong.”

I was too exhausted to argue as he led me to his spacious office and settled me on the leather couch.

I tensed. “That was a long time ago.”

I sighed and opened my eyes. Liam’s face was inches from mine, his violet–blue eyes intense with concern.

“The hell you do,” he growled. “You can barely stand:”

I froze. “What?”

“How long has she been like this?” That deep, familiar voice sent shivers through me.

I kept my eyes closed, hoping they’d think I was still asleep.

Hazel’s POV

“I’m fine,” I lied. “Just didn’t sleep well!”

His eyes narrowed. “Noah seemed particularly concerned about you.”

“It’s complicated,” he sighed. “I needed to play along until I had proof. I couldn’t risk her disappearing with potentially my child.”

“I don’t need a babysitter,” I protested weakly.

My blood ran cold. “You saw me at the hospital.”

A soft knock came at the door. “Hazel? It’s Stella. Can I come in?”

“Monday,” he said. “Then this charade ends.”

139 A Secret Test in a Tender Moment

“What happened?” he asked.

“Hazel, are you okay? You’re green.”

He studied my face for a long moment, then nodded. “Rest, then. Just stay here with me for a while.”

My mouth fell open. “But you’re engaged-”

I pressed my hand against my mouth and took slow, deliberate breaths.

I looked away, unable to meet his gaze. “It’s personal.”

“My sister had hyperemesis during her pregnancy,” Stella said casually. “Throwing up constantly, couldn’t keep anything down.”

She smiled gently. “Your secret’s safe with me. But

“When will you know for sure?” I asked.

you should rest.”

A wave of dizziness hit me, and I swayed. Liam caught me instantly, his strong arms steadying me.

“Acting the part of the doting fiancé while I set up a way to get her DNA without her knowing what I was really testing,” he confirmed.

“That’s why we were at the hospital,” he explained. “I’ve been gathering evidence for weeks. The baby isn’t mine, Hazel.”

“Not a chance,” he replied, his arms tightening around me.

I shook my head. “I can’t. The Wilson contract needs to be finalized today.”

“So you’ve been pretending?” I asked, my mind racing.

My heart stopped. Did she know?

“Whatever it is,” he murmured against my hair, “we’ll figure it out together.”

“Nothing that matters now,” I insisted, trying to get up again.

Great. Now everyone was noticing.

“Because we never slept together,” he stated flatly.

3/5

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139 A Secret Test in a Tender Moment

His arms held me firmly in place. “Everything about you matters to me.”

“Thanks for the compliment,” I muttered.

The tenderness in his voice nearly broke me. Here he was, worried about me, while 1 kept the most important secret possible from him.

He lowered his voice. “Seriously, Hazel. You should go home.”

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