The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 153

153 You’re My Daddy!

153 You’re My Daddy!

“They’re here,” I said softly, squeezing his hand.

There was a beat of silence as Leo processed this information. His eyes grew wide as

he stared at Liam.

“Hey, buddy,” he managed, his voice cracking. “I missed you.”

Throughout the meal, Liam couldn’t take his eyes off Leo. He hung on every word our son said, laughed at his silly jokes, and kept finding reasons to touch him – straightening his shirt, wiping sauce from his cheek, ruffling his hair. Leo, for his part, seemed equally entranced with Liam, constantly turning to him with questions or

observations.

“Night, Mommy,” Leo murmured. “Night, Daddy.“,

Leo looked between us curiously.

“Hey!” I protested, tickling his sides until he squealed with laughter.

“Daddy! Let’s have pancakes! Can you make pancakes?”

What happened next took my breath away. Leo’s face split into the biggest, most beautiful smile I’d ever seen. He launched himself off the couch and straight into

Liam’s arms.

“You’re my daddy!” he shouted, his voice ringing with pure happiness. “You’re my daddy! I have a daddy!”

I squeezed his hand, happiness bubbling up inside me, “We’re going to be alright, aren’t

we?”

Before anyone could react, Leo was racing across the room. Liam instinctively dropped to one knee, opening his arms just in time for Leo to crash into him. My son threw his small arms around Liam’s neck, hugging him tight.

Liam nodded, his face a mixture of excitement and terror. “I’m ready.”

And then Leo burst into the room, his little sneakers slapping against the hardwood floor. His eyes scanned the room until they landed on Liam.

“Forever and ever?” Leo asked seriously.

“Mr. Liam!” he shouted with pure joy.

“Well,” he said, clearing his throat. “I think this calls for a celebration. How about ice

cream?”

I looked at Liam, who was watching me hopefully. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.

“You do have special eyes,” he told Leo. “And now I get to be with you every day.”

Liam nodded, unable to speak. Tears streamed freely down his face.

Hazel’s POV

After breakfast, Liam pulled me aside while Chloe entertained Leo with a cartoon.

The doorbell chimed, and my heart skipped a beat. I glanced at Liam, who suddenly

looked nervous.

“Why don’t we all have a pajama party?” Damian suggested suddenly. “It’s Saturday tomorrow. No need for anyone to rush home.”

I reached across Leo to touch Liam’s face. “Thank you for coming back to us.”

In the morning, Leo was up at dawn, bouncing on the bed with endless energy.

“That’s right,” I said, my heart racing. I glanced at Liam, who sat across from us, his hands clasped tightly together. “Well, sweetie, I have something very special to tell

you.”

Liam’s arms wrapped around our son, and I watched as his eyes filled with tears. He buried his face in Leo’s dark hair, inhaling deeply.

By the time we got Leo bathed and into his pajamas, he was barely able to keep his eyes open. He insisted that both Liam and I read him a bedtime story, snuggling between us on Liam’s massive bed.

“You know,” he said quietly, “I’ve spent three years trying to fill a hole in my heart. All this time, the missing pieces were you two.”

In the rearview mirror, Leo caught my eye and gave me a sleepy smile, clutching the stuffed dinosaur Liam had just given him. As we pulled up to our apartment building, I couldn’t help feeling that after years of struggle and secrets, I had finally found my way

home.

“Forever and ever,” Liam promised. “I’m never going anywhere.

“Pajama party!” Leo clapped his hands excitedly. “Can we, Mommy? Please?

The others must have been listening at the door because they reappeared, all of them wiping away tears. Even Damian was sniffling, though he tried to hide it behind a fake cough.

Leo nodded seriously. “Some kids have daddies and some don’t. I didn’t have one because he lived far away.”

My heart swelled. “Our place,” I corrected him. “And yes, that’s more than okay?

Liam caught him, pulling him close and rocking him gently. His shoulders shook with silent sobs as he held our son.

Leo seemed satisfied with this answer. He turned to look at me, his violet–blue eyes – so like his father’s – shining brightly. “Mommy! I’m hungry!”

“Sweet dreams, little man,” Liam whispered, kissing his forehead as Leo’s eyes fluttered closed.

Liam lifted my hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to my knuckles. “We’re going to be perfect,” he promised. “The three of us, together. This is just the beginning.”

“You’re here! Mommy said you would be!”

“Yes,” Liam finally choked out. “I’m your daddy, Leo. And I love you so, so much.”

“I need to grab some things from my apartment,” he said, his eyes serious. “And then… I’d like to come home with you. To your place. If that’s okay.”

“Did you bring a present?” Leo asked, pulling back to look at Liam’s face.

An hour later, with a suitcase packed and goodbye hugs exchanged with our friends, we piled into Liam’s car. Leo chattered excitedly from his car seat about showing Daddy his room and all his toys at home.

After lunch, Chloe winked at me and announced she was taking Clara and Damian to see the garden. The three adults filed out, leaving our little family alone.

“When aren’t you hungry?” I laughed, ruffling his hair. “Good thing we have lunch

ready.”

Chloe hurried to the door while Damian clapped Liam on the shoulder. “Breathe, man.”

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