The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 39

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39 Accused and Abandoned

39 Accused and Abandoned

Hazel’s POV

The office hummed with normal activity as I sorted through the afternoon’s paperwork. After Liam rushed out for his emergency meeting, I’d thrown myself back into work, trying not to worry about what had made him leave so abruptly.

My phone buzzed with a text from Chloe: “Drinks tonight?”

I smiled, typing back: “Can’t. Going to Liam’s.”

Three dots appeared immediately. “OMG GET IT GIRL!”

I laughed, shaking my head at her enthusiasm. Just as I set my phone down, the elevator doors dinged open. Liam stormed through, his face a thundercloud. My smile

faltered.

Something was terribly wrong.

Damian followed close behind, his usually playful expression deadly serious. People scattered from their path like mice fleeing a hawk.

“Hazel,” Liam barked, not slowing his stride. “My office. Now.”

My stomach dropped. I glanced at Evelyn, who looked equally confused.

Following them into Liam’s office, I closed the door behind me. “What’s going on?”

“Sit down,” Liam ordered, his voice cutting like ice.

I remained standing. “Liam, what’s happened?”

He slammed his fist on the desk, making me jump. “I said sit down!”

Stunned by his fury, I sank into a chair. Liam towered over me, violet-blue eyes blazing with rage.

“How long have you been working for them?” he demanded.

“Working for who?” My voice came out small.

“Don’t play innocent!” He tossed a folder onto the desk between us. “Was it just about

39 Accused and Abandoned

the money? Or did fucking me give you a thrill too?”

The blood drained from my face. “What are you talking about?”

Damian stepped forward. “We have proof, Hazel. Don’t make this worse by lying.”

“Proof of what?” My heart hammered against my ribs. “I haven’t done anything!”

“You’ve been feeding information to Blackwood Industries for weeks,” Liam snarled. “The Seattle project, internal pricing structures, our acquisition plans.”

“That’s impossible!” I stood up, shaking. “I would never-”

“Stop lying!” Liam roared. “The emails came from your computer! Your login! Were you planning this from the start? Get close to the boss, steal our data?”

“No!” Tears stung my eyes. “Liam, please, I’d never betray you.”

“Save it.” His voice dropped to a deadly calm that frightened me more than his yelling. “You’re fired. Security will escort you out.”

The world tilted beneath my feet. “Liam, please listen—”

“You have ten minutes to clear out your desk.” He turned away, dismissing me. “Damian, get HR to prepare the termination paperwork. I want her gone.”

“What about legal action?” Damian asked.

“I’ll destroy her professionally. No company will touch her after I’m done.”

Each word felt like a physical blow. How could he believe this? After everything?

“Look at me,” I demanded, voice breaking. “Look me in the eyes and tell me you truly

believe I would do this to you.”

Liam’s gaze cut to mine, cold and hard as stone. “I believe I was a fool to trust you.”

The door opened, and Evelyn slipped in. “What on earth is happening? I could hear shouting-”

“Ms. Vance has been caught selling company secrets,” Liam stated flatly. “She’s being terminated immediately.”

Evelyn’s hand flew to her mouth. “That can’t be right.”

12.00

2/6

“Take her to your office,” Liam told Damian. “Show her the evidence. Then get her out of my building.”

Damian’s strong grip closed around my arm. “Let’s go.”

I yanked away from him. “Don’t touch me.” Tears spilled down my cheeks as I turned to Liam one last time. “I didn’t do this. Someone is setting me up.””

He didn’t even look at me. “Get out.”

Damian led me to his office, Evelyn trailing behind. Once inside, he closed the door and pulled up his computer screen.

“These emails were sent from your account late last night,” he said, turning the monitor toward me.

I stared at the screen in disbelief. There were two emails from my address to , containing confidential Sterling Group data. A third email, sent to Liam’s personal account, contained intimate photos of us together with

a message:

“Thanks for the info AND the fun, Liam. Too bad your pillow talk is so valuable to your competitors.”

“I didn’t write these,” I whispered, horrified. “I was home with Leo all night after you dropped us off.”

“Your login shows you accessed the system at 11:47 PM,” Damian said flatly.

“That’s impossible! I don’t have remote access to the Sterling servers!”

“You do since last week,” he countered. “For the Tokyo presentation prep.”

My mind raced. “My laptop was in my bag all night. I never touched it.”

“Hazel,” Evelyn said gently, “could anyone else have accessed your computer?”

“No! I live alone with my son.”

Damian’s expression remained skeptical. “The evidence is pretty damning.”

“I’m being framed!” I cried. “Someone hacked my account or-”

“For what purpose?” Damian interrupted.

12:06)

3/6

39 Accused and Abandoned

“I don’t know! To get rid of me? To hurt Liam?” I clutched my head, trying to think. “Bianca has always disliked me. Or maybe Rebecca from Accounting-”

“Now you’re just grasping at straws,” Damian sighed.

Evelyn placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “I believe you, Hazel.”

I looked at her through tear-filled eyes. “You do?”

“I know your character,” she said firmly. “This isn’t you.”

“Thank you,” I whispered.

4

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T

Damian frowned. “Evelyn, the evidence-”

“Evidence can be manipulated,” she cut him off. “And if you weren’t so busy being Liam’s attack dog, you might ask yourself why Hazel would throw away everything for a few thousand dollars when she’s clearly in love with him.”

Damian looked uncomfortable. “My job is to protect Sterling Group.”

A cold wave of clarity washed over me. My grief hardened into icy resolve.

“And what about protecting the innocent?” I asked, voice steadier now. “Or doesn’t that matter when Liam Sterling points his finger?”

“Hazel-”

“No.” I stood straight, wiping away my tears. “You don’t get to speak anymore. Neither of you trusted me. After everything, Liam didn’t even give me a chance to defend myself.”

I unpinned my badge and placed it on Damian’s desk. “I quit. I won’t be fired for something I didn’t do.”

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