The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 45

45 Proof of Innocence, Burden of Guilt

Liam’s POV

My head pounded mercilessly as I walked into the coffee shop. The combination of a hangover and soul-crushing guilt made each step feel like I was wading through

concrete.

Evelyn waved from a corner booth where Damian, Albert, and another man I didn’t recognize were already seated. I slid into the empty chair, avoiding eye contact with

everyone.

“You look terrible,” Damian said bluntly.

“Thanks.” I signaled to the barista for coffee. “Let’s get this over with.”

Albert cleared his throat and pushed a folder across the table. “Mr. Sterling, I’ve completed my audit of the financial documents.”

My coffee arrived, and I took a long sip before opening the folder. The analytical part of my brain tried to focus on the numbers while the rest of me screamed about Hazel.

“These documents were definitely forged,” Albert said. “The electronic signature doesn’t match Ms. Vance’s other signed documents in our system. The metadata shows they were created three weeks ago but backdated to appear older.”

I stared at the papers, the words blurring together. “So she didn’t do it.”

“No, sir. She’s completely innocent.”

The confirmation hit me like a punch to the gut. I’d destroyed her. Humiliated her. For

nothing.

“There’s more,” Damian said, nodding to the stranger beside him. “This is Carter Hayes, our cybersecurity consultant.”

The man nodded. “I recovered security footage from the day the documents were planted in Ms. Vance’s computer.”

He opened a laptop and turned it toward me. The footage showed Hazel’s empty office. Then a figure entered-Bianca, my secretary. She moved directly to Hazel’s computer and inserted a flash drive.

“The timestamp shows this happened during the Henderson meeting,” Carter explained. “When Ms. Vance was with you in the conference room taking notes.”

My hands curled into fists. “Bianca.”

“It appears so,” Evelyn said softly. “We checked her background more thoroughly. She worked for Maxwell Industries before coming to us.”

“Jason Maxwell’s company?” I asked, connecting the dots. “Our biggest competitor.”

Damian nodded. “The same company that’s been trying to acquire our European

contracts.”

I leaned back in my chair, processing everything. The betrayal from Bianca wasn’t what gutted me. It was what I’d done to Hazel.

“Where is she now?” I asked, my voice barely audible.

Evelyn and Damian exchanged glances.

“Hazel already found another job,” Damian said. “Adrian Cole hired her yesterday.”

“Adrian Cole? My competitor?” I ran a hand through my hair. “Fuck.”

“There’s something else,” Evelyn added hesitantly. “She refused her severance package.”

“What? Why?”

“Pride, I imagine,” Damian said. “You publicly accused her of betraying you. Called her a liar and a thief. Then fired her. The severance probably felt like an insult.”

Each word was like a knife twisting in my chest. I’d been so blind, so stupidly arrogant.

“What do we do now?” I asked.

“We keep Bianca close,” Damian advised. “She’s clearly not working alone. We need to know who else is involved in this conspiracy.”

Albert nodded in agreement. “If we fire her now, we’ll alert her accomplices. They might destroy evidence or accelerate whatever plan they’re working on.”

“So I have to pretend everything is normal?” The thought of facing Bianca without revealing what I knew made my stomach churn. “While Hazel thinks I’m a heartless

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45 Proof of Innocence, Burden of Guilt

monster who destroyed her reputation?”

“For now, yes,” Carter said. “Give us time to follow the digital trail. There’s more to this than just those documents.”

I stared into my coffee, seeing Hazel’s tear-streaked face in my mind. The hurt and betrayal in those green eyes as I coldly dismissed her.

“I need to talk to her,” I said, “Apologize.”

“Not yet,” Damian warned. “If Bianca sees you reconciling with Hazel, she’ll know we’re onto her. Give us a few days.”

Evelyn reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “Liam, I know you care about her. But right now, the best thing you can do for Hazel is to uncover who set her up and why.”

I pulled my hand away, standing abruptly. “I’ll play along at the office. But I’m not giving up on her.”

“No one’s asking you to,” Damian said. “Just be smart about it.”

Smart. That’s what I thought I was being when I accused Hazel. Following the evidence. Being the shrewd businessman everyone expected me to be.

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