The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 47

47 An Apology Too Late

47 An Apology Too Late

Hazel’s POV @

My heart pounded when the receptionist called. “Ms. Vance? Mr. Cole would like to see you in his office right away. He says it’s important.”

Important? I’d only been at Cole Industries for two days. Had I already messed up? The anxiety that had become my constant companion since leaving Sterling Group

tightened around my chest.

“I’ll be right there,” I managed to say, smoothing my navy pencil skirt.

The elevator ride to the top floor felt endless. I used the mirrored walls to check my appearance – hair pinned back neatly, minimal makeup hiding the shadows under my eyes. I looked composed on the outside. No one would guess I was barely holding it together.

The doors opened, and I stepped into the executive wing. Mr. Cole’s assistant nodded toward his office door. “Go right in, Ms. Vance. They’re expecting you.”

They? My stomach dropped. Was I about to be fired again?

I knocked softly and pushed the door open. The scene inside made my blood freeze in my veins.

Adrian Cole stood behind his desk. Chloe was perched on the edge of a leather chair, her expression tense. And there, looking more haggard than I’d ever seen him, was Liam Sterling.

My Liam. No, not mine. Never mine.

“What is this?” I whispered, one hand still on the doorknob, ready to flee.

“Hazel,” Mr. Cole stepped forward. “Please come in. I promise your job isn’t in jeopardy.”

I couldn’t tear my eyes away from Liam. He looked terrible – deep circles under those violet-blue eyes, his usually immaculate suit rumpled, his hair disheveled as if he’d been running his hands through it repeatedly.

“Why is he here?” I asked, my voice stronger than I felt.

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“He has something important to tell you,” Mr. Cole said gently. “I think you should hear

him out.”

I looked at Chloe, betrayal flashing through me.

“I told him to leave,” she said quickly. “But he wouldn’t. He says he has proof about what happened at Sterling Group.”

Proof? My heart thumped painfully.

“We’ll give you privacy,” Mr. Cole said, nodding to Chloe. “We’ll be right outside if you

need us.”

“No,” I said sharply. “Chloe stays.”

Mr. Cole nodded and left, closing the door behind him. The click seemed to echo in

the silence.

Liam took a step toward me. I instinctively backed away.

“Hazel,” he began, his voice hoarse. “I was wrong. So terribly wrong.”

I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to shield my heart from his words. “About what?”

“About everything. The documents were forged. You were set up.” He ran a hand through his hair. “It was Bianca. She was working for Maxwell Industries.”

The words didn’t make sense at first. “Bianca? Your secretary?”

He nodded, his expression pained. “She had access to my personal files, to your workspace. She planted evidence making it look like you were stealing information.”

“And you believed her over me,” I said flatly.

“I didn’t know-”

“No, Liam. You didn’t want to know.” Anger flared, melting the shock. “You didn’t even give me a chance to defend myself.”

“You’re right.” His voice cracked. “I should have trusted you. I should have listened.”

Chloe sat silently, watching our exchange like a hawk.

“How did you find out?” I asked.

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47 An Apology Too Late

“Carter discovered unauthorized access to the security system. We found footage of Bianca planting documents in your desk drawer.” He stepped closer, desperation in his eyes. “Hazel, I’m so sorry. I’ve never been more ashamed of anything in my life.”

I remembered the cold fury in his eyes that day, the cruel words he’d hurled at me. The humiliation of being escorted out by security.

“You called me a snake,” I said softly. “A liar.”

His face contorted with pain. “I know. There’s no excuse-

“You said you should have known better than to trust someone like me.” My voice trembled. “What did you mean by that, Liam? Someone like what?”

He flinched. “I didn’t mean-”

“Someone poor? Someone not from your world?” Tears stung my eyes. “Or just someone stupid enough to fall in love with you?”

Liam’s breath caught audibly. “Hazel, no. I was angry and scared. I lashed out because I felt betrayed.”

“And I didn’t? You were everything to me.” I wiped away a tear. “I gave you my heart, my body. I trusted you completely.”

“I know.” He moved toward me again, stopping when I shook my head. “I’ll do anything to make it right.”

“You can’t,” I said simply.

The silence stretched between us, heavy with what had been lost.

“I fired her,” he finally said. “Bianca. She’ll face charges for industrial espionage.”

“Good for you.”

“I want you to come back.” His words tumbled out desperately. “Your job is waiting. Everything can go back-”

“Back?” I laughed bitterly. “There is no going back, Liam.”

“Then forward,” he pleaded. “We can move forward together.”

I shook my head. “You don’t understand what you did to me. It wasn’t just the job. It

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47 An Apology Too Late

was the way you looked at me-like I was nothing. Like everything between us had

been a lie.”

“It wasn’t a lie.” His voice broke. “What I feel for you is the most real thing in my

“And what is that exactly?” I asked. “What do you feel for me, Liam?”

life.”

He stepped closer, close enough that I could smell his familiar cologne. “I love you, Hazel. I’ve been falling in love with you since the first day you challenged me in my

office.”

The words I had once longed to hear now landed like stones in my stomach.

“If you loved me, you would have trusted me,” I whispered. “You would have given me the benefit of the doubt.”

“I know.” A tear slid down his cheek. “I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”

I looked at him-really looked at him. The powerful, arrogant CEO was gone. In his place stood a broken man. Part of me wanted to comfort him, to ease the pain etched on his face.

But a stronger part remembered how it felt to have my world shattered by his

accusations.

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