The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 57

57 A Saturday Plan and a Mother’s Heart

57 A Saturday Plan and a Mother’s Heart

## Hazel’s POV 1

“Mommy, will Mr. Liam come today?” Leo looked up at me, his big violet-blue eyes full

of hope.

My heart squeezed painfully. “No, sweetheart. Today we’re meeting Ms. Evelyn for lunch, remember? Ms. Chloe and Mr. Noah are coming too.”

“Oh.” His little shoulders slumped. “But can Mr. Liam come next time? He promised to show me how to build a bigger tower.”

I knelt down, straightening his tiny jacket. “We’ll see, baby. Now, are you excited to see Ms. Evelyn?”

Leo nodded, but his disappointed expression remained. Before I could say anything else, the doorbell rang.

“They’re here!” Leo’s mood instantly brightened as he ran to the door.

I followed him, plastering on a smile while trying to ignore the ache in my chest. Leo’s attachment to Liam was growing stronger every day. How could I keep them apart when my son looked at him with such adoration?

Chloe burst in, scooping Leo into her arms. “There’s my favorite little man!”

Noah followed, carrying a colorful gift bag. “Hey, buddy! I brought you something.”

Leo wiggled out of Chloe’s embrace and rushed to Noah. “A present? For me?”

“Leo, what do we say first?” I reminded him gently.

“Thank you, Mr. Noah!” He grabbed the bag excitedly.

“You’re spoiling him,” I whispered to Chloe as we watched Leo tear into the gift.

She shrugged. “That’s what godmothers are for.”

Leo’s squeal of delight echoed through the apartment as he pulled out a toy construction set. “Look, Mommy! Now I can build towers like Mr. Liam showed me!”

My smile faltered. Chloe squeezed my arm sympathetically.

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“Are we ready?” Noah asked, oblivious to the tension. “Evelyn texted that she’s already at the restaurant.”

“Let’s go,” I nodded, helping Leo put his new toy away for later.

The restaurant Evelyn had chosen was elegant but child-friendly. She waved to us from a corner table as we entered.

“There’s my favorite people!” Evelyn stood, looking radiant in a pale blue dress. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Leo. “And there’s the handsomest young man in town!”

Leo ran to her, hugging her legs. “Ms. Evelyn! I missed you!”

She bent down to hug him properly. “I missed you too, sweetheart.”

Once we were all seated and had ordered, Leo looked around the table curiously.

“Is Mr. Liam coming too?” he asked Evelyn directly.

I froze, my water glass halfway to my lips. Chloe shot me a concerned look.

Evelyn smiled gently at Leo. “Not today, dear. But I bet he misses you very much.”

“Can you tell him to come play with me again?” Leo asked earnestly. “He makes the best towers and does funny voices for my dinosaurs.”

My throat tightened. Hearing Leo talk about his time with Liam made everything more complicated.

“I’ll tell him,” Evelyn promised, then glanced at me with a knowing look.

The rest of lunch passed pleasantly, with Evelyn sharing stories about her upcoming move to London. When Leo and Noah went to look at the fish tank near the entrance, Evelyn turned to me.

“He’ll be good for Leo,” she said quietly.

I didn’t pretend to misunderstand. “It’s not that simple, Evelyn.”

“It never is,” she agreed. “But I’ve known Liam most of his life. His mistakes come from his heart being too big, not too small.”

“He lied to me,” I whispered fiercely.

“And you lied to him,” she countered gently. “About something far more precious.”

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57 A Saturday Pla

The truth of her words stung. I looked away,

“Hazel, Evelyn touched my hand. “Pride never made anyone happy, Take it from someone who’s lived long enough to know.”

Before I could respond, Leo returned, chattering excitedly about the fish he’d seen.

After lunch, we headed to the mall where there was an indoor playground. Noah volunteered to watch Leo play while Chloe and I walked around the shops.

“You okay?” Chloe asked as we strolled. “You’ve been quiet since lunch.”

“Just thinking about what Evelyn said,” I admitted.

“About Liam?”

I nodded. “And Leo. He keeps asking for him.”

“Kids are resilient,” Chloe offered. “But they also know what they need.”

“And what if what he needs is exactly what I’m trying to avoid?” I sighed.

Chloe looped her arm through mine. “Maybe what you’re avoiding isn’t what you think

it is.”

Before I could respond, a familiar voice called out.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite shoppers!”

We turned to see Adrian standing outside the boutique where we’d met him before, Stella at his side.

“Shopping again?” I asked with a small smile.

“Just showing Stella the finer points of client management,” Adrian winked. “Where’s the little man today?”

“At the playground with Noah,” Chloe answered.

Adrian’s eyes lit up. “Leo, right? Liam won’t shut up about him either. Says the kid’s going to be an architect someday.”

My heart skipped a beat. Liam talked about Leo?

Stella smiled warmly. “Adrian mentioned you have a son. I adore children.”

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