The CEO’s Masked Secret Wife novel Chapter 96

96 Vicious Accusations and a Calm Retort

Hazel’s POV

“I think Liam is quite taken with you both,” my mother said as she helped me wash the dinner dishes. Liam had left twenty minutes ago, promising to return in the morning.

“He’s persistent, that’s for sure,” I admitted, drying a plate with more focus than

necessary.

Dad entered the kitchen carrying Leo, who was fast asleep against his shoulder. “This little guy crashed hard. Must be all that excitement with Liam and Noah.”

I set down my dish towel and reached for my son. “I’ll put him to bed.”

“I’ve got him,” Dad insisted. “You finish up with your mother.”

Once Dad disappeared upstairs, Mom handed me a glass of wine. “So, what are you going to do?”

“About what?” I played dumb.

“About the handsome man who drove three hours just to return a stuffed cat.” She leaned against the counter, eyeing me. “The same man who wants to adopt Leo and clearly adores you both.”

I sighed, taking a long sip. “It’s complicated, Mom.”

“Love usually is,” she replied. “But sometimes we overthink things. Liam seems like a good man.”

“He is,” I admitted. “Better than I expected when I first met him.”

“Then what’s holding you back?” She touched my arm gently. “Is it because of Ethan?” The mention of my ex made me wince. “No. Ethan means nothing to me now.”

“Good.” Dad rejoined us, grabbing a beer from the fridge. “Because that boy turned out to be a real disappointment.”

I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Mom and Dad exchanged glances.

96 Vicious Accusations and a Calm Retort

“We didn’t want to tell you because it seemed petty,” Mom began, “but Jessica has been calling your aunt Zilda in tears for months now.”

“What happened?”

Dad’s expression darkened. “Ethan’s been drinking heavily. Lost his job at the accounting firm.”

“And he cheats,” Mom added quietly. “Jessica caught him three times already.”

I felt a strange emptiness where I once thought pain would live. “That’s… unfortunate.”

“Jessica is six months pregnant and miserable,” Dad continued. “He verbally abuses her,

calls her worthless.”

I set my wine glass down. “Why doesn’t she leave him?”

“Same reason you stayed with him for four years,” Mom said gently. “She believes she can fix him.”

The irony wasn’t lost on me. My cousin had stolen my boyfriend, only to end up trapped in a nightmare.

“I don’t feel vindicated, if that’s what you’re worried about,” I said honestly. “I just feel grateful I escaped.”

Dad squeezed my shoulder. “You did more than escape, Hazel. You built a beautiful life for yourself and Leo. You should be proud.”

“And now you have Liam,” Mom added with a smile. “A man who looks at you like you hung the moon and stars.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “He does, doesn’t he?”

Dad chuckled. “That man is head over heels. And he’s good with Leo.”

“He is,” I agreed. “Leo adores him.”

“So do we,” Mom said firmly. “Don’t let fear keep you from happiness, Hazel.”

I nodded, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders. “I won’t.”

We finished our drinks and said goodnight. I checked on Leo before crawling into bed, my mind swirling with thoughts of Liam and his promise to talk about “everything”

96 Vicious Accusations and a Calm Retort

tomorrow. Whatever secrets remained between us, I was ready to face them.

The next morning, I woke to Leo bouncing on my bed.

“Mama! Wake up! Pancakes!”

I groaned and pulled him into a cuddle. “Five more minutes.”

“No!” He giggled. “Gamma says Liam coming soon!”

That got my attention. I sat up, blinking at the clock. It was barely eight.

“Already?” I groaned. “Baby, go tell Grandma I’ll be down in ten minutes.”

Leo scampered off, and I dragged myself to the bathroom. After a quick shower, I twisted my wet hair into a bun and threw on jeans and a green sweater. I was applying mascara when I heard the commotion downstairs.

It wasn’t Liam’s arrival. It was something much worse.

“WHERE IS SHE?” A shrill voice echoed up the stairs. “WHERE IS THAT SHAMELESS

WOMAN?”

My stomach dropped. Aunt Zilda.

I hurried downstairs to find my aunt standing in our living room, her face contorted with rage. My parents stood protectively in front of Leo, who looked confused and

scared.

“There she is!” Aunt Zilda pointed at me like I was a criminal. “The home-wrecker!”

“What on earth are you talking about?” My mother demanded.

“Your daughter!” Aunt Zilda spat. “She’s trying to seduce Ethan again! Jessica saw them together at the grocery store yesterday!”

I stepped forward calmly. “I ran into Ethan. We exchanged maybe ten words, all in front of witnesses.”

“LIAR!” She shrieked. “Jessica said you were flirting with him!”

“That’s enough, Zilda,” my father said firmly. “You will not come into our home and insult our daughter.”

96 Vicious Accusations and a Calm Retort

But Aunt Zilda was beyond reason. “Look at you! Still trying to steal a married man when you have a bastard child of your own!”

The room went silent. Leo clutched my mother’s leg, his eyes wide.

“Zilda!” My mother gasped. “How dare you!”

My father stepped forward, his face thunderous. “You need to leave. Now.”

But Aunt Zilda wasn’t finished. “Everyone knows you’re a whore! An unwed mother who doesn’t even know who fathered her child! And now you want my daughter’s husband too?”

Something cold and steely settled in my chest. I moved forward, gently touching my father’s arm to let him know I’d handle this.

“First of all,” I said, my voice deadly calm, “Ethan approached me, not the other way around. I dismissed him immediately.”

Aunt Zilda opened her mouth, but I held up my hand.

“Second, let’s remember who stole whose boyfriend. Jessica climbed into my bed with Ethan while we were still together.”

“He was seduced by-”

“Third,” I continued, my tone dropping even colder, “my son is not a bastard. He is a beautiful, brilliant, loved child.”

I stepped closer, watching her shrink back slightly.

“And fourth, I’m a successful, independent woman who doesn’t need to steal anyone’s husband-especially not one who’s a cheating, jobless alcoholic.”

Aunt Zilda’s face paled. “How dare you—”

“I dare because this is my parents’ home, and you’ve insulted their grandson. I dare because I’ve worked too hard rebuilding my life to let your toxic accusations touch

me.”

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