Secrets Out, Darkness looming
579 Words
Khan sat frozen, Harold’s words echoing in her mind.
Because it won’t last.
What did he mean? What was he planning?
A chill ran down her spine. She knew Harold wouldn’t just sit back and let things unfold. He wanted control. He wanted Liam under his thumb. And Khan… she was just a piece in his game.
She had to be careful.
But before she could even process her next move, the front door slammed open.
She jumped, her heart racing as Liam strode in, his expression dark, his phone clenched tightly in his hand.
"Khan," he said, his voice sharp. "What the hell is this?"
She blinked in confusion. "What?"
Liam threw his phone onto the table, the screen still lit. Khan’s stomach dropped as she read the headline.
"Liam Carter’s Secret Wife: A Deal, Not a Love Story?"
Her blood ran cold.
There were pictures. Candid shots of them together, some from the gala, some from private moments she didn’t even know had been captured. And the worst part? The article speculated that their marriage was nothing but a business arrangement.
Khan’s heart pounded.
Who leaked this?
Her mind raced, piecing everything together. Harold. It had to be him.
Liam ran a hand through his hair, his jaw clenched. "Care to explain?"
Khan swallowed hard. "I—I don’t know where this came from."
Liam exhaled sharply, pacing the room. "This is exactly what Harold wanted. He’s making it look like I married you just to get my position back." He turned to face her, eyes burning with frustration. "And now the board is questioning everything. My entire future could be on the line because of this."
Guilt clawed at Khan’s chest.
She hadn’t wanted this. She never wanted to make things harder for him.
"I’ll fix it," she said quickly. "I don’t know how yet, but—"
"You’ll fix it?" Liam let out a humorless laugh. "Khan, this isn’t something you can just fix."
His voice was sharp, but beneath it, she heard something else.
Something raw.
He’s afraid.
Not for his position. Not for the company.
But for them.
The realization hit her like a freight train.
Liam wasn’t just playing the role of a husband anymore. Somewhere along the way, this had stopped being just an obligation.
For him.
For her.
And now, with their marriage being exposed as a contract, it threatened whatever fragile connection they had started to build.
Khan took a slow breath, stepping closer. "Liam, look at me."
He hesitated but met her gaze.
She reached for his hand, ignoring the way her pulse spiked when he didn’t pull away. "We’ll get through this. Together."
Liam searched her face, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.
Then, in a moment she didn’t see coming, his walls broke.
He exhaled, his grip tightening around her hand as if she was the only steady thing in his world. "I don’t know who to trust anymore, Khan." His voice was low, rough. "I’ve spent my whole life surrounded by people who only want something from me."
Khan’s heart twisted.
She knew what it felt like to always be seen as a means to an end.
Carefully, she stepped closer, pressing her forehead against his.
"You can trust me," she whispered.
For a second, Liam closed his eyes, as if letting himself believe it.
And in that moment, it wasn’t just an arrangement anymore.
It was real.
And that terrified her more than anything.
- Writer
