The CEO’s Secret Wife

Chapter3

ADELINE'S POV

“Where’s are my clothes?” I asked, scrambling around trying not to panic.

He pointed at the edge of the bed without saying much, and I jumped over to the pile containing both of our clothes in the corner, pulling on my clothes with shaking hands. My heart was thumping so hard I might have heard it echo in my ears. I didn’t wait to zip up properly.

There was no thank you, no goodbye either—I just bolted.

I could hardly breathe just thinking about my mom.

What could an immobile stroke patient with a 24hr caretaker, and a weak heart in a wheelchair possibly do to end up in police custody?*She could barely walk on her own.

And where the hell was Leah?

As I ran out onto the street, I flagged down the first cab I saw.

Then my thoughts did a moonwalk from yesterday's event up to now.

*What just happened?*

Why now?

Why Bethany?

Why two weeks to the wedding?

And why the hell did I get down with a stranger?

But of course I don’t even get the space to process my sinking life… because my stroke-ridden mother was in police custody.

******

I rushed into the station the second the cab stopped.

After explaining the situation to some officers at the door, I was guided to her.

There she was.

Mum.

Small and still sat in her wheelchair, wrapped in her shawl, looking more fragile than ever. Her caretaker, Mrs Abraham stood behind her, lips pursed tight.

Two men sat across from them… one in uniform, the other in a navy blazer that didn’t quite fit right.

“What’s going on?” I asked, stepping in, my voice sharper than I meant it to be. I moved closer, instinctively putting myself in front of her. “Why is she here?”

Before the officer could speak, another figure entered the room with a folder in hand as he walked calmly towards us.

He stopped in front of me, eyes scanning my face… taking in the messy bun, the rushed makeup, the obvious chaos.

“I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long, Miss Levine.”

I swallowed. “Why is my mother here?” My voice came out tight. “What’s going on. She hasn’t done anything.”

He didn’t argue.

Just pulled out a chair, sat, and unbuttoned his suit like this was a normal conversation.

“Miss… Adeline,” he said, glancing down at the file in his hand. “I can assure you, there is no misunderstanding. Your mother was brought in for questioning because your sister… Miss Meliya Levine entered a private arrangement with our firm where she received an advance of twenty million dollars.”

He lifted his eyes to mine.

“And now she’s gone.”h

“What?” I blinked stunned but I quickly came off it.

For a second, everything in me just… stalled.

“What?” The word slipped out before I could catch it. I blinked, trying to process, then forced myself upright. “With all due respect, sir, go after Leah. Not my mother. She has nothing to do with whatever story you’re telling.” A sharp breath left me as disbelief turned into irritation. “And what exactly are you talking about? Twenty million dollars… and my sister in the same sentence? That alone sounds ridiculous.”

He didn’t react. Didn’t even blink.

Instead, he reached into his briefcase and pulled out a folder, placing it neatly on the table between us.

Then he pushed it toward me.

“Don’t play dumb, Miss. You signed the document.”

What! I stared at it confused, then picked it up and read through it.

The wording was dense, but the message was clear: It was a contract tied to an arranged marriage. I skimmed faster, my breathing picking up… terms, conditions, proof of payment… Leah’s name… her signature—

And then—

My eyes snagged on the bottom of the page.

I froze.

No.

No, that wasn’t possible.

I lifted the paper closer, staring like it might change if I looked hard enough.

My signature.

But I didn’t sign this.

“I…” My voice came out unsteady. I looked up, glancing around the room like someone would jump in and fix it… mums blank face… the officers watching me like I was already guilty.

“Um, I…I never signed this,” I confessed. “I don’t even know what this is.”

The man’s lips curved faintly, unimpressed.

“Miss Adeline, let’s not waste time with fake innocence.” He flipped a page in his file. “We ran a background check. Your entire family is drowning in debt. Impending Student loans. Medical bills. Your mother’s care expenses…” He glanced up again. “And yet, somehow, you managed to book the prestigious Roselyn Mirage Gardens for your wedding.” A pause. “No father listed.”

Something in me snapped.

Maybe it was hearing about my broken engagement or my dead beat father.

Either way, the anger came fast… hot… uncontrollable.

“So what?” I shot back, my voice shaking. “You think that means my sister would scam someone? Risk oura entire family just because we have bills?” I let out a hollow scoff. “You’ve got this completely wrong officer. Leah is probably out somewhere partying, completely clueless about whatever nonsense you’re accusing her of. This is a mix-up. It has to be.”

The officer’s raised brow said he didn’t believe a word.

Fine.

I yanked my phone out and dialed her number.

Ringing.

Then direct to voicemail.

I tried again…

“Pick up, Leah,” I muttered under my breath, gripping the phone tighter. “Please…”

Again.

Voicemail.

The man folded his arms, watching me coldly. “Strange,” he said coolly. “You’d think she’d answer. Unless… she can’t.”

I snapped my head up. “She’s always like this. Ignoring calls doesn’t mean she disappeared into some criminal plot.” My voice sharpened. “And you think she’s capable of something like this? She can’t even commit to finishing a book, let alone plan a twenty-million-dollar fraud.”

Still… voicemail.

Every time.

The man exhaled, like he was done entertaining me, and leaned forward again.

“We don’t have time to chase your sister across the city, Miss Levine. The contract stands. The contract is signed. The money’s gone. And you and her—” he pointed at mum, “—are the only ones we can find.”

“What are you saying?” I asked.

He placed both hands flat on the table.

“Unless you produce your sister… or repay the full amount, including damages, we escalate this matter. Legally.” A beat. “Both you and your mother will be held accountable and tried.”

“What?” The room seemed to spin for a moment as I was gradually about to lose my mind.

“You are legally tied to the agreement as a third party Miss Adeline,” he continued, steady as ever. “So if Miss Meliya does not appear… and if repayment isn’t made…” He paused, just long enough for my stomach to drop. “There is only one alternative.”

“Which is?”

“You’ll take your sister’s place.”

The room went silent.

I stared at him like he had spoken a foreign language. Then I looked at my mother—her face was still blank but her eyes were wide with shame.

My throat went dry.

“You…” I let out a short, disbelieving laugh. “You’re asking me to marry a stranger in her place. To fix something I didn’t even do?” My voice cracked despite me trying to hold it steady. “You think I’d agree to that just because I’m broke? Because my life isn’t perfect on paper?”

He tilted his head. “You’re in debt, yes. And your wedding is scheduled two weeks away, your groom wouldn’t be happy of course.” A faint pause. “But this arrangement is convenient. Clean. No one knows who the original bride was meant to be.”

My brows pulled together. “So… who is this man?”

He adjusted his tie, unbothered. “That’s not your concern right now. All you need to do is step in. Replace your sisters role. Nothing changes on the outside.” His fingers tapped lightly against the table. “The remaining thirty percent of the contract will be transferred to your account after the official wedding.”

Official wedding?

“No,” I whispered, stepping back, almost stumbling. “No. I can’t do that, i am sorry, I can’t just—marry someone I don't know.”

He shrugged. “Then you and your mother will be tried for aiding and abetting fraud and embezzlement.” A small pause. “That’s about twenty years. No chance of parole.”

For a moment, my breathing became inconsistent. I turned slowly to mum. She still hadn’t spoken. Her fingers were curled weakly over her shawl with her shoulders trembling slightly.

Prison.

Mum in prison?

The idea rooted terror in my bones.

Then he continued, “As stated in the document, this is urgent. The contract requires immediate compliance.”

I clenched my fists and turned back to him. “You… you dug out my records to throw my debt in my face. and now you expect me to walk into a marriage I never agreed to?”

He raised a brow. “Call it a fair exchange. Besides —” He tapped the document on the table. “You signed this.”

I stood frozen in place.

I was ready to explode, until I heard a faint gasp.

I turned, and mums eyes fluttered. Then her body slumped.

“No… no, no, no!” I dropped to my knees. “Mom?!”

“Someone help!” I screamed, shaking her gently. “Mom, please..stay with me.”

I panicked immediately and I felt like I couldn’t breathe.

“Call an ambulance!” I yelled. “Now!”

***

They wheeled her out too fast.

One second she was there, the next she was being rushed through the station doors, officers and medical personnel moving around her in a blur of uniforms and urgency.

One of them gently touched my arm and said, “She’s going to be okay, but she needs rest and monitoring.”

I nodded, but I couldn’t move. My legs felt like stone. I stood in the same spot, watching the door even after they were long gone.

“Errr — Mr —” I realized I don't even know his name.

“Nathaniel… Nathaniel Torrent.” He cuts in.

I swallowed. “Right… Mr. Torrent. I need to go with my mother. She needs me.”

He cleared his throat, like that wasn’t the point.

“I am more inclined to know your decision.”

My lips parted, but nothing came out.

“I… I don’t—”

“I understand your distress,” he cut in, not sounding like he understood anything at all. “However, given the urgency of the situation, I’ll give you twenty-four hours.”

My chest tightened.

Twenty-four hours.

“To decide,” he continued. “But be aware—” his gaze hardened slightly, just enough to send a chill down my spine, “we are watching. In case you decide to pull a vanishing act like your sister.”

“A vanishing act? Leah didn’t run. She disappears all the time, yes… but she always comes back.” I gestured toward the hallway, frustration rising. “And my mother is in the hospital. Why would I run? To where exactly?”

He gave a small, careless shrug. “The same reason Meliya probably did. A pause. “You’d be surprised what people are capable of when desperation starts knocking.

“Screw you,”

He straightened, brushing invisible dust off his sleeve. “Twenty-four hours, Miss Levine. Use them wisely.”

He held out the contract, nudging me. I took the cursed contract, sighed, and walked out of the station.

I went directly to the hospital.

Mom was still unconscious. Machines beeped softly beside her. I sat there for a while, holding her hand.

I sat there longer than I planned to… longer than I should have. But the thought kept nagging at me.

Leah.

Maybe she was passed out drunk at home.

****

The house was as empty as my chest felt.

“Leah?” I called out, already knowing.

Nothing.

I checked her room.

Empty.

She wasn’t here.

Of course she wasn’t.

I stood there for a moment, staring at nothing, before my phone rang.

unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Miss Levine. This is Miss Freeman from Vera Wanx.”

The dress up shop.

Right.

“Oh—Freeman, hi.” My voice dipped slightly. “The wedding’s been called off.”

There was a small pause. “A pause. “I… see. I’m very sorry to hear that.”

“Yeah,” I muttered. “Join the club.”

Another pause, softer this time. “This is unfortunate timing, but we’ve yet to receive payment for your dress.”

I frowned. “I thought my fiancé sorry ex-fiancé—Charlie handle—.” But passed as I realized I never got to remind Charlie about the payment, well that’s old news.

“Well… it hasn’t been paid for,” she said gently.

Of course it hasn’t.

“Right,” I exhaled. “But like I said, the wedding is off. Can I just return it?”

“I’m afraid not, Miss Adeline. The dress was custom-made specifically for you. It cannot be returned.”

My grip tightened on the phone. “How much was it again?”

There was a pause followed by shuffling of papers, “The Turning Luna custom dress… is three hundred thousand dollars.”

Fuck!

Fuck!

Fuck!

I dragged a hand down my face, pacing slowly. “Okay… okay. I’ll get back to you.”

I hung up before she could say anything else.

For a moment, I just stood there.

Then I tossed my phone onto the nearest chair, letting out a hollow laugh.

“Can my life get any worse?”

The answer came immediately.

Leah.

I grabbed my phone again, dialing her number like muscle memory.

Ringing.

But again… it went directly to voicemail.

Fuck you leah. Where the hell are you?

Just silence.

And problems stacking on top of problems.

Debt.

A missing sister.

A contract I didn’t sign.

A forced marriage.

My mother in a hospital bed.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a second.

Please… just show up.

Just fix this.

My phone rang again.

My heart jumped.

“Leah—”

I snatched it up so fast I nearly dropped it

Then I froze.

The name on the screen made my stomach twist.

I let out a sharp hiss.

It was my boss.