THE CEO SERECT WIFE

CHAPTER 5:THE TRUTH CAME OUT

The call came at 2:17 AM.

My phone vibrated under the pillow and nearly gave me a heart attack.

Unknown Number.

"Hello?" My voice was barely a whisper.

"Is this Isabella Adebayo?" A nurse's voice. Tired. "This is Lagos General.

Your mother’s condition has worsened. You need to come now."

The room went cold.

"I... I’ll be there," I said.

Jake was already sitting up in bed, watching me. The light from my phone

lit up his face. Cold. Alert.

"Problem?" he asked.

"My mom," I said, already pulling on the dress from earlier. "She’s in the hospital."

Jake didn’t say anything. He just got up and put on his suit jacket.

"I’m driving you."

"What? No, it’s fine. I can take an Uber—"

"We’re not arguing," he said. "Get in the car."

The hospital smelled like disinfectant and fear.

Dr. Okonkwo was waiting. He looked old and tired.

"Ms. Adebayo," he said. "Your mother needs dialysis again.

And the medication... it’s 250,000 naira for this month."

250,000.

The number hit me like a punch.

"I... I don’t have it," I whispered. My eyes burned. "Can we do half? Can we—"

"We’re sorry," the doctor said. "Without full treatment, we can’t guarantee..."

He didn’t finish.

I turned away so they wouldn’t see me cry.

And that’s when I felt it. A hand on my back.

Jake.

He didn’t say anything. He just stood there. Solid.

For the first time since this fake marriage started, I didn’t feel alone.

Back in the car, silence.

Finally, Jake spoke. "How long has she been sick?"

I stared out the window. "3 years. Kidney failure."

"And the money?"

I laughed, but it sounded broken. "What money? My dad died. I’m all she has."

More silence.

Then: "That’s why you agreed."

It wasn’t a question.

I didn’t answer.

Jake pulled over. He turned to face me.

"Look at me, Isabella."

I did. My eyes were red.

"Why didn’t you tell me?" he asked. Quiet. No anger.

"Because it wasn’t part of the contract," I said. "One month. No questions."

Jake’s jaw tightened. "The contract also said I’d take care of you."

My heart stopped.

"What?"

"You heard me," he said. "I don’t know why you’re here.

But I’m not letting you fall apart over 250k while you’re wearing my ring."

Before I could respond, his phone rang.

"Mr. Sterling," his assistant said on speaker. "The board meeting is at 8AM.

And... there are rumors about your marriage. The press is asking questions."

Jake hung up. He looked at me. Really looked at me.

"Tomorrow," he said. "We’re going to the bank.

And then we’re going to deal with