Secret Marriage: The CEO's Pampered Wife

Georgia Thorne hadn’t expected such a coincidence and gave a sheepish smile.

Kai said, "Let’s head back together."

Since they were heading in the same direction, it was only natural to go together.

Georgia Thorne left the company with Kai, only to run into *him*.

Elliot Sheridan had just stepped out of his car. He tugged at his slightly rumpled shirt, his piercing gaze landing on them.

She hadn’t seen him in days, and the man seemed to have lost more weight. His chiseled face was etched with fatigue.

Georgia Thorne froze, the smile instantly vanishing from her face as a sharp pang went through her heart.

Kai said a few more words, then noticed Georgia hadn’t kept up. He turned back to her. "Why did you stop?"

Sensing something was wrong, he followed her gaze, which had landed on Elliot Sheridan, who stood in front of the car.

Elliot’s gaze was icy. Kai froze for a second before quickly calling out, "Good evening, Mr. Sheridan!"

’Who would’ve thought I’d run into the CEO at the end of the day?’

Elliot Sheridan loosened his tie, his gaze shifting from Georgia Thorne to Kai.

’It had been so long since he’d seen Georgia smile so genuinely, he’d almost forgotten what it was like.’

His brows knitted together deeply. His gaze shifted back to Georgia Thorne as he gave an indifferent grunt in response.

He strode forward, passing by Georgia Thorne as if she were a complete stranger.

’She could laugh so freely with other people, but the moment she saw him, it all vanished.’

Taking long strides, Elliot Sheridan brushed past Georgia Thorne and headed into the company building.

A terrified Owen Sawyer, trailing behind, gave Georgia Thorne a quick nod before rushing to catch up. To be honest, he was genuinely afraid Elliot would forget his position and get into a fight with his own subordinate over Georgia.

’But that doesn’t make sense either,’ Owen thought. ’He was so cold to Georgia, acting like a total stranger.’

Kai smiled. "That was our CEO. I don’t think you’ve met him before, have you?"

Georgia Thorne managed a strained smile but said nothing.

Kai was a thoughtful person. Noticing Georgia’s low spirits, he told her several jokes on the way.

Hearing about his interesting experiences in Breccon, Georgia Thorne asked, "Which university did you attend in Breccon?"

Kai didn’t seem to expect her question. He smiled and said, "Albion University of Arts."

"Then did you... Ah!"

"Look out!"

Just as Georgia was about to ask another question, the bus slammed on its brakes, sending everyone lurching forward.

Kai instinctively grabbed Georgia’s arm, pulling her into his embrace to shield her.

Passengers grumbled in annoyance. Georgia’s face flushed, and she quickly pulled away from Kai’s arms. "Sorry!"

"It’s nothing!" Kai said, scratching his head.

「The next day.」

Georgia Thorne was rushing to work when she ran into Kai at the entrance of her apartment complex.

Kai gave her a cheerful greeting. "Georgia, morning!"

Still feeling a little awkward after last night, Georgia Thorne smiled back. "Morning!"

On their way to the office, Georgia noticed Kai didn’t bring up the previous night’s incident, so she gradually let it go.

She grew more comfortable with Kai. They started commuting to work together in the morning and heading home together in the evening.

Seeing the two of them always coming and going together, Wendy Young stared blankly at a busy Georgia. "Georgia, what happened to your ring?"

’I remember she used to wear a wedding ring. When did she take it off?’

Georgia clutched her pen, her other hand instinctively touching her bare ring finger. She gave a hollow laugh.

’It’s been off for a while now.’

’I used to not be able to get it off no matter how hard I tried. But then I lost so much weight that one morning I woke up and found it was loose. It slipped right off.’

Wendy Young’s eyes went wide. After a long hesitation, she finally asked, "So, uh... what’s the deal with you and Kai?"

"Huh?"

"Well, you know... you guys come to work and leave together. A lot of people have seen you, and they think that your relationship is..." Wendy fidgeted with her fingers, looking at her quizzically. "Are you two dating?"

"Why would you think that?" Georgia was genuinely shocked. Wendy was known for being blunt. "You said you were married, but we’ve never even heard you mention your husband. Were you just wearing a ring to pretend you were married so guys wouldn’t hit on you? Plus, you and Kai have been getting really close lately. Anyone who didn’t know better would assume you’re dating!"

"No! Kai and I are just colleagues. There’s absolutely nothing going on like what you’re imagining!" Georgia denied it vehemently. "Kai is a top designer, don’t spread baseless rumors!"

"I’m not spreading rumors! It’s what everyone’s saying!" Wendy pouted, mumbling under her breath, "Besides, I don’t think the way Kai looks at you is entirely innocent!"

Georgia didn’t catch that. "What was that?"

"Nothing! I’m getting back to work!" Wendy shook her head and turned back to her computer.

Wendy’s words left Georgia completely unable to focus on work. She set down her stylus. ’Have I been getting too close to Kai lately?’

She lifted her head and met Kai’s eyes. He offered her a warm smile before looking back down at his work.

Georgia felt even more unsettled. She got up and walked out of the office.

Georgia took a sip of water in the breakroom before heading back to her desk.

The days had been growing shorter, and it was already completely dark outside by the time work ended.

Georgia had just finished a design and was getting ready to pack up when Kai, who sat in front of her, suddenly turned around. "Georgia, ready to head home together?"

She remembered what Wendy had said that morning. Gripping her pen, she replied, "I still have a lot of work to finish up. You should go on without me."

"A lot?" Kai walked over to her desk. Georgia randomly opened an unfinished design file. "Yeah, this will probably take me a few more hours. You should go!"

Her words were a clear attempt to put some distance between them.

Kai was a sharp guy. He raised an eyebrow. "Alright then, I’ll get going. See you tomorrow!"

"Okay, see you tomorrow!"

"Yep, bye!"

Kai gathered his things and walked out of the office.

With Kai gone, Georgia was left alone in the office, staring into space. She let out a sigh of relief.

She turned back to the line art she had just sketched out, picked up her stylus, and began to work with focused concentration.

Two hours flew by as she drew.

With just a few final lines to trace, she rolled her stiff neck, glanced at the time, and quickly saved her file before shutting down the computer.

She packed up her things and clocked out for the day.

Just as she stepped out of the building, bag in tow, Kai’s voice called out from the side. "Georgia, wait up!"

She stopped and turned toward the sound. Kai was walking over, holding a cup of coffee.

"You’re still here?" Georgia asked, surprised.

Kai smiled, pressing the cup into her hands. "It’s chilly tonight. This will warm you up."

The warm cup was pressed into her cold hands, its heat slowly seeping into her palms.

She said politely, "Thank you."

That formal tone felt like a return to how they were on the first day they met.

’Back then, they were in a meeting, and he’d noticed her zoning out.’

’Her downcast eyes saw nothing and no one, but he could sense her anxiety.’

’Just when their relationship was finally starting to get somewhere...’ He sighed inwardly, then smiled. "Don’t worry about it. We’re friends!"

In truth, she had heard Wendy’s last sentence that afternoon.

Georgia glanced up at him. ’I can’t just ask him outright, "Kai, do you like me?" What if he says no?’

Seeing that his expression was no different than usual, she gave a radiant smile. ’Maybe I’m just overthinking things.’

The two walked home together as usual, parting ways at the entrance to her apartment complex.

She rode the elevator up. The hallway was pitch-black.

Georgia felt her way forward along the wall. The light in the corridor had been out for a few days now. She’d called property management, but no one had shown up to fix it.

There was no moonlight tonight; thick clouds shrouded the moon.

She dug her phone out of her bag. Just as she switched on the flashlight, a dark figure suddenly lunged at her.

She let out a terrified scream, and her phone slipped from her grasp, clattering to the floor.

While her heart hammered in her chest, slender fingers gently caressed her cheek. The overwhelming stench of alcohol washed over her, mingled with a faint, familiar scent.

She had been with Elliot Sheridan for far too long. His scent had seeped into her very soul, becoming a terrible, unforgettable memory.

The man’s body pressed her against the wall, his ragged breaths ghosting over her ear. "Georgia, come home with me, please?"

Reflected in his deep, dark eyes was her own panicked profile, and in that reflection, she could clearly see her own eyes welling up with tears.

His voice was filled with desperation, and his careful words hammered at her heart. She blinked back the sting in her eyes, a sharp pang in her nose.

She had never imagined he would show up here in the middle of the night, dead drunk. Her slender hands pushed weakly at his arms, only for him to hold her even tighter.

"Georgia, what happened with the baby... it was all my fault," he said, his voice low and full of anguish. "Georgia, I can’t be without you. And I can’t stand seeing you so close to another man!"

’He knew he had no right to be jealous, but when he thought of Kai constantly at Georgia’s side, a furious fire of jealousy ignited in his chest.’

’Everyone at the company was gossiping, saying they were dating, and it filled him with dread.’

’He was drunk on alcohol, but not drunk enough to quiet his thoughts. He had promised to give her time, but he couldn’t restrain his yearning and had come running to find her.’

Georgia stared at him, dazed. She reached out and touched his cheek. "Elliot, I want to ask you a question."

It wasn’t that her heart wasn’t softening, but until she had an answer to the question that plagued her, she couldn’t let herself fall into Elliot’s embrace.

His gentle embrace would only cause her to sink, to lose all ability to think, to be gently drowned by him.

"Between me and Aidan, who would you choose?"

William had told her that Aidan would die without her kidney. She could never truly comprehend how important Aidan was to Elliot.

And then, William had sought her out again.

That time, Aidan had fallen into a coma once more.

William had come looking for her straight from the operating room, still in his scrubs.

"Georgia, you’re the only one who can save her now!"

Seeing the frail, sickly Aidan, Georgia’s heart had filled with sympathy. She had asked quietly, "Just how important is Aidan to Elliot?"