Secret Marriage: The CEO's Pampered Wife

Meanwhile, Elliot Sheridan pulled Sharon Ennis aside to a private spot.

"Elliot, you and Georgia Thorne are married, so are you going to have a wedding? Isn’t she the youngest daughter of the Thorne Family? We should find a time to meet her parents and get this wedding settled soon!" Sharon Ennis said, her voice laced with impatience.

"Mom, don’t worry. We’ll have a wedding, of course, but you don’t need to meet Georgia’s parents."

"What’s wrong? Did Georgia have some sort of falling out with her parents?" She had often heard from her granddaughter, Selena, that Georgia Thorne’s family ignored her. Her older sister, in particular, was the worst of them all.

"She’s already cut ties with the Thorne Family, so it’s fine not to meet them," Elliot said. "However, some of Georgia’s relatives are here. If you want to meet them, we’d have to ask for her permission first."

Sharon Ennis looked up at her son in surprise. ’He actually knows how to ask for someone’s opinion now. This son of hers is truly different when it comes to Georgia.’

"Mom, there’s something very important I need to tell you." He took a deep breath. ’Some things just have to be said.’ "Mom, Georgia... was pregnant before..."

"Really? Georgia’s pregnant!"

Before Elliot could finish, Sharon interrupted him, her face alight with the joy of becoming a grandmother. But a second later, Elliot added, "And because of me, she lost the baby."

From elation to devastation in an instant.

"What on earth happened? How could she have lost the baby just like that?"

"I thought she didn’t want a child, so I swapped her birth control pills. I was just acting on a sliver of hope, and I never thought she’d actually get pregnant." He gave a bitter laugh. "Later, I did something wrong, and we gave each other the cold shoulder and separated for a while. She didn’t know she was pregnant, and she miscarried while she was working. It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t acted on my own, we wouldn’t have lost the child. She’s finally forgiven me and is willing to be with me again. Mom, I’m begging you, please be good to her."

Sharon was speechless. She had never seen Elliot grovel like this, begging her for someone else’s sake.

But he was her son, after all; how could her heart not ache for him? "A perfectly healthy baby... What a shame."

After her talk with her son, Sharon returned to her room and sat distractedly at her vanity. Elliot’s words echoed in her ears, so much so that she didn’t even hear James Sheridan call her name several times right beside her.

"Hey, old woman, are you getting so old your ears don’t work anymore? I’ve been calling you! Were you off daydreaming?"

"Oh, would you stop bothering me!" Sharon snapped back to reality and let James have it. "All you do all day is go out to play chess and chat with people. The day you actually show some concern for what happens in this house will be the day I light incense and thank the heavens!"

"I say one thing to you, and you give me ten back!" James Sheridan stood beside her with his hands behind his back, fuming.

He slammed a hand on the table. "When have I ever not cared about this family!"

"I can’t be bothered to talk to you!"

"..."

After hearing about what Georgia had been through, Sharon felt even more compassion for her new daughter-in-law.

The next morning, she had her driver take her to the market, where she personally bought an old hen to bring back.

And so, first thing in the morning, Georgia Thorne was forced to drink a large bowl of chicken soup. It was so greasy that it made her stomach turn.

"This chicken soup isn’t greasy at all. It’s good for a woman’s health. You should drink more." With that, she took the empty bowl and ladled another serving for Georgia.

"Mom, I really can’t drink any more!"

Staring at the large bowl of chicken soup, Georgia already felt sick to her stomach. How could she possibly drink another drop?

She kept shooting desperate, pleading looks at the man beside her. Elliot Sheridan caught her pitiful gaze and, resigning himself to his fate, took the bowl of chicken soup from in front of her.

"Mom, she doesn’t like this." ’He knew his mother was anxious, but they had a long life ahead of them. There was no need to rush things.’

Elliot drank the rest of the soup himself, his brow furrowing. It really was a bit greasy.

He finished his breakfast without another word and went upstairs to change.

Georgia followed him up and took the initiative to tie his tie. She tugged on his sleeve. "I’m coming with you when you leave."

"I’m going to work."

"I know," Georgia said, looking at him. "With you gone, I’m afraid I won’t be able to handle your mom. I’d rather just leave with you."

She’d much rather be in her own little apartment, where she could do whatever she wanted.

"Alright. But I have one condition."

"I agree!" At that moment, she would have agreed to a hundred conditions, let alone just one.

Georgia heard Sharon calling his name and tugged hard on his sleeve again, signaling for him to talk later.

"Georgia, why don’t you come out with me later? I’ll take you to buy some new clothes." ’And,’ she thought, ’I can introduce her to my friends.’

’Finally, a chance to hold her head high in front of them.’

Georgia gave an awkward smile, tugging hard on Elliot’s clothes behind her back while glancing at him from the corner of her eye.

"Mom, maybe another day. Georgia needs to come with me to the office in a bit," Elliot said, fulfilling a certain someone’s request.

"What for?"

"To work, of course. Your daughter-in-law is quite something, you know. She’s a famous designer now. She designs her own clothes, so why would she need you to buy any for her!" Elliot turned Sharon by her shoulders. "Mom, if you’re bored, you can go chat with your friends, get your nails done, or something. Georgia and I will be heading out now."

Elliot shot her a look, and Georgia quickly grabbed her bag and headed for the door.

On her way downstairs, she ran into James Sheridan, who was just coming in from outside. "Dad," she mumbled.

To be honest, Georgia was a little afraid of James Sheridan.

Every time she saw him, he wore a long, stern face. She rarely saw him smile; in fact, she could only recall him smiling once, in front of Selena.

James grunted in acknowledgment. "Where are you off to?"

"To work. I’m leaving with him."

James appreciated ambitious young people, so he gave a satisfied grunt. "Then you’d best be on your way."

Georgia lowered her head and hurried outside. A moment later, Elliot finally managed to get away from his mother and came out.

After they had driven for a bit, Elliot’s phone rang. "It’s in my pocket. Can you get that for me?"

Georgia fumbled for the phone. It was a call from Sharon Ennis. She held it up in front of Elliot.

"I’m driving, you get it!" Elliot said, his hands on the wheel and his eyes fixed on the road.

Nervously, Georgia answered the call. "Hello, Mom? Is something wrong? He’s driving right now and can’t take the call."

’There was no difference between her son and her daughter-in-law answering the phone now.’ "Oh, Georgia. Are you two coming back for dinner tonight?"

Georgia had turned the volume up, so Elliot could hear as well.

Georgia looked at Elliot, mouthing, ’What should I say?’

"Georgia, are you there?"

"Y-Yes, I’m here!" Georgia replied hastily, then shoved the phone against Elliot’s ear, letting him handle it.

"Georgia—"

"Mom, it’s me," Elliot cut in. "We won’t be back tonight."

He then took the phone and hung up.

"You shouldn’t use that tone with your mother."

"It’s fine. My mom’s good-natured. She won’t mind."

"..."

Elliot drove Georgia straight to his company.

In full view of everyone, Elliot led Georgia into the company lobby by the hand.

The moment they entered, they drew everyone’s attention. Unable to bear the stares, Georgia kept her head down the entire way as she followed beside Elliot.

She tried to pull her hand free several times, but his grip was too tight. It wasn’t until they were in the elevator that they finally escaped the onlookers’ gazes.

As if she had just been through a major battle, Georgia’s palms were slick with sweat.

"Nervous?"

"Very!" Georgia nodded honestly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead.

"They were bound to find out who you are eventually. You’ll get used to it."

In reality, news of their marriage had already spread throughout the entire company.

But a rumor was nothing compared to the devastating impact of seeing it with one’s own eyes. At that moment, the hearts of most of the women in the company who admired Elliot turned to ash.

Owen Sawyer had just finished organizing some documents and was about to take them to Elliot’s office when he heard the elevator DING.

Elliot emerged, holding Georgia’s hand. Owen raised an eyebrow. "Well, well. Is this the official announcement?"

Elliot was in a great mood, the corners of his mouth turned up in a clear smile as he reached out and toyed with the ring on Georgia’s finger.

"Go get a glass of water," Elliot ordered, pointing casually at one of the administrative assistants before leading Georgia inside.

Blushing, Georgia pulled her hand free from his. "You two should get to work."

Elliot was very busy, too busy to pay her any mind. She heard he had to go inspect a site in the suburbs that afternoon.

The assistant quickly brought in the water. "Ma’am, your water."

"Thank you."

Georgia glanced over. Elliot was reviewing the documents Owen had brought in.

His suit jacket was draped over the back of his chair, revealing a white dress shirt underneath. Perhaps feeling the office was a bit stuffy, his slender, well-defined fingers slowly loosened his tie and undid the top button, creating an air of lazy elegance.

’His handsome, charming profile; his sharp eyes, filled with concentration... No wonder they say a man at work is the most attractive. Any woman who saw this scene would surely blush, their heart skipping a beat, unable to contain themselves.’

Perhaps Georgia’s gaze was too intense, because he seemed to feel it. He looked over, his own gaze soft and lingering. Georgia immediately averted her eyes, pretending to be admiring the scenery elsewhere.

’Just a casual glance from him is enough to make a person sink right in. That’s basically against the rules.’

Her phone began to BUZZ in her pocket. She took a sip of the tongue-scaldingly hot water and pulled out her phone to see over a dozen messages from Nancy Hughes.

Nancy had just gotten to work today when she heard from her gossiping assistant that Elliot had personally brought Georgia to the company, and that the two of them were even holding hands.