Secret Marriage: The CEO's Pampered Wife

’Like he needs that thing!’

"By the way, come home tonight. Quincy Rhodes is coming over too."

"I know!" Elliot Sheridan hung up, annoyed.

’Time is running out. Quincy Rhodes can’t hold back any longer!’

After hanging up, Elliot walked to the edge of the bed and sat down. He brushed the fine strands of hair from Georgia Thorne’s face, turned her head, and kissed her.

Georgia Thorne was sleeping soundly when she suddenly found it hard to breathe. Her eyes flew open to find the man looming over her.

Letting out a muffled "Mmmph," Georgia pushed against the man’s chest, but she couldn’t move him.

Thanks to Elliot’s unusual vigor, Georgia had been utterly exhausted last night, falling asleep the moment her head hit the pillow.

After a few hours of sleep, her body felt even more tired, while he, on the other hand, was refreshed and full of energy.

"My mom said I’m lacking in *that* department. I need to get my confidence back from you."

Quincy Rhodes had taken care with her appearance. She swapped her sharp business suit for a brown knit sweater, trying her best to look like a mother.

In her youth, Quincy had been a great beauty, a true stunner. Her daughter, Joanne Donovan, had inherited only a third of her looks.

Even in middle age, she had maintained her appearance well.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t ultimately defy the ravages of time, and wrinkles had gradually begun to appear on her face.

Quincy drove to the Sheridan residence herself. Upon seeing James Sheridan, she greeted him, "Mr. Sheridan."

She called him that out of deference to her husband, Connor Donovan, and had been doing so for decades.

James Sheridan had been scolded by his wife earlier in the day, so he couldn’t act too enthusiastic in front of her. He smiled and said, "Quincy, come on in."

Sharon Ennis wrapped her arm affectionately around her husband, her eyes full of hostility toward Quincy.

Remembering the sound of Quincy crying to her husband before, she felt a pang of anger in her chest.

She finally understood why she disliked Joanne Donovan—the main reason was her mother, Quincy Rhodes.

Quincy flashed a bright smile at Sharon and greeted her, "Hello, Sharon!"

Sharon responded with a lazy grunt. As the lady of the house, she instructed a servant, "Hurry and pour some tea for Mrs. Donovan."

Sharon didn’t like calling Quincy "sister-in-law"; their husbands weren’t actual brothers.

Quincy smiled, unbothered, and sat down.

The three of them chatted. A little after six, the sound of a car engine shutting off came from the courtyard.

A few minutes later, Elliot Sheridan came in from outside.

His suit was damp with rain. The July weather was as fickle as ever.

The sun had been high and blazing like fire during the day, but now a heavy rain was falling.

The moment he got out of the car, he was soaked by the downpour.

Not waiting for the butler to bring an umbrella, he strode through the mud and into the house.

The butler folded the umbrella and took Elliot’s suit jacket as Elliot strode inside.

Sharon felt for her son. "Is it raining outside? Hurry upstairs and change your clothes. Don’t catch a cold!"

As she ushered her son upstairs, Elliot glanced at Quincy in the living room, his expression impassive.

He started up the stairs, and only when his broad back had disappeared up the staircase did Quincy look away.

She remarked softly, "Elliot is becoming more and more mature and steady!"

Who wouldn’t like hearing their son praised? A look of pride flashed in Sharon’s eyes.

Elliot took a quick shower, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and came back downstairs.

In the dining room, the food was being served. Everyone was already seated at the table, waiting only for him.

Elliot hadn’t wanted to come, but he remembered there was something important to discuss.

He took a seat next to James Sheridan, and the four of them began to eat.

If even the foolish Joanne Donovan knew not to push Elliot too far, then Quincy, who had navigated social circles for years, understood this principle even better.

At the dinner table, Quincy didn’t mention the engagement at all, sticking to casual conversation.

The meal passed peacefully and without incident.

After dinner, Quincy sat in the living room discussing current affairs with James Sheridan.

Elliot found it boring. His mind was completely filled with thoughts of Georgia Thorne.

’What is she eating, all alone at home?’

’She seems to really like junk food like instant noodles.’

Thinking of her made him long to hear her voice.

Rather than just thinking, he decided to act.

Elliot dialed Georgia’s number.

The phone rang several times before she picked up. Elliot was displeased. "What took you so long?"

Georgia brushed back a stray strand of hair, noticing she had accidentally gotten paint on it. "I’m coloring a piece. My hands are covered in paint!"

Elliot knew how much this competition meant to Georgia and how focused she was on it.

"Have you eaten?"

Now that he mentioned it, Georgia realized she had completely forgotten.

After grabbing a quick bite at noon, she had been sitting at her easel, and she had stayed there all the way into the evening.

Hearing her silence, Elliot knew she hadn’t eaten yet.

He glanced down at his watch—it was already eight o’clock. His deep voice took on an angry edge. "Didn’t the part-time housekeeper call you for dinner? I’m firing her tomorrow!"

Georgia knew Elliot was angry and gently tried to soothe him. "The housekeeper did call me. I was the one who didn’t eat. It’s not easy for her to find work, why would you fire her!"

"Go eat now!"

"I know, I know!"

Georgia placated him and came out of the study.

She saw a note on the dining table left by the housekeeper, saying the food was covered in the fridge and just needed to be heated up.

James Sheridan was chatting with Quincy, and Sharon Ennis, unable to get a word in, decided to go find her son to talk about his girlfriend.

She happened to find her son on the phone. Having been Elliot’s mother for so many years, Sharon had never seen him look so gentle while on a call. Needless to say, the person on the other end had to be her daughter-in-law.

Sharon had already, in her mind, accepted this girl as her daughter-in-law.

It was a happy thing, her son having a girlfriend.

But why had the man with the gentle expression suddenly started scolding someone with a stern face? Sharon moved a little closer and heard him say something about going to eat.

After he hung up, Sharon walked over. "Son, you can’t woo a girl like that. You’ll scare her off with that fierce attitude before you even marry her!"

Having eavesdropped on the conversation between her son and future daughter-in-law from around the corner, she felt more and more that Elliot had the same temper as his father.

’He’s concerned about her eating, but can’t he say it gently? He has to put on a stern face and shout.’

James Sheridan had been the exact same way with her back in the day.

Elliot sounded rather helpless. "Ms. Sharon, can you please not eavesdrop?"

"Eavesdrop!" Sharon scowled. "I’m just concerned about you!"

Elliot was tired of her brand of concern. He tried to leave, but Sharon grabbed his elbow. "Don’t go!"

"Tell Mom, how did you meet this girl?" Sharon was extremely curious about her future daughter-in-law. The more protective her son was, the more she wanted to know. "Do you have a picture you can show me?"

"If you won’t bring the girl home to meet me, at least let me see what she looks like in a photo!"

’She had better be pretty. My son is so handsome; it would be a huge waste if he ended up with someone ugly!’

’Before, I was thinking I’d even accept a she-male, but now that my son has actually found someone, of course I’m going to be picky.’

"Relax. Don’t you trust my taste?"

Seeing him about to leave again, Sharon tightened her grip. "You’re keeping this secret even from your own mother. Spit it out, who is she!"

"Mom, you’ve met her before. She’s sweet and adorable. When you see her again, I guarantee you’ll like her!"

’I’ve met her?’

’So she’s an acquaintance?’

Sharon’s heart raced with excitement. An acquaintance was good; she would know her background.

Her mind automatically began searching for which family’s young lady could be a match for her son.

She thought and thought but couldn’t come up with anyone. By the time she wanted to ask Elliot, he was already long gone.

What they thought was a passing shower turned into a downpour, the rain PITTER-PATTERING against the windows.

Seeing it was getting late, Quincy Rhodes got up to leave.

Quincy had come alone, and since she’d had some red wine with dinner, she couldn’t drive now.

James Sheridan offered to have his driver take her home, but Elliot interjected, "I’ll drive her."

This was exactly what Quincy had hoped for, so she didn’t refuse. "Alright, then!"

Elliot had brought his own driver. He drove Quincy’s car, while his driver followed behind in his.

A faint fragrance wafted through Quincy’s private car, perhaps coming from Quincy herself.

A unisex eau de toilette, pleasant and not overpowering.

Elliot wasn’t used to women wearing perfume, a habit he had probably picked up from Georgia Thorne.

Georgia never wore perfume around him. At most, there was the scent of her body wash right after a shower, or sometimes, the scent of his own cologne that had rubbed off on her.

It was incredibly dark inside the car. Elliot sat in the driver’s seat, his handsome, well-defined hands resting on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed on the road as he drove seriously.

Quincy turned her head and saw the man’s handsome, mature profile, and a sense of understanding dawned on her.

’No wonder my daughter is so infatuated with him. I can see why.’

Quincy didn’t hide her gaze, openly sizing Elliot up as she pondered.

’Elliot isn’t an ordinary man. How can I successfully win him over?’

Just as Quincy was about to speak, the phone in the man’s pocket suddenly rang, interrupting her.

Quincy swallowed her words and turned her gaze forward, listening to the man speak.

Elliot said only a single word, then hung up and pulled the car over to the side of the road.

Quincy asked, "What’s wrong?"

"My car broke down on the road. I’m going to get out and check on it!"

"Alright!"

It was still raining outside. Elliot asked, "Do you have an umbrella?"

"I do."

Quincy took an umbrella from the storage compartment and handed it to him. Elliot said a quick thanks, took off his suit jacket, placed it on the back of the seat, then opened the door and stepped out under the umbrella.

Elliot’s car was right behind them, stopped in the middle of the road with its hazard lights flashing, holding up a lot of traffic.

Quincy glanced back and saw Elliot talking to his driver. ’Just a small matter.’

She turned back around and turned on the music. The gentle, melodious tunes were an effective way to relieve stress.

Suddenly, she felt something was off. Quincy turned her head, her gaze falling on the man’s suit jacket.

A white business card had fallen out of the jacket’s pocket. The name on the card—Yuanxing Auto—seized her attention.

The two words instantly magnified in her vision, searing themselves into her mind, impossible to forget.

Her fingers trembling violently, she picked up the fallen business card. It was very old, looking like something from a decade ago.