Secret Marriage: The CEO's Pampered Wife

"Georgia, have the driver take you to work. You," Sharon Ennis said hurriedly, "can take me to the hospital."

"I’m not going to the hospital."

It was hard to say what was wrong with the mother and son. They had only exchanged a few words before their tone soured.

Elliot Sheridan’s face was cold, his expression resolute. Sharon Ennis knew she couldn’t be forceful with her son, so she had no choice but to soften her tone. "Aidan is still just a kid. You shouldn’t take what he says to heart."

Sharon Ennis was about to say more, but Elliot had already pushed back his chair and said to Georgia Thorne, "I’ll wait for you in the car."

Then he strode outside.

She glanced over her shoulder at the departing Elliot, then turned back to sneak a peek at Sharon Ennis’s infuriated expression. She put down her chopsticks. "Mom, I’m finished!"

Unable to persuade Elliot, Sharon Ennis could only turn to her daughter-in-law. "Georgia, Elliot must have told you he has a younger brother, right? His name is Aidan."

Georgia Thorne bit her lip and nodded. "Are we going to the hospital to see him?"

"Yes. Aidan was in a vegetative state for so many years. He only just woke up, and now the brothers are fighting over a small disagreement. Why don’t you go in Elliot’s place? It would be a good chance for Aidan to meet you, his sister-in-law."

Sharon Ennis didn’t know that Elliot had already taken Georgia to see Aidan once. It was during that visit that Aidan had mentioned Quentin Chase.

Sharon Ennis had accidentally let it slip that Georgia and Elliot were married when she was visiting Aidan at the hospital.

Later, when they met, Aidan couldn’t stop himself from getting into a huge fight with Elliot over Georgia.

Hearing Aidan’s name gave Georgia a bad feeling, an indescribable sense of unease.

Aidan was Quentin Chase’s younger brother, so naturally, he’d be on her side. Georgia could guess why Elliot didn’t want to go to the hospital.

It was because of her.

Thinking of this, she let out a heavy breath. ’I guess I’ll do it for Elliot’s sake.’ After a moment of consideration, she said, "I’ll go over after work!"

"Alright, I’ll pick you up after work," Sharon Ennis said, sighing in relief.

She had actually been afraid Georgia would refuse.

Judging by the look in Georgia’s eyes, she had likely figured out Aidan’s allegiances.

Elliot’s expression remained grim, and the two of them drove in silence.

When they reached her office, Georgia pushed open the car door, but he grabbed her by the shoulder. "I’ll come pick you up tonight."

"But I promised your mom we’d go to the hospital together," Georgia said hesitantly.

"My mom talked to you?" ’I should have known.’

Georgia nodded. "Aidan was in a coma for so long. There’s a lot he doesn’t understand. If you just explain things to him properly, maybe he’ll come to understand us."

She habitually tried to see the good in things. Aidan had been unconscious for so many years that even though his body had matured, mentally he was still a teenager, with a child’s stubbornness.

"Besides, having you two fight because of me makes me feel terribly guilty, as if I’m the bad guy."

"I get it. I’ll come pick you up this afternoon."

"So, you’ll go to the hospital with me?"

Elliot hummed in agreement. He gathered her hair, cupped it in his palm, and pressed a kiss to it. "I know he’s a good kid, but I don’t want you to suffer because of this."

"I’m not suffering!" Georgia retorted softly.

"Oh, really? Then who was it that was looking at me with red-rimmed eyes like a lost puppy?" Elliot asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

"You’re the puppy!" Georgia, flustered by his teasing, lunged forward and playfully bit him before breaking into a smile. "I’ll wait for you tonight, then."

"Okay. Go on up."

It was the first day back at work after the New Year. The office was festively decorated with small red lanterns.

"Miss Thorne, Happy New Year!"

"Happy New Year!"

Georgia Thorne cheerfully greeted Vivian Sawyer. Vivian trotted over, getting so close her face was practically touching Georgia’s. "Miss Thorne, you’re in a great mood this morning!"

"Did your husband drop you off at work?"

The news that Georgia and Elliot were married was no longer a secret at the company. People had seen Elliot personally pick Georgia up and drop her off many times, and everyone was green with envy.

Georgia hummed in acknowledgment. "You’re such a gossip. How’s this month’s data coming along?"

Vivian Sawyer grabbed a thick stack of files from her desk. "It’s all sorted! See? Don’tcha think I was super diligent, even over the holiday?"

For some reason, as the end of the workday drew closer, Georgia grew increasingly anxious.

Her right eyelid was twitching violently—a bad omen.

She glanced at the time and sent a text to Elliot: "Are you on your way?"

A few seconds later, a message from Elliot popped up. "On the road now."

"Okay, drive safe. I won’t bother you then!"

After sending the text, Georgia let out a long sigh. ’I’m just being too sensitive,’ she thought.

For the rest of the day, she simply waited for quitting time.

The moment the workday ended, Georgia hurried downstairs.

Seeing Elliot safe and sound, the tight knot in her chest loosened slightly. As she got into the car, she asked, "Why didn’t you text me when you got here?"

"I just arrived myself," Elliot said, turning the steering wheel and pulling onto the road.

It was rush hour, and the streets were choked with traffic. They got stuck halfway there.

Sharon Ennis called just as the traffic started moving again. "Mom, we’re on our way. We were stuck in traffic, but we should be there in about twenty minutes."

"Alright, then. Just get here as fast as you can!"

Sharon Ennis hung up and looked at Aidan on the hospital bed. He was holding a book but staring off into space distractedly, his expression clearly troubled.

Aidan had been a pitiful child from the very beginning. Born with weak kidneys, he was abandoned by his biological parents. They had thought he would finally live a stable life with the Sheridan Family, but who could have predicted the car accident?

While other boys were in the prime of their youth, he had slept for so many years.

Aidan had been looking forward to Elliot’s visit, but the tone Sharon Ennis used on the phone just now was definitely not how she spoke to Elliot.

’After thinking it over, there was only one other person it could be.’

Aidan’s mood soured. ’If even Sharon Ennis has accepted Georgia, then what about my sister?’

"Mom, were you just on the phone with Second Brother’s...?" Aidan hesitated, truly unable to call her "sister-in-law."

Sharon Ennis was peeling an apple. She looked up and said, "What’s with all the hemming and hawing? She’s your sister-in-law!"

She corrected his way of addressing Georgia, adding, "She’s coming over later with your second brother. You need to call her ’Sister-in-law,’ you hear?"

"Mom!" Aidan was clearly unwilling.

"In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown up so much. There are some things you should understand even if I don’t say them," Sharon Ennis said, her expression stern as she lectured him. "What happened between your second brother and Quentin is in the past. Your sister was the one who left Elliot first; you can’t blame anyone else. Don’t take all your resentment out on Georgia. She’s a good girl."

"Elliot waited for your sister long enough. In the past, whenever I introduced him to girls, he would claim he wasn’t interested in any of them, but I knew he was still thinking about your sister. But Quentin hasn’t shown her face even once. Elliot can’t just be a bachelor his whole life for her, can he?" Sharon Ennis said. "Now, he’s finally found a girl he likes and gotten married, which lets me, his mother, finally rest easy."

"But my sister, she..." Aidan was indignant. ’His sister must have had a very hard time all these years, too.’

"Sigh. All I can say is, your sister and Elliot were fated to meet, but not to be together."

"Mom!"

"Save that energy to give a loud ’Sister-in-law’ later, and don’t make your second brother angry again!" Sharon Ennis said, seeing his childishness. "You and Georgia are about the same age. Once you spend some time with her, you’ll see how wonderful she is."

Aidan was left speechless.

A little while later, there was a knock at the door. William poked his head in. "Sharon, you’re here!"

"You’ve come at the perfect time. Elliot is coming with his wife soon. You two can meet!" Sharon Ennis said, handing him a slice of apple.

"Sounds good!" William agreed readily. He glanced at the person in the bed, giving him a reassuring look.

Aidan angrily turned his head away, his fingers crumpling the pages of his book.

William had come to give Aidan a check-up. Aidan’s health had been deteriorating recently, and his anxiety was only making his condition worse.

"There’s nothing seriously wrong with Aidan’s health, is there?"

"It’s stable for now, but it’s hard to say what will happen down the line." William looked toward Aidan inside the room. "Sharon, you know Aidan’s condition. Without a suitable kidney donor, he won’t live for much longer."

Sharon Ennis’s eyes suddenly reddened. "He’s still so young..."

William patted her shoulder comfortingly. "Sharon, please don’t be sad."

By the time Elliot and Georgia arrived at the hospital, the sky was completely dark.

The man who had said he wouldn’t come to the hospital this morning was now here of his own volition. Feeling a bit sheepish, Elliot had Georgia speak first. "Mom, we’re here."

Sharon Ennis was feeding Aidan porridge. She put down the bowl. "You’re here. Quick, have a seat!"

Georgia smiled at Aidan, but upon seeing her, he turned his head away, clearly angry. Her smile stiffened a little, but she took the initiative to greet him. "Hello."

Aidan sullenly ignored her. Elliot’s expression instantly darkened, and he was about to stand up to teach him a lesson when Georgia grabbed his wrist.

Georgia looked at him with a pained expression, shaking her head and pleading with him not to. If they started fighting, she would be the one in the most awkward position.

Elliot was truly furious, but for Georgia’s sake, he forced himself to hold it in.

Sharon Ennis was a perceptive woman. Recalling that she had already talked to Aidan during the day, she said, "Aidan, this is your sister-in-law. The one Mom told you about earlier today."

Aidan reluctantly turned his head and looked at Georgia. "Hello, I’m Aidan."

"Hello," Georgia replied, her smile immediately brightening. She genuinely wanted to get along with Aidan, so the two brothers wouldn’t have to fight.

But then Aidan’s sullen expression returned. He burrowed under the covers. "I’m tired. I want to sleep."