Chapter 6: A Performance in the VIP Ward

The luxury sedan finally came to a stop at the lobby entrance of one of the most elite private hospitals in the capital. The glass-dominated façade reflected the silhouettes of Kael and Hellena as they stepped out almost simultaneously.

"Get out," Kael said shortly, without a trace of emotion.

Hellena nodded obediently. Her fingers tightened around the strap of her work bag as she tried to suppress the pounding of her heart. From the whirlwind of Herry's betrayal and the rushed civil marriage earlier that day, she now had to step onto a new stage of deception: becoming a loving wife in front of the CEO's mother.

They walked into the main lobby. The strong scent of antiseptic immediately assaulted her senses. Kael strode forward with long, decisive steps, while Hellena lagged slightly behind, trying to conceal the pain in her ankle that had been sprained the night before.

"Can you walk?" Kael asked flatly without bothering to look back.

"Yes, Sir."

"Good. Don't look nervous or limp in front of my mother," Kael said coldly.

Hellena held her breath for a moment, pushing aside her physical discomfort.

"I understand."

The private VIP elevator carried them smoothly to the top floor. As soon as the elevator doors opened with a soft chime, the head nurse immediately greeted them with a respectful bow.

"Mr. Kael, Madam Hansel has been waiting for you inside."

Kael merely gave a faint nod in response. However, just before they crossed the threshold of the hospital room, an unfamiliar warmth suddenly wrapped around Hellena's fingers. Kael took her hand, intertwining their fingers tightly.

Hellena flinched in surprise, but she restrained herself from pulling away. Kael's hand felt warm and firm.

"Use your best skills," Kael whispered in a very low voice near her ear. "Play your role perfectly."

The teakwood door swung open.

Inside the spacious, quiet VIP ward equipped with every modern facility, a middle-aged woman with a pale face lay weakly on the bed. Hearing the door open, she slowly turned her head.

"Kael..."

Her voice sounded hoarse and weak, yet the remnants of her authority as the matriarch of the family were still evident.

Kael stepped toward the bedside, bringing Hellena with him. For the first time in five years of working for him, Hellena saw the hardness in the CEO's face soften slightly.

"Mother," Kael greeted gently.

Madam Hansel's weary eyes slowly shifted, settling completely on Hellena, who stood upright beside her son. Her brows furrowed, suspicion clearly visible in her gaze.

"Who is this woman, Kael?"

Hellena swallowed hard.

Her plus-size figure beneath her formal attire suddenly made her feel awkward under the older woman's scrutinizing stare.

Kael gently pulled Hellena a little closer, narrowing the distance between them as though shielding her.

"Mother, let me introduce you. This is Hellena."

Madam Hansel narrowed her eyes, studying Hellena's face, which seemed vaguely familiar.

"Your personal secretary? The one you often talk about?"

"Not just my secretary, Mother," Kael interrupted calmly and convincingly. "She is my wife."

Silence instantly swept through the room.

Madam Hansel stared at him in shock, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

"What did you say? Your wife?"

"We officially registered our marriage this morning," Kael continued without the slightest hesitation in his eyes.

"That's impossible!" Madam Hansel slowly shook her head, unable to believe what she was hearing. "Kael, never use something as sacred as this to comfort your sick mother."

Kael let out a faint sigh. He raised their still-intertwined hands and showed them to his mother.

"We've been in a relationship for the past year, Mother. We had to keep it hidden from the public because of Hellena's position as my secretary. I didn't want malicious rumors to affect her performance at work."

Hellena was momentarily stunned by how smoothly Kael delivered the lie.

However, her professionalism as a senior secretary immediately took over. She put on her best smile and nodded gently, making her expression as soft as possible.

"That's true, Mother," Hellena said softly but firmly. "Please forgive us for only telling you now. We were simply waiting for the right moment."

Madam Hansel stared directly into Kael's eyes, searching for any trace of deception.

"So you've truly been together for a year?"

"Yes, Mother."

"And you let your own mother beg for a daughter-in-law every day without telling her anything?"

Her voice trembled between disbelief and emotion.

A faint smile appeared on Kael's lips—a smile that looked completely genuine in his mother's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Mother."

"Where's the proof? I won't believe it without official documents," she demanded, still holding onto a hint of skepticism.

Without a word, Kael set down his briefcase, took out the black folder they had brought from the civil registry office, and placed it on his mother's lap.

With trembling fingers weakened by illness, Madam Hansel opened the folder. Her eyes widened completely as she read the names printed inside, along with the fresh official government seal.

"You... you really are married..."

Kael nodded quietly.

Madam Hansel closed her eyes tightly. A single tear slipped from the corner of her wrinkled eye.

"I thought... I thought you would never open your heart to another woman again, Kael."

Kael chose to remain silent, his expression once again unreadable.

Slowly, Madam Hansel opened her eyes and extended the hand connected to an IV line toward Hellena.

"Come here, child. Come closer to Mother."

Hellena stepped forward carefully. The older woman's thin hand, cool yet gentle, immediately clasped hers firmly.