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Secrets of a Hidden Marriage

Secrets of a Hidden Marriage

Romance
last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-08
By:  RavenOngoing
Language: English
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Synopsis

Contemporary

Arrogant

CEO

Age Gap

Betrayal

Love after Marriage

"This is my first time... it hurts... oh, it’s bleeding..." Allie winced as a cut from the kitchen knife throbbed on her finger. Liam glanced at her, his face full of concern, and applied the medicine with a sharp, almost angry tone: "I’ve told you not to go near the kitchen! Just tell me what you want to eat, and I’ll make it for you!" For Allie, her 20th birthday gift was discovering her boyfriend's betrayal with her best friend in bed. Furious, she turned her back on Nick and married Liam Hart, the city’s most influential and untouchable man. From that moment, she faced endless challenges: Nick’s constant manipulations, Liam’s family scheming against her, and the toxic people in their lives. Everyone sees Liam as the perfect, doting husband—no one knows the price she pays for his love. Exhausted, Allie faced Liam one night, her voice trembling with frustration: "Liam Hart, you are a monster in disguise." Liam, looking hurt, replied with a soft grin, “You wound me, darling. How could I possibly be a monster when I’m the one who’s supposed to protect you?”

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Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Treading Thin Ice

Allie Brooks was only five minutes late, but she ended up in the CEO’s office, facing his cold stare.

He gave her a full hour of hell.

When she finally stepped out, her cheeks were red, her eyes glossy and swollen, as if she’d been crushed.

She looked like she’d been crying.

Her coworkers at the office glanced at her with pity.

Allie was just an intern, assigned the usual grunt work—filing, proofreading reports, even arranging meeting schedules.

But for some reason, the CEO, Liam Hart, seemed to have it out for her.

Every chance he got, he’d find a reason to summon her, to tear her down, to make her feel small.

And every single time, Allie walked out of his office looking just like this.

Allie collapsed into her chair, drained.

Across the desk, her fellow intern, Jess, rolled over in her chair, shooting her a sympathetic look. “Liam’s too much.

He’s acting like he owns your life.”

Jess huffed, shaking her head. “So, spill. Did you do something to piss him off? The first thing he did after getting back from that conference was call you in.”

Allie tried to shake the image of Liam’s cold, unyielding gaze from her mind, but his words still echoed.

“You need to be better, Allie. A lot better.”

She clenched her jaw. Just one more week. Just one week until her internship ended.

Jess gave her shoulder a supportive squeeze. “Tonight’s the department dinner, remember? We’ll all be there to back you up. You coming?”

Allie’s head snapped up. “Do I have to?”

Jess leaned in, whispering, “Yeah. Rachel's buying. She’s got connections with the higher-ups, so pretty much everyone will be there. It’s a free meal, at least.”

Rachel Hillman. The star intern. Rumor had it, her family had ties to the company’s board.

Allie sighed, trying to push away her dread. After Liam’s remarks today, she was sure he’d dismiss her right after work.

The hours dragged on. When evening finally rolled around, she decided to go with Jess. Anything to avoid heading straight home to think about today’s humiliation.

At the dinner, Allie tried to blend in, but it was useless.

The questions started coming from every corner.

“So, what did you do to tick off Mr. Hart?”

“Does he have it out for you or something?”

Allie shrugged, keeping her expression blank. “I honestly don’t know.”

Midway through the evening, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen.

It was him.

Her stomach tightened as she answered. His voice, low and commanding, spilled through the line.

“Where are you?”

 

* * * * * * * *

 

“Allie, where are you?”

“Downtown at Sam’s Diner,” Allie said quietly, holding her phone tightly.

Liam’s voice was cold, laced with irritation. “Come home. Now.”

The line went dead.

Allie stared at her phone, stunned, before standing up. “Sorry, everyone, something came up. I have to go.”

She grabbed her bag, ignored her coworkers’ curious glances, and rushed outside to catch a cab back to Lakeview Heights.

Their house sat on the edge of the hills, like a modern castle—beautiful, but distant, like Liam himself.

When she arrived, the butler opened the door. “Miss Brooks, welcome home.”

“Where’s Mr. Hart?”

“He’s upstairs, in the bedroom.”

Allie’s heart pounded as she went up, pausing outside the bedroom door, unsure why she felt so nervous.

Finally, she stepped inside. The room was empty, but the sound of running water from the bathroom told her Liam was

showering. She sighed, setting her purse down on the sofa.

Staring at the bathroom door, Allie’s mind spun. Everything felt surreal—this marriage, her life in this house. Just yesterday, she was a nobody, and now… Mrs. Liam Hart, wife of the CEO of Hart Industries. The idea was as baffling as it was intimidating. Why her? What did he see in her that he didn’t see in any of those other women?

The bathroom door creaked open, and Liam stepped out, dripping wet, a towel slung low around his hips. Allie’s eyes wandered, involuntarily taking in his lean, chiseled frame.

Liam raised an eyebrow, a smirk on his lips. “Like what you see?”

Her face turned red, and she looked away quickly. “I’ve seen better,” she muttered, instantly regretting it.

“Oh, really?” His voice was low, challenging. He took a step closer. “Why don’t you come over here and take a closer

look?”

Allie’s heart raced as he closed the distance between them. She could feel the heat radiating from him, his intensity as unsettling as it was thrilling. Her hand reached out, almost as if on its own, brushing his chest.

Before she could pull away, he caught her wrist, pulling her closer. “Allie,” he whispered, his voice rough, sending a shiver down her spine.

She closed her eyes, surrendering to the inevitable.

When she opened them again, it was morning, sunlight streaming through the curtains.

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reviews

Christine Dendinger
Christine Dendinger
please update
2026-02-11 20:35:26
0
0
Xinxin
Xinxin
This book haven’t update anything?
2025-08-29 12:31:55
3
0
Christine Dendinger
Christine Dendinger
love this story so far
2025-08-29 03:57:18
1
0
amour
amour
133 chapters 8-15-25
2025-08-16 22:57:21
2
0
141 Chapters
Chapter 1: Treading Thin Ice
Allie Brooks was only five minutes late, but she ended up in the CEO’s office, facing his cold stare.He gave her a full hour of hell.When she finally stepped out, her cheeks were red, her eyes glossy and swollen, as if she’d been crushed.She looked like she’d been crying.Her coworkers at the office glanced at her with pity.Allie was just an intern, assigned the usual grunt work—filing, proofreading reports, even arranging meeting schedules.But for some reason, the CEO, Liam Hart, seemed to have it out for her.Every chance he got, he’d find a reason to summon her, to tear her down, to make her feel small.And every single time, Allie walked out of his office looking just like this.Allie collapsed into her chair, drained.Across the desk, her fellow intern, Jess, rolled over in her chair, shooting her a sympathetic look. “Liam’s too much. He’s acting like he owns your life.”Jess huffed, shaking her head. “So, spill. Did you do something to piss him off? The first thing he did
Read more
Chapter 2: Comparing Him to a Teddy
Allie woke up with a start, realizing she’d overslept. She could’ve sworn she set her alarm, but it hadn’t gone off. She sat up quickly, waking the man next to her. Liam groaned, barely opening his eyes. “What are you doing so early?” “It’s eight o’clock! I’m late for work,” she said, scrambling to get up. But before she could move, Liam pulled her back, wrapping his arm around her. “You’re already late. Stay and sleep a little longer.” Allie hesitated, but his hold was firm. She didn’t dare resist, so she lay still, hoping he’d drift back to sleep. Slowly, she started inching away, trying to slip out of his arms. Just when she thought she was free, Liam’s voice rumbled in her ear. “Sneaking around like a caterpillar this early?” Before she could reply, he pulled her close, and the morning took a very different turn. When Allie finally made it to the office, it was almost 9:30. Her friend Jenna spotted her. “Allie! What’s up? You’re never late.” Memories of that
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Chapter 3: The Revelation
Cher rarely saw Allie look so distant, and it made her nervous. Her voice turned sharper. “So, you’re really not going to forgive me? You already have everything, Allie. Why are you still trying to take Nick from me? Do you just hate seeing me happy?”Allie stared at her in disbelief. Was Cher serious? She was the one who’d come between Allie and Nick, and now she was acting like she was the one who’d been wronged.With a calm tone, Allie replied, “Cher, there’s nothing left to say. I need to get back to work, so please, leave.”As Allie turned to go, Cher grabbed her arm. “Wait, there’s one more thing you should know…”“Cher, what are you doing here?”A tall figure appeared at the door.It was Nick, his expression clouded with irritation. He walked over quickly, clearly frustrated. “Cher, I’ve told you not to come to Allie like this.”Cher immediately shifted her tone, looking pitiful and helpless. “I only wanted to apologize to Allie. This was my fault, not yours. I’m just here to a
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Chapter 4: The Office Showdown
The room went dead silent when Liam walked in.Everybody knew Liam Hart. He was practically a legend in New York City—gorgeous, wealthy, the ultimate bachelor, and head of the hottest tech firm around. His face was all over finance magazines, and he was constantly in the gossip columns. Even Cher, who was in journalism, couldn’t miss that fact.Liam walked right up to Allie, his voice low and smooth. “Who are these people?”Allie, thrown off by his unexpected appearance, glanced at him and shrugged, “Nobody important.”A soft smile touched Liam’s face as he took her hand. “I picked up a few things for you on my trip to Japan. Come, let’s go see if you like them.”With that, he turned to leave, holding Allie’s hand. But before they made it to the door, Nick stepped forward, grabbing Allie’s arm. “Allie, who is this guy to you?”Allie paused, aware of the tension building in the room. Cher and everyone else were staring. Even Liam was watching, waiting for her response.Taking a deep
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Chapter 5: You Look at Me Like That, I Can't Handle It
Allie stayed in Liam Hart’s office, not wanting to leave.She knew as soon as she stepped out, she would be the center of everyone’s gossip, and the thought of it made her want to hide inside, away from all the prying eyes.Liam, the man buried in his work, was the youngest CEO of the Hart Group. A global empire built by his grandfather, with investments spanning industries from tech to real estate. The Hart Group was untouchable, a name revered in the business world.Allie came from a family of influence as well—her father was the chairman of Crescent Media, one of the leading media conglomerates in the country. But even with her family’s power, the Hart Group outshone the Crescent name in every way, and the political ties that the Hart family had only added to their power.Her father had mentioned Liam a few times before, calling him a once-in-a-lifetime business genius. But what really intrigued Allie was Liam's mysterious background. Everyone knew that his father had passed away y
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Chapter 6: Half-Sister Vivian Brooks
While Liam Hart was in the shower, Allie Brooks quickly finished packing her luggage.When she went to change clothes, she ran into a bit of a problem. Her chest and neck were marked with faint love bites, courtesy of Liam.That man…Allie had no choice but to put on a turtleneck, something she usually avoided.When Liam came out, he noticed her wearing a pale yellow turtleneck sweater. She looked soft and innocent, with her hair pulled back into a simple ponytail, highlighting her smooth forehead. A faint blush tinted her cheeks, and her eyes held a lingering fog, giving her an unintentionally adorable look—a real-life version of the internet’s “soft girl” aesthetic.With her youthful, round face, she looked even younger, like a high school junior.Liam walked over with a teasing smirk. “Why the sudden wardrobe change? Don’t you usually complain about turtlenecks being uncomfortable?”Feigning innocence, he was clearly poking fun at her.Allie rolled her eyes at him.Liam chuckled in
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Chapter 7: An Unexpected Invitation
Allie’s father, David Brooks, walked over, taking her hand gently. “Allie,” he began, his voice full of concern, “why didn’t you tell me about the breakup with Nick?”Allie gave a small, resigned smile. “It’s nothing, Dad. Just... a breakup. It’s over.”Though she tried to sound indifferent, David knew his daughter too well. Allie and Nick had been inseparable since childhood, and the Brooks and Lawson families had practically seen them as destined for each other. The sudden turn of events surprised everyone.David sat down beside her, offering her a comforting smile. “You’re strong, Allie. And maybe this is for the best. Nick was never one to settle down. You deserve someone truly exceptional—someone worthy of my daughter.”With that, David pulled a small, embossed card from his coat pocket. “This,” he explained, holding it out to her, “is an invitation to Mr. Grant Hart’s 70th birthday party. Every prominent family in the city has one, and it specifically says each family can bring
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Chapter 8: The Price of Secrets
Allie had never been one for turtleneck shirts. It simply wasn’t her style. But as she turned to put away her clothes, her stepsister, Vivian, noticed a faint, telltale mark on Allie’s neck.Without warning, Vivian reached out, yanking down the collar of Allie’s blouse. “Allie,” she sneered, her eyes lighting up with malice, “who would’ve thought you’d be messing around with someone else? First, you break up with Nick, and now you’ve got another guy’s mark on you?”Allie’s jaw tightened, but she kept silent, knowing any reaction would fuel Vivian’s smugness.Vivian folded her arms, voice dripping with contempt. “No wonder Nick dumped you. Did you cheat on him? Give him a reason to walk away?” Her voice dropped to a hiss. “If you don’t hand over that invitation and tell Dad you’re backing out of the Hart family party, I’ll make sure everyone finds out—Dad, Nick, even the Harts.”After a moment’s hesitation, Allie handed over the invitation, more out of exhaustion than fear. The last th
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Chapter 9: Confrontation
When Allie burst into the lab, she found Chloe pinned to the test bench, her face contorted with fear as Felicity brandished a scalpel near her cheek.“You think you can cozy up to Adam?” Felicity sneered, tracing the blade’s edge dangerously close to Chloe’s skin. “I could make sure he never looks at you again.”Chloe tried to stay calm. “I wasn’t flirting with him! We’re in the same study group—it’s part of our coursework. Just because I talk to him doesn’t mean I’m interested. If I said you had doglike loyalty for following him around, would you agree?”Felicity’s face twisted in rage. “You think you can mouth off to me? You clearly don’t know who you’re dealing with.”She raised the scalpel, ready to make her point more literally.“Stop right there!” Allie’s voice echoed from the doorway.The group turned, momentarily stunned to see her standing there, unafraid. Allie had made quite a name for herself on campus—not only for her looks, which had earned her plenty of attention, but
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Chapter 10: The Ice Prince's Bold Move
It was undeniable that Adam Reynolds had a face that was both stunning and intimidating, the kind that could make anyone pause. Felicity’s cheeks flushed pink, and the girls around her looked starstruck.Allie quickly stepped forward, addressing him directly. “Perfect timing, Adam. Are you really going to stand by while these ‘fans’ of yours torment other students in your name? Sure, you didn’t start this, but if you don’t do something, they’ll just keep going. Do you enjoy all this attention so much that you’re willing to ignore it?”Her words struck a nerve, and Adam’s brow furrowed, causing Allie to pause; his expression was strangely familiar, reminding her of someone she couldn’t quite place.Felicity scoffed and stepped forward. “Allie, who do you think you are, talking to Adam like that? I see what you’re doing—trying to get his attention. You think he’s going to notice you if you make a big enough scene?”She raised her hand as if to slap Allie, but her wrist was stopped midai
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