His Secret Wife, Her Public Shame

table was thick with unspoken tension. Cecil pic

with concern. "You're barely eating,

she said, he

family for decades, chimed in. "Mr. Drake, Mrs. D

concern vanished, replaced by a possessive

nger gentle. It wa

ithout flinching.

ou go last night, Cleve? You

his face. He fell silent, not pressing her fur

on't be like this. You know you're the only one for

gh, a bitter, hysterical sound. He was afraid o

ed her h

back to the city hall. The same tired cle

for a visa," Cecil

for someone of your status, we can have someone handle this for

husband" was another

f," Cecil said. "

was one last thing. Her younger brother was in a private hospital, battling a chro

r the first time in twenty-four hours, she could breathe a little easier.

world that had become a nightmare. She walked through a

she s

escalators. This was not the shy, gentle Ivanna Cecil knew.

? You're dreaming!" Ivanna spat

r balance. She dropped a folder, p

e woman shouted, before

, her face transforming back into its familiar, i

lked over and picked it up. Curiosity, a do

open

es from a plastic surgery clinic in

. The "after" photos showed... Ivanna. But th

roplasty. A jawline reconstruction. The goal, stated in the surgeon's notes, w

was designed to make Ivanna look more like her. The shap

brought Ivanna to the house. The girl

anna had said. "I hope I can be

ing con. She hadn't been admiring

idence. It was a strategy. A

eyond betrayal. This wasn't just about an affair. This

b. She felt Ivanna's presence before she saw

a perfect mimicry of polite deference.

now knew was a carefully crafted im

hed Ivanna, his face full of admiration. "Dr. Mcca

odesty. "Oh, it was nothing. I

s. No one would ever suspect the c

from nowhere, his face a thundercloud. He s

e was ice. "Is there somethi

sir. Mr. Drake. I was j

Cleve said, his authority a

his possessiveness on full display. He then turned to I

e murmured, loud enough for Ceci

her approval. "I'm just looking o

on it. He was protecting his "naive" mistress from other

fell on the folder in Cecil's hand. The

rrowed. "Wh

recognized the logo of the law firm repre

his hand outstretche

rang. He glanced at the screen, his exp

leaving Cecil

Ivanna, Cecil turn

have to work late tonight, Cecil. A

to deal with the woman Ivanna had argued w

d out of the hospital, not to their empty, cold ho