No Longer Your Secret Wife

I have been secretly married to my billionaire husband for six years. He has never been willing to reveal my identity or our son's to the public.

During a kindergarten family day, he became Daddy in another child's eyes.

My son clutched his activity card, standing frozen.

He whispered, Mommy, why can Uncle Ethan be that boy's daddy, but not mine?

I didn't answer.

I just walked into the principal's office and signed his transfer papers.

I decided to get a divorce and take my son away forever.

This time, no matter how much Ethan regrets it, my son and I will never look back.

"Mrs. Vance, the transfer papers you requested are ready."

"Are you sure you want to finalize this now?"

The principal sat behind her desk, looking at me with a hint of hesitation.

Outside the window, bursts of laughter from the playground drifted into the office.

Today was Pre-K Family Day.

Just moments ago, Leo was standing by my side, eagerly staring at the entrance.

Until Ethan Carter showed up.

Before I could even react, a little boy rushed into his arms, looking up and shouting, "Daddy!"

Ethan leaned down, patiently wiping the sweat from the boy's forehead, and scooped him up into a warm hug.

Chloe Jenkins stood beside them. The three of them looked exactly like a picture-perfect family.

Meanwhile, my son stood next to me. He watched the scene in a daze, his tiny hands tightening around his activity card until the paper crumpled.

After what felt like an eternity, he looked up and whispered, "Mommy, why is Uncle Ethan being someone else's daddy?"

At that moment, the words choked in my throat.

I simply turned around and walked into the principal's office.

"Process the transfer now, please."

"Mrs. Vance, if you want to think about it for a bit longer..."

"There's no need."

I picked up the pen and signed my name on the final line of the form.

My name was the only one on that line. It had always been just me.

I handed the form back to the principal.

"Also, please keep this confidential. I don't want anyone to know about Leo's transfer until we actually leave."

The principal stared at me for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright. I understand."

The moment I stepped out of the office, I ran straight into Ethan and Chloe.

Ethan was my boss, and more importantly, the father of my child.

Seven years ago, I was his executive assistant. After a wild, drunken night, we ended up having a baby.

This year marked the sixth year of our secret marriage.

It was also the sixth year he forced our son to call him "Uncle Ethan."

Ethan had one hand around Chloe's waist while the other held the little boy's hand. The scene was so sweet it burned my eyes.

As we crossed paths, I couldn't help but speak up. "Ethan..."

He stopped in his tracks, his expression instantly turning icy.

"Miss Vance."

His polite, distant tone carried a sharp warning, as if reminding me: *We aren't close.*

I understood his silent threat perfectly and swallowed my emotions.

I let out a bitter, silent laugh. I had actually wanted to ask him to spend one last birthday with our son.

But what was the point? He wouldn't care anyway.

My phone screen lit up. It was a text from my son's smartwatch.

[Mommy, did you tell Daddy to come home for my birthday tonight?]

I froze, instinctively looking back.

I saw Ethan leaning down, gently talking to Chloe's son.

The tenderness in his eyes was unmistakable.

Swallowing the bitterness in my throat, I sent Ethan a text message anyway.

[Today is Leo's birthday. You promised you'd celebrate with him tonight.]

I saw Ethan pick up his phone. He glanced at it for less than three seconds, set it back down, and showed absolutely no reaction.

Staring at the silent chat screen, I smiled mockingly at myself.

*Nora, what are you still expecting from a husband whose heart belongs to another woman?*

I slid my phone back into my pocket, took a deep breath, and walked away.

*Ethan, soon enough, you'll only have one son left.*

I walked to the classroom door and picked up Leo.

The moment he saw me, he ran over and excitedly grabbed my hand.

"Mommy, today is my birthday! Can I finally call him Daddy tonight?"

Standing in the middle of the crowded hallway, tears welled up in my eyes.

"Your dad..."

Before I could finish, my phone buzzed.

Ethan had finally found the time to reply.

[I'll be home tonight.]

I stared at the message for a few seconds, my heart completely numb.

This would be the last time.

I locked my phone, looked down at Leo, and said softly, "Daddy said he'll be home tonight."

Leo's eyes instantly lit up, his voice bursting with pure joy. "Really?"

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Really."

That evening, I cooked a table full of his favorite dishes. Leo finished his homework early.

He sat on the couch wearing his party hat, checking the front door every few minutes.

At 7:00 PM, Ethan wasn't home.

At 8:00 PM, there was still no sound at the door.

By 9:00 PM, the food on the table had gone completely cold.

I sent text after text, asking where he was.

But just like always, there was no reply.

Leo seemed to realize what was happening. He looked at me timidly. "Mommy, is Daddy not coming back?"

I walked over, pulled him into my arms, and gently stroked his hair.

"I'm so sorry, baby."

Leo shook his head, obediently holding up his birthday hat. "Mommy, can you help me put it on?"

I nodded. But as I reached for the hat, my eyes caught a new Instagram notification from Chloe.

[Such a wonderful day. He took me and my baby out for a candlelit dinner. ??]

Attached was a photo of a high-end restaurant.

Even though his face was cropped out, I instantly recognized the wedding band on the man's hand in the corner of the photo.

It was the ring we had picked out together when we got married.

How ironic.

On his own son's sixth birthday, he was having a romantic candlelit dinner with his mistress.

I tapped the "like" button and put my phone down.

I turned back and placed the birthday hat on my son's head.

"Happy birthday, Leo."

Under the warm glow of the single candle, Leo closed his eyes and folded his hands.

"My birthday wish is to stay with Mommy forever."

I snapped a photo of him with my phone to capture the moment.

"Okay. Mommy promises you."

That night, neither of us mentioned Ethan again.

Once Leo fell asleep, I pulled out the divorce papers I had prepared beforehand from the drawer.

The last shred of hesitation in my heart completely vanished.

At 2:00 AM, Ethan finally came home.

Seeing the half-eaten cake on the table, a flicker of guilt crossed his eyes.

"Sorry, I lost track of time."

I almost laughed out loud. I had sent him dozens of texts.

Did he really not see them?

Or did celebrating another boy's birthday make him forget everything else?

I flipped the divorce papers to the signature page and handed them to him, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Sign this..."

Before I could finish, Ethan's phone rang.

Chloe's panicked voice echoed through the quiet house.

"Ethan, Mason has a fever. He won't stop crying and keeps asking for you. I don't know what to do..."

Ethan stood up instantly, anxiety written all over his face. "Hold on, I'm coming right now."

Hanging up, he didn't even look at what I handed him. He just scribbled his signature on the bottom line.

I stepped back into the shadows and silently watched him rush out the door.

*Ethan, you're the one who abandoned this family.*

*From now on, Leo and I will never wait for you again.*

The next day, Ethan came home and handed me a beautifully wrapped gift box.

"A birthday present for Leo."

I looked up at him, took the box, and opened it.

Inside was a remote-control car.

I froze.

Not because the gift was expensive, but because I had just seen this exact toy on Chloe's Instagram story last night.

Her caption had been: *He didn't like it. Played with it for two minutes and threw it away.*

So this was the "makeup" birthday gift Ethan brought for Leo.

Giving his own biological son a toy that another woman's child had discarded.

I casually tossed the box onto the side table.

My tone was flat. "Thanks, but he doesn't need it."

Ethan gave me a strange look, but then he remembered something else.

"One more thing."

"Mason had a fever last night, and Chloe can't handle it alone. I'm planning to bring them here to stay for a few days until he gets better."

I stared at him, unable to believe my ears.

"You mean you're bringing Chloe and her son to live in our house?"

Ethan's expression was completely casual.

"It's just temporary. Just a few days."

"The kid is sick. He needs someone around."

I stared at him, feeling a cold shiver run down my spine.

"What about Leo?"

"Mason has a fever. Aren't you worried he'll pass it to Leo?"

For once, Ethan hesitated.

But he quickly came up with a thoughtless solution.

"That's why I want you to take Leo to a hotel for a few days."

"Once Mason is fully recovered, I'll bring you both back."

I found it incredibly laughable.

"Ethan Carter."

"Do you even hear yourself?"

He frowned, seemingly annoyed by my reaction.

"Nora, don't be unreasonable."

"I'll have my assistant book a nice hotel. I'll cover all the expenses."

I suddenly burst into laughter.

Even now, he actually thought I was upset about the cost of a hotel.

I didn't want to look at him anymore.

"Fine."

"I'll pack our bags and leave with Leo as soon as possible. We won't get in your way."

Since we were leaving anyway, doing it a bit earlier made no difference.

He opened his mouth, his tone softening slightly. "It won't be long."

I didn't look up. I just remained silent.

I packed our suitcases and led Leo toward the door.

But the moment I pushed the door open, I ran right into Ethan bringing them in.

He was wheeling Chloe's suitcase with one hand while holding her son in his other arm.

When our eyes met, I saw a flash of panic in his eyes.

Chloe gasped dramatically. "Nora? What are you doing here?"

Hearing her, I immediately pulled Leo behind me, blocking his view.

"I"

"They are my relatives. They're just staying here temporarily," Ethan cut in before I could speak.

His grip on the suitcase handle tightened.

It wasn't the first time he had denied me, but every single time, it still felt like a knife twisting in my heart.

Just as I was about to speak, Leo beat me to it.

"Hello, Uncle Ethan."

I turned to look at my son in disbelief, only to see his eyes brimming with tears.

"Mommy, let's go," Leo whispered.

All my words choked in my throat. I squeezed his hand and replied softly, "Okay."

As we brushed past them, Ethan grabbed my wrist.

His grip was incredibly tight.

"Nora."

"Did you teach him to say that on purpose?"

I smiled, finding his anger deeply ironic.

"Didn't you say it yourself? In public, he is only allowed to call you Uncle."

Six years of secret marriage. Ethan hadn't just hidden our relationship from the public.

What was even more pathetic was that Leo was only allowed to call him "Daddy" on his birthday.

Every year, seeing Leo so excited for his birthday just so he could call his own father "Daddy" broke my heart.

I looked down and tried to wrench my hand free, but his grip didn't budge.

Ethan stared at me, his eyes filled with a complex emotion.

"Give me a few days."

"I'll explain things to Leo."

I reminded him coldly, "Chloe is waiting for you. Let go."

As if suddenly waking up, Ethan reluctantly released his grip.

I let out a cold laugh and turned to walk away with Leo.

But Ethan suddenly called out behind us.

"Wait."

He ran back to his car and brought out a cake box, holding it out to me.

"Leo, happy birthday."

Chloe chimed in right on cue. "Ethan originally bought this cake for Mason, but the poor thing has a fever and can't eat anything."

"Your son might as well have it."

The cake in my hands suddenly felt like it weighed a ton.

I wanted to throw it back at them, but then I saw the faint spark of hope in Leo's eyes.

He asked timidly, "Uncle Ethan, is this really for me?"

Ethan gave a brief nod.

Leo finally showed his first smile of the night. He pulled my hand, dragging me toward the living room. "Mommy, open it quick!"

I silently untied the ribbon and opened the box.

The very next second, my hands froze.

Right in the center of the frosting, written in neat letters, was:

*Happy Birthday, Mason!*

The air in the room instantly turned ice-cold.

The smile on Leo's face slowly froze and crumbled.

He stared at the words for a long time. When he finally spoke, his voice was barely a whisper.

"Mommy... this isn't my cake, is it?"

My throat tightened, and my fingers began to tremble.

Chloe gasped, covering her mouth as if she had just noticed.

"Oh my god, how could the bakery forget to change the name?"

I didn't say a word.

Because I knew very well that the bakery hadn't "forgotten."

From the very beginning, this cake was never meant for Leo.

Leo slowly lowered his head, his voice cracking.

"I don't want it."

"I don't want things that other people threw away."

With that, my son buried his face deep into my chest, refusing to look at Ethan again.

Without a second of hesitation, I picked up my son and walked out.

Even as we walked out of the villa, I could still feel Ethan's panicked, apologetic gaze on my back.

But this time, neither my son nor I felt a single thing.