The Tycoon's Secret Wife's Escape

Grayson's following words almost made me choke.

"Through Sophia..." he said casually as if discussing the weather.

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"Oh, right!" I forced a laugh, masking my unease. Grayson must have contacted Sophia for details about the contract. That's likely how he got my new apartment address, too.

Still, the speed of her trust in his team surprised me, considering how protective she usually was with my information.

"I'll be there in twenty minutes," he said, his cold, baritone voice leaving no room for argument.

My heart skipped a beat. "What?!"

I shot up in the lavender-scented bubble bath, sending water cascading over the marble sides of the vintage clawfoot tub.

"Is everything okay? What was that?" Grayson's voice was sharper, tinged with

concern.

"N-nothing! Just... clumsy me," I stammered, grabbing a towel. "I'll meet you in the apartment lobby."

Twenty minutes? That was barely enough time for me to function properly, let alone get ready. I'd need at least two hours to prepare on a regular day-not that my name carried much weight in the entertainment industry.

"See you,” he replied curtly before hanging up.

I sprang into action, moving with a speed I didn't know I had. A quick layer of makeup, hair still damp at the roots, and a passable combination of jeans and a wrinkle-free blouse. Somehow, I made it to the lobby's polished marble floor right on schedule.

A sleek black Bentley idled at the curb, its tinted window sliding down to reveal Grayson's face-or at least part

As I took a deep breath and started toward the car, a familiar voice froze me mid- stride.

"Isabella..."

of it.

I turned. Gabriel stood in his pale blue hospital gown, the fabric swaying in the autumn breeze. Storm clouds gather in his usually warm green eyes.

"What are you doing, Issa?" Each word fell like ice, his fingers clenching and unclenching at his sides. "I read the news. You terminated your contract. Where did the money come from?"

My heart sank. Gabriel had always trusted me, brushing off rumors others believed. But now, I could see doubt clouding his

gaze.

"I screwed up, I know that!" His voice cracked with emotion. "I don't believe the rumors about you, but-" He drew a shaky breath. "Let's fix this together. Come home with me."noveldrama

His tone softened, but his words were heavy, pulling at something deep within me.

A white hospital van screeched to a halt, and Leo jumped out with a petite nurse in blue scrubs rushing behind him. It was then I noticed a few bystanders beginning to glance curiously at Gabriel.

"Gabriel, what the hell are you doing?" Leo's voice was tight with barely controlled anger as he gripped Gabriel's arm. His eyes, however, stayed locked on me. "You're in the middle of downtown! Have you lost your mind? Why did you leave the hospital?"

I ignored Gabriel, turning my back on him without a word. My steps quickened toward the sleek car waiting nearby. But a

22:52 Fri, 11 Apr 0

question nagged at me-how did he know where I lived?

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"Issa!" Gabriel's desperate voice called out, but I was already in the car, the door closing with a quiet thud that shut him out.

Inside, Grayson sat with his usual regal posture, though something dark and stormy brewed behind his composed facade. His jaw was set, the muscle there ticking slightly.

"Drive," he commanded, his voice carrying that quiet authority that made even CEOs listen.

I ran a hand through my hair, exhaling sharply. "Sorry about that scene. I have no idea how he found my new address."

Grayson didn't respond, but the tension in his demeanor spoke volumes. Something had put him in a foul mood.

Had something happened at the office?

The car had been moving for only a few minutes when, without warning, Grayson reached for me and pulled me into his arms. The sudden closeness made my

cheeks burn, and I found myself staring into his piercing eyes.

"Stay away from him," he said, each word precise and heavy with warning. "I don't

want to see you anywhere near that man again.”

My heart raced at his words, at our proximity. This wasn't the Grayson I remembered-the one who had felt like an older brother when I was seventeen and he was twenty. His hand at my waist felt different now-possessive.

“I—I'll avoid him," I stammered, dropping my gaze to his silk tie.

But I didn't pull away from his embrace. I let him hold me, letting the unfamiliar warmth settle over me. His bad mood seemed to fade as the seconds ticked by, and slowly, the tension in my body eased.

The car came to a stop a few minutes later beside a building. Grayson exited first, then extended his hand to help me out. Before I could take in our surroundings, he pressed a pair of oversized Gucci sunglasses into my palm.

"People might recognize you," he said with quiet concern. "And I know you wouldn't like that."

His hand enveloped mine as we walked down the sterile hallway. At first, I didn't understand why I was wearing dark sunglasses, but soon, I realized we were in a hospital, the distinct smell of antiseptic filling the air. Ahead, a doctor clutching a thick manila folder was deep in conversation with Mr. Eliot Ward, their voices hushed but urgent.

"You're here, Grayson!" The doctor's face brightened with recognition. "I was just reviewing the latest results."

Grayson acknowledged him with a slight nod, his grip on my hand tightening imperceptibly as the doctor handed over the documents. Medical terms floated between them-words like "progression" and "treatment plan"—while Grayson listened attentively.

"Unfortunately, Grandma's condition requires continued observation," the doctor concluded, his tone carefully neutral.

"Thanks, Thomas!" Grayson called the doctor by his first name as though they were familiar. "We'll head in to see her now."

Thomas's eyes flickered to me, then to our linked hands, a knowing smile touching his lips. "She'll be delighted to have visitors. She's been vocal about wanting to meet special guests."

My cheeks flushed as Grayson guided me toward a private wing. "Grayson," I whispered, tugging gently at his hand. "Why are we here? Who exactly are we meeting?"

We stopped before a door, and he opened it before answering. "My grandmother."

"W-what?!" I froze, my gaze fixed on the ward inside. There was no turning back now, but I couldn't help feeling caught off guard by the speed of everything.

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Just yesterday, I'd seen Grayson for the first time in years and proposed a marriage of convenience. Now, here I stood, about to meet my future grandmother-in-law. Even for the fast-paced world of business deals, this felt dizzyingly quick.

The woman's sharp, steel-gray eyes-like Grayson's-locked onto our clasped hands. Her gaze, sharpened by years of high society scrutiny, assessed me instantly.

"How much is he paying you for this little performance?" she asked, taking me by surprise.