The CEO's Hidden Wife

Lena barely slept that night, her mind swirling with thoughts about her marriage and Dominic's unexpected vulnerability. She couldn't understand him, and yet, something about his words lingered in her thoughts long after their conversation had ended. He was not the man she had imagined him to be. She had assumed he was cold, calculating, driven only by power and success. But that brief moment—when he spoke of his family's expectations—had cracked that perfect facade, showing her a side of him she hadn't expected. A side that made her question everything she thought she knew about him.

The next morning, she forced herself to focus. She had work to do, and she couldn't afford to let personal distractions cloud her judgment. The office buzzed with activity as usual, and Lena settled into her desk, trying to ignore the nagging thoughts in her mind. But as she looked over the documents on her desk, she found it difficult to concentrate. Her phone buzzed with a message from Dominic, asking for a meeting to go over some of the strategic plans for the company. She sighed and grabbed her notebook, heading to his office.

When she entered, Dominic was already sitting at his desk, his expression as stoic as ever. The tension between them was palpable, the unspoken weight of their marriage hanging in the air.

"Sit down," he said, his voice steady.

Lena sat, clutching her notebook in her lap. She couldn't help but notice the dark circles under his eyes, signs of sleepless nights that seemed to mirror her own. He looked even more exhausted than usual, but he didn't let it show. Instead, he dove straight into the meeting, discussing the details of the company's new expansion plan.

Lena listened intently, trying to focus on the task at hand. But as he spoke, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She noticed the tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers gripped the edge of the table. There was a pressure weighing on him, something beyond business, something personal. For a moment, she almost wanted to ask him about it, to offer him the comfort of understanding. But she held back, reminding herself that she wasn't here to be his confidante.

When the meeting finally ended, Dominic didn't look at her. He just nodded curtly and returned to his work, signaling that their interaction was over. Lena stood, unsure of what to make of their exchange. She had seen the cracks in his armor again, but they were fleeting, gone as quickly as they appeared. It frustrated her, and yet it intrigued her. She didn't know whether to be angry with him or to feel pity for him.

As she walked back to her desk, her mind raced. She had to remind herself that this wasn't her problem. She wasn't here to fix Dominic West. She was here because her family had made a deal. A deal she had no choice but to honor. Still, the emotions swirling inside her were hard to ignore. She couldn't help but wonder if there was more to this marriage than just business.

The day passed in a blur, and by evening, Lena found herself alone in her apartment, staring at the dinner she had made for herself. The silence of her apartment was suffocating, and the weight of the marriage contract felt heavier with each passing day. She picked up her phone, staring at the screen for a long moment before sending Dominic a message.

I hope your day went well. Let me know if you need anything.

It was a simple message, nothing more than a polite gesture, but it felt like a small step toward breaking the silence between them. She knew it was a risk—he could easily ignore it or respond coldly. But something inside her pushed her to send it anyway.

A few minutes later, the phone buzzed with a reply.

Thank you. I'll let you know if anything comes up.

It was brief, impersonal, but it was something. Lena put the phone down, trying to shake off the strange flutter in her chest. She couldn't understand why she felt this way. She wasn't supposed to care. She wasn't supposed to feel anything for him, not when their marriage was nothing more than a business agreement.

But as the days passed, the distance between them began to feel more unbearable. It wasn't just the silence between them, it was the uncertainty. The way Dominic seemed to hold himself back, as though he was afraid of letting anyone in, even her.

One night, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She had been spending more time at work, avoiding the loneliness of her apartment, but she knew that she couldn't keep running from this marriage. She had to face it head-on.

She stood in front of the bathroom mirror, adjusting her dress, then took a deep breath. She was going to talk to him. No more playing it safe. No more pretending like everything was fine. She had to know if there was any chance that they could make this work, or if it was doomed from the start.

Lena stepped into the hallway of West Enterprises and made her way toward Dominic's office. She hesitated for a moment, her heart pounding in her chest. But she didn't turn back. She knocked on his door and entered before he could respond.

Dominic looked up, his expression unreadable. He glanced at her, his eyes cold, before returning to his work.

"What is it, Lena?" he asked, his voice devoid of warmth.

"I need to talk to you," she said, her voice steady despite the nerves running through her. "About this marriage. About us."

He didn't respond immediately, but she could see the way his jaw tightened. For a moment, it looked like he might push her away, but instead, he closed his laptop and leaned back in his chair. His eyes met hers, and for the first time in weeks, she saw a flicker of something that wasn't indifference. It was exhaustion. And maybe, just maybe, it was vulnerability.

"Fine," he said, his voice lower than usual. "Let's talk."