Chapter 96 Weights of Hidden Secrets.

Chapter 96 Weights of Hidden Secrets.
Angela’s POV
~continuation~

There was a long, heavy pause that stretched between them. Angela blinked slowly, her lashes fluttering as realization dawned on her. She had said too much. The words were already out, exposed and irreversible, hanging in the air like fragile glass. Still, she did not regret it. Holding secrets had exhausted her. What mattered now was Liam’s forgiveness. If that meant tearing herself open and spilling everything she had buried, then she was ready.

She clasped her trembling hands together, her fingers cold. “Yes, your PA,” Angela said again, her voice shaking despite her effort to steady it. “That was how I found out about the fake dating contract between you and Maureen.”

Liam’s lips parted, but no sound came out. His chest rose sharply as he sucked in a breath that did nothing to calm him. His PA had been more than an employee. He was someone Liam trusted with documents, schedules, private calls, and sensitive decisions. Betrayal sank deep, sharp and unexpected. His jaw tightened, and his eyes drifted to the floor as if looking at her would shatter him further.

Silence pressed on them until he finally lifted his head. “But how did you do the video?” he asked, his voice uneven. “The one with my face and my voice in it.”

Angela swallowed hard. Her throat felt dry. “We planned it carefully,” she began, her eyes glossy. She rubbed her palms against each other unconsciously.

Mrs. Alexander shifted on the edge of the bed she sat, her expression stiff. “Angela, that’s enough,” she said quietly, warning laced into every word.

Angela shook her head slowly. “No.” She turned fully to Liam, meeting his eyes. “I owe you the truth.”

Mrs. Alexander reached out, gripping Angela’s wrist. “You’re saying too much.”

Angela pulled free. “I’m sorry,” she said softly, then continued. “We hired a private tech team. They studied your past interviews, boardroom recordings, public speeches, even short voice notes your PA had access to. They broke down your facial movements, your pauses, the way your lips curve when you smile.”

Liam frowned, his brows drawing together. “You’re saying someone else was acting as me?”

“Yes,” Angela replied. “An actor. He trained for just days. They synced his movements with your digital face map. Your voice was reconstructed layer by layer. Every laugh, every breath was edited and refined.”

Liam took a step back. “And the podcast?”

“We paid the influencer,” Angela said, her voice cracking. “He agreed to host the interview. Once it was uploaded, we pushed it with paid promotions, bots, fake engagement. It went viral within hours.”

Mrs. Alexander shook her head sharply. “Stop this now.”

Angela ignored her. “People believed it because it looked real,” she whispered. “Because it sounded like you.”

Liam let out a hollow laugh. “So everything was staged.”

Angela nodded, tears spilling over. “I didn’t think of the damage. I was desperate. Please forgive me, Liam. I’ll do anything to make things right. I could grant an interview and make a confession.”

Liam clapped slowly, his expression unreadable. “Wow. That was really smart of you guys there.” Without another word, he turned and walked out.

“Liam! Please!” Angela called out, but Liam didn’t stop.


Maureen’s POV

It was a Saturday, and I was finally home, resting from the week’s work. I sat on my bed with Sam resting his tiny head on my lap, his soft breathing rising and falling steadily. Linda sat beside us, her legs crossed neatly. Something about her felt off. She kept glancing at me, smiling in a strange, awkward way that made my skin prickle.

“Is there anything you would like to tell me?” I asked, placing my cup of orange juice on the small shelf beside the bed.

She stared at me, her smile stretching wider.

“What is it?” I asked again, my brows furrowing.

Still no response.

I picked up my glass, took a slow sip, and began scrolling through my phone. Then realization hit me like a spark. I turned abruptly, forgetting Sam was on my lap. He squinted in discomfort, and I quickly patted him. “Sorry,” I whispered, placing a kiss on his cheek.

I turned back to Linda. “You’ve got a boyfriend?” I whispered loudly.

She burst out laughing, her cheeks flushing red. That was all the confirmation I needed.

“You should introduce him one of these days,” I said, smiling softly.

She lifted her phone and turned it toward me. “Look at this. What do you think?”

It was a proposal video. A floating platform rested gently on calm New York waters. Everything was soaked in pink. Rose petals covered the floor, pastel balloons hovered above, and floral arches reflected beautifully on the water. Candles flickered warmly as the city skyline shimmered in the background.

“Wow. So beautiful,” I muttered.

Then it hit me. My eyes widened. “Wait. Are you getting proposed to?”

“Maybe. Maybe not. I never said I was getting proposed to though,” she said, shrugging playfully.

The excitement drained from me. “Are you hiding something from me?”

“What? No. Why would I do that?” she said quickly.

My phone alarm beeped suddenly, slicing through the moment.

“Oops. I’ve got to meet with Liam in twenty minutes,” I said.

“Speaking of Liam,” she began, hesitating, “don’t you think it’s best if you talk to him about…”

I sighed deeply. “Honestly, I don’t know. I don’t want his mother anywhere near my baby.”

“But what if he proposes?” she pressed. “You can’t hide this forever.”

I sighed deeply, again. “I just cannot shake off the feeling that Sam would be in danger once I tell Liam about him.”

“Look, I understand your fear, but if you don’t tell him now, and he founds out some other way, trust me, it could turn into a huge disaster.”

I just stared at her for a split second and said nothing. I gently laid Sam on the bed and walked into my dressing room, my heart heavy and uncertain.