The Billionaire's Two-Faced Escort Wife-Chapter 90: The Lie

"Her number isn’t reachable. It’s common when she travels," Alexander said, showing his mother the screen of his phone.

Mrs. Devereux frowned. "Don’t get me wrong, son, I love Adrienne, but most of the time, she feels like a ghost. I barely get to see you with your wife, it almost seems as if you’re marrying your secretary now,"

Silence fell.

Alexander felt like a deer caught in a headlight.

This was the closest to exposure and he wasn’t sure how he was going to come out of it.

"Let’s go, mother. I have something to attend to," Sebastian suddenly spoke, clearing his throat as he took a slow step forward.

"Right, it’s true. Sebastian has something to attend to. Are you coming?" Agatha asked Mrs. Devereux.

Mrs. Devereux sighed, "Of course." She muttered and turned away from Alexander.

Alexander held his breath as he watched them walk toward the door.

He dared not release his breath. Whatever possessed his mother was not to be messed with.

"Alexander," Mrs. Devereux suddenly called without turning to Alexander.

Alexander stiffened, watching his mother’s straight back.

"I must meet with Adrienne tomorrow. Make sure she returns from whatever trip you said she went on. I have some serious discussions to speak with her." She said and walked out of the house,

Alexander was alone, but he didn’t move.

He was too confused to move or speak.

Something wasn’t right.

His mother should never have compared Adrian to his wife.

Why did she even think of something like that?

Did she know?

Dread washed over him, and the reality that his mother might know struck him like lightning.

Impossible.

She would never know, there was no way she would know.

He had been so careful.

He finally moved, shaking his head violently as if to dislodge the toxic thought. He had six months until the contract ended—six months to dismantle Adrian’s conditions and secure his love permanently. He couldn’t afford a distraction, much less a catastrophic family scandal.

He needed Adrian. Not just for comfort, but for strategy.

Alexander strode toward the study, but the heavy scent of perfume—Mrs. Devereux’s lingering scent—made him turn toward his room instead, seeking the clean air and safety of Adrian’s presence.

Alexander walked into the room without knocking.

Adrian was sitting on the edge of the bed, already dressed in his pyjama bottoms and Alexander’s oversized t-shirt, reading a novel—a quiet picture of domestic peace that contradicted the chaos they had just endured.

Alexander stood in the doorway for a long moment, simply breathing in the sight of him. Adrian looked up, seeing the devastation in Alexander’s eyes.

"She knows," Alexander stated, his voice a low, strangled rasp. He walked toward the bed, collapsing onto the opposite side, his head in his hands. "She compared you... to the phantom. She knows, Adrian. Or she’s close enough that it doesn’t matter."

Adrian closed his book calmly, placing it on the nightstand. He slid across the bed, maintaining the distance of their ’no touch’ rule, but offering his presence.

"She doesn’t know, Alexander. If she knew the full truth, she wouldn’t have left without exploding. She suspects the fiancée is a lie, and she suspects your feelings for your secretary are real. That’s the only thread she’s pulled so far," Adrian analysed, his voice steady.

"But she demanded to see Adrienne tomorrow," Alexander lifted his head, his eyes haunted. "We can’t produce her, Adrian. The disguise won’t hold up to an interrogation from Mother. I used all my lies tonight."

Adrian looked at him, recognising the raw panic. He was forced to initiate the next step.

He slowly moved his hand across the crisp white duvet, stopping it halfway between them. It was an offering—a physical invitation that adhered to the ’initiation by me first’ rule.

"You need to breathe, Alexander," Adrian said, his voice quiet. "You need to stop fighting Sebastian and your mother, and start fighting the problem. The problem is Adrienne’s absence."

Alexander stared at Adrian’s hand, then at his eyes. The offer was a lifeline, a recognition of his pain, and a confirmation of Adrian’s loyalty. He fought the urge to close the distance himself, honouring the restraint.

He settled for gripping the duvet where Adrian’s hand rested, anchoring himself to the material instead of the man.

"What is the solution, Adrian?" Alexander asked, the exhaustion draining the CEO’s steel from his voice.

"You have two options, Alexander," Adrian said, leaning closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.

"Option One: The Confession. You tell your mother the truth. Not about me, but about Adrienne. That she got cold feet, she wasn’t ready for marriage, and always returns home to seek solitude from the marriage. Tell her Adrienne is thinking about a divorce, and for the past six months, you’ve been trying to mend the broken relationship."

Alexander shook his head. "Too risky. She’ll investigate and find out about us. It would destroy what we have. I need to protect your image."

Adrian sighed, "Option Two: The Fabrication. We create a plausible, immediate emergency for Adrienne. Something that explains her absence for the next two months—long enough for your mother’s attention to shift. And something that ensures the marriage remains ’on track’ for six months from now."

Alexander looked intrigued, the flicker of strategy restoring his focus. "Emergency? What kind of emergency? She’s supposed to be travelling."

Adrian gave a small, knowing smile—the strategist taking over the lover. "She isn’t travelling, Alexander. She has suffered a terrible, life-threatening accident while on a charity mission in a remote, politically volatile country. She is currently in a hidden, secure private clinic, undergoing extensive reconstructive surgery and recovery. Her life is saved, but she is completely unreachable, highly medicated, and requires absolute secrecy for her own safety and recovery."

Adrian ticked the reasons off on his fingers: "This explains the absence, the silence, the lack of photos, the secrecy—and the hidden wedding until after her full recovery. It also ensures your mother cannot demand a visit or a phone call for weeks."

Alexander stared at Adrian, momentarily speechless. The lie was audacious, complex, and brilliant. It leveraged Alexander’s wealth and security network perfectly, turning a crisis into a romantic tragedy that could only be managed by the devoted Alexander.

"Adrienne is now in a coma, Adrian?" Alexander murmured, a hint of awe in his voice.

"No, Alexander. Not a coma. She is recovering," Adrian corrected, emphasising the word. "She is conscious, but in immense pain, fragile, and absolutely unavailable. You are visiting her daily, fighting for her life, and being the devoted, suffering wife. This protects your image and buys us the necessary time."

Alexander let out a slow, heavy breath. He finally moved, his hand stretching out and finding Adrian’s, closing around it tightly. The rule was broken, initiated by Adrian, and now Alexander was claiming it.

"You are incredible, Adrian," Alexander whispered, lifting Adrian’s hand to his lips and pressing a feverish kiss against his knuckles. "You are my armour and my sword. The marriage contract will not be dissolved, Adrian. I’m tearing up the part that says it’s only for six months. I need you in my life permanently."

Adrian felt a powerful surge of mixed emotions—joy that Alexander was choosing him, and panic that he was violating the new terms so quickly.

"Alexander! The contract is void if you change the terms without my consent—" Adrian began.

"No," Alexander interrupted firmly, standing up and pulling Adrian up with him, his touch possessive but gentle. "The contract is now valid, but the six-month deadline is simply a performance review date. After six months, we evaluate. If you still want to leave, I will honour it. But the contract remains in force until then. I need that protection for the ’Adrienne’ lie to work."

He wrapped his arms around Adrian, his chest pressing against Adrian’s. He kept his grip firm but did not kiss him, honouring the ’Stop’ rule.

"You are my wife, my secretary, and my strategist. We start the Adrienne Emergency tomorrow. We tell Mother that Adrienne’s remote hospital is too secure to reveal the location. Get some rest, my love. We have a lot of lying to do." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Alexander released him, his eyes burning with renewed purpose and deep affection. He then walked over to the door, opened it, and walked out, leaving Adrian alone but now tangled in an even deeper, more complex web of love and deception.

Morning—

Adrian woke slowly, the silence of the massive bedroom profound. He instinctively reached for the space beside him. It was empty. Alexander had kept his word; he had taken the couch in the study to honour the initial request for space, despite the intense emotional and strategic connection they had forged the night before.

​A strange mix of disappointment and relief washed over Adrian.

Disappointment because the memory of Alexander’s urgent touch and possessive gaze still lingered; relief because Alexander’s rigid adherence to the new rules meant his promises were dependable.

Adrian was terrified of the depths of his feelings, and Alexander’s restraint was the only thing preventing a complete, self-destructive surrender.