Love's Greatest Secret: My Wife's Legendary Double Life

Suddenly, brilliant bursts of fireworks streaked across the night sky, casting vivid colors over the darkness outside. A gentle hand rested on Anna's back as Owen spoke up. "Annie, didn't you say you wanted to catch the fireworks?" Turning toward the window, Anna watched the dazzling show, her fingers loosening their hold on the silver thread. She let go and glanced up at Owen. "Why don't you go get changed?" Owen suggested, his voice quiet and kind. "I'll have someone bring you downstairs so you can watch the show up close, all right?" With a dazed nod, Anna rose to her feet, following his suggestion without protest. A phone buzzed on the table, and as Owen reached for it, a sudden grimace twisted his face. Without warning, he doubled over, coughing until blood splattered into his hand. His fingers pressed desperately to his lips as another harsh cough wracked his chest. Alarm flashed in Anna's eyes. Was he dying right in front of her? Blood stains slipped between Owen's shaking fingers. Fearing she might see too much, Owen turned his head away. He forced out words between ragged breaths, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Annie... You need to get out of here... Tell Roderick to take you downstairs." Anna's gaze narrowed as she studied Owen's face. Was he really trying to protect her even now? A fresh wave of coughing overtook him, and this time Owen slumped sideways, unable to hold himself up any longer. "Owen!" Dropping to her knees, Anna caught him as he started to fall. Everything around Owen turned into a haze. His sight faded, and just before darkness took over, he tried to catch one last glimpse of Anna's face. "You have to go!" he managed to say before he blacked out. Anna hesitated while holding Owen close, unsure what to do next. Killing him now didn't feel right. She looked down at him lying helpless, slipped into Owen's shirt, then carefully shifted him onto the bed so he lay flat. Fingers reached for his buttons, ready to check his injuries, but a sudden bang shattered the quiet—someone had thrown open the door. "Mr. White!" "Owen!" Anna barely had time to move before a sharp pain jolted through her wrist, and someone yanked her to the floor. "Out of the way, you idiot!" A crowd poured in, and several people in white coats rushed to Owen's side, immediately beginning emergency treatment as he lay unconscious. Gregg's face was tight with worry. "How is he? Will Owen be okay?" "His condition is far more serious than before." One doctor glanced up with uncertainty. "Honestly... I can't promise he'll wake up this time." "What did you just say?" Shock slammed into Gregg as the news sank in. His expression turned grim, and he slumped backward, overcome. "Grandpa!" "Dad!" Family members rushed in to keep Gregg from falling, steadying him with anxious hands. Once Gregg was safely settled, Ezra White, Owen's uncle, fixed a serious look on everyone. "What exactly happened here?" "Dad! It's all because of that simpleton!" Nathan White, Ezra's son, exploded with anger. He stood beside the bed and swung his foot hard, sending Anna crashing backward as she tried to sit up. Anna hit the floor with a thud, air knocked from her lungs. Rage burning in his eyes, Nathan shouted, "The Russell family had the nerve to marry a simpleton off to Owen! They just held a ceremony, and his condition has gotten worse!" He fisted a handful of Anna's hair and jerked her upright, forcing her to look at him. "Owen wouldn't be like this if it weren't for you. Someone has to pay for it." Anna's shoulders curled inward as her voice trembled. "I didn't hurt anyone... I really didn't." Nathan's face twisted with scorn. "Still pretending you're innocent?" he spat. "You're strutting around in a towel, clearly trying to lure him into your bed and you're the reason he is having an episode again!" He didn't wait to finish before striking Anna across the face, the sound echoing in the room. Pain exploded in Anna's cheek, snapping her head to the side. "And even someone like you can play at seduction? Is this what the Russell family call raising a daughter?" Nathan snarled, his voice laden with disdain. Blood trickled from Anna's split lip as she shivered, barely managing to speak. "I didn't do anything." Ezra's tone was solemn. "Dad, Owen always knew his condition was serious, but after being fooled by that woman from the Russell family, he took a turn for the worse. If his wristband alarm hadn't gone off, we might not have made—" He fell silent when Gregg's glare cut him off. "Enough! Not another word!" Struggling to control his breathing, Gregg fixed a stormy gaze on Anna. "You've brought nothing but trouble. Take her back to the Russell family where she belongs!" A group of servants rushed in and grabbed Anna by the arms, hauling her toward the door. "Mr. Jones is here with Dr. Bradley!" Roderick hurried in from outside, his eyes widening when he saw Anna being dragged away. For a moment he looked stunned, then he darted forward, stepping between Anna and the servants. "Mrs. White!" "Mrs. White?" Nathan's lips curled into a sneer. "You really think she deserves to be called Mrs. White? She nearly killed Owen. She's not worthy of being his wife!" Planting himself firmly in front of Anna, Roderick faced Gregg and spoke calmly. "Sir, before anything happened, Mr. White made it clear that all his personal property and company shares would be left to his wife." The room tensed as Ezra shot up from his seat, palm slamming onto the table. "That's impossible! Owen would never leave everything to her!" Roderick barely had time to steady himself as Nathan shoved him aside, shouting, "So you want a cut of Owen's fortune, Roderick? Don't tell me you think we'll believe this story!" He clamped a hand down on Anna's arm. "We're being generous even letting her keep her life! And now she is after Owen's property? She's out of her mind!" Nathan could not believe what he was hearing. Had Owen truly lost his mind, leaving his entire fortune to someone like Anna? Each new thought only added fuel to Nathan's temper. Fixating on Anna as she knelt, bruised and shaken, he let his anger boil over and raised his hand to strike her once more. But before he could land the blow, a sudden force shoved him back several steps. "What the—" His anger faltered the moment he realized Wesley stood before him. Nathan swallowed his curse, his voice subdued. "Mr. Jones." Wesley calmly reached down and lifted Anna to her feet, pausing to make sure she was steady before placing himself between her and Nathan. He turned to Gregg, his tone unwavering. "Gregg, Roderick is telling the truth." Without hesitation, Wesley passed a folder to Roderick, signaling for it to be handed over. "This is Owen's will. He personally asked me to see that everything he owned would go to his wife if anything ever happened to him."