His Hidden Family My Ruined Marriage (Liana) novel Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Let’s Get a Divorce

“Mrs. Locke, congratulations, you’re pregnant.”
Liana Keane walked out of the hospital, feeling sweet to the bone.
Clutching the positive pregnancy test report, she got into her car with joy.
He’s on a business trip right now. Should I fly over and surprise him?
They had been trying for a baby these past two months—finally, they’d made it.
Starting the car, she dialed his number. His pleasant voice came through immediately.
“Liana, I’m in a meeting.”
“Ah, sorry.”
Liana hung up quickly. Just hearing his voice made her feel like she was living in a jar of honey.
They’d been married for two years. At first, he was completely absorbed in building his business and had no time for her. Recently, he’d finally had a little breathing room. With the elders pressuring them for a child, they had put it on the agenda.
And their feelings heated up fast.
Her phone rang again. Seeing the word “Hubby” on the screen, sweetness overflowed from her throat. “Hello?”
“My flight back is tomorrow evening. What gift do you want? I’ll get it for you.”
His voice was low, warm, and full of reassurance.
“Elian, is the baby’s formula ready?”
A woman’s voice cut in—shattering the perfect little bubble.
The smile on Liana’s face froze solid.
What did I just hear?
Baby?
She couldn’t hear what he said next. The world seemed to spin; she felt dizzy and lightheaded.
Two years ago, her mother was suddenly diagnosed with cancer. Her biggest worry was Liana’s marriage. Liana had had a boyfriend then, but he broke up with her the moment he heard about her mother’s illness, afraid of being dragged down.
Thrown into the dating market, she met Elian Locke—ditched, just like her.
Elian walked up to her and frankly explained his situation. His sincerity moved her, and they clicked—got the marriage license the same day.
Elian said he traveled frequently for work and wouldn’t have much time to spend with her. He met her cancer-stricken mother at the hospital once and then left.
It was only a while after the wedding that she found out he was that business tycoon.
Seeing her shock, he gently reassured her, “You married me, a living person, not just a name.”
He had pinched her cheek comfortingly. “Isn’t it enough that I treat you well?”
For a while, Liana felt like she’d won the lottery, afraid she’d wake up to find it was all a dream.
But these past two months, they’d been inseparable every night.
They say it for a reason—the more you get physical in a relationship, the deeper the love gets. If you hit pause on that, and it all goes flat.
But she’d just heard a woman say “baby” to him.
He had a woman outside?
She had never been part of his social circle. He said that scene was too murky, not suitable for a pure little lily like her who stayed unsullied.
By the time Liana snapped back to reality, her whole body had been drenched in sweat. The cold air from the AC seeped into her bones, a chilling, aching cold.
She returned home but stood at the entrance, unable to step inside. Her fingers absently brushed the side table nearby—they had made love right there just the other day.
Remembering how he’d pressed against her neck, his voice hoarse as he called her “baby” in the heat of passion, she pulled her hand back.
A wave of nausea hit her. She quickly went upstairs to pack.
This wasn’t her place anymore. But just as she was almost done packing, a figure blocked the light above her.
“Business trip?”
“No. I’m moving out.”
Liana looked up at him, her vision blurring uncontrollably.
He was supposed to be away—how’d he get back so fast?
Or maybe… he never left.
A suffocating rage surged within Liana’s chest. She held back with all her might, refusing to throw a tantrum like some dumped teenager.
She simply watched him quietly.
The warm, orange-hued indoor light accentuated his sharp features—thick brows, cool eyes, and those thin lips that somehow made him look refined.
There were always rumors outside about the head of the Locke Group keeping a woman outside—maybe a kid, too. Her best friend told her not to buy into it. People love to gossip about the rich to kill time and balance their own frustrations.
She hadn’t believed them. She’d trusted his character.
But today…
She steadied herself against the suitcase and stood up. Reminding herself she was a grown woman, she spoke as calmly as possible, “Elian, do you have—”
His phone rang. He glanced at it, his brows tightening slightly before he looked back at her. “Let me take this call first.”
Liana dug her nails into her palms. Watching his retreating back, she called out firmly.
“Do you have a home outside?”
He had the phone to his ear but turned to look back at her.
“Which one?”
Which one?
Are there many?
Liana was speechless with anger. Tears welled up in her eyes.
She’d always known rich folks played dirty—but this was next-level chaos.
He’d treated her so well these two years.
A bitter taste filled Liana’s mouth. She took a deep breath and stated firmly, “Let’s get a divorce.”
She was just an ordinary person, but that didn’t mean she had to accept her husband having another home elsewhere.
“I have something to handle. I’ll be there later.”
He hung up the phone. In a few long strides, he was before her, looking down from his height. “I advise you to think this through carefully.”
“I already have. I want a divorce.”
If he had told her on their wedding day that he had a home outside, she might still have married him.
Her mother’s greatest wish was to see her settled. To give her mother peace of mind for her treatment, she could have accepted a marriage of convenience.
But he never breathed a word of it.
Liana had always thought she was a lucky Cinderella, favored by her prince.
Now it seemed clear—there were no fairy tales. It was all a lie!
She even began to suspect now—back at the start of their marriage, when he was “traveling for work” all the time, was he actually with that other woman? Was she pregnant then? Or giving birth?
Liana’s heart clenched with pain again. Dmn it—she’d fallen in love with him.
He had played his part too well these two years, feeding her large bowlfuls of sweet illusions.
She had almost started to believe she was truly lucky, that he was really going to cherish her like a treasure.
But it turned out he was that kind of man—charming and refreshing from a distance, but rotten to the core up close.
“If you can’t accept it, then let’s divorce.”
He didn’t mention the baby, but he was admitting to it.
Liana immediately tried to leave but was stopped as strong hands gripped her shoulders, holding her in place.
Elian knew exactly why she suddenly wanted a divorce. But were two years of marriage really just going to blow apart?
Hadn’t he treated her well enough? From head to toe, wasn’t everything she had bought with his money? Not to mention her mother’s exorbitant medical bills.
“But Liana,” he said, his voice low, “I keep paying for your mother’s treatments because I’m your husband. If we divorce, I’ll have nothing more to do with your mother’s affairs.”
Liana was instantly stunned into silence.
He was currently looking for someone to develop a new targeted cancer drug.
The chances were slim, but what if?
If that new drug were developed, her mother could get better. Would she be personally cutting off her mother’s hope for survival?
Liana opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Her courage failed her.
As Elian saw her helpless expression, a strange pang shot through his heart. He lowered his eyes to avoid hers, then accidentally caught sight of the faint blush where her collarbones met beneath her shirt. His Adam’s apple bobbed on instinct.
“Call me when you’ve thought it through.”
He wiped her tears, kissed her forehead with an air of confident control, and left.
Liana remained standing there quietly, finally understanding how laughable these past two years of marriage had been.