THE CEO'S FAKE WIFE (English)

CHAPTER 3

Viz Hezron, CEO of Hezron Precision (H-Precision), a multinational electronics manufacturer. H-Precision produced electronics and electronic components that are used in the information technology, precision molding, communications, automotive, and other consumer electronics industries. His company was also a key supplier for Castoldi tech products.

The CEO of Castoldi Labs and Technologies, Zeki Castoldi, who was one of the most respected and widely known businessmen, was his half-brother. They shared the same father but had different mothers. He had a good relationship with Zeki as siblings, but only a few knew that he was also a Castoldi and that he and Zeki Castoldi were brothers.

Their father wasn’t exactly a good person. Zeki's mother was the legitimate wife. His mother, a public school teacher, became pregnant by accident for Zaldy Castoldi. Zaldy sent his mother to the US, as no one was supposed to know about her pregnancy. His mother stayed in America until she gave birth. After his birth, his mother didn't stay long in America and returned to the Philippines. She left him in the care of two elderly caretakers of the Castoldis in America.

He used his mother's surname, Hezron. His father's name was not written on the live birth certificate. That was Zaldy's order, because he wanted to keep the fact that he had a child with another woman a secret.

That was favorable for him.

He was happier under the care of the two elders; Nana Ising and Nana Nita. They were warm and they showered him with love as if he was their very own grandson. Nana Nita, who had a family in the Philippines, was the one he always talked to. She always received letters from her grandchild in the Philippines. The child was probably guided by her mother to properly compose the letter and send it to the elder.

In Nana Nita's stories, her grandchild was kind, affectionate, and cheerful. It wasn't hard to believe because if you look at Nana Nita, that was exactly her personality. The old woman was warm, kind, and was always in good spirit. He only saw Nana Nita sad once, and that was when she told him that she no longer spoke to her child. It was because she didn't like the man her child wanted to marry. She opposed it, but her child went ahead and married the man. The couple had a child. Nana Nita's child's life with the man she married was not good, and the elder tried several times to take her child back, but the latter refused. What worried her the most was her grandchild.

He promised Nana Nita that when he came of age and was ready to start his own family, he would find her grandchild and if she was still unmarried, he would marry her. He would give her a happy and good life.

But then his mother died of an autoimmune disease known as Lupus. It wasn't the disease itself that killed her but the complications of her illness. She died of kidney failure. When Zaldy Castoldi learned that his mother had passed away, he took him from America and brought him to the Philippines. He was in elementary school then. Zaldy legally adopted him. He made it appear that he was the child of one of his two caretakers in America.

He deeply hated his father’s lies.

He hated his father so much that, he refused to use the family name ‘Castoldi.’ However, in legal documents, he was already a legitimate Castoldi.

He despised being lied to and deceived. He despised liars.

Liars like his father and the woman he married.

He went to Hospicio Custodio for Neza, Nana Nita's granddaughter. While he was in America, he would read the letters Neza sent to her grandmother. He knew that Nana Nita talked about him to her granddaughter, so she would also ask about him whenever she sent a letter.

When he returned to the Philippines, his communication with the two elderly women became infrequent because his father forbade him from writing or calling them. He was now a legitimate Castoldi, and his actions should align with the Castoldi name. He was told to forget his life in America with the two caretakers.

Nevertheless, he still sent letters to the two elderly women from time to time. He had to smuggle them out. It would have been easier to send electronic messages, but Nana Ising and Nana Nita were not fond of modern devices.

One day, Nana Ising informed him that Nana Nita was bedridden and seriously ill. Her health had rapidly declined. She might not last long, and she kept repeating her granddaughter's name. The old woman was worried because her granddaughter had no one left in her life.

He immediately went to America. He was heartbroken to see Nana Nita's condition. She was beyond treatment. She no longer spoke. She was confined to her bed, hardly even opening her eyes.

He felt deeply indebted to the two elderly women, especially Nana Nita, so he promised her that he would find her granddaughter. He wanted to ease her mind, and if the only way to do that was to marry Neza, then he was prepared to do so. He was simply keeping the promise he had made earlier.

He had difficulty finding the old woman's granddaughter because she was no longer at her previous residence. Eventually, he discovered that she had been moved to an orphanage. Nana Nita had not mentioned that to him before.

He searched for the orphanage until he arrived at Hospicio Custodio.

And there, he saw 'Nessa.'

He could still remember the moment when his eyes met hers as she gazed into his. Her hair and eyes were black, just like his. He recalled how her eyes sparkled with a hint of admiration. Those same eyes were framed by long, dark lashes that moved beautifully with every blink.

She was slender and tall by his standards. She stood five feet and five inches tall. However, she was still shorter compared to him, who was over six feet tall. He’s really tall and ripped.

The young woman was the first to approach him and the first to embrace him tightly. He was surprised then. She said that she was the person he was looking for. She said her name was really ‘Nessa,’ but because her grandmother, Lola Nita, called her ‘Neza,’ she got used to using that name when corresponding with the old woman.

Her surname was different from Nana Nita's because she used her father's surname. And Nessa said that her full name was Nessa Gayla.

Nessa knew everything about him. She knew everything. All the details. He thought the grandmother and granddaughter continued to correspond even when he was already in the Philippines.

He was utterly convinced he had found Nana Nita's granddaughter. She recounted how her father used to beat her after her mother passed away. So, she easily gained his sympathy.

Nessa was so warm and so kind. She was so friendly. She was exactly like Nana Nita.

As promised, he asked her to be his wife. And she said yes. He believed he was finally fulfilling his promise to Nana Nita. It would put her at ease. He even called America, and although the old woman could no longer open her eyes, he asked Nana Ising to bring the phone close to Nana Nita's ear. Then he told her that he was going to marry her granddaughter. Nana Ising said that a peaceful smile appeared on the old woman's lips because of what he said.

He also told her that he would take Nessa to America. He wanted it to be before the wedding, but the young woman insisted that they get married first because that’s what her grandmother would have wanted. He agreed because there were many documents that needed to be processed before she could go to another country.

He and Nessa got married and they were happy, until he discovered her lies. She wasn’t the warm and kind person that he thought she was. Nessa was a fraud. A liar. She deceived him. She pretended to be someone she’s not.

He discovered that she was actually the best friend of the real Neza.

She completely betrayed her own best friend!

He trusted Nessa. She kept silent whenever he asked her about the real granddaughter of Nana Nita. The most painful part was that Nana Nita passed away. She had no idea that it wasn’t her granddaughter he married. He felt like such a failure. He failed to fulfill his promise.

All of it was because of Nessa's doing.

And he was so stupid for trusting her right away. He didn’t even investigate her. He was completely convinced because she knew everything.

Viz clenched his fists at the thought of Nessa. He shook his head and took a deep breath. He stood by the glass wall of his spacious office, gazing down at the buildings and the bustling city streets below.

His gaze fell on his ring finger. He wore the wedding ring on his finger. Everyone knew he was married, as many had attended their wedding. He married Nessa six months ago. Even Zeki and the other CEOs with their wives were present at the wedding ceremony. So he couldn’t hide it. His plan was to amicably separate from her and annul their marriage.

But Nessa stubbornly rejected the idea.

She clung to him at every opportunity.

Every day she begged him to continue their marriage. His answer was always ‘no.’ But she wouldn’t budge. She said she wouldn’t leave his house. God, the woman he wanted to truly marry was Neza, not her.

A knock on the door made him turn. “Come in.”

His secretary entered, carrying the documents he needed to sign. Her face was bright, prompting him to give a brief nod. “Just put them there, Sassa,” he said. Sassa was likely just twenty-five, while he was already thirty-one. His wife Nessa was three years younger than him.

The woman complied immediately. “Sir, would you like some coffee?” she asked cheerfully. “I’ll make you some.”

He politely shook his head. “No, you don’t have to, but thank you nonetheless.”

“Alright, Sir, but if you want coffee, I’m just outside.”

"Sure, I'll keep that in mind."

His secretary left smiling. He sat on his black leather chair behind the large executive table. It was time for him to get back to work. But before he could pick up the pen, his eyes landed on the nameplate on his desk.

Viz Hezron / Chief Executive Officer

A corner of his mouth lifted. He never thought he would reach that position so soon. He used to work at Castoldi Labs and Technologies as the Executive Assistant to the CEO. He also held shares in that company. And as the Executive Assistant, he had met a lot of CEOs from various businesses.

Now he held a similar position.

But he was not as stiff and as elusive as the CEO of Sandrid Ventures, Alpheus San Madrid. He was friends with Zeki. He would never run around breaking hearts like Cazcoe Vizcarra, CEO of CoeWrite Printing and Publishing. But he had heard that Cazcoe had changed.

As for himself, he could say that he was just an 'appropriate' CEO. He wasn't ruthless, cruel, or overly friendly; just well-suited for the role. He was kind to those who worked well and they had no issues with him. However, his kindness was measured and without ulterior motives.

But he was a different person when it came to his wife.

He couldn't afford to be warm to her. He felt his wife didn’t deserve kindness.

He believed that if he made her feel that her feelings for him were going nowhere, she might eventually give up.

So he continued to be cold towards her.

Until she chose to leave on her own.