Trapped in a Secret Marriage with a Dangerous Billionaire - Chapter 113

Chapter 113: Uncovering Xander’s Second Secret Identity

The warm air of the hand dryer hummed softly as Xander stood behind Aurora, his fingers weaving through her damp hair, gently massaging her scalp. Aurora sat before the mirror, wrapped in a plush white towel, a serene smile lighting up her face.

“I like this,” she murmured, her voice light with contentment.

Xander’s lips curved into a soft smile. “I’m glad you do,” he replied, his gaze meeting hers through the mirror. For a few moments, there was only silence between them, the kind that felt comforting and familiar.

As Aurora’s hair began to dry, Xander’s fingers ran across a spot on her scalp that felt different. His brow furrowed slightly as he focused on the area, parting her hair to get a closer look.

“What’s wrong?” Aurora asked, sensing his hesitation.

“You have a scar here,” he said, rubbing the spot gently with his thumb.

Aurora’s eyes snapped open, confusion etching across her face. “A scar? Where?”

Xander leaned in, guiding her fingers to the thin, smooth line. “Right here. Did you hurt yourself and forget about it?”

Aurora shook her head, her brows knitting together. “I don’t recall any injury. Are you sure it’s not a mole or something?”

Xander’s expression darkened slightly as he studied the scar again. “No, sweetheart. It’s definitely a scar. And it’s strange that you don’t even know about it.”

Her face tightened in thought. “No one’s ever mentioned anything like that to me before,” she said.

Xander’s gaze clouded for a moment as a realization dawned on him. His jaw tensed, but he quickly masked his expression with a light smile when Aurora glanced at him through the mirror.

“Let’s not worry about it for now,” he said, picking up the dryer again and continuing to work on her hair. “I’ll show it to you later, once we’re done.”

Aurora nodded, trusting his words, and allowed the conversation to drop.

—

After finishing her hair, Xander led Aurora out of their room, his hand firmly holding hers.

“Where are we going?” she asked, eyeing his purposeful stride.

“To get that scar checked out,” Xander replied curtly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Her steps faltered slightly. “Get my scar checked out? What do you mean by that?”

Xander didn’t answer right away, guiding her into his study instead. Aurora’s confusion deepened as he walked straight to the bookshelf, pulling a discreet sculpture that activated a hidden mechanism. A section of the wall slid open, revealing the dark passageway.

Aurora’s eyes widened, her heart racing with both curiosity and unease. “Xander,” she called, her voice tinged with caution. “What’s going on?”

Taking her hand again, Xander turned to her with a reassuring smile. “You will see soon enough. Trust me.”

Though apprehensive, Aurora followed him into the passage, her footsteps echoing in the dimly lit hallway. Memories of the first time she had stumbled upon this secret path surfaced in her mind. That day had ended in disaster, and the unease lingered.

“Xander, why are we going to the basement for this?” she pressed.

Chuckling softly, Xander glanced over his shoulder. “Sweetheart, we are not going to the basement. I told you—I want to check out your scar because I’m curious. You’re important to me, and I need to make sure you’re okay.”

Despite his light tone, Aurora caught a flicker of tension in his gaze. But she chose to believe him, at least for now.

As they approached a heavy, fortified metal door at their right, in the hallway; the door that Aurora had tried to breath through the last time she was there, five deafening gunshots suddenly rang out in quick succession.

Aurora yelped, instinctively grabbing onto Xander’s arm and ducking behind him. Her body trembled as she pressed her forehead against his back, her breath coming in sharp gasps.

“It’s okay,” Xander said softly, his tone calm and unwavering. He was clearly unfazed by the sounds and what brought about them.

Aurora waited for a few moments and when she didn’t hear the gunshots again, she stepped out from behind his back. “Xander! What was that?” she called out in warning as she met his gaze, her eyes narrowing down at him.

Knowing why she reacted like that, he quickly took her hands in his. “No one is getting killed, I promise. My recruits are in training,” he explained.

Her gaze narrowed with suspicion. “Training? At this hour?”

“Trust me,” he pleaded. “We can check them out later if you want, but first, let’s get you checked out.”

Aurora’s expression remained sceptical, but she relented with a nod. “Fine.”

Xander smiled faintly, relieved by her agreement. He turned back to the door, placing his thumb on the scanner embedded in the handle. A soft, automated voice instructed him to proceed with a retinal scan, and moments later, the door unlocked with a low hiss, revealing a well-lit corridor beyond.

—

The air in the well-lit corridor was cool and sterile, faintly humming with the quiet sounds of ventilation systems. Aurora’s steps were slow and hesitant as Xander led her deeper into the passage. The stark white walls gleamed under the bright LED lights, making the space feel both futuristic and clinical.

Her fingers tightened slightly around Xander’s hand, her nerves visible in the subtle furrow of her brows. “What is this place?” she asked, her voice tinged with unease as she watched him place his hand on another fingerprint scanner embedded into the door at the end of the corridor.

Xander glanced at her over his shoulder, his expression calm, though his eyes held a flicker of seriousness. “You’ll see in just a moment.”

A soft beep echoed, and the door slid open with a quiet hiss, revealing a space that could only be described as something out of a high-tech hospital. Pristine white walls surrounded them, lined with sleek glass panels revealing glimpses of advanced medical equipment. Counters were stocked with vials, instruments, and monitors blinking with green and blue lights.

Aurora’s eyes widened as she took in the scene. “What is this?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“It’s my private science research laboratory,” Xander replied, his tone matter-of-fact as he guided her to the first door on their left.

Aurora stopped in her tracks, pulling him slightly back. “You have your own private lab?”

“Yes,” he confirmed, turning to face her. “I’m a certified surgeon, Sweetheart. I’ve spent years conducting research and performing surgeries when needed. Some of this work is tied directly to the government missions. It’s something I’ve kept private until now.”

Aurora’s mouth fell open as she stared at him, her disbelief evident. “Y-You’re a doctor? A surgeon?” Just then, she recalled Liam telling her back then that Xander had a quest for knowledge, and wondered if this was what he meant by that.