The clock read a little past seven in the evening when the car carrying Olivia pulled up in front of the mansion. As soon as she stepped out, Thomas, the butler, was already waiting by the door. "Good evening, Mrs. Olivia," he said, opening it with practiced elegance. "Mr. Frederick is in the living room." Olivia stopped for a second, surprised. "Liam's grandfather is here?" she asked, a flicker of alarm in her voice. "Yes, ma'am. He arrived about forty minutes ago and said he would wait as long as necessary." She took a deep breath, masking her discomfort. "Alright." She handed the shopping bags to Thomas. "Please take these to my room." The butler inclined his head respectfully, and Olivia walked down the hallway. The sound of her heels echoed against the near-solemn silence of the house. Her heart was racing. Not out of fear, but nerves. Frederick Holt wasn't just the family patriarch. He was a man known to intimidate with a single look. When she entered the living

Frederick got into the car and settled into the back seat. The driver waited in silence, but Frederick gestured for him not to pull away yet. He took out his phone, stared at the screen for a few seconds, then calmly began recording a voice message. "Liam… I just left your mansion." A brief pause. "I met your wife. And I must admit… she's charming. Polite, articulate, knows exactly what to say at the right moment. Maybe a little too well." A low, rough, ironic chuckle. "I'm… at a loss for words over how your love story happened so quickly." A longer pause, his tone turning slightly more serious. "Curious thing… she wasn't wearing her wedding ring." A restrained, cold laugh. "The man from the store… I suppose he was just a friend?" A short pause, his voice firm. "Either way, it was… interesting meeting Mrs. Holt." A soft sigh, his tone shifting to something almost paternal, but still cold. "I hope all of this is real, Liam. Because if it isn't… it won't be her

Liam didn't answer right away. He just stayed there, watching her with that cutting stare, his jaw clenched, his fingers laced together as if he were physically holding his anger in check. "At this very moment, I should be signing a billion-dollar contract. Instead, your irresponsible behavior forced me to come back here," he said at last. "You cost me a deal, Olivia. And I'll be honest, my patience is at its limit." Olívia sat up, pulling the sheet around her shoulders since she was wearing nothing but lingerie. "What do you mean? I don't understand." "Why weren't you wearing your wedding ring?" he asked, his voice firm, almost flat. "And who was the man you were with yesterday at the store?" She stared at him, stunned, her heart racing as the reason for his sudden return became painfully clear. A short, nervous laugh slipped from her lips. "Oh, of course… your guard dogs already filled you in, right?" she said, crossing her arms. "I'm honestly touched. Because as if life

The silence that followed was almost deafening. Liam turned away, his chest rising and falling, and walked to the window without saying a word. He stood there, motionless, his back to her. With a slow movement, he pulled the curtain open just a crack, as if he needed contact with the world outside to keep something inside him under control. The morning light traced his silhouette across the floor, and the shadow on the wall revealed the tension vibrating through every line of his body. After a few seconds, he spoke. His voice was low now, controlled, but cold as ice. "My grandparents' wedding anniversary is coming up," he said, still staring out the window. "Make sure you follow the contract and be the woman everyone expects you to be. Especially in front of my grandfather." "Why do you run so much, Liam?" she asked. "Is it really that hard to show what you feel?" He turned partially, his gaze sharp. "I won't tolerate any more mistakes from you. Understand this once and for a

Liam walked into his room and slammed the door shut. He tossed his clothes onto the bed, his phone on top, and headed straight for the bathroom. He pushed open the shower door and turned the handle. Hot water poured down over his shoulders, running along his back, muting everything for a moment. The bedroom, the house, and the world. He pressed his palm against the cold marble wall and lowered his head. He took a deep breath, as if searching for air in a place where there was none. Olivia's face came back all at once. Her insistent gaze. The question that cut through him. Her trembling lips. Her body that still felt pressed against his. "Liam… what do you feel for me?" The words tore into him again. He closed his eyes, water pounding against the top of his head, weighing down his eyelids. His jaw clenched. "You never lose control, Liam," he murmured, so quietly his own voice seemed to dissolve into the steam. He stayed like that for minutes that felt endless, breathing and no