Olívia simply kissed him back, surrendering to that moment. The kisses were burning, almost feral; there was rage, desire, and something unnamed—like they wanted to devour each other.Liam pulled her hard, his hands sliding down to her thighs, gripping them firmly, as if he needed to remind her who was in control.Every touch of his lips sent a shock through her skin; her heart pounded out of rhythm, mixing fury, fear, and a desperate need to be wanted. The taste of the kiss brought back everything she hated about him and, at the same time, a heat that made her go weak. It was as if, between one kiss and the next, she swung between wanting to shove him away and wanting to disappear inside him.Suddenly, Liam broke the kiss. The heat of the moment unraveled in the air—abrupt and cold—leaving only silence behind. He stepped back, breathing hard, his green eyes clouded. Olívia didn’t understand; her body was still trembling, her heart racing.“Liam?” she asked in a thread of a voice, her

The heavy silence after the initial provocation seemed to freeze the air. Liam stopped in front of Alex, his green eyes dark, loaded with an implacable coldness, his presence upright and imposing.“Since when do I tell you what I do with a woman behind closed doors?” he shot back, his voice low and cutting—like a precise blow.Alex lifted an eyebrow. His tone remained controlled, edged with the refined irony lawyers used in courtrooms to disarm opponents.“Wow. Someone’s in a mood…” he said without raising his voice. “What the hell got into you?”Liam didn’t answer right away. He turned his head as if ending the conversation and climbed the jet’s steps with firm strides. Alex followed close behind, watching him with an analytical look, as if every gesture were evidence in an invisible legal case.The pilot greeted them professionally.“Gentlemen, good morning. Please make yourselves comfortable. We’ll be taking off shortly.”They sat in opposite seats. The sound of the turbines filled

Olivia let out a sigh as she walked to the closet. She picked up her lingerie and began getting dressed, her voice loud enough for Ísis to hear, yet laced with bitterness.“I spent my whole life dreaming about something… and it simply didn’t happen,” she said, tears sliding down her face. “I think, at some point, reality hits you in the cruelest way and makes you see that fairy tales don’t exist. What exists is the real world and the choices we make.” She adjusted her lingerie, forcing herself to breathe. “Sometimes those choices push us into situations we never wanted to live through. And then all you can do is keep going, one day at a time, learning not to trust people so easily.” She paused briefly. “And you didn’t talk too much, Ísis. I really have… been disappointed by some people.”Ísis crossed her arms and replied in a playful tone.“Mrs. Olivia, excuse me, but you’re way too emotional!” she said, laughing. “You need to become one of those blogger princesses and turn everything

Olivia didn’t answer, but her crying intensified, her chest rising and falling in a heavy rhythm.“Cry,” Ísis insisted in a whisper. “Let it out. Get rid of that knot that’s choking you. No one here is going to judge you.” She gave her a small, sad smile. “And listen… you can trust me. I keep secrets better than recipes.” She paused, her gaze steady. “He won’t find out anything. If that’s what you’re afraid of. I just want to help.”Her voice carried a rare balance—lightness and conviction, the strength of someone who had seen too much pain, and the tenderness of someone who still believed that affection could heal.Olivia cried for a long time. When she finally managed to calm down, she wiped her face with the tissue Ísis offered and spoke in a weak voice.“I know you want to help, and I truly appreciate it. But there are things that don’t have a solution, you know? You just learn to accept them. Especially when you make decisions in the heat of the moment. Without thinking of other

Olivia sighed, shaking her head.“Now I’m starting to understand you. But this is dangerous,” she said, lowering her voice, her tone firmer. “You get involved with people you don’t even know! And if one day something goes wrong, who’s going to save you? Does your boyfriend just… accept it?”Ísis let out a short laugh, but her gaze stayed serious.“I know how to take care of myself, Olivia,” she replied, steady. “And you know what? I’m good at it. I know how to listen, I know how to read people. Sometimes men just want to talk—can you believe that? They want someone to pretend she cares. Someone who gives them attention, especially when they want to complain about their wives. It’s a great niche, you know? And I don’t have a boyfriend. I’m a widow.”Olivia fell silent for a few seconds, trying to process it all. Then she adjusted her hair and softened her tone, changing the subject.“So that’s what you’re doing tonight?” she asked, pretending curiosity, as if she wanted to shift the fo