The clock read a little past seven in the evening when Olivia’s car pulled up in front of the mansion.The moment she stepped out, Thomas, the butler, was already at the door.“Good evening, Mrs. Olivia,” he said, opening the door with practiced elegance. “Mr. Frederico is in the sitting room.”Olivia paused for a second, startled.“Liam’s grandfather is here?” she asked, a slight jolt in her voice.“Yes, ma’am. He arrived about forty minutes ago and said he would wait as long as necessary.”She took a slow breath, masking her discomfort.“All right.” She handed the shopping bags to Thomas. “Please take them to my room.”The butler inclined his head respectfully, and Olivia walked down the hallway. The sound of her heels echoed against the almost solemn silence of the house. Her heart beat fast—not from fear, but from nerves. Frederico Holt wasn’t just the family patriarch; he was a man known for intimidating anyone with a single look.When she entered the room, she found him seated i

Frederico got into the car and settled into the back seat. The driver waited in silence, but Frederico gestured for him not to pull away yet. He took out his phone, stared at the screen for a few seconds, and calmly began recording a voice message.“Liam… I just left your mansion.”(brief pause)“I met your wife. And I have to admit… she’s charming. Polite, articulate, knows exactly what to say at the right moment. Maybe a little too well.”(a rough, ironic chuckle)“I’m… at a loss for words at how your love story happened in so little time.”(a longer pause, tone slightly more serious)“Curious… she wasn’t wearing her wedding ring.”(a restrained, cold laugh)“That young man at the store—I assume he was some kind of friend?”(brief pause, voice firm)“Either way, it was… interesting to meet Mrs. Holt.”(a soft exhale; his tone shifted to something almost paternal, but still cold)“I hope all of this is real, Liam. Because if it isn’t… she won’t be the one paying the price.”(a small

Liam didn’t answer right away. He simply stayed there, watching her with that cutting stare, his jaw clenched and his fingers interlaced as if he were holding his own anger in place.“At this exact moment, I should’ve been signing a billion-dollar deal. But your irresponsible behavior required my presence here. You cost me an agreement, Olivia. And I’ll admit—my patience was at its limit.”Olivia sat up, pulling the sheet over her shoulders, since she was only wearing lingerie.“What do you mean? I don’t understand.”“Why weren’t you wearing your wedding ring?” he asked, his voice firm, almost monotone. “And who was the man you were with yesterday, at the store?”Olivia stared at him, stunned, her heart racing as she finally understood the reason for that unexpected visit. A short, nervous laugh escaped her lips.“Oh, of course… your guard dogs already told you everything, didn’t they?” she said, crossing her arms. “I’m almost touched. Because apparently, on top of being gifted with a

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, with his back to her. With a slow movement, he opened the curtain just a crack, as if he needed contact with the world outside to control something inside himself. The morning light traced his silhouette across the floor, and the shadow cast on the wall revealed the tension vibrating through every line of his body.After a few seconds, he spoke—his voice low now, controlled, but cold as ice.“My grandparents’ wedding anniversary is coming up,” he said, still staring out the window. “Make sure you comply with the contract and be the woman everyone expects you to be. Especially in front of my grandfather.”“Why do you run so much, Liam? Is it really that hard to show what you feel?”He turned partially, his gaze cutting.“I won’t tolerate any more mistakes from you. Understand this once and for all, Olivia… everyone l

Liam walked into his bedroom and slammed the door. He tossed his clothes onto the bed, his phone on top, and headed straight for the bathroom. He shoved the shower door open and turned the faucet. Hot water poured down hard over his shoulders, running along his back, muffling everything for a moment—the bedroom, the house, the world.He braced his palm against the cold marble wall and lowered his head. He drew in a deep breath, as if searching for air in a place where there was none. Olívia’s face hit him all at once: the relentless look in her eyes, the question that had cut straight through him, her trembling lips, the way her body had still felt fused to his.“Liam… what do you feel for me?”The words tore through him again. He shut his eyes, the water pounding the top of his head, weighing down his lids. His jaw locked.“You never lose control, Liam,” he murmured—so low his own voice seemed to dissolve into the steam.He stayed like that for minutes that felt endless, breathing an