Olivia held his gaze for a long moment, feeling her chest tighten and race again, as though her body recognized a sweet threat—or a risk that might actually be worth taking.Then she offered a small, almost playful smile, even as nerves fluttered beneath her skin.“Let’s just say… I’m a different kind of princess.”He studied her, absorbing every word like he was piecing together a puzzle.Olivia lifted the fork with a bite of cake still on it.“And I happen to love walnut cake. Want some?” She offered it casually, trying to sound relaxed even as goosebumps prickled across her arms under the weight of his stare.His eyes flicked to the cake for only a second… but he clearly wasn’t interested in the dessert. When they returned to her face, they settled on her lips, lingering several beats longer than casual courtesy allowed.“I’m not a fan of walnuts,” he said, his voice calm, almost teasing. “I prefer other kinds of sweet.”He didn’t rush to explain. He simply let the words hang there

Olivia held her breath for a second because… he was right.“How do you know?”“By the way you look at the party… but not at the people.” His tone was certain, unrushed. “You listen. You watch. But you don’t throw yourself in. There’s a kind of hidden romantic in you—” His eyes stayed locked on hers. “—and that makes you harder to reach… and a hell of a lot more interesting.”She glanced away quickly—not out of embarrassment, but because she sensed that if she held his gaze two seconds longer, she might start confessing secrets she didn’t even remember she had.She tried to regain her footing with a light touch.“And you?” she countered, meeting his eyes again. “Do you usually spend an entire party watching one woman until she trips so you’ll have an excuse to come closer?”He didn’t answer right away. Instead he closed the small distance between them, and the way his hand tightened—subtly—on her waist sent a fresh wave of goosebumps racing across her skin.“I’ve never graded myself on

Liam slammed the car door harder than he intended. The sharp sound echoed in his chest like an accusation he wasn’t ready to voice aloud: something inside him had been struck.He turned the key and floored the accelerator. No second thoughts. Just motion. The conversation he’d overheard behind the half-open door still hammered somewhere between rage and contempt.As the tires ate up the asphalt, his locked jaw spoke louder than any coherent thought.Less than twenty minutes later, he pulled into the underground garage of Bárbara’s penthouse. He punched in the access code without hesitation. The elevator doors slid open; he stepped inside.Bárbara wasn’t expecting him that morning. She answered the door in a pale silk robe, surprise flashing across her face for only two seconds before it melted into the calculated, sensual smile she always used when she wanted him to stay.“I’m glad you came…” she murmured, voice low and laced with charm. She leaned in for a quick kiss. “Is this just a

Liam leaned back slightly in the chair, arms crossed in that deliberately calm way of his.“Me?” he asked, expression unchanged, voice steady. “Jealousy never suited me, Doctor. I like having control over things, but I’m not the jealous type.”Olivia nearly laughed but caught herself before the sound escaped.“Control and jealousy aren’t exactly synonyms?” she said lightly, teasing, though the irony was unmistakable.The doctor watched them both with quiet interest and answered before Liam could fire back.“You always were good at pretending, my boy,” he said with an experienced smile. “But anyone who really knows you understands that blood rises fast when something—or someone—hits close to home.”Liam didn’t smile. He didn’t need to.He simply held the doctor’s gaze, jaw set in a hard line.“You still see me as the kid I used to be, Doctor,” he replied, polite but edged with challenge. “I’ve grown up.”Dr. Luiz gave a low chuckle and shook his head.“The man changes, but the instinct

Two hours after the appointment, Olivia was already back at the mansion. She’d just stepped out of the shower. She twisted her hair into a tight bun, cinched the belt of her robe firmly, and took a deep breath. The scent of soap still lingered heavily in the bedroom. She grabbed the moisturizer and set it on the dresser. She was about to start applying it to her legs when the door swung open without a knock.Liam walked in. As always, no warning.“Am I going to have to start locking the door just to teach you to knock?” she asked without turning around, her voice steady and firm.“I picked up your prescription,” he replied flatly, stepping closer and handing her a small paper bag. “And my assistant already scheduled your tests.”Olivia took the bag, pulled out the box, opened it, and shook out a pill. She reached for the water bottle on the dresser, poured some into a glass, and swallowed the pill in one quick motion.“Thanks. Let’s hope the nausea eases up a bit. I want to get back t