Olívia let out a soft, slightly awkward laugh. Her heart was racing. She felt heat rise to her face, nervousness seeping through her veins. She had been too honest, and for a moment, she feared Laura might realize the marriage was a sham.She swallowed hard, adjusting her tone to something more neutral.“He is… but it’s different,” she explained, choosing each word carefully. “We argued, and he thought he could bend me by being what you’d call a romantic rogue. You know?”Laura laughed, shaking her head with that lively, effortless charm.“Oh, okay,” she said, amused. “You scared me for a second. The way you said it made it sound like he treated you badly.” She leaned her shoulder against Olívia’s, winking conspiratorially. “My brother has his flaws, I’ll admit. But he loves you—that’s a fact. And when Liam loves, he becomes unbearable. Trust me, I would know.” She smirked. “But tell me—have you picked out something really sexy to leave him breathless tonight? Makeup sex after a fight

Olívia scrolled down the screen. Thousands of likes and comments were flooding the post.Red hearts, couple emojis, endless compliments.“Such a beautiful couple!”“You were made for each other!”“This picture is perfect—you can feel the love just by looking at it.”“Finally a man who knows how to value his wife.”“Relationship goals!”But among the sweet messages, some stood out more—and each one seemed to press on an open wound.“Liam, you get more handsome every day.”“What a man, my God! This woman is so lucky.”“If you ever get tired, call me in the DMs.”“If I had a man like that, I’d never complain about life again.”“Someone introduce me to this perfect husband, please?”Olívia felt her stomach churn. She took a deep breath, her jaw tightening.— Then let’s step onto the stage. — she murmured. — You want a show, Liam? Let’s give them one.She opened the comment field and typed:“There’s no place I’d rather be than in your arms, babe. I feel so safe, so protected. I love fallin

Frederico simply gave a faint smile—the kind that never revealed everything, only enough to leave anyone intrigued.— Surprises lose their charm when they’re revealed, my dear. — he replied, polite yet enigmatic. — Just be ready.And without adding anything else, he turned and left the room, leaving behind a faint woody scent and a silence filled with unanswered questions.Olívia stood there for a few seconds, her heart racing. Something was coming.— Great… — she murmured to herself, rising slowly. — Here comes another move from the mighty Frederico Holt.But for some reason she couldn’t explain, a shiver ran down her spine.The clock had just struck two in the afternoon when the black car passed through the gates of the Holt mansion. Olívia watched through the window as buildings, trees, and shadows blurred past, as if the world were in motion while she remained trapped inside herself. Her fingers tightened and loosened on the hem of her dress, her unease betraying what her lips had