Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife

Chapter 33

“This is…” Izzy’s eyes widened as she stared at the contents of the safe. The gift Miss Alcaraz gave her was a set of keys to a sate deposit box she could only access after marrying Liam. Izzy lidn’t hesitate to ask Liam to accompany her to where the deposit box was stored.

She had expected stock certificates or perhaps deeds to properti–something practical befitting her grandfather’s business–minded legacy.

Instead, the box was filled with jewelry. Velvet pouches and ornate boxes sat neatly arranged, their contents more dazzling than she could have imagined. Diamonds, emeralds, sapphires–all cut to perfection, their settings intricately crafted.

She glanced at Liam, who stood beside her with his arms crossed his gaze flicking between her and the contents of the box. His expression was unreadable.

“What is this supposed to mean?” she asked, gesturing to the glittering array. “Why would my grandfather leave me… these? And only after I married you?”

Liam didn’t answer immediately. His brow furrowed slightly, as though he were searching for a response. “Maybe he wanted to make sure you… I don’t know.. had a reason to trust someone. Or to make you think about commitment.”

Izzy scoffed, shaking her head. “What if I never decided to marry you? Would all of this have just sat here forever?”

Liam shrugged lightly, his usual confidence replaced with an unusual quietness that Izzy didn’t like. “I can’t answer that.”

She let out a slow breath, turning her attention back to the box. $lowly, she reached for the first velvet case. Opening it, she found two gold bands nestled inside. The wedding rings were simple yet elegant. Her grandfather’s was a solid gold band, while her grandmother’s had a delicate row of diamonds encircling the band. She traced her finger over the smaller ring, the cool metal sending a chill through her.

“These are their wedding rings,” she said softly, her thoughts briefly drifting to the stories her grandmother used to tell her about their life together.

She picked up another box and opened it to reveal a larger ring a bold solitaire diamond framed by smaller sapphires. The design was striking yet timeless. “Her engagement ring,” she murmured, holding it up to the light. It sparkled brilliantly, as though it had been cared for meticulously over the years.

Setting the engagement ring down, Izzy reached for a larger pouch. Inside, she found necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, each piece more beautiful than the last. Some were heavy with gemstones, while others were simpler, focusing on the artistry of the metalwork. But as her hand brushed another small velvet pouch, something about it made her pause.

She opened it and froze. Inside was a locket–a simple gold heart with delicate engravings along its edges. She carefully opened it, revealing two faded photographs inside. One was of her and her mother, taken when Izzy was no more than six. Her mother’s smile was warm and comforting, her arms wrapped around Izzy protectively. The other side of the locket was empty, scratched slightly as if the original picture had been removed.

“This…” she began but found herself unable to finish the thought. She clutched the locket tightly, a wave of emotion crashing over her.

leaned closer, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the photo. That was your

It was a reminder of a past she had tried to bury, a time

herself. “Why would he leave this

said, her voice cracking. “He knew how much this would mean to me. He knew, and he still made

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Chapter 33

only giving them to me once I marry you.”

she rarely saw, “Your grandfather always had his reasons. Don’t dwell on it too much. He probably thought he was protecting

this was less about protection and more about control. But she stopped herself. She

she held out the locket. “Can

he undid the clasp. His fingers brushed the back of her neck as he secured it, the cool metal resting

reached up to touch the locket, her fingers lingering on its surface.

bathed in the strange, unexpected sense of comfort Liam’s

go

usual smirk absent as they stepped out of the

it sounds twisted, but the old man has always been like that. There’s

of her coffee, her thoughts drifting to the locket. After her parents died in a car accident years ago, she asked her grandfather about her father’s necklace.

accident. At/ the time, young Izzy had no interest in such matters. However, she vividly remembered her aunt arguing with her grandfather, returning home furious after he refused to hand over the jewelry.

her grandfather had been trying to protect those items from her aunt all

see her father’s locket again, but she was

called me and “Anyway…” Miss Alcaraz looked at Liam and Izzy. “I didn’t want to talk about this matter now, but… after told me about the land titles that

“What

cup on the table, her movements deliberate. She reached for a folder on the seat beside her

opened the folder, her brow furrowing as she scanned the documents. “What am I looking at?” she asked, glancing at Miss Alcaraz, then back at the

pawnshops,” Miss Alcaraz said, her tone even “Several different ones spread out across the city and beyond. Whoever took them knew what they were doing–they staggered the transactions

the receipts and records. “Pawnshops?” she repeated, a mix of disbelief and anger flickering across her face. “Who would even think to-” Her words cut off, her mind