Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife

Chapter 42

Izzy stared at the ceiling, her temples throbbing with the kind ofull pain only a hangover could deliver. The dim light filtering through the curtains mocked her as she groaned and rubbed her forehead. It was a weekday–why on earth had she thought drinking so much was a good idea?

Rolling onto her side, she squinted at her phone on the nightstal. Two missed calls from Anna. Her stomach dropped when slie checked the time: 9:07 AM. Her meetings. Panic spiked through her headache as she quickly dialed Anna back.

“Miss Rossi, you’re late,” Anna said before Izzy could even speak

“I know,” Izzy muttered, sitting up slowly to avoid making her headache worse. “Cancel my morning meetings. Reschedule anything urgent for later this week.”

Anna hesitated. “Understood. I’ll adjust your schedule.”

“Thank you,” Izzy said, ending the call. She dropped the phone onto the bed and let out a heavy sigh. A wave of irritation swelled inside her. First, the headache, and now the frustration of having to rearrange an already packed day. Her mood worsened as she glanced at the other side of the bed. Liam’s side Empty, as always.

Her memory

flashed back to last night in his study–his teasing smirk, the weight of his gaze, the tension that hung in the air between them. What the hell had possessed her to ask him to drink with her? She pressed a hand to her forehead. That wine–fueled confidence was nowhere to be found this morning, leaving only the sharp edge of regret.

Shaking her head, Izzy slid out of bed and made her way to the bathroom. A quick shower washed away some of the haze, but not the lingering embarrassment. She avoided looking at herself too long in the mirror as she brushed her teeth, half, hoping the water would somehow erase last night’s choices.

By the time she made it downstairs, she was only half–functioning. All she wanted was coffee and something to eat. Maybe caffeine would fix her mood–or at least dull her headache enough to get through the day,

Her steps faltered as she entered the kitchen. Liam was there,

He stood by the stove, his sleeves rolled up, casually flipping something in a pan. The faint smell of eggs and freshly brewed coffee filled the air. He didn’t look like a man who’d been up late managing his company–or dealing with her drunken antics. He looked composed and maddeningly unbothered.

Izzy hovered by the doorway, uncertain whether to turn back or address the situation head–on. Before she could decide, Liam glanced over his shoulder.

“Morning,” he said simply, gesturing toward the counter. “Sit. Food’s almost ready.”

Izzy blinked, momentarily thrown off. She moved toward the counter but hesitated before sitting. “You’re cooking?”

cracking another egg into the pan. “You

jaw tightened.

brief glance that suggested he wasn’t convinced. “Hungover on a weekday.

could’ve said no to the

to rise to the bait. “You know how

still wonder if

Sat, Jan 4 G

Chapter 42

made that food?” she asked.

said nothing. Instead, he took something from the fridge, poured her a glass, and handed it to

the yellowish liquid. It smelled like lemon, but there was something else,

and freshly squeezed lemon

she blinked again before she accepted the glass. “Thanks.”

a suggestion. It was an order.

was a bowl of clear soup with finely sliced vegetables and what looked like tofu cubes, alongside a small bowl of fresh fruit–kiwi, strawberries, and blueberries, arranged with an annoying amount of precision. A side of perfectly toasted whole–grain bread completed the spread. The presentation was neat and borderline

soup!” she asked, incredulous, picking up the spoon. How did he find the time to make

from her, resting his forearms on the table. “It’s a simple miso broth,” he said. “It’s good for your stomach.

the warmth spreading through her as she tasted it. It was light but flavorful, a far cry

he said, leaning back slightly.

starting to fade. After a few moments, she glanced up. “Why are you still here? Don’t you have meetings or I don’t know,

own

She paused, suspicious. “Why?”

stay and take care of his wife,” he replied, his expression

it as an excuse to avoid responding immediately. His words threw her off balance. Husband Wife! What

of toast into her mouth, focusing on chewing to avoid looking at him. The silence stretched between them, broken only by the faint clink of her spoon against the

shouldn’t drink so much,” Liam said

his focus was on the coffee mug in his hands. She swallowed quickly, the words forming in her mind but refusing to come out. Finally, she settled on silence, letting the weight of the moment

or are you just playing chef today?” She set her spoon down

leaning forward to rest his elbows on the ble.