Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife

Chapter 197

“Why would you invite her?” Cecil asked, arms crossed as she blocked the doorway of the dressing room.

Pamella calmly adjusted the clasp of her bracelet, her reflection unwavering in the mirror. “Because we’re friends, the replied, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “And because it makes us look good. You know how people talk. Let it be.

Cecil

Cecil’s eyes narrowed. “Let it be?” she repeated, incredulous. “That woman is cunning like a fox. You think she just walked in here with no motive?”

Pamella turned to face her. “She’ll behave,” she said, not a trace of doubt in her voice. “I have people watching her.”

There was a beat of silence before Pamella added, “Where’s Calen?”

Cecil’s expression shifted. “I thought he was here somewhere.”

Their gazes met for a moment, tension lingering between them. Neither said what they were thinking, but the silence said enough.

Meanwhile, on the balcony of the event hall, Izzy stood alone with a glass of champagne. The night had fully fallen over San Francisco, cloaking the bridge in silver light. The outline of the Golden Gate Bridge glowed in the distance, its suspension lights blinking faintly through the fog. The air was cold, crisp against her skin.

Below, the bay reflected the shimmer of the city, boats bobbing gently in the dark water. The hum of conversation and clinking glasses from inside barely reached her out here. A few guests lingered nearby, whispering quietly, focused on their phones or their own views.

Izzy took a slow sip from her glass and exhaled. The moment should’ve felt powerful–arriving at this engagement party alone, standing tall in front of those who doubted her. But all she could think about was Liam.

While the world believed they were on a break, they had been in contact constantly. Just that afternoon, he had sent her a photo of his office desk–cluttered with takeout containers and blueprints. She could picture him hunched over his laptop, glasses sliding down his nose, completely immersed in work- while missing his dinner.

She missed him.

A part of her hated that she did. But she couldn’t deny it.

The glass in her hand dipped slightly as she stared out into the dark horizon, lost in thought.

Then, a presence shifted behind her.

She turned.

few steps away, hands in his pockets,

to come,” he said.

first. She set her glass down on the

on him

the bridge. “Still. I thought you’d

behind her ear. “Why? Because

didn’t think you’d want to deal with

don’t,” she admitted. “But here I am.”

stand beside her. They both

look different,” he said eventually.

“And you look the

small nod, almost like he accepted the jab.

gaze. “You think I’m

he said. “Are

what are

didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she picked up her glass again and

just here to enjoy the

party, Izzy. You shouldn’t be here.”

Izzy gave a

don’t look affected,”

“Should I be?”

made him look at her,

Calen said after a beat. “Not in the usual

her gaze back toward the bridge, letting the lights

+58

ex. You should be somewhere else,

same ex–boyfriend cheated on me with my cousin. There’s nothing

shut him up for a moment. The silence stretched between

Calen asked, “Did you feel anything? When you

head slightly, her expression unreadable. “What do

“Even for a second. Is there a part of you that

a moment. “Feeling something would mean you still mattered to me,”