Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife

Chapter 208

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"We begin this morning with breaking developments out of São Paulo, Brazil," the anchor announced as footage of tents, banners, and shouting protesters filled the screen. "Local environmental and labor groups have launched demonstrations outside the Horvath Industries project site, demanding accountability following months of silence regarding the deaths of three workers who perished during the early excavation phase of the 'Green Shores Development' project."

The camera panned to a woman holding a photograph of a young man in a hard hat.

"My brother died down there. The tunnel collapsed, and no one even told us why," she shouted, voice muted under the network's edit.

The banner beneath the screen read: HORVATH INDUSTRIES UNDER FIRE: FAMILIES DEMAND JUSTICE IN BRAZIL.

"The company has yet to issue a statement. Environmental regulators have previously cited the project for violations, including failure to conduct proper geological assessments prior to digging. Laws regarding environmental safety and worker protections appear to have been bypassed through backdoor permissions," the anchor continued.

Izzy lowered the volume until the screen went silent. She set the remote down beside her on the bed and glanced at Liam, who was still focused on his laptop across the room.

"You should be focusing on that," she said.

Liam didn't respond.

"I'm fine," she added. "You've seen the results. Bloodwork is good. No internal damage. The headaches are gone. I'm eating. I can sit up now without help."

He looked up from the screen.

"Your company's bleeding and you're here babysitting me," she said, crossing her arms.

Liam closed the laptop slowly, then walked over to her side and sat on the edge of the bed. "The company will recover."

"Really? Are you sure about that? Because those families seem pretty committed to burying you in court."

He shrugged once.

"I'll deal with it."

"When? After everything collapses?"

He didn't answer right away.

Izzy pursed her lips and watched him closely. "You're not helping me by ignoring everything else."

"I'm helping by making sure you don't end up in another hospital."

"And I'm telling you I'm not made of glass. Go run your empire, Horvath. I'll still be here when you get back."

out and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're not

then sighed and leaned back against the

news played on in the background. Another protest sign

FOR THE WORKERS.

left

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Chapter 208

behind him. Mondo was already waiting by the railing with his phone in one hand and a folder tucked

"Well?" Liam asked.

"The board's been circling since the Brazil story broke. Five members requested an emergency call-in within the next forty-eight hours." Liam didn't react. He just kept walking down the hallway, and Mondo followed. "They're pressing for clarity on the site's safety audits. One of them even suggested you hand off

Liam stopped. "Lefevre?"

"Yes."

"No."

it. "I already told them you'd address

"Good."

50

string of insurance policy manipulations on the

printed email chain, redacted but not enough

One of the signatures matched a

printout, then looked up. "Are you telling me whoever's

definitively. But it's not clean. The team thought it was just a regulatory ambush at first-some watchdog stirring

"And now?"

prodding from behind the scenes. The payout trail's been bouncing between front companies. We only got this one because the third-party

again at the name

sense. The workers in Brazil had no ties there. The collapse shouldn't have led to this

the angle?" Liam

to gut the company from the inside or smear

active asset we have

started. I'll send the first batch in

reached the stairwell. Liam stopped again. "And what about

this, it's not low-level. Someone up

ors with

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MIL, LIH

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Chapter 208

want names. I want movement. If someone's trying