Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife

Lovely wife 215

Lighting the Match

Izzy stood still as the door opened wider. Olivier Horvath stepped in first, sharp in a tailored coat, followed by Cassandra and Celeste. She didn't speak right away. Her eyes drifted from one to the next. She hadn't been expecting them-not here.

"Well," Izzy said as she pulled her coat tighter around herself. "This is unexpected."

Olivier closed the door behind them. He didn't sit. He didn't even glance at the television still playing on mute.

"Drop the act," he said. "You knew this was coming."

Izzy smiled faintly but said nothing. Her gaze shifted to Cassandra. The actress looked different-more composed, maybe even comfortable. That quiet confidence wasn't for show. She wasn't here to be ignored.

"You tried to change the vote," Olivier continued. "You threatened board members. You used your last name and your connections. And now you're pretending to be shocked that we showed up?"

"I don't recall pretending to be shocked," Izzy replied, walking past them and placing the tablet on the table. "But I guess I should thank you for bringing an audience. Mondo please leave us, wait outside." Izzy them took her phone and sent a quick text towards Mondo then she put her phone back in her pocket. Celeste said nothing. She stood with her arms crossed, watching Izzy closely. "You look well, all things considered," Cassandra said, a smirk apparent on her face.

"I'm healing," Izzy said. Her eyes lingered on Cassandra. "But you already knew that. Otherwise, you wouldn't have filed the complaint."

Cassandra didn't answer right away. She didn't flinch, either. Instead, she looked toward Olivier.

"Let's not do the polite exchange," Olivier said. "You're not the victim here. You tried to -manipulate an entire boardroom behind our backs. Now Liam's been arrested. I

wonder why."

Izzy shrugged lightly. "Maybe because I almost died and don't owe anyone a response right now?" She immediately notice how careful Olivier was with his words. The man must be wary of recordings,

"You owe a lot of people," Olivier said.

"Is that why you're here?" Izzy asked. "To collect on some invisible debt I'm

supposed to pay? Or are you here because Cassandra wants this moment to look good in front of you two?"

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Cassandra raised a brow. "You think I care about appearances?"

care about winning,"

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Lighting the Match

moment, nobody

stepped forward, placing something small and silver on

the beginning. It was the consequence. You changed the vote.

what this man was

running and your name is still on the Rossi shares tied to Horvath Holdings. Which means you're not a

faintest nod, almost like a bow. Then she turned her back on them and walked to

let's not waste each other's time and tell me

sense. You have nothing in common and, to be honest, you are different from the woman that I

life."

lifted an eyebrow. If she wasn't paying attention earlier, she now

them her full attention.

as he saw Izzy's

knew this was coming. Liam deserves someone better, and

out a slim envelope, placing it on the table

sign it. Once that's done, we'll make sure the charges disappear. Liam walks. No scandal. No trial.

kept her eyes on the city below. Her fingers curled slightly against

She smiled to herself.

the company that someone would run straight to him. She hadn't expected that information to

to pressure her, maybe cut her off from certain resources,

over

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Lighting the Match

head-that was something else. She underestimated the man's willingness to bury his family to protect his

now he wanted to eliminate the one variable

Her.

finally turned to face them.

sign that," she said.

agreement," Olivier said, not missing a beat. "The sooner

envelope, and flipped it in her hand. She didn't open it. She didn't

that was the angle-remove the wife, eliminate the