Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife

Chapter 231

"Congratulations on your success," Liam smiled as he handed a champagne glass to Izzy. "I knew you could do it."

Izzy smiled. "Did you?" She accepted the glass.

"I never had a doubt." Liam said as he sat next to her, staring straight at her. "But

you don't seem happy."

Izzy smiled at that. Doesn't she really look happy?

Izzy took a sip of the champagne and rested the glass on her knee. The celebration was quiet, the way she preferred it. The lights were low.

The view from the penthouse window stretched across the skyline, but her eyes weren't on it. She watched the reflection in the glass instead-Liam's beside hers. Solid. Still. Always watching.

"I'm not unhappy." she said. "It's just... enough, for now."

He didn't answer right away. He shifted slightly, turning toward her. His arm brushed against hers. He didn't move away.

"I didn't think I'd have to keep doing this forever," she continued. "I didn't think I'd have to keep fighting."

Liam reached for her hand, not sudden, just steady. His fingers closed around hers. Warm. Grounding. No pressure. He waited.

She didn't look at him. "They never stop. Frederik, the Rossi board, and even the media. I wake up, and there's always something new-another headline, another meeting, or another problem. And no matter what I fix, it doesn't end."

"You don't have to do it alone."

She looked down at their hands. His thumb brushed against the side of hers.

"I know," she said. "But even when you're not alone, it still feels like it's on you. Because no one else really understands what's at stake." She pulled her hand away gently, only to set the glass aside. Then she turned fully toward him, folding one leg beneath her on the couch. "The problem isn't that they're trying to push me out. The problem is I don't know who's really behind it. The leaks, the timing, the press-it's coordinated."

Liam nodded once. He didn't ask for more. He waited.

"And I- I don't want to keep fighting an invisible enemy, Liam. I just- I don't think I can do this all the time. Be on defense. Not being able to sleep property at night, thinking someone might be planning to end my life anything and I-” she swallowed. "I didn't want to drag you with me."

"Hey Hey you are not-"

head, interrupting him."There's only one way to know," Izzy said. "One way to see who the real enemy

stretched between them. It didn't feel awkward.

He didn't.

you need me to do?" he

chest tightened slightly-not with anxiety, but something else. She reached up and unfastened the top two buttons of her blouse. Slowly. Deliberately.

to listen," she said. "And follow

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leaned forward. His knees touched hers. "Then

a trap. And we watch who takes the bait." This time, she's willing to

shook her head. "The timing couldn't have been more convenient, but so far, the only source confirming it is a brief statement from her attending physician. No hospital admission

counsel for Horvath Industries-turned his laptop toward her. His expression stayed composed, but the screen displayed

We managed to

This wasn't surprising. Cassandra Jones wasn't just another scandal-ridden actress. She was an established figure in Hollywood. A fall this dramatic, this public,

not organic," she said. "The way the headlines are spreading, the speed of the media

chair. "And we still don't have her location. No emergency calls. No

another play. A diversion. Something to discredit the Horvaths and derail the court's attention before the hearings even

find her-or at least verify her condition-we're stuck playing

her arms. "And someone out there is making sure we stay on

permission. She crossed the room quickly and switched on the large wall-mounted screen at the front of the boardroom. Maria stood slowly as the screen lit up. The live stream

Maria's stomach dropped.

resting lightly on the sides. There was no teleprompter. No speech in front of her. She looked straight

am stepping down

could be heard from the press pit. Someone's pen slipped off a table. In the

Maria didn't blink.

continued, "This is a personal decision. One I've made after serious consideration. My role in the group has never been about power or influence. It was about honoring my grandfather's legacy. But at this point in my life,

paused briefly. The

my family. On my marriage. On my husband. And as such, I've named Liam

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beneficiary, moving forward."

behind Maria went still. She barely registered it. Her