Chapter 106

Daniel burst into the hospital room, his face darkening with fury when he saw Olivia collapsed on the cold tile floor.

Something had felt off all morning. Daniel had spent hours combing through Newport's surveillance network. The search was grueling, but he'd finally tracked the armed men who'd dragged Olivia to Mercy Hospital.

He was too late.

Beatrice Hartley turned with venom in her eyes, her finger shaking as she pointed at Daniel. "How dare you show your face here? You and that wretched woman destroyed my daughter's life. Now she'll pay for what she's done."

Daniel knelt, gathering Olivia's limp form with surprising tenderness. His voice cut like ice. "Our guilt—or innocence—will be decided in a courtroom, not by your hysterics. The police are already on their way. What you've done here today is criminal. Save your theatrics for the detectives."

Frederick and Beatrice exchanged panicked glances.

Daniel had barely taken three steps down the hallway when Liam appeared like a specter, flanked by a small army of Blackwood security.

Liam's expression could have frozen hell itself. "Put. Her. Down. This is between the Blackwoods and Hartleys. You're not part of this equation."

Daniel's laugh was razor-sharp. "Really? Were you too busy with Evelyn to notice Olivia nearly died today? She's always been an afterthought to you. Just because you discard people like trash doesn't mean the rest of us do."

Liam's knuckles whitened.

Sebastian Montgomery glanced at Olivia's ashen face and intervened. "Sir, she needs medical attention immediately."

With visible reluctance, Liam stepped aside.

Daniel rushed toward the ER, Olivia's shallow breaths warm against his neck. As he passed Liam, the billionaire's whisper slithered between them: "She's still my wife. No matter what happens, you'll never have her."

Daniel's grip tightened. "We'll see about that."

Sebastian watched storm clouds gather in Liam's expression. "Sir, perhaps we should—"

"Why bother?" Liam cut him off. "She called him, not me. Showing up now would just make me look like some pathetic knight in shining armor. She made her choice."

Yet despite his words, Liam found himself standing outside Evelyn's private suite, his mind churning with thoughts of Olivia.

Evelyn had been recovering well under Mercy Hospital's care, her spirits buoyed by Liam's daily visits.

Hearing the door open, she quickly schooled her features into a pained expression. "Liam, could you fetch the doctor? My head...it's like the concussion never healed."

"Enough," Liam snapped, taking the chair by her bed. "The medical report shows your only serious injury is to your hand. That forehead wound? Barely a scratch."

Evelyn batted her lashes. "But the nightmares...I keep reliving Olivia pushing me. Why would she—"

"Give me your phone."

Evelyn clutched it behind her back. "That's an invasion of privacy! We're not even—"

"Now."

With trembling fingers, she surrendered it—just as a video notification from Beatrice appeared.

The moment Liam tapped play, Beatrice's shrill voice filled the room: "Make her sign it! She'll pay for what she did to our Evelyn!"

Evelyn turned deathly pale. "Liam, I swear I didn't know—"

"Shut up."

It was the first time Evelyn had ever seen Liam truly lose control. She shrank back, her carefully constructed facade crumbling.

Liam took a steadying breath. "My mother and I have given you everything. What more do you want?"

Evelyn's gaze darted like a cornered animal's. "I don't understand—"

"Name your price." Liam's voice was steel. "Olivia remains my wife. Humiliating her humiliates me."

A calculated gleam entered Evelyn's eyes as she reached for Liam's hand. "Just two small things. A public apology admitting she's the other woman...and personal care during my recovery. That scar on my forehead—"

"Impossible." Liam jerked away. "The second demand is off the table."

Evelyn's mask slipped. "Then at least make her apologize and tend to me!"