Chapter 12

Liam swept Olivia into his arms and deposited her onto the king-sized bed. Her palms pressed weakly against his chest, the resistance more perfunctory than genuine as her fingers trembled against his shirt.

"Behave, darling," Liam whispered, his breath hot against the shell of her ear as he leaned in closer.

Olivia stiffened momentarily, but when his lips sought hers, she turned her face away. A solitary tear escaped, tracing a glistening path down her porcelain cheek. Her entire body trembled as if enduring some unseen torment rather than participating in an intimate moment.

With a frustrated sigh, Liam straightened to his full height. "You're rejecting me now?" His voice carried equal parts confusion and irritation.

Olivia hastily signed that she wasn't feeling well, her gaze fixed determinedly on the Persian rug beneath their feet.

"Unwell from resigning? Unwell yet you dined with Natalie?" Liam's voice turned razor sharp as he advanced, demanding answers.

Olivia found herself speechless. Ever since she'd mentioned divorce, Liam had become inexplicably attentive - though not in the manner she'd hoped for.

Receiving no response, Liam stormed out without another word.

Olivia assumed he'd left for good and burrowed beneath the silk duvet, seeking solace. The sudden sound of footsteps ascending the grand staircase made her heart stutter.

To her astonishment, Liam reappeared, her designer handbag dangling from his fingers.

Olivia bolted upright, ignoring the sudden dizziness as she reached desperately for her bag.

"Looking for this?" Liam tossed the bag aside and brandished her medical records like a prosecutor presenting damning evidence. "You were at Mercy Hospital this morning? Why keep this from me?"

Olivia retreated two steps before signing that it had been a minor incident, not worth troubling him.

"You're my wife." Liam advanced, backing her against the wall. "You think your health would be a bother to me?"

As realization dawned - Natalie's call must have been about Olivia's condition - his expression darkened further.

Tears welling in her eyes, Olivia frantically signed that it had been nothing serious, just a brief episode that passed quickly. She hadn't wanted to worry him over something trivial.

Liam's gaze softened imperceptibly. "From now on, you tell me everything. Understood?"

Olivia nodded vigorously.

Just as Liam seemed about to say more, his phone shattered the moment.

"Darling, aren't you at the office? We had lunch plans." Evelyn's saccharine voice filled the room.

Olivia tried to slip away, but Liam's proximity made escape impossible. She ducked her head, pretending not to hear the conversation.

"Business lunch with clients. I'll be back later," Liam lied smoothly, his eyes never leaving Olivia's trembling form before exiting.

Olivia's head snapped up in shock as the door closed behind him. Why would he lie to Evelyn? Could it possibly be... for her sake?

By the time Olivia descended the grand staircase, Liam had already vanished.

"Madam, will you be preparing dinner this evening?" Theodore inquired, offering her a crystal glass of water as she reached the foyer.

Olivia had once cooked nightly, but Liam's constant absences had extinguished that habit.

Today was different. Liam's unexpected return had kindled a spark of hope in Olivia's chest.

She nodded enthusiastically at the butler, a rare smile gracing her lips.

In the gourmet kitchen, Olivia meticulously selected premium ingredients brought by the staff. She washed, chopped, seasoned and marinated with precision, timing each dish perfectly to ensure everything would be served at ideal temperatures.

A soft smile played on her lips as she cooked. Before their marriage, she'd dreamed of such domestic moments - preparing meals for Liam with love. Reality had gradually eroded those fantasies.

As she plated the final dish, her phone buzzed with Liam's message: "Working late. Bring dinner to my office."

Olivia's hands stilled. He wanted her to come to Blackwood Enterprises? In three years of marriage, she'd never set foot in his corporate headquarters - almost as if she'd been deliberately kept away.

Without tasting a single bite, Olivia packed the meal into thermal containers. Hailing a cab, she rushed toward the towering Blackwood skyscraper.

Even as evening fell, the Blackwood Enterprises headquarters blazed with light, employees still bustling about like worker bees in a corporate hive.

The moment Olivia stepped through the glass doors, the receptionist blocked her path. "Do you have an appointment?"

Olivia quickly typed on her phone: "I'm here to see Mr. Blackwood."

"For what purpose? Scheduled meeting?" The receptionist's demeanor shifted as she took in Olivia's appearance. What began as professional courtesy twisted into something far less pleasant.

"Mr. Blackwood requested I bring him dinner," Olivia typed, hoping to clarify.

The receptionist's laughter rang out sharply.

"Miss, do you know how many women invent stories daily to see Mr. Blackwood? If you're truly delivering food, at least dress like a delivery person. And this mute act? Pathetic. What are you hiding?"