Chapter 13

Olivia gnawed on her colorless lip, fingers twitching with the urge to respond. As she reached for her phone, the receptionist slapped a palm on the counter. "Don't waste my time. One more disturbance and I'm calling security!"

The woman shoved Olivia backward with unnecessary force. Left with no choice, Olivia texted Liam instead. "I'm in the lobby. They won't let me up."

The screen remained stubbornly blank.

Pacing the marble floor, Olivia realized her carefully prepared dishes were cooling by the minute. She approached the desk again, typing rapidly. "Could you please notify Mr. Blackwood of my arrival?"

She deliberately avoided mentioning their marital status, not wanting to cause Liam professional embarrassment.

The receptionist snorted derisively. "If we interrupted executives every time some random girl showed up claiming to know them, nothing would ever get done!"

Defeated, Olivia retreated to a plush sofa in the lobby's waiting area, resigning herself to wait until Liam finished work.

Noticing Olivia's persistence, the receptionist sauntered over with a glass of water, slamming it down with a smirk. "Mr. Blackwood uses the private executive elevator straight to the garage. You'll never catch him this way. Enjoy your pointless vigil."

Olivia kept glancing at her silent phone. Was Liam in an important meeting? Had something happened?

The elevator pinged suddenly. Liam emerged, Evelyn hanging off his arm like designer jewelry.

"Olivia?" Liam's eyebrows shot up. "What are you doing here?"

The receptionist turned sheet-white, scrambling to explain. "Mr. Blackwood, she claimed to have food for you but couldn't provide proper identification—"

"Who told you to bring food?" Liam's sharp interruption cut through the lobby.

Olivia's hands froze mid-sign. Evelyn's triumphant smirk told her everything. This had been a setup—Evelyn must have used Liam's phone to trick her into preparing his favorite dishes.

Mouth tightening, Olivia turned toward the revolving doors without explanation.

Liam's gaze tracked her unsteady movements, recalling the medical reports he'd seen—malnutrition, anemia, a body running on fumes.

"Darling," Evelyn purred, "why don't we try what the mute cooked? You always said she had... unique talents."

Before Evelyn could finish, Liam shook her off and strode after Olivia.

Evelyn's face darkened, recalling how Liam had dismissed her at the club earlier. She shot the receptionist a venomous glare. "Not a word about this to anyone!"

Outside, a sleek black Porsche pulled up to the curb.

"Olivia?" Daniel rolled down his window. "Need a ride?"

With evening traffic worsening and no taxis in sight, Olivia hesitated only briefly before sliding into the passenger seat.

Neither noticed Liam bursting through the doors in time to see the Porsche merge into traffic.

Liam's expression turned thunderous. He wrenched open the door of his Bentley Continental with enough force to alarm nearby valets.

"Liam! Wait!" Evelyn barely managed to jump in before he floored the accelerator.

The Bentley shot forward like a bullet, pinning Evelyn against the leather seats as she shrieked. Liam had never driven like this before.

Through midday traffic, the Bentley weaved dangerously, pulling alongside the Porsche. Liam laid on the horn.

Daniel, mid-conversation with Olivia, spotted Liam and immediately downshifted, surging ahead again. Like hell he'd pull over.

Olivia clutched the dashboard, eyes wide. She never imagined Liam would chase them—much less initiate this reckless high-speed pursuit.

As they raced toward the industrial district, the unfamiliar surroundings heightened Olivia's unease. Where was Daniel taking her?

But Liam refused to relent.

The confrontation came at a deserted warehouse district when Liam executed a dangerous maneuver, cutting off the Porsche and forcing Daniel to brake violently.

Tires screeched. Dust swirled.

And in that suspended moment, three lives hung in the balance.