Chapter 155

Olivia froze at the sound of that voice. Her spine straightened instantly, heart pounding so hard she wondered if she might be hallucinating.

Liam Blackwood strode into the room with predatory grace. His sharp gaze swept across the assembled faces before lingering on Olivia with deliberate intensity.

She kept her eyes fixed straight ahead, fingers digging into the tablecloth. A storm of emotions churned inside her—shock, fear, and something dangerously close to longing.

Alexander Hayes was the first to react. He shot Isabella Rossi a meaningful look, and the woman rose smoothly from her seat.

"Olivia, you seem unwell. Let's return home," Isabella suggested, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"What's the rush?" Liam's voice cut through the room like a blade. That infuriating smirk played on his lips. "Doesn't Mr. Hayes want to know why his client is so distressed?"

Understanding dawned on Alexander's face. He slammed his palms against the table, rising abruptly. "What are you implying? The Blackwoods and Hayeses have been allies for generations. Are you truly willing to destroy that?"

Liam dismissed the accusation with a careless wave as he advanced toward them.

Julian Hawthorne scrambled aside, his obsequious smile making it painfully clear who had orchestrated this meeting. The traitor had been working under their noses all along.

Alexander had suspected Julian's duplicity but never imagined the depth of his betrayal. When had he started conspiring with Liam?

Taking a seat opposite them, Liam's voice turned glacial. "Mr. Hayes, your theatrics amuse me. Who exactly is threatening our families' alliance? This is a personal matter, yet you insist on meddling. Makes one question your motives."

Though unspoken, everyone knew why Liam was here.

Olivia's face drained of color. Her hands fluttered protectively over her abdomen, panic rising like bile in her throat. She needed to stay composed—for the baby's sake.

She considered standing, ready to confess that she'd sought Alexander's help to escape the hospital. If Liam wanted to vent his fury, it should be directed at her alone.

Just as she moved to rise, Isabella's grip tightened on her wrist.

"Trust Mr. Hayes," Isabella murmured. "We mustn't provoke him further."

Olivia shook her head frantically, gesturing that she couldn't let Alexander bear the consequences of her actions.

Liam watched this exchange, his jaw tightening. He regretted learning sign language now—every desperate motion of Olivia's hands was a knife twisting in his chest. She was defending another man.

Had she always cared this much about Alexander? Liam had been so secure in her devotion that he'd never noticed potential rivals. This revelation struck like a physical blow.

A cold chuckle escaped him as he addressed the room. "Regarding whether Whitmore Holdings survives this crisis... I might possess crucial information." His smirk turned predatory. "For the right price."

Alexander's nostrils flared. "Name it."

"Oh, I doubt you're prepared for my terms." Liam's gaze locked onto Olivia. "She spends the night with me."

Dead silence.

The clueless manager, oblivious to Olivia's true identity as Liam's wife, saw only an opportunity to curry favor. He leaned toward Alexander with a conspiratorial wink.

"Mr. Hayes, she's lovely, but surely not worth risking your company? Women like her are replaceable. Be reasonable."

Alexander's fists clenched, but Sebastian Montgomery struck first.

One glance at Liam's thunderous expression told Sebastian this fool had signed his own death warrant.

He grabbed the manager by his collar and delivered a crushing blow.

The man staggered back, clutching his bleeding nose in shock. "Mr. Montgomery! What did I—"

"Remove him," Liam commanded icily. "This imbecile has wasted enough of my time. Hiring such morons would bankrupt Blackwood Enterprises through sheer stupidity."

Terror dawned on the manager's face as Sebastian dragged him away. His career was over.

In the parking garage, the man whimpered, "Please, tell me how I offended Mr. Blackwood! I betrayed my employer for him today!"

Sebastian looked down in disgust. "Had you kept your mouth shut, you might have survived. But insulting her?" He shook his head. "You've angered someone far more dangerous than Liam Blackwood."

The manager would never understand that the person Sebastian referred to was the very woman he'd dismissed as disposable.

Julian trembled nearby, realizing a careless word could trigger catastrophic consequences. The manager had groveled relentlessly, yet Liam showed no mercy.

Julian wasn't foolish enough to challenge Liam's wrath. Flattery wouldn't work—Liam had sycophants lining up daily. He needed a different approach.

Olivia felt the tension thickening the air. She risked a glance at Alexander, her eyes brimming with apology.

Liam noticed. His fingers drummed impatiently against the table.

Alexander opened his mouth to speak—