Chapter 195

Olivia felt neither sympathy nor emotion. She only found the situation ridiculous. Was Liam threatening Alexander? His implication was clear - their relationship remained unchanged, and the Blackwood family's affairs had nothing to do with the Whitmores.

Alexander's fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. He looked like he was barely holding himself back.

Seeing the tension escalate, Olivia quickly moved forward and grasped Alexander's arm. She shook her head subtly, warning him against impulsive actions. Falling into Liam and Evelyn's trap would only lead to their downfall.

Catching Olivia's silent warning, Alexander took a deep breath and managed to restrain his temper.

Liam's gaze dropped. The sight of Olivia holding Alexander's arm stirred an uncomfortable feeling in his chest, darkening his mood further.

"I'm not here to discuss this. I need to speak with William," Liam commanded coldly, his piercing eyes locking with Alexander's.

Without waiting for a response, Liam strode toward William.

As he passed, Liam deliberately brushed against Alexander's shoulder. To casual observers it might have seemed accidental, but Alexander knew better - it was a calculated provocation.

Alexander gritted his teeth, shooting Olivia a sideways glance as he struggled to contain his irritation.

When Liam approached, William's associates immediately tensed, forming a protective circle around the wheelchair-bound patriarch while eyeing Liam with suspicion.

Liam merely raised an eyebrow, choosing silence over confrontation.

William cleared his throat. "It's alright," he instructed his men, then gave Liam a meaningful look. "It's been too long since we last spoke properly, Liam."

Liam responded with a rare, genuine smile. "Indeed. I meant to visit you at Mercy Hospital, but circumstances prevented me."

He then maneuvered William's wheelchair aside, as if finally making time for their overdue conversation.

Alexander watched them with visible anxiety. He wanted to follow but knew exactly how Liam would react. Interrupting would only make matters worse.

Noticing Alexander's concern, Olivia reassured him with gentle gestures that seemed to say, "Don't worry. Liam may seem unpredictable and stern, but he deeply respects his elders. He holds William in the same regard as his own grandfather."

This seemed to calm Alexander slightly, though his expression remained troubled. "After everything he's done to you, you still defend him?" he whispered.

Olivia shook her head, her eyes downcast with visible exhaustion. Her hands moved gracefully as she signed that she was merely stating facts, nothing more. She added that she'd accepted she and Liam were never meant to be together.

From across the room, Evelyn observed their exchange. Though she couldn't understand Olivia's sign language, Alexander's words were clear enough - they were discussing Liam.

A knot of unease twisted in Evelyn's stomach, tightening when Liam announced his intention to speak privately with William.

What if William said terrible things about her?

Evelyn believed she'd done nothing wrong. If anyone was at fault, it was Olivia for overreacting. Why did Olivia insist on staying in the city, constantly crossing paths with Liam when she was still technically married to him?

More importantly, Evelyn bitterly realized that with the Whitmore family's backing, Olivia was no longer the vulnerable orphan she once was.

What truly unsettled Evelyn was Liam and Olivia's shared childhood history. Around her, Liam appeared indifferent to Olivia. But what if memories of their past made him fall for Olivia again? The thought was unbearable.

Overcome with emotion, Evelyn stormed toward Olivia and grabbed her wrist violently. "Olivia, are you happy now? Look at you, relying on nothing but your pretty face! The Blackwoods rejected you, and soon the Whitmores will too. No one in this world wants you! You're just a parasite. That bastard child in your womb is just as unwanted as you are!"

Initially, Olivia dismissed Evelyn's baseless accusations, but when the attack turned toward her unborn child, fury overtook her. She raised her hand to strike.

But Evelyn anticipated this and yanked Olivia's hair instead.

Still weakened from being drugged earlier, Olivia lacked the strength to fight back effectively.

Evelyn seemed possessed, her attacks deliberately aimed at Olivia's abdomen.

Realizing Evelyn's malicious intent, Olivia stopped resisting and curled protectively around her belly.

Fortunately, Isabella quickly intervened, pulling Evelyn away while helping Olivia up. She glared at Evelyn with undisguised contempt. "Miss Hartley, you claim to despise Olivia, yet everyone can see it's you who's insecure. You mocked her as a voiceless orphan with no one to rely on. Yet this 'helpless mute' has outshone you at every turn. Even your so-called friends are abandoning you now."

Evelyn's thoughts turned to Liam, fueling her rage. She'd worked tirelessly to build connections with the Blackwood family, only to have Olivia destroy everything. Her anger was understandable.

Despite Liam's recent kindness toward her and apparent indifference to Olivia, Evelyn couldn't shake the fear that one day, Olivia might steal Liam away.

She refused to be defeated by someone like Olivia.

"Shut up!" Evelyn screamed, having completely lost her composure.

Alexander inhaled sharply before declaring, "I was willing to let you keep some dignity, but that's no longer possible. We're calling the police. Your involvement is undeniable."

"You're lying!" Evelyn snapped, panic creeping into her voice.

She desperately hoped someone would defend her. But as she scanned the room, only hostile stares met hers. Those who'd previously hesitated to confront her now looked at her with open disdain.

Evelyn's single-minded obsession with Liam had caused her to neglect old friendships. Now, facing their judgmental gazes, she suddenly felt like the loneliest person alive. A crushing sense of isolation overwhelmed her. Was all this chaos really worth it, just to make Olivia suffer?

"What's happening here?" Liam's voice cut through the tension as he returned with William.

Alexander, having just finished his call to the police, replied without looking up, his tone icy. "Ask Evelyn what she's done. She just attacked Olivia - deliberately targeting her stomach. She clearly knows about the pregnancy. Liam, do you really want to defend someone that cruel?"

Seeing Evelyn's guilty, lost expression, Liam could tell Alexander wasn't exaggerating.

Yet Liam's focus zeroed in on Evelyn's deliberate attack on Olivia's abdomen. A flicker of suspicion crossed his eyes. Who had told Evelyn about the pregnancy?

Did Evelyn believe the child was his? Or had someone intentionally misled her?

As these thoughts swirled, Liam's gaze shifted meaningfully back to William.