Chapter 22

"Let her go this instant!" Liam's voice thundered across the room as Olivia collapsed onto the floor.

Liam rushed forward, catching Olivia just before she hit the ground, cradling her limp body against his chest.

"Help her!" Liam snapped at Ryan.

Without hesitation, Ryan wheeled over a medical stretcher and carefully transferred Olivia onto it. After a quick examination, he announced, "Her pulse is racing and her breathing's shallow. She's fainted from stress - nothing life-threatening."

The entire room seemed to freeze. No one moved to intervene, not even the police officers who had been moments away from arresting Olivia. Every eye was fixed on the unconscious woman.

From the edge of the crowd, Evelyn watched with clenched teeth as Liam unexpectedly swept Olivia into his arms, effectively preventing her arrest. Fury burned in her eyes. "What perfect timing for this little performance," she muttered under her breath. "Convenient fainting spell to avoid jail."

Though Evelyn spoke quietly, Natalie heard every poisonous word. Already seething with anger, Natalie lost control and slapped Evelyn hard across the face. "Say that again, I dare you!"

"You - you hit me!" Evelyn gasped.

Despite being bullied for years, Evelyn had never retaliated in front of Liam. She clutched her stinging cheek, stepping back in shock as tears welled in her eyes.

Liam remained completely focused on Olivia, oblivious to the altercation.

"And why shouldn't I?" Natalie shot back fiercely. "After what you've done to Olivia, a hundred slaps wouldn't be enough!"

Natalie raised her hand again, ready to strike.

Liam said nothing, and no one else dared intervene.

As Natalie moved to hit Evelyn again, the terrified woman turned and fled.

"Enough!" Liam's voice cracked with irritation. "Must you cause such a scene?"

"Liam, she-" Evelyn began, but was immediately cut off.

Ryan interrupted sharply. "Can't you see we're busy here? Be quiet!"

Evelyn pressed her lips together, casting a pleading look at Liam, who gave no indication he'd noticed her distress.

Meanwhile, Olivia began to stir.

"How are you feeling? Point to where it hurts if something's wrong," Ryan said gently, being the first face Olivia saw as she regained consciousness.

"Olivia, are you okay?" Natalie rushed to her side.

Olivia's wide, confused eyes found Liam's face, filled with bewilderment and fear.

"You fainted," Ryan explained.

As awareness returned, Olivia remembered the events leading to this moment. She shook her head slowly. Truthfully, she felt terrible all over, but no specific pain stood out, so she pretended everything was fine.

"Do I still have to go to the police station?" Olivia signed shakily to Ryan. "I can explain everything. I didn't do what they're accusing me of."

Ryan's face became unreadable as he glanced at Liam. His silence spoke volumes.

"Would you rather explain to the police than to me?" Liam voiced the thoughts Ryan hadn't spoken, his expression darkening.

Olivia's gaze dropped, her fingers nervously twisting the hospital sheet.

"Why won't you explain it to me? Look at me!" Liam's voice grew sharp with anger.

"You're scaring her! Do you plan to hurt her again?" Natalie interjected protectively, positioning herself between them.

Olivia raised her eyes again. Dressed in a hospital gown, her fragile frame made the purple bruises on her delicate neck stand out starkly against her pale skin.

"Just explain it to me," Liam said, moderating his tone with visible effort. "I'm listening."

"I haven't taken any money from him. Check my bank account," Olivia typed with trembling fingers, using her phone's text-to-speech function to relay her message.

"I have the transfer receipt!" the restrained man shouted desperately. "It's in my pocket! She can't deny it!"

Someone quickly retrieved the receipt. The details matched the time of the extortion messages, listing Olivia's account number.

"How do you explain this?" Liam challenged, holding the receipt before Olivia, his voice controlled but deep.

This time, Olivia showed neither panic nor fear. She typed again: "My account shows no such deposit, and I haven't contacted him. You can verify with my bank and phone records."

"Alright, contact the bank and phone company immediately to confirm this," Liam ordered.