Chapter 235

"Why didn't you dare wake me sooner? If it wasn't for Olivia, Donovan would have humiliated me beyond repair. What's wrong? Am I too intimidating? Or did my temper frighten you away?" Seraphina's voice thundered through the grand hallway.

Humiliation burned through Seraphina's veins after Donovan's public rebuke. She needed an outlet for her rage, and Olivia had been the perfect target. Yet the quiet way Olivia had absorbed the abuse while secretly diffusing the situation only infuriated Seraphina more. This newcomer displayed more intelligence than all her long-serving staff combined. Why couldn't any of them show half that cleverness?

Exhaustion weighed Olivia down as she kept her gaze lowered, ignoring Seraphina's tirade against the trembling maid. The scene brought her no satisfaction. She understood the real source of this storm. "May I be excused to rest?" Olivia requested softly.

This time, Seraphina granted permission, though her parting words carried a razor's edge. "Don't forget how little time remains. Fail me, and you'll regret it deeply."

Olivia nodded once before turning away without hesitation.

Meanwhile, Donovan had barely settled into his study when Liam's email arrived. The attached photograph of Liam's wife made Donovan's breath catch. The resemblance was uncanny—how could this radiant woman share features with the broken soul he'd seen at Seraphina's estate?

Yet differences emerged upon closer inspection. The woman in the photo smiled with genuine warmth, her eyes sparkling with life and beauty. The woman at Seraphina's had been a shadow of this image—hollow-eyed, bitter, drained of vitality. Why would Liam's wife choose to remain with Seraphina? Hadn't his cousin described her as some pitiful charity case?

Puzzlement gnawed at Donovan as he summoned his butler. "Inform Seraphina I require her new attendant. There's a matter I wish to discuss with her personally."

But Seraphina refused point-blank. Not only did she deny the request, but Olivia was immediately reassigned to distant quarters.

When Donovan confronted her again, Seraphina's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Donovan, since when do you covet what's mine? She's far too valuable to me. Are you attempting to steal her away?"

Donovan's expression remained impassive, though a frown creased his brow. "Why would I want her? There's simply something familiar about her."

A flicker of panic crossed Seraphina's face. "You've met before?"

Donovan's response came laced with manufactured outrage. "Indeed! During my overseas trip six months ago, someone robbed me. I've been trying to place her face—the thief bore a striking resemblance."

Most of Seraphina's suspicions evaporated at this explanation. Donovan's highly publicized theft during his travels lent credibility to his claim. Anticipating her doubt, Donovan produced carefully altered surveillance images where the thief's face had been digitally replaced with Olivia's features.

The fabricated evidence served its purpose perfectly. Seraphina couldn't know the photos had been doctored, making Donovan's interest appear entirely justified.