Chapter 251

Seraphina's fingers dug into Olivia's arm with bruising force. "You're not leaving until I get answers," she hissed, her voice dripping with venom.

Natalie straightened her spine, her piercing gaze locking onto Seraphina. "Miss Kensington, while the full story remains unclear, one fact is undeniable - Olivia was held against her will. You claim to pity her, yet everyone in Crestwood knows she's Liam's wife and a dear friend of my family. William Hayes himself has publicly sworn to protect her. With such powerful connections, how can you possibly call her pitiful? If she's pitiful, what does that make the rest of us?"

The air crackled with tension as Natalie continued, "Olivia was kidnapped by criminals while visiting Henry Winslow's grave. While I don't suspect the Kensingtons' involvement, if you truly rescued her, why wasn't she taken to authorities or a hospital? Why label her a vagrant instead?" Her voice turned razor-sharp. "What are you hiding? Do you think because Olivia can't speak for herself, you can manipulate the situation?"

Seraphina stood frozen, her lips parted in shock. The irony burned like acid in her throat. Olivia, this seemingly fragile woman who Evelyn had bullied so easily, was actually Liam Blackwood's wife.

A bitter jealousy twisted Seraphina's features. Evelyn had schemed for years to marry Liam and failed, yet this "pitiful" woman had succeeded. Though she finally released Olivia, the murderous glint in Seraphina's eyes promised future retribution when the time was right.

Olivia caught that fleeting but unmistakable look of malice. A cold dread settled in her chest. Would leaving with Natalie bring trouble to the Bennetts?

At this critical moment, Donovan stepped forward with practiced charm. "My deepest apologies," he said smoothly, offering Olivia a conciliatory smile. "My cousin can be... impulsive. But I assure you, she'll learn from this."

His tone turned earnest. "You heard Grandfather call you his granddaughter - a claim I find quite plausible. Given his fragile health, I must insist you stay until he stabilizes. Then we can discuss everything properly." He placed a hand over his heart. "Your safety here is my personal guarantee. Everyone present will bear witness. Should anything happen to you, I accept full responsibility."

Natalie scoffed. "Words are wind without action."

Without hesitation, Donovan summoned his legal team. "We'll draft a binding agreement," he announced. "And since Mr. Blackwood is Olivia's husband, his signature will formalize the terms."

When Liam reviewed the document, his brows shot up. "She must report to you about everyone she meets? You're restricting her basic freedom of association?"

Adjusting his glasses, Donovan countered with a sharp smile. "Mr. Blackwood, this is for your wife's protection. Unlike some, we Kensingtons take family security seriously. Had others been more vigilant, she might never have been abducted."

The unspoken accusation hung heavy in the air as lawyers scurried to finalize the agreement that would chain Olivia to the Kensington estate under the guise of protection.