Chapter 432

Olivia Sinclair shook her head earnestly. "No, I saw it on television. But if you'd rather not watch it, I won't insist."

Liam Blackwood smiled softly and stroked Isabelle's hair. "Let's get some rest now," he murmured in that velvet voice that always made her feel safe.

What Olivia didn't know was that Sebastian Montgomery had been standing just outside the door, eavesdropping on their entire exchange. His fingers had hovered over the doorknob before pulling back at the last second. The sudden vibration of his phone shattered the tense silence.

Liam moved swiftly down the hallway before answering. The voice that greeted him dripped with poisonous sweetness.

"Liam darling, I bet you didn't anticipate being caught in my web again." Victoria Ellington's laugh was like shattering crystal. "Time to choose - reveal who you really are or get Olivia out of Eldermere. Because if you don't... well, let's just say peace will become a foreign concept for her."

Her confidence was absolute. She'd covered every track, disposed of Beatrice Ellington's body with clinical precision. The police would find nothing, leaving Olivia as the only viable suspect. Otherwise, Liam would have involved authorities by now.

His knuckles turned white around the phone, eyes hardening into glacial shards.

When silence stretched too long, Victoria's tone shifted. "Or... here's an alternative. Publicly clear my name regarding the Kensington estate incident. Swear you won't oppose me again. In return, I'll drop all legal actions." Her voice turned saccharine. "What do you say, darling?"

Liam's response could have frozen hell over. "You murdered your own mother, Victoria. Do you truly believe there won't be consequences?"

Her laugh was razor-sharp. "Consequences? Please. Your sins eclipse mine tenfold. Didn't you end Margaret Winslow's life? That's why you're hiding behind this pathetic alias."

"We are nothing alike," Liam countered icily. "You think these baseless accusations intimidate me?"

Victoria's smirk was audible. "I've laid out your options. Choose wisely, darling. My patience wears thin. You have seventy-two hours."

The moment the call ended, Nathaniel Bradford materialized at Liam's side. "Sir, we've traced the post's origin. It came from Evelyn Hartley."

Liam's lips curled in dark amusement. "If Victoria had recruited someone competent, I might be concerned. But Evelyn? That's almost insulting."

Nathaniel's brow furrowed. "Nevertheless, Mr. Blackwood, the situation escalates. Multiple factions are investigating us covertly. If this continues..."

"I'm aware," Liam interrupted, massaging his temples. "We proceed with caution."

Meanwhile beneath the scorching midday sun, Sebastian Whitmore cornered Evelyn in her sunroom. As she lounged with a bowl of grapes, his sudden grip sent her sprawling. The porcelain bowl shattered against marble tiles, fruit scattering like blood droplets.

Evelyn rose slowly, eyes flashing. "Have you lost your mind, Sebastian?"

His expression was thunderous. "Enough games. What have you done? Don't play the fool with me."

She glanced away, fingers twitching. "I haven't broken any laws."

When Sebastian twisted her wrist sharply, she gasped. "That hurts!" Her protest came with practiced doe-eyed innocence.