Chapter 44

Olivia stormed upstairs, her fury radiating like heat waves. Liam remained in the hallway, his expression dark with contemplation. Every fiber of his being urged him to follow her, but he clenched his fists, knowing confrontation would only fuel the fire. Instead, he reached for his phone and dialed Evelyn. Olivia had insisted neither Victoria nor Evelyn were involved, yet doubt gnawed at him like a persistent itch.

The line connected after two rings. Before Evelyn could greet him, Liam cut straight to the chase. "Do you know anything about the fire at Natalie's bookstore last night?"

Silence stretched for three heartbeats. The question had clearly caught Evelyn off guard.

"Liam, how could you?" Evelyn's voice cracked with wounded disbelief. "What has Olivia told you? Why would I ever do something like this? I've accepted my place beside you. What possible motive would I have to hurt her? It changes nothing for me."

Her words grew more frantic. "In any civilized society, I'd be behind bars for such an act! Killing Olivia would only complicate my life. Why would I invite that kind of chaos?"

Liam let the silence linger, weighing his next words carefully. "I'm not accusing you. I just need to know if Victoria mentioned anything suspicious."

"Victoria?" Confusion colored Evelyn's tone now. "Are you suggesting she's responsible? Did the police find evidence? Liam, I swear I had no knowledge if she was involved. I would have stopped her immediately! I'd never condone something so extreme over petty humiliation."

"Just tell me if she ever said anything that might explain this," Liam pressed, his voice steady but unyielding.

"Absolutely not! I never imagined her capable of this," Evelyn insisted, sincerity ringing clear. "Yes, I envy Olivia, but not enough to wish her harm. Victoria and I aren't even close. If she did this because of what happened at her grandfather's birthday, that's terrifying. I don't understand her at all."

"Alright, I believe you," Liam said evenly before ending the call.

But his investigation wasn't over. He immediately dialed his assistant. "Pull Victoria's complete schedule from when Olivia started at Gregory's studio. And trace the origins of that bracelet Olivia repaired. I want a full dossier by tonight."

Liam suspected this entire situation might have been meticulously orchestrated, with Olivia unwittingly caught in the crosshairs. Rubbing his temples, he glanced up at the closed bedroom door and chose not to pursue her.

Morning light revealed a transformed Olivia descending the stairs. Gone were her usual muted tones, replaced by vibrant colors that seemed to declare her rebirth from shadows.

The butler nearly dropped his tray. "Madam, you seem... unusually radiant this morning?"

Olivia responded with a smile, gesturing toward the dining room.

"Your favorite breakfast selections await," the butler replied, still adjusting to her metamorphosis as he pulled out her chair.

After eating, Olivia made her intentions clear - she planned to spend the entire day at the studio. She requested lunch be delivered there, even offering to take breakfast leftovers if it proved inconvenient.

The butler hesitated. Liam had recently insisted Olivia take all meals at home, a rule she'd followed - until now. "Madam, Mr. Blackwood will be displeased if you're not here for lunch."

Olivia signed sharply that Liam's displeasure was irrelevant. Her decision was final.

Without waiting for approval, she turned toward the door, her resolve unmistakable. She'd reached her limit - Liam's controlling nature, his lack of trust, it had all become unbearable. The fire had brought clarity. She didn't want his protection; she demanded her freedom.

As the door closed behind her, the butler stood frozen in conflict. Ultimately, he reached for the house phone.

When Olivia arrived at the studio, she expected her lunch delivery at noon. What she didn't anticipate was Liam himself appearing at her doorstep with it.