Chapter 495

Liam's expression turned to stone as he pivoted to fix Olivia with an icy glare that could freeze hell itself. The intensity of his stare made Olivia instinctively recoil, yet defiance still burned in her eyes. She clutched her secret weapon tightly - surrender wasn't an option.

The towering figure of Liam loomed over Olivia, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper. "Pick your poison."

Olivia's lips twisted into a grotesque smirk. "You won't kill me," she taunted, false bravado dripping from every word. "You don't have the stomach for it."

The door burst open as Sebastian rushed in, breath ragged. "Sir, Eleanor has escaped."

Natalie, who'd been comforting Isabelle, froze mid-motion. Turning slowly, she caught the flash of victory in Olivia's eyes. The puzzle pieces suddenly clicked - Olivia and Eleanor had been working together all along. That explained how Olivia knew Liam's true identity.

Olivia's smirk widened into something grotesquely self-satisfied. Liam studied her with cold amusement before letting out a derisive chuckle. "You actually think she's coming back for you?"

The smirk faltered. "What are you talking about?" Olivia's voice held the slightest tremor.

Sebastian stepped forward with clinical precision. "By the time we received the alert, Miss Blackwood had already boarded a private jet to Montecarlo. She'll be landing within hours."

All color drained from Olivia's face. "That's impossible," she whispered, panic cracking her voice. "We had a deal! She wouldn't... She couldn't just abandon me like this! What about her reputation?"

Sebastian delivered the killing blow with detached calm. "Miss Blackwood hasn't been a war correspondent in years. After that incident in the conflict zone... Let's just say reputation means nothing to someone who's already lost their mind."

Olivia collapsed to her knees, trembling with rage and disbelief. Natalie, now composed, turned Sebastian's words over in her mind. She'd never imagined Eleanor suffered from mental illness.

Suddenly Liam's refusal to promise prison for Eleanor that day made sense. And according to Sebastian, Liam had been controlling Eleanor all along. Was this his own twisted form of punishment?

Natalie's thoughts spiraled until she barely noticed when Liam's security team escorted the broken Olivia away. The hospital room fell into heavy silence, leaving only the three of them. Liam stood motionless beside Natalie, waiting with unnatural patience.

Little Isabelle, sensing the tension, glanced between her mother and Liam before piping up in a small voice. "Mommy... I'm scared. Can Liam stay with me?" The fear in her sweet voice tugged at Natalie's heartstrings.

Natalie snapped back to reality, her automatic refusal dying on her lips. After today's chaos... She exhaled softly. "Alright, darling. If Liam is willing."

Liam knelt beside Isabelle's bed, gently smoothing her hair. "The nurses told me how brave you've been. No crying during shots or medicine. That's very impressive."

Isabelle managed a weak smile. "I didn't want Mommy to worry more."

The lump in Natalie's throat threatened to choke her. She stood abruptly. "You two talk. I need some air."

As Natalie fled, Isabelle urgently whispered to Liam, "Go after her!" Liam chuckled at the girl's determined expression, seeing so much of young Natalie in her face.