Chapter 7

"Olivia!" Liam's voice was laced with alarm as he rushed forward to scoop her up, his command to the butler slicing through the storm's roar. "Get Dr. Carter here now!"

Despite wearing a raincoat, the torrential downpour had soaked Olivia to the bone.

Without hesitation, Liam stripped the drenched clothing from her trembling body and snatched a towel from the maid to wrap around her. Only then did Liam truly notice Olivia's fragility - her waist so slender it seemed his hands could span it completely.

Just then, Ryan Carter's voice cut through the tension, teasing yet concerned. "What's this, Liam? Financial troubles? Forcing your wife to work in a bookstore to pay the bills? You're running her ragged!"

As the family physician, Ryan arrived promptly, though his long friendship with Liam never tempered his blunt commentary.

"Enough jokes. Just treat her!" Liam barked, stepping back from Olivia with a stern expression.

"If she'd been out there much longer, hypothermia could have set in beyond recovery. What were you thinking, Liam? Hoping for a tragic accident to collect her life insurance?" Ryan didn't hold back as he examined Olivia, his sarcasm biting. "I won't cover for you - not for less than twenty million!"

"Shut your damn mouth!" Liam snapped, anger overtaking his worry. Recognizing the line had been crossed, Ryan ceased his remarks with a grunt.

Olivia's ordeal in the storm had taken its toll. Her body temperature had plummeted dangerously before spiking into a raging fever.

Ryan administered fever reducers and assured Liam there was no cause for alarm.

Standing beside the bed, Liam studied Olivia's flushed face, his brow furrowed. After a long moment, he turned away with a sharp command to the butler. "Ensure she receives proper care. You'll answer to me if anything goes wrong!"

Olivia remained unconscious until morning. Descending the stairs, she expected to find Liam already gone. To her surprise, he remained in the living room.

"Feeling better?" Liam asked, spotting her on the staircase.

Olivia froze, her fingers twisting anxiously. Had his refusal to open the door last night signaled his intention to divorce her?

"Don't bother returning to that job. I can provide for us," Liam stated, surveying the room before fixing his piercing gaze on Olivia, impatience coloring his tone.

Panic surged through Olivia as she hurried down to face him, gesturing frantically about how much she loved her work.

"Is working at that bookstore truly necessary?" Liam pressed, his sharp stare cutting through her. "I'll establish a bookstore for you. Stay away from Natalie. I don't approve of her." His dislike for Natalie's comments yesterday was evident.

Guilt gnawing at her, Olivia raised her hands to explain, but Liam had already turned to leave. Desperate, she reached out and grabbed his sleeve.

"Something else?"

Olivia gestured for Liam to wait, dashed upstairs, and returned moments later with a document which she thrust into his hands.

"A divorce agreement?" Liam let out a harsh laugh at the title, not bothering to read it before tossing it aside. "You'd divorce me over this petty issue? Why are you being so dramatic?"

Olivia retrieved the papers from the floor and shoved them back at Liam, her expression resolute.

"Seriously, you want a divorce?" Liam's face darkened. "Fine. Leave with nothing. Return every cent I've given you, then I'll consider letting you go."

Liam expected his words would make Olivia reconsider. Instead, to his shock, she immediately produced a bank card. She placed both card and agreement on the table, explaining through gestures she'd never spent any of his money.

Liam's expression grew thunderous, his glare intensifying with barely contained rage.

Olivia took a step back, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"Well then-" After a tense silence, Liam gritted his teeth. "Filing for divorce violates our families' agreement. Beyond that, you owe me fifty million in compensation! Without that payment, don't even think about walking away from me!"