Chapter 74

Olivia studied Liam with detached composure, her hopes already extinguished. She knew his questions arose from idle curiosity rather than genuine care. The man who'd never defended her wouldn't suddenly start confronting Margaret or shielding her from the constant torment.

With economical gestures, she signed her reply. "Every year on your mother's birthday, I become the mansion's unpaid servant for a week. I won't endure this anymore. Do you object?"

"Did she force you? What exactly did they make you do? What happened last year?" Liam pressed, his brow furrowing. "Why keep silent until now?"

Olivia's hands moved with practiced efficiency as she listed her humiliations - washing mountains of dishes after parties, scrubbing marble floors on her knees until they bled. The antique gallery's dust had triggered asthma attacks that left her coughing for weeks.

Liam's expression darkened. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

Her signing turned sharp, fingers slashing through the air. "Would you have believed me then? Do you believe me now? When have you ever taken my word over theirs?"

The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken accusations. Liam had always trusted his own flawed judgment over others' accounts. Even now, part of him wondered if Olivia fabricated these claims to strengthen her divorce case.

Disappointment flashed in Olivia's eyes. She gave him one final piercing look before turning toward the window, withdrawing into herself.

The engine roared to life as Liam pulled back onto the road. "I never knew," he murmured, the words heavy with belated remorse.

Olivia remained motionless, her profile carved from ice. There were countless things Liam didn't know - not because they were hidden, but because he'd never cared to look. His willful blindness regarding Evelyn proved that.

When they reached the estate, Liam killed the engine but made no move to exit. "Go ahead inside," he instructed abruptly.

Olivia didn't hesitate, slipping from the car with palpable relief.

Alone in the driver's seat, Liam exhaled sharply before dialing Margaret's number.

"Darling!" Margaret's musical laughter filled the line. "Have you finished your meeting?"

"I need answers," Liam cut through her pleasantries. "What exactly did Olivia do during last year's birthday preparations?"

A beat of silence. Then Margaret's carefully modulated reply: "She helped with guest arrangements, dear. Mostly lounged about, if I recall."

"That's all?" Liam's grip tightened on the phone. "No household chores? No floor scrubbing?"

"Goodness, no! We have staff for that." Margaret's forced chuckle grated against his ear. "Why would you even ask such things?"

"Because Olivia described spending the week as your personal maid."

"Preposterous!" Margaret's voice climbed an octave. "That ungrateful girl would say anything to turn you against me!"

"I saw you raise your cane at her," Liam countered coldly. "More than once."

The line went quiet before Margaret adopted a defensive tone. "Discipline is necessary when she misbehaves. If she's like a daughter to me, isn't that my right?"

"Mistakes like supposedly seeing Alexander?" Liam's voice turned dangerous.

"Even if nothing happened, she should've known better than to be alone with him!" Margaret's self-righteousness made Liam's stomach churn. In her world, Olivia was always at fault, regardless of facts.

Liam ended the call without another word, immediately dialing a different number. "Adrian," he greeted the family's former butler.

Adrian Mueller had served Henry Winslow for decades, overseeing the estate with military precision. Even in retirement, he remained the family's most trusted confidant.

"I need the truth," Liam said without preamble. "How did my mother really treat Olivia during those birthday weeks?"

A weighted pause. Then Adrian's measured response: "Why ask now? Your grandfather always said truth-seekers must examine their motives. Are you looking to defend your wife or justify your mother?"

The unspoken challenge hung between them - a test of Liam's character that went far beyond this single question.