Chapter 76

Olivia Sinclair's fiery spirit hadn't surfaced often since her marriage. As a child under Henry Winslow's guidance, she'd been quick with sharp comebacks and carried herself with quiet confidence, silencing anyone who dared challenge her.

But after becoming Mrs. Blackwood, that spark had faded. She'd learned to shrink behind Liam, lowering her gaze to avoid confrontation, swallowing every insult with practiced indifference.

Today was different. As Marcus Whitmore relayed her response to their rude visitors, Olivia sat perched on her work stool, carefully arranging glass fragments. Though seemingly absorbed in her task, the subtle lift at the corners of her mouth betrayed her satisfaction.

This small act of defiance filled Olivia with unexpected lightness. The simple pleasure of standing her ground felt like rediscovering a long-lost part of herself.

Lost in her restoration work, Olivia skipped lunch entirely. The world narrowed to the puzzle before her - first identifying the outline of a Victorian perfume bottle from larger fragments, then meticulously matching smaller pieces using their unique imperfections as guides.

As she worked, Olivia felt an almost spiritual connection to the century-old artifact. With most fragments aligned, she picked up her specialized tools, beginning the delicate process of reassembly, her movements precise and reverent.

When twilight painted the studio windows, Marcus switched on the overhead lights, but Olivia barely noticed. Though she hadn't eaten since breakfast, hunger couldn't compete with the thrill of watching the antique slowly regain its form. This wasn't just about winning a bet - it was the profound satisfaction of giving broken things new life.

"Olivia?" Liam's voice shattered her concentration. She looked up to find him leaning against the doorway, his expression unreadable.

He'd been watching her longer than she realized. When Marcus had noticed Liam's arrival earlier, he'd simply gestured for silence, valuing Olivia's focus over formalities. Surprisingly, Liam hadn't minded waiting.

This was a side of his wife Liam had never seen before. The woman who usually moved through their mansion like a ghost now worked with quiet confidence, her fingers dancing with tweezers as she reconstructed history. The contentment on her face was mesmerizing.

Only the vibration of his phone - a message from Alfred about dinner - broke the spell.

"We should head home," Liam said softly, startling Olivia from her work.

Marcus suddenly remembered Olivia hadn't eaten all day. "You should go. This can wait until tomorrow."

Liam's expression darkened. "Is this how you run your studio? No lunch breaks?"

"My apologies," Marcus murmured, the first time he'd ever apologized to Liam Blackwood.

Olivia quickly intervened, explaining it had been her choice. As she secured the final fragment, the bottle stood nearly complete - still needing finishing touches, but unmistakably whole again.

The same visitors who'd mocked Olivia earlier now stood silent. Taunting a neglected society wife was one thing; challenging someone under Liam Blackwood's protection was another matter entirely.

Methodically cleaning her workspace, Olivia secured the bottle in its case and washed up. Liam waited patiently by the door, an uncharacteristic show of support.

After bidding Marcus goodbye, Olivia tried to pull away when Liam took her hand. "We have guests," he murmured.

Reluctantly, Olivia let him lead her to the car. Today, unusually, Liam had driven himself.

As the engine purred to life, Liam mentioned casually, "I stopped by Whitmore Holdings first. Had to track you down when I realized you weren't there."

Olivia blinked. He'd actually come to pick her up? The exhaustion from her marathon work session made it hard to process this unexpected gesture.

"Did you finish Grandfather's teapot?" Liam asked, his tone curious rather than demanding.

At the next red light, Olivia gestured that it was nearly done.

"Can it hold water now?" There was genuine interest in his voice.

Olivia's expression remained serene as she signed her response: The teapot would never function as it once had. Some breaks couldn't be fully mended, no matter how skilled the restorer.

The next morning found Olivia back at the studio while Liam headed to Blackwood Enterprises. Yet throughout the day, Liam found himself distracted, Olivia's teapot analogy lingering in his mind like an unsolved riddle.

His concentration shattered completely when Sebastian Montgomery burst into his office unannounced. "Mr. Blackwood, there's a viral rumor about your wife circulating online. Should I alert PR?"

"A rumor?" Liam's interest sharpened as he took the tablet.

The screen displayed a trending video showing Olivia laughing intimately with an unidentified man. The caption screamed: "Mrs. Blackwood's Sweet Revenge - Caught in Secret Affair!"