Chapter 91

Olivia watched Liam's furrowed brow as he spoke softly into his phone. Without waiting, she slipped out of the passenger seat unnoticed.

"Liam, today was absolutely terrible," Evelyn's pitiful voice crackled through the receiver.

She'd spent the entire day trying to impress Margaret by running errands, only for Olivia to steal all the praise at the banquet.

Suppressing her rage, Evelyn played the victim to gain Liam's sympathy.

Liam murmured comforting words before hanging up. When he stepped out, Olivia was gone.

His phone buzzed with a fifteen-minute-old message: "Took a cab to William's apartment."

No goodnight. No explanation. Liam's fist slammed against the car window, his jaw tightening.

Meanwhile, Olivia entered her new luxury apartment for the first time. The automatic lights revealed a pristine space - William had thought of everything.

Top-tier security ensured no delivery personnel could enter without screening. The fridge was stocked, the furniture brand new.

Tears welled in Olivia's eyes as childhood memories flooded back.

Henry had doted on her with unmatched care. Yet she'd stubbornly married Liam, throwing herself into misery.

Collapsing onto the couch, she acknowledged her slow but steady transformation.

Her phone's sudden ring startled her.

Natalie rarely called since Olivia couldn't speak. Worried, she answered immediately.

"Olivia! Tap our code if you're safe!" Natalie's urgent voice demanded.

Three quick taps - three-three-four - the emergency signal they'd established years ago.

"Thank God! Switching to text," Natalie said before hanging up.

A voice message followed: "I'm SO sorry! My family dragged me into this nightmare project and I completely forgot about Margaret's birthday! Did that witch give you trouble again?"

Olivia had never shared the full extent of Margaret's cruelty over the years.

Last year, Natalie had noticed Olivia's bruises and vowed to protect her. Now she'd forgotten her promise.

Olivia texted: "Actually, I refused to help with preparations this year."

She described how she'd attended as Liam's date and countered Margaret's schemes.

"Incredible! Where are you now? Is Liam bothering you?" Natalie pressed.

"At William's gift. Come see?" Olivia sent the address, explaining the luxury apartment.

"On my way with snacks! You're spilling EVERYTHING!"

When Natalie arrived, arms laden with food, she pulled Olivia into a crushing hug. "You look amazing! Unlike me - my father's been torturing me with this impossible project!"

She dramatically flopped onto the couch. "Why me when Daniel exists? He's threatening to cut my allowance if I don't deliver!"

Olivia gestured that perhaps her father wanted her to take over the business.

"Over my dead body!" Natalie groaned. "I need a month-long spa retreat after this!"

After venting, she turned serious. "Now tell me everything."

Olivia shared her recent encounters with both families, prompting Natalie to curse Margaret violently.

Olivia soothed her friend - she'd moved past needing revenge.

Then she hesitated before gesturing an important question: Could Natalie accompany her to prenatal appointments? The pregnancy remained their secret.