Lovely wife 161

? Views, Released on March 10, 2025

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Chapter 161

“So, she’s still unconscious?” Izzy pursed her lips, fingers tapping idly against the edge of her desk as she listened to Anna’s update.

Anna nodded, glancing at her tablet. “Yes, miss,” she confirmed. “She’s in the ICU. The doctors say her condition is still critical, but they managed to stop the bleeding. The next twenty–four hours are crucial.”

Izzy exhaled softly, eyes narrowing. She had expected Monica to cause trouble–maybe some petty schemes or veiled threats–but a direct attack? That was a bit extreme, even for Monica. “Stabbing her…” she muttered, fingers drumming a steady rhythm. “I didn’t think she’d actually go that far.”

“She seems… unstable,” Anna continued, biting her lip. “There are rumors that Monica’s been acting strange lately— paranoid, talking to herself, avoiding her usual circles. Some say she’s not thinking straight like she’s… lost her mind.”

Izzy’s eyes flickered faintly, a shadow passing briefly. “Huh,” she muttered. “Wouldn’t surprise me.”

She leaned back in her chair, eyes narrowing at the ceiling. It wasn’t hard to imagine, really. Monica’s life had crumbled rapidly after the scandal, her mother’s arrest, the freezing of their accounts–everything she’d built her image on stripped away in a matter of weeks. Izzy clicked her tongue, eyes glinting coldly.

But even then, Izzy couldn’t help but think of the past. Her younger self, trailing eagerly after Monica, hanging on her every word, doing anything to gain her approval. How many times had she smiled, forced and bright, as Monica led her around by the wrist, whispering schemes and secrets behind closed doors? Despite everything, those memories weren’t all bad. Back then, she had been… happy. Or at least, she thought she was.

A faint scoff slipped past her lips, fingers drumming against the desk. Maybe if Monica hadn’t betrayed her, things would’ve turned out differently. Maybe they’d still be friends–maybe Monica wouldn’t have spiraled into whatever this was. Maybe.

But that was a pointless thought. Too many maybes and no real answers.

“Anything else?” Izzy asked, shaking off the thoughts with a faint exhale.

Anna hesitated briefly. “Yes, actually,” she said. “About Monica’s mother–she’s still in prison. No one’s bailed her out. Not one of her friends even tried to help. According to the reports, she’s been calling a lot of people, but… no one’s answering. She–she also tried to reach out, but since you asked me to screen all calls from the prison, she wasn’t able to get ahold of you.”

Izzy’s lips twitched faintly–something between amusement and disdain. “So they’ve finally abandoned her,” she muttered dryly. “Can’t say I’m surprised.”

Anna nodded. “People tend to distance themselves when money’s no longer involved,” she said carefully. “Especially when the law’s involved too.”

Izzy hummed, eyes narrowing slightly. The thought wasn’t new–she’d seen it before, in business, in friendships, in family even. Money made people loyal. Losing it made them strangers. It was sad, in a way. Pathetic, really, how easily people switched sides when the benefits ran dry.

But it was just the way things were. Loyalty was a commodity–bought and sold like everything else. Maybe she should’ve learned that sooner.

“Expected, honestly,” Izzy muttered, eyes glinting faintly. “They’re all vultures. Once you can’t feed them, they find someone else to circle around.” She clicked her tongue, rolling her eyes. “Serves them right.”

Anna glanced at her carefully. “So… should we proceed as planned?” she asked.

Izzy nodded curtly. “Of course,” she said, tone smooth. “I want updates on Monica’s whereabouts. Keep an eye on the Weiss family too–especially Calen. I doubt he’ll take this lying down.”

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Chapter 161

Anna bowed her head slightly. “Understood, miss. I’ll handle it.”

“Good.” Izzy leaned back, eyes narrowing faintly at the ceiling.

She exhaled slowly, fingers drumming a slow rhythm against the desk. So many people, so many shifting loyalties. The irony of it all almost made her laugh. But there was no time for that now.

“By the way,” Anna started hesitantly. “I already submitted my resignation as well.”

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“Good,” Izzy smiled. She’d promised Anna that she could still continue working for her even after she left the company. However, she had given Anna a choice. She could continue working under Weiss Inc. or she could resign and follow Izzy. “Thank you, Anna.”

Izzy closed her laptop with a soft click, stacking the documents neatly on her desk. She glanced at the clock–five sharp. Her lips twitched faintly, satisfaction glinting in her eyes. She’d managed to finish everything listed in her job description- nothing more, nothing less. The resignation had stripped away any reason to go beyond the bare minimum, and she wasn’t about to give Weiss Inc. even a second of unpaid overtime.

She leaned back, rolling her neck briefly to ease the stiffness. “Anna,” she said smoothly, grabbing her coat from the chair. “Focus on the reports first. Don’t bother with anything that’s not urgent. Just keep me updated on Monica and the Weiss family.”

Anna nodded quickly, fingers already flying over her tablet. “Understood, miss,” she confirmed.

Izzy smirked faintly, slipping her arms into the sleeves of her coat. “Good.” She adjusted the collar, glancing at the clock again. Five–twenty. Enough time.

By six on the dot, she’d already packed up, phone and keys in hand as she strolled out of the building with smooth, unhurried steps. The lobby was quieter than usual, most employees were still buried under piles of paperwork, but Izzy barely spared them a glance. Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor as she exited, the cold evening air brushing against her face.

She then went to the parking and drove towards Liam’s office.

She hesitated briefly at the curb, eyes flicking up to the sleek glass building across the street. The lights were still on in a few of the top floors, a faint glow spilling through the tinted windows. Her fingers drummed idly against her phone. For a moment, she considered just calling him, but….

She clicked her tongue softly, turning on her heel instead.

The café on the corner glinted warmly beneath a canopy of string lights, the scent of roasted coffee and warm pastries wafting through the open door. Izzy slipped inside, the warmth brushing against her skin with a soft sigh.

She ordered a cappuccino and settled by the window, one leg crossed over the other, fingers wrapped loosely around the warm mug. The steam curled softly, hazing her reflection in the glass. The streets outside were busy with the evening crowd, headlights cutting through the dark, footsteps, and voices muffled beneath the cafe’s low chatter.

It was almost amusing how new everything felt to Izzy. She felt unusually free. In the past, she would work overtime whenever she wasn’t traveling, eating dinner in the office, and spending her nights handling tasks that demanded her attention. But now that she had decided to move on from Weiss Inc., everything seemed unfamiliar and different.

Izzy’s eyes flickered briefly to her phone–no new messages. Liam was probably still in a meeting. She smirked faintly, lifting the cup to her lips with a soft hum. She could wait a bit longer.

Two women slid into the booth behind her, their voices soft but distinct in the cozy space. Izzy barely paid them any mind at first, fingers tapping idly against the porcelain rim. But then-

“Oh my god, do you remember that trip to London?” one of them whispered, excitement glinting in her voice. “Mr. Horvath

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and that woman from Europe–what was her name again? Felicity?”

Izzy’s fingers stilled, grip tightening slightly on the cup. Her eyes narrowed faintly.

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“Oh, right!” the other woman gasped. “I remember. They were all over the rumors back then–everyone thought they were a thing.”

“I know, right?” the first woman giggled, her voice dropping conspiratorially. “I heard that Mr. Horvath even left an important meeting just because she texted him. Can you imagine? I mean, he never does that for anyone!”

The other woman practically squealed, nearly sloshing her latte. “No way! That’s insane! Do you think they actually… you

know…”

“Well,” the first woman drawled, smirking behind her cup, “they did look good together. I wouldn’t blame him, honestly. And Mr. Horvath doesn’t seem like the type to run after just anyone. Besides, if nothing is going on then… why was she here visiting him? He just got back from London, right?”

Izzy’s grip tightened briefly, the porcelain warm and smooth beneath her fingers. Her eyes narrowed dangerously, glinting with something cold and sharp.

She exhaled slowly, tapping a finger against the rim of her cup. Liam never mentioned anything about Felicity. But then again, it wasn’t like he had to tell her everything. Not technically.

Her eyes flicked sharply to the glass doors of the building across the street, a faint smirk curling at the edges of her lips. Rumors, huh? Leaving meetings for a text?