Chapter 41
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“I apologize, Mr. Horvath, but the people I hired tried their best and they didn’t find anything. Again,” Mondo said after serving Liam a hot cup of tea. “We thought we thought we had this time, but it seems our information was either wrong
or-
“Or we were purposely baited,” Liam finished Mondo’s sentence le closed the document on the tablet and leaned back.
“Mr. Horvath if I may say something..” Mondo cleared his threat.
“You may,
“I think.. if your hunch was right, and that Old Mr. Rossi was indeed murdered by the same people who caused the accident years ago, then perhaps it’s better if we handle this matter even more discreetly. I mean.
“I know what you mean, Mondo.” Liam tapped the edge of the tablet with his finger.
Mondo stood nearby, his posture rigid, waiting for further instruction. The room was dimly lit, the glow from a single desk lamp casting long shadows that mirrored the heavy tension between them.
“Keep it contained.” Liam said finally. “No one outside the team is to know we’re still investigating.”
Mondo nodded. “Understood, Mr. Horvath. But I’m concerned. If this goes deeper than we anticipated, we might be walking into something we’re not fully prepared for
Mondo had a point. After the old man’s death, Liam had started digging–first out of curiosity, then out of necessity. What he found left him unsettled. The deeper he went, the clearer it became that the man he thought he knew had lived a far more complicated life. Secrets, tangled alliances, and scandals lurked in the shadows.
The revelations painted a picture far from the image of strength and honor Liam had always admired. It wasn’t just messy- it was dangerous. And as much as he hated to admit it, the more he uncovered, the more he realized this wasn’t something Izzy could face alone.
“We’ve been prepared for this since the moment I stepped in. I knew what I was up against,” Liam said.
Mondo hesitated, then added, “And if the Rossi Group’s board makes their move once Miss Izzy turns twenty–six?”
Liam’s jaw tightened. He didn’t respond immediately, his thoughts spiraling back to the promises he’d made years ago, Izzy’s grandfather had been adamant about one thing: she was to be protected, no matter the cost. Liam had agreed, not fully understanding the weight of that responsibility at the time. Now, every move he made felt like a chess piece being placed on a board where the stakes were constantly shifting.
“That’s exactly why we can’t lose momentum,” Liam said finally “Once she gains access to her shares, they’ll try to leverage her. The board’s interest in her isn’t because of who she is; it’s what she represents–control They won’t hesitate to manipulate her, use her as a pawn.”
Mondo nodded but didn’t speak, his eyes scanning Liam’s face for further instruction.
“She doesn’t know the full extent of it,” Liam continued, more to himself now. “She doesn’t need to. Not yet.”
The truth was, Liam had always planned for this moment. Marrying Izzy hadn’t just been about appearances or fulfilling the terms of a contract. It was about ensuring that when the board came for her–and he knew they would–she wouldn’t be standing alone. He’d positioned himself strategically, not just to shield her from their reach but to counter any move they
made.
But there was something else. Something darker that lingered in the back of his mind. The accident that had taken her parents. The sudden and convenient death of her grandfather. It was all too neatly aligned with moments when the Rossi Group was at its most vulnerable. If his suspicions were correct, these weren’t coincidences–they were calculated acts
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meant to destabilize the family.
न
Liam clenched his fists briefly before forcing them to relax. He couldn’t afford to let emotions cloud his judgment. Not now.
“Mondo, I need you to shift the focus, Liam said, breaking the silence. “Dig deeper into the Rossi Group’s board members. Their connections, their pasts–everything. I want to know who they’re aligned with, who benefits if Izzy loses control of her shares.”
Mondo looked hesitant but nodded. “We’ll have to move carefully. If they get wind of this-
“They won’t,” Liam interrupted. “You’ll ensure they don’t,”
“And the murders? Should we pursue that lead further?” Mondo asked.
Liam’s expression hardened. “Yes. Quietly. If I’m right and the same people are involved, this isn’t just about money or power anymore. It’s personal. They’ve been picking off her family one by one, and they’ll come for her next if we’re not ahead of them.
Mondo’s brows furrowed, but he nodded. “Understood. I’ll allocate the resources accordingly.”
Then Liam frowned. “Also… I need you to add more people to observe Calen Weiss, Monica, and Amalta. I want to know their moves and their locations. I need to know if they plan to hurt Izzy. Do you understand?”
Mondo nodded again, silent this time.
Liam dismissed him with a slight wave of his hand, leaning back in his chair once Mondo had left the room. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the faint hum of the central air.
He exhaled slowly, his thoughts drifting back to one of his final conversations with Izzy’s grandfather. The old man had always been a pillar of vitality–active, sharp, and full of life. Even then, his voice had carried the weight of conviction.
“Protect her, Liam,” he had said, his gaze steady as he drank his tea. “She’s stronger than she realizes, but there are those who will try to tear her down. Don’t let them.”
d now, years later, here he was. The weight of that promise hadn’t lightened with time; it had grown heavier, more mplicated. Izzy didn’t know the lengths he’d gone to for her, and she never would if he had his way. This wasn’t about ratitude or acknowledgment. It was about keeping her safe, even if she hated him for it.
He closed his eyes briefly, his mind flickering to her face tonight. The way she’d looked at him on the dance floor–guarded, skeptical, but with a spark of the same defiance he’d always admired. She didn’t trust him, not entirely, and he couldn’t blame her. But he didn’t need her trust to protect her. He just needed her to stay close enough for him to do it
Liam opened his eyes, the resolve in them clear. He wouldn’t fail her. Not against the board, not against whoever had been pulling strings in the shadows, and certainly not against himself
Liam picked up the tablet again, scrolling through the dossier Mondo had left behind. Names, dates, connections–they were pieces of a puzzle he was determined to solve. For now, all he could do was stay two steps ahead and hope that when the time came, Izzy would understand.
Or, at the very least, forgive him.
“Liam?”
His fingers froze over the tablet as he looked up, caught off guard by Izzy standing in the doorway. She was wearing a white robe, her hair damp and clinging to her shoulders, a faint sheen of moisture still visible on her skin. Her pale complexion, framed by her slightly tousled hair, gave her an ethereal beauty that momentarily stole his breath.
In her hands, she held a wine bottle and two glasses, her expression unreadable.
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Chapter 41
“May I come in?” she asked, her green eyes meeting his
Liam hesitated for a beat, his gaze flicking between her and the wine. “Since when do you ask for permission?”
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Izzy stepped inside without waiting for an answer, placing the glasses on the table and uncorking the bottle with surprising ease. “I thought you might want to have a drink with me.”
He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arins as he watched her pour. “It’s a weekday,” he said, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Should I be worried about your habits?”
Izzy shot him a glare, sliding a glass toward him. “Say no if you don’t want to.”
Liam chuckled, leaning forward to pick up the glass, “Fine. I’ll be.” He swirled the wine before taking a sip, his eyes never leaving her. “Are we celebrating something?”
Izzy settled into the chair opposite him, tucking her legs underneath her robe. The fabric shifted slightly as she moved, revealing the smooth curve of her calf. She didn’t seem to notice or care.
“No celebration,” she said after a sip. “I just didn’t feel like drinking alone.”
Liam raised an eyebrow. “While wearing nothing but a robe?”
Izzy rolled her eyes, a soft laugh escaping her lips. “I trust you,” he said lightly. “Besides, I know I’m not your type.”
Liam stilled, his glass poised halfway to his lips. Her words hit him harder than he expected, but Izzy didn’t seem to notice. She took another sip, her movements slightly looser now. It was clear she was already a little tipsy.
“And what exactly do you think my type is?” Liam asked, setting his glass down with deliberate care.
Izzy shrugged, her damp hair brushing against her shoulders. “Oh, you know… someone poised, perfect, probably blonde.
your office. The kind of woman who doesn’t bother you with her bad habits or wear a robe in
Liam’s lips twitched into a smirk, though his chest tightened. She was wrong, and yet she wasn’t. His “type” had always been
tated by expectations–until her.
think you’ve got me all figured out, don’t you?” he said, learing forward slightly, his gaze locked on hers.
Izzy laughed softly, her head tilting back against the chair. “Of course not. I just think you’re predictable, Mr. Horvath.” “Predictable?” he repeated as he lifted an eyebrow. “Careful, Mr. Horvath. That sounds like a dare.”
Izzy’s laughter faded, and for the first time, she seemed to notice the weight of his gaze. Her lips parted as if to respond, but the words didn’t come. The room grew quieter.
Liam let the moment linger, then leaned back with a smirk, breaking the tension. “You’re lucky I’m a gentleman.”
Izzy blinked, her composure slipping back into place. She downed the rest of her wine, setting the empty glass on the table. “I’m lucky for a lot of things, apparently,” she said, standing up antle too quickly. The movement made her sway slightly. and Liam rose instinctively, steadying her with a hand on her arm.
“Careful,” he murmured, his grip firm. His eyes held hers for a moment longer than necessary, flickering brielly to her slightly parted lips that glistened from the moisture of her drink. Then, as if catching himself, his gaze snapped back to her eyes. “Or you’ll fall,” he added.
