Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife

Chapter 30

Philip placed his teacup back onto its saucer, steam wafting gently from the delicate ceramic. The teapot sat in

the center of the table, a beautiful piece of craftsmanship with an intricate floral design painted in soft blues and

gold. It was the kind of a teapot that looked like it belonged in a museum rather than being used for everyday

tea. Liam reached for it, tilting it carefully as he refilled Izzy's cup.

Izzy couldn’t help but watch him, noting the precision with which he poured. His sleeves were rolled up to his

elbows, revealing strong forearms. Yet, how was it possible for someone to look this smug even while pouring

tea?

Philip took another sip of his tea, smacking his lips in satisfaction. “Your grandfather loved this tea,” he said,

gesturing to the teapot. “I remember we used to sit right here, drinking it while discussing business. Good

times.”

Izzy glanced at the teapot again, then at Liam, who had just set it down. “He also brewed it himself?” she asked,

raising an eyebrow.

Philip chuckled. “No, Augustus wouldn't lift a finger to brew tea. That's why he had me.”

“Looks like that tradition lives on,” Izzy muttered, taking a sip of her own tea.

Philip leaned back in his chair, watching them both. “Liam can be difficult, you know,” he said, his eyes glinting.

“If you have problems with him, you cto me. I'll punish him for you.”

Liam straightened, his hand pausing over the teacup he was about to pick up. “Grandfather, I'm a grown man. |

don’t need you interfering.”

Philip waved him off. “You're argumentative. And troublesome. Always have been.”

“I'm a good man,” Liam argued, looking at Izzy as if daring her to disagree.

Philip snorted, shaking his head. “You're smart, I'll give you that. And compassionate, though you try to hide it

behind all that posturing.”

Liam visibly stiffened. “Compassionate?” he echoed, looking mortified. “Where are you even getting that?”

Izzy took another sip of tea, trying not to laugh at Liam’s expression. “I can’t remember him being

compassionate,” she said, “Only annoying.”

Philip grinned, tapping the table lightly. “He teases you because he likes you.”

Izzy froze, her teacup halfway to her lips. Liam made a choking sound beside her.

“That's not-" Liam started, but Philip silenced him with a wave of his hand.

“Don’t argue with me, boy. I've been on this earth longer than you. | know these things.”

Izzy set her teacup down, her expression carefully neutral. Inwardly, she thought Philip was way off base. Liam

didn’t tease her because he liked her. He teased her because he liked tormenting people. That was just who he

was.

Still, she saw no point in arguing with Philip. “I'll take your word for it,” she said, nodding politely.

-Liam leaned back in his chair, glaring at her. “You don’t actually believe that.”

Izzy smiled sweetly. “Of course | do. Perhaps... you really keep on teasingbecause you like me. Grandfather

is very wise.”

Philip beamed, his smile radiating satisfaction. Izzy couldn't tell if his delight cfrom her addressing him as

‘grandfather’ or from the fact that he had finally found an ally in teasing his grandson. “Exactly! At least

someone recognizes it.” Philip said.

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Liam groaned, rubbing his temples, and Izzy couldn't help but smirk as she reached for her teacup again,

savoring his discomfort. For once, she wasn’t the one being teased. The moment reminded her of how his

grandfather had always sided with her when they were younger, Good times, she thought, a flicker of nostalgia

warming her smile.

“Grandfather, I'm your grandson! Why are you always siding with her?” Liam exclaimed, frustration clear in his

voice. “She’s not even related to you! Shouldn't you be warning her? Maybe say something like, ‘If you hurt him,

I'll shave your head, or something tic like that.”

Philip shot him a sharp look, his eyes narrowing. “Shave your wife's hair? Really?”

“It was just an example!” Liam retorted.

“A cruel one,” the old man replied, unimpressed. “I didn’t know | would raise someone so cruel.”

“I'm not cruel! | didn’t mean it literally!” Liam argued, his exasperation only growing as Philip continued to glare

at him.

7

Soon enough, the two started arguing in front of Izzy. Izzy raised an eyebrow, watching their exchange with

interest. She hadn't expected this lighthearted back-and-forth between them. Liam always seemed so cold and

calculated, and yet here he was, bantering with his grandfather like a sulky teenager. It was oddly humanizing.

“I'm taking her side because she’s reasonable,” Philip shot back. “Unlike you, who thinks shaving heads is an

acceptable form of punishment.”

“It was a metaphor!” Liam insisted, throwing up his hands. “I wasn’t being serious!”

“Metaphors are supposed to clarify things, not make you look like a lunatic,” Philip countered, shaking his head.

Izzy hid a small smile behind her teacup. The two of them looked so animated, like a pair of old friends bickering

over something trivial. She couldn't remember the last tshe saw Liam like this-relaxed, almost playful.

She shifted in her seat, her thoughts wandering. Liam wasn't close to his father. She knew that much. His

grandfather had raised him, but with Philip's constant traveling for business, Liam must have spent much of his

childhood alone. In the past, her own grandfather often took Liam under his wing, bringing him along to their

outings. That was how Izzy had ended up seeing Liam nearly every weekend as a child.

Those memories felt distant now. After Liam left for college in the UK, their interactions becsparse, almost

non- existent. She hadn't realized how much thad passed since then until now, watching him laugh and

argue with his grandfather.

“Enough of this nonsense,” Philip said, standing abruptly. “I'm going to rest. The tea is perfect as always, Liam.

Keep brewing like that, and you might just redeem yourself.” He smirked, patting Liam on the shoulder as he

passed. “Izzy, if he causes you any trouble, letknow. I'll sort him out.”

“Of course,” Izzy replied, her lips twitching upward as Philip left the table. The garden fell silent, save for the

faint rustling of the trees and the trickle of the fountain nearby.

Liam leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs out. He glanced at Izzy, breaking the silence. “Are you cold?”

Izzy shook her head. “No.”

“Good,” he said, leaning his head back lazily. “I wasn’t planning to share my coat.”

Her gaze snapped to him, her eyes narrowing. “How could a husband act like that?”

He straightened, looking at her as if she’d asked the dumbest question in the world. “Why would | give you my

coat if you're not cold? That makes no sense.”

Izzy glared at him. “It's the principle. It’s what a considerate husband would offer.”

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Liam smirked, clearly enjoying her irritation. “Well, I'm not in the business of offering unnecessary coats.”

She crossed her arms, her glare intensifying. “You are insufferable

He shrugged, leaning back again. “And you're predictable. | knew you'd get mad over nothing.”

Izzy stared at him, resisting the urge to hurl her teacup at his head. How was it possible for one person to be so

utterly hateful? She turned away, muttering under her breath as she sipped her tea. She wasn’t going to let him

get under her skin, not tonight.

At least, that’s what she told herself. But Liam’s smug grin lingered in her peripheral vision.

After what felt like an eternity, Izzy felt a comforting warmth on her shoulder. Glancing down, she realized it was

his coat draped around her. She turned to him, but he was already engrossed in his phone, his attention

elsewhere. For once, she chose to stay silent. Instead, she shifted her gaze back to the garden, a subtle sense of

relief washing over her.