Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife

Chapter 32

“Huh?” Izzy frowned, trying to process what Miss Alcaraz had just said. “What-are you saying | have to stay

married for at least a year or we'll be sued for fraud?” She turned to Liam, her eyebrows knitting in disbelief.

“Yes,” Miss Alcaraz said, her expression sympathetic. “The clause was designed to protect Mr. Rossi's integrity

and hisassets. | did try to talk him out of it, but let's just say.. he was very adamant.”

Izzy let out a dry snort and fixed her gaze on Liam. “Did you know about this?”

“How would 1?” Liam leaned back in his chair, his smirk infuriatingly smug. It was clear he was enjoying her

frustration.

“However,” Philip Horvath suddenly cut in, his tone deceptively calm, “I fail to see the problem with this clause.

After all, it’s not fraud, is it?” He raised an eyebrow at Liam. “You two married for true love, didn’t you? There's

no reason to worry about divorce if this union is genuine.”

Izzy opened her mouth to respond but found herself momentarily speechless. It was clear Philip knew the truth

about their arrangement, yet here he was, playing along, all while forcing them into an awkward corner. She shot

a sideways glance at Liam, silently willing him to say something, but the man looked entirely too amused.

“Of course, Liam finally said, flashing one of his infuriatingly charming smiles. “Why should we worry? We

married for love. Isn’t that right, darling?” He looked at her, his tone dripping with mock sincerity.

Izzy's jaw tightened, but she managed to compose herself before speaking. “Absolutely.” Her voice was steady

now. A year wasn't the end of the world-just a temporary inconvenience. “I was just surprised that Grandfather

didn’t tellabout this earlier.”

She turned her attention to Miss Alcaraz, her expression expectant. “Why didn’t you mention this clause when

we signed the papers?”

Miss Alcaraz shifted in her seat, looking uncomfortable. “I'm sorry, Izzy. | thought it was better to address this

later, given the old man’s... persistent demands. | didn’t want to complicate things at the time.”

Izzy let out a slow breath, nodding. “Thank you for explaining it now. And for coming on such short notice.”

Miss Alcaraz nodded, standing as if eager to leave this awkward exchange behind. Meanwhile, Philip rose from

his chair with a surprising amount of energy for someone his age. “Well, now that everything's settled,” he said,

brushing nonexistent dust off his jacket, “I'll be off. I'm heading to Europe for the week. | expect the two of you

to behave while I'm gone.”

Without waiting for a response, Philip gestured for his assistant to help him out of the room. “I'll see you both

next week. Do try not to kill each other in the meantime.”

As the door closed behind him, Izzy slumped slightly in her seat, glaring at Liam, who had leaned back as though

this entire situation were nothing but a mild inconvenience.

“Well,” she muttered, her words laced with sarcasm. “This just keeps getting better.” However, she couldn't

actually continue thinking about this matter forever, right? A year is a year. Since they are already married, there

is no point in literally stressing over this. She just had to wait for a year! It’s just 360 days. Nothing more.

Izzy then looked at Miss Alcaraz. “Then..... shall we go to Celestial Rest?”

Not long after, they finally arrived at the Celestial Rest.

Located south of San Francisco, Celestial Rest is the place where her grandfather's Mausoleum was located.

The mausoleum was a grand yet understated structure, its design blending timeless elegance with natural

elements. Made from weathered stone and sturdy bricks, it exuded a sense of permanence, as though it had

always been part of the landscape. Inside, it was cool and serene, with soft light streaming through stained-glass

windows depicting scenes of nature

1/3

10:51 Fri, Jan 3 GB

Chapter 32

+6

and family. The interior was simple but beautifully maintained, with polished marble floors and a single wooden

bench near

the center.

At the far end, two niches were placed side by side. One held a picture of her grandfather, Augustus Rossi, his

green eyes twinkling with a familiar warmth, and the other, her grandmother, whose gentle smile always

seemed to radiate love. A single inscription beneath both niches read, Together Always.

Izzy paused before her grandfather's picture, her gaze softening. The resemblance between them was

undeniable-those sstriking green eyes, the curve of the smile that hinted at mischief yet exuded kindness.

Her hand instinctively brushed the edge of the frame.

“Grandfather,” she said quietly, a faint tremor in her voice as she composed herself. “I wanted you to meet

Liam... again.”

Liam stood a step behind her, his hands resting loosely in his pockets. He shifted slightly, stepping forward to

stand beside her. “It's been a long time,” he said, his voice steady but softer than usual. He glanced at the

photograph, a flicker of genuine warmth crossing his face. “You always knew how to getinto trouble when |

was a kid. Sneaking sweets when no one was looking, lettingskip my lessons.”

Izzy raised an eyebrow, momentarily distracted by this revelation. “Grandfather?” she asked, incredulous.

Liam chuckled faintly, his gaze still on the picture. “He liked to spoilwhen | visited. Always said | needed

balance because Philip was too strict.”

Izzy's lips twitched into a small smile despite herself. “Sounds like him,” she murmured. Her grandfather always

had a way of knowing when someone needed a little extra care, even if it cin unconventional ways.

Turning her focus back to the picture, Izzy took a slow breath. “I'm fine,” she said softly. “Don’t worry about me. |

know you'd tellto handle things the way you taught me. And | will

She hesitated, glancing at Liam. “He's here to help. Or so he says. Her tone was lightly teasing, but her words

carried a subtle weight. “We're married now, so | will sort him out in case, he does something crazy.”

Liam chuckled.”He’d be proud of you,” he said. “Of everything you've done.”

Izzy gave a slight nod but didn’t answer. Instead, her gaze drifted to her grandmother's niche. “Together

Always,” she read aloud, her fingers brushing the inscription. The simple phrase carried a deep sense of love and

commitment, something she had rarely seen in her own family.

After a few quiet moments, Liam spoke again. “Don’t worry... | will take care of Isabella.”

Izzy lifted an eyebrow. Liam seldom calls her by her real name, but something about it sounded... pleasing in her

ears. Out of nowhere, she recalled that they were not alone. Miss Alcaraz was with them!

Izzy glanced awkwardly at Miss Alcaraz, who stood a short distance away, observing quietly. As if sensing Izzy's

gaze, Miss Alcaraz offered a polite smile and nodded before making her way over.

Reaching into her bag, Miss Alcaraz retrieved a small velvet box-a deep, elegant shade of blue. She extended it

to Izzy with deliberate care.

“This belonged to your grandfather,” Miss Alcaraz explained softly. “According to his will, it was to be given to

you upon your... marriage to Mr. Liam Horvath.”

Izzy hesitated, unsure how to respond. What if she never agree to marry Liam? The thought lingered, but she

chose not to voice it out. Instead, she silently accepted the box, her thoughts clouded by the mystery of her

grandfather's intentions. She. had long since stopped trying to understand the man’s peculiar logic.

“Go ahead-open it,” Miss Alcaraz urged gently.

Izzy nodded and slowly lifted the lid of the box.