Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife

Chapter 25

Monica sat in the passenger seat, eyes brimming with tears as she stared out the window. “This.. this is all my

fault. | should never have said anything... then perhaps, if | hadn't told you, Izzy wouldn't be doing any of this...”

“This isn’t your fault,” Calen said as he parked the car. They had just reached Amalia and Monica's house. “Let's

go inside,” he

said.

The three of them immediately went inside and weren't surprised to see that it was empty. Izzy wasn’t there.

However, this wasn’t unusual. In the past, Izzy often spent tat one of her properties, clearing her head or

focusing on work.

“Let her cool down.” Calen said as he let Monica sit on the couch, “I know she’ll cback soon.” That was the

Izzy he knew.

“Have swater,” Amalia said. “And stop blaming yourself.”

Monica accepted the water, drank it, and then shook her head. You don’t understand,” she said almost meekly.

“She... she thinks | betrayed her. She’s shutting us out, cutting us off. Maybe I... maybe | pushed her too far,”

she whispered. “I was just... | was just trying to help her see reason. | even encouraged Calen to talk to her in

private, Mom” She started crying again.

Seeing this, Calen sighed and sat next to her, slowly stroking her back. “Izzy's been off since the flight. I'm going

to take care of this. You don’t have to worry about it.”

Monica side-eyed Calen but said nothing. She knew why Izzy had been acting off. It was because Calen had

forgotten about their anniversary. But why would she tell him that? There was no need for him to try and chase

Izzy! After all, Monica was already here for him.

“Do you think it has something to do with...” Her eyes widened. It can’t be.” She shook her head. “It can’t be.

That's not the Izzy | knew.”

“What?” Amalia asked. “What are you talking about?”

“No. It can’t be,” Monica said. “Don’t mind it.”

“Just tell us what it is!” Amalia said.

“Maybe she wanted the promotion!” Monica uttered as she observed Calen’s expression. Sure enough, his face

immediately darkened. “But that isn’t like Izzy. She just-"

“She wanted a promotion?” Calen frowned. “But-" The only available position would be his-the COO of the

company! This performance review was his! Why would she-

Calen paused, his eyes widening.

Since he was a child, his father, Renard, had been pushing him to be the perfect son he wanted. Renard wanted

him to follow in his footsteps. The fact that they weren't father and son by blood meant nothing to a

businessman determined to create an heir.

To Renard Weiss, Calen was the heir. The one who must learn everything. Renard wouldn't blink when it cto

challenging him, and pushing his boundaries-even if it meant creating a direct rival!

“Please... you don’t have to think too much. I’m sure I'm wrong. Izzy wouldn't try to steal that from you... after

all... she love you,” Monica said.

Hearing this, Calen’s gaze turned sharp. What the hell was Izzy up to?

After calming Monica down, Calen left without looking back. She had assured him that her mother knew nothing

about their relationship, and he intended to keep it that way.

Chapter 23

To him, Monica was nothing more than a convenient distraction a temporary fling, someone to fill the void when

he was bored. Nothing more, nothing lasting.

Calen slouched back in the leather booth of the dimly lit bar, a glass of whiskey swirling lazily in his hand. Across

from him sat Nico, his oldest friend and partner-in-crfrom high school days. Nico, with his perfectly tousled

blond hair and piercing blue eyes, grinned as he listened and scanned the bar for new faces.

A well-known celebrity racer based in Las Vegas, Nico attracted women like flies to honey-if he wasn’t racing, he

was usually at sexclusive party or club surrounded by adinifers And he never failed to invite Calen on his...

escapades.

“So, letget this straight,” Nico said, chuckling as he set his drink down. “Izzy actually got angry because you

wanted to take the project to the board?”

Calen took a sip of his drink, his jaw clenching slightly. “She thinks she knows everything, so of course she got

mad,” he replied. “It’s like she can’t handle a challenge, even if it’s from| don’t know what's gotten into her.”

Nico shook his head, amused. “This is the sIzzy who used to hang on your every word, right? The one who'd

stay up all night just to help you impress your dad? That's pretty bold, man Maybe she’s just finally... seeing the

light?”

“Izzy isn’t that kind of person. She’s just... emotional right now. Women get like that.”

Nico laughed, lifting his glass. “Yeah? Or maybe she’s done playing the devoted girlfriend, considering you've

been entertaining... other interests over the years.”

Calen growled, shooting Nico a glare.

“What are you saying?” he asked.

“What? Did | hit a nerve? You're tellingshe’s never suspected anything? Women always know, man. Maybe

Izzy's wising up after all. She’s what now? Twenty-five? Twenty-four? Think about it.”

Calen downed his whiskey and set the glass down hard. “It’s not like that. They were mistakes, okay? One-offs.

And that doesn’t count as cheating, anyway. A mistake isn’t the sthing”

Nico’s grin widened. “Right. You've just made a lot of mistakes over the years, huh?”

Calen glared, but Nico only laughed harder. “Oh, con, man. Don’t look atlike that. Look, if you don’t

think it's cheating, that’s between you and your conscience, not me.”

Calen leaned back, a scowl twisting his face. “Izzy doesn’t have it in her to pull something like that on me. She's

not the scandalous type. If she even had a hint that | was with someone else, she’d probably just leave quietly.

Unlike the women yo hang around with.”

“Then what do you think it is?” Nico asked. “Do you think she’s after your promotion?”

“Father must've gotten to her,” Calen muttered. “The old man’s been pushingto take on more

responsibilities. This has to be his doing.” There was no way Izzy would pull a stunt like this without a reason.

After a few too many drinks, it all seemed to click-lzzy and his father had to be in on it together.

They wanted to drive him to his limits, and make him step up his game. They both knew Izzy could make his life

hell if sh wanted. She was relentless in her work, knowing every in and our of the company like the back of her

hand.

His father knew this as well. It wasn’t hard to believe that his father would schsomething like this to make

Calen step u and follow in his footsteps.

“So, letget this straight. You think your girlfriend is being rude to you because... she’s secretly teaming up

with your father?” Nico asked.

13:30 Wed, Jan 1

Chapter 25

“What else could it be?” Galen replied, frowning. “She’s head o upcoming review.” It was the only explanation

that made sense of her way to hurt anyone, but she was honest when it cde

Calen couldn't help but smirk. Yes, this shift in Izzy's behavior

Calen’s smirk widened, a spark of excitement igniting in his ey around, he'd let them believe it-for now. He was

more than r had in store. This little gwas about to get interesting.

Author's Note: Calen’s way of thinking is on a different level. lo

13:30 Wed, Jan 1,

Chapter 25

TENS 0%

FD

“What else could it be?” Galen replied, frowning. “She's head over heels for me. She’d never want to seefail

this upcoming review.” It was the only explanation that made sense. Izzy had always been blunt but passive-she

wouldn't go out of her way to hurt anyone, but she was honest when it cdown to it.

Calen couldn't help but smirk. Yes, this shift in Izzy's behavior had to be the result of splan between her and

his father.

Calen’s smirk widened, a spark of excitement igniting in his eyes. If Izzy and his father thought they could push

him around, he'd let them believe it for now. He was more than ready to play along, eager to see just what kind

of surprise they had in store. This little gwas about to get interesting.

Author's Note: Calen’s way of thinking is on a different level. lol.