Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife

Chapter 34

Monica jolted out of bed, her eyes wide at the image Samantha had just sent in their group chat. It was Izzy with

none other than Liam Horvath! The image showed the two of them enjoying dinner and talking. There was, of

course, nothing inappropriate about it-except for the fact that Izzy was smiling!

[So, they really know each other?] Arianna was quick to respond it wasn’t a secret that Arianna always had a

thing for Liam and had been trying to get in contact with him. Unfortunately, her attempts weren't going well.

Every effort she made was met with interference from Liam's secretary.

[I told you, they grew up with each other.] Monica replied. Then she added, [But this is the first tshe’s had

dinner with him.]

[She’s probably playing the victim card again,] Monica typed quickly, a smirk tugging at her lips. She leaned

back against her headboard, the soft glow of her phone illuminating her face. [Liam's polite, you know. He feels

sorry for her.]

[Sorry for her?] Arianna replied almost instantly. [Why would he feel sorry for her? Isn't she sbig shot with

the Rossi fortune? What's there to pity?]

[You don’t know her like | do,] Monica sent, her fingers flying over the keyboard. [She's always been...

complicated. When we were younger, she'd get into all these messes, and it was always someone else’s job to

fix them. Liam probably sees her as a charity case.]

[Really?] Samantha chimed in. [Because she looks really comfortable in this picture. Doesn't seem like someone

begging for scraps of attention.]

[That's how she is,] Monica shot back. [Always playing it sweet, like butter wouldn't melt. But Liam knows better.

He’s been around long enough to remember the tantrums and the .]

[? What kind of ?] Arianna asked, her curiosity piqued. [What happened back then?]

Monica's grin widened. This was her chance to steer the narrative. [You don’t know the half of it. When we were

kids, she was a nightmare. | remember this one tshe ruined a family dinner because she threw a fit over

dessert. Can you imagine? She made such a scene that Liam's grandfather had to step in and calm her down.]

[Over dessert?] Samantha sent a laughing emoji. [You're kidding

[I wish I was,] Monica typed. [And then there was the tshe ran off during one of those weekend trips with

Liam's family. Everyone panicked, thinking she'd been kidnapped or something, but she'd just wandered off to

pout by the lake. Liam found her, of course, but I'm sure he remembers the headache she caused.]

[Wow... no wonder Liam avoids her,] Arianna replied. [Who'd want to deal with that kind of baggage?]

[Exactly,] Monica added, her fingers moving swiftly. [He's polite because of their families, but trust me, there's

no way he’d take her seriously. He's probably just indulging her out of pity. Liam's too smart to get caught up in

her theatrics.]

[If that’s true, then why does she look so happy in this picture?] Samantha asked, sending another screenshot

zoomed in on Izzy's smile. [She looks like she’s having the tof her life.]

[Because she’s good at pretending,] Monica replied sharply, [She knows how to manipulate situations to her

advantage. Liam's just too kind to call her out on it.]

[If she’s that bad, why hasn't he cut her off completely?] Arianna questioned.

Monica hesitated, momentarily thrown by the question. She quickly recovered. [Family ties. Liam's grandfather

adored her, so cutting her off completely would look bad. He's just being strategic. Trust me, there's nothing

more to it.]

[If you say so,] Samantha sent, though her reply felt skeptical. [Still, she looks really cozy with him.]

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10:57 Fri, Jan

Chapter 34

[It's all a gto her, Monica insisted, sending a string of typing bubbles before continuing. [You'll see. She'll

push too hard, and Liam will put her in her place. He always does.)

[And when he does, | hope I'm there to see it,] Arianna replied.

71%0

Monica narrowed her eyes at her phone. She couldn't figure out why Izzy was having dinner with Calen’s rival.

She snorted as she closed her phone. The stories she told them were, of course, true-at least sof them.

However, she hadn't mentioned that Izzy's tantrums were usually caused by Monica being treated differently.

That dessert incident only happened because Monica was given take while Izzy and everyone else got ice cream-

exactly what Monica wanted. The lake incident occurred because Ménica hadn't been invited on the trip. She

opened her phone again and saved the photo. She could send it to Calen and create more trouble, but she

wouldn't do that now.

Monica knew Calen disliked Liam Horvath. Another reason Izzy refused to attend family events with Liam was

because of Calen. Yet, Izzy dared to see Liam now. Monica snorted. Foolish, she thought inwardly.

Monica sat back on her bed, staring at the ceiling with a smirk as her thoughts raced. It all made sense now. Izzy

was clearly pulling another one of her classic tantrums, but this time, it wasn’t over dessert or a missed trip. No,

this was far more calculated, and it was aimed directly at Calen.

It had to be about the anniversary.

Monica rolled her eyes, remembering how Izzy had looked after Calen completely forgetting their third

anniversary. And now, not even a week later, there she was, having dinner with Liam Horvath, of all people.

Izzy was trying to make Calen jealous.

Monica giggled to herself, shaking her head. Typical Izzy. So spoiled, so predictable. In the past, whenever her

grandfather

and this get way, refused to give her something, Izzy would sulk for days, stomping around the house and

finding passive-aggressive ways to show her displeasure. Monica had seen it all before. Izzy was the type to lash

out when she didn’t dinner with Liam was just another version of the sbehavior

her

Monica's fingers hovered over her phone again as she stared at the saved photo. It was a good one-lzzy smiling

like she didn’t have a care in the world, Liam leaning in slightly as though he were genuinely interested in

whatever nonsense she was spewing. The image practically screamed intimacy. Monica had to admit, it was a

bold move.

But was it really going to work?

Calen despised Liam Horvath. Always had. Monica knew this better than anyone, given how often Calen ranted

about Liam's business tactics, his arrogance, and his face. The rivalry between the two men wasn’t just

professional; it was deeply personal. And now, Izzy was throwing gasoline on that fire.

Monica snorted. It was reckless, even for Izzy. Did she really think Calen would crunning back to her

because of this? If anything, it would push him further away. Calen hated being manipulated. He hated games,

especially ones that involved

Liam.

Still, Monica couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy as she looked at the photo again. No matter what, Izzy

always managed to draw attention to herself. She had the looks, the money, the family name. Even when she

wasn't trying, people noticed her. And now, she had Liam sitting across from her, looking at her like she was the

center of the universe.

Monica tossed her phone onto the bed, her mood souring. Izzy didn’t deserve any of it-not Calen’s love, not

Liam’s attention, not the charmed life she’d been handed on a silver platter.

She thought about it for a few minutes before finally deciding not to send the photo to Calen. Instead, she edited

one of the sexy photos that she took earlier and sent it to Calen.

[What do you think of my new lingerie?] she asked.[Does the color suit me?]

The reply calmost immediately. [Good. But you are better without it.]

Chapter 34

Monica smirked.