Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife

Lovely wife 214 He's Not Alone The hotel room was quiet, save for the low hum of the television mounted on the far wall. Izzy stood by the window, sipping lukewarm tea, her coat still draped over one arm. She had left the channel on out of habit, not expectation-but the moment the newscaster mentioned her name, she turned.

"...and in breaking headlines, the legal representatives of socialite and Rossi Group heiress Isabella Rossi have declined further comment on her whereabouts, prompting a public reaction from Amalia-former guardian and family trustee. Our team caught up with her outside a law office in Milan earlier today." The screen shifted to a scene outside a stone building where Amalia, dressed in black with her pearl necklace glinting in the afternoon light, faced a crowd of reporters. Her lips moved quickly, hands gesturing as microphones were shoved toward her.

"I raised her," Amalia said, her tone clipped. "Her parents were gone. I was the one who managed her estate, her tutors, and her education. Now she's had an accident, and they won't even letspeak to her? Her lawyers are shutting everyone out. Why? What are they hiding?" A reporter leaned in. "Have you spoken to anyone from the Rossi legal team directly?" "I've filed requests. I've made calls. All I get is silence. Isabella was like a daughter to me. And now? Locked doors. Lawyers. Security. I deserve to know she's alright. The public deserves to know." Izzy took another sip of tea and snorted. "Since when did I beca national headline?" The camera cut back to the anchor, seated in the studio. A photo of Izzy flashed beside her-an old one, from a charity gala two years ago. "The Rossi legal team has yet to issue a public response, though insiders say the heiress is recovering in private under high security after a targeted vehicular incident last week. The question now- why the secrecy? And what does this mean for the future of Rossi Group?" -Izzy sat down on the edge of the bed and set her cup on the nightstand.

"She wants camera time," she muttered. "That's all it ever was with her." Obviously, Izzy knew that Amalia also wanted access to her trust. Maria had been updating her about these people.

She picked up the remote and muted the screen, watching as Amalia's tics continued in silence. She leaned back, shaking her head.

"I almost die," she said to no one, "and somehow the headline is about her feelings." There was a knock, and Izzy got up to check who it was. Seeing that it was Mondo, she opened it and walked back toward her bed. The door clicked open behind her. Mondo stepped in without saying anything and locked it again.

"You saw the news?" she asked.

1/3 He's Not Alone "I did." She crossed her arms. "Think she'll sue my lawyers?" Mondo didn't blink. "She might." Izzy looked back at the screen.

"Let her try." Izzy then turned toward him. "Letguess..." she smiled. "He knows?" "Yes, the Master now knows that we let you leave without his permission and is rushing-" "You told him where I'm at?" Mondo didn't give her an answer, but he didn't need to. At the end of the day, his loyalty still lies with Liam. She sighed inwardly.

"Right... what about the thing that I asked you?" she asked.

"Here's the only thing that I could find." Mondo handed her the tablet.

Izzy took the tablet from Mondo and sat back on the bed, dragging her finger across the screen to scroll through the report.

She asked Mondo to get her two things. First was the information about the things happening inside Liam's company-Horvath Industries. And the information about his grandfather's company-Horvath Holdings.

The first file that she opened was a dense overview of internal activity within Horvath Holdings-timelines, flagged communications, and financial bottlenecks. She skimmed most of it, stopping only when her eyes caught a string of irregular transfers dated just a day before Liam's grandfather collapsed.

Too convenient, she thought.

She tapped into the medical notes attached at the end. The thoracic aortic aneurysm had been sudden, but the stress levels recorded days before the incident didn't match someone just suffering from overwork. Izzy tilted her head. Between the board pressure, the sudden rise of opposition, and now this health emergency... it didn't sit right with her.

She wasn't sure yet, but something about all of it felt too perfectly timed. Like everything unraveled just as she reentered Liam's world. She had this sinking feeling that somehow, people had been targeted because of her.

Before she could finish reading the next page, Mondo's phone rang. He stepped aside, checked the caller ID, and looked back at her.

"Excuse me. Ineed to take this," he said.

She nodded, still scanning the document.

Mondo left quietly, and the door shut behind him.

She was about to refocus when something on the muted television caught her eye.

2/3 He's Not Alone The screen flashed a familiar image-Liam's face. Her brows pulled together. She grabbed the remote and unmuted the TV.

"-arrested just minutes ago, Liam Horvath, interim acting head of Horvath Holdings, was seen leaving the company's New York headquarters in handcuffs." The screen changed to a shaky video clip of Liam being escorted by local police, his coat still draped over one arm, his face calm but unspeaking.

"This arrest follows a formal complaint filed by actress Cassandra Sarano, who previously had a private working relationship with Mr. Horvath on multiple campaign. and branding deals." Izzy stood from the bed, the tablet forgotten beside her.

"The charges include breach of contract, falsified agreements, and accusations of coercion during a terminated deal nearly two years ago, and a sexual assault charge. While specifics of the complaint remain sealed under court order, Sarano's legal team. confirmed that the allegations have been escalating for several weeks behind closed doors." Izzy stared at the screen, stunned.

Cassandra Sarano.

"What the hell is she doing?" she whispered.

Just as she said this, there was a knock on the door, izzy opened it, and Mondo walked in.

"Madam... the Master has been arrested-" Mondo's words trailed off as his eyes. landed on the screen.

"I know," Izzy said.

Before she could continue, a knock cfrom the door.

Mondo moved to check. A moment later, his face tightened.

"Who is it?" Izzy asked.

"It's Mr. Olivier Horvath," Mondo replied. "And he's not alone." ☐ Subscribe 1 Likes 3/3