Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife

hapter 164 Chapter 164 Izzy lifted an eyebrow. "Jealous?" she repeated. "Why would I be jealous?" Liam smirked, tilting his glass slightly as he studied her. “That's what I'm wondering," he said. "You went all out with dinner tonight. Wine, lobster-makes a man wonder if you're trying to impressor distract me.” Izzy scoffed, taking a sip of her wine. "Maybe I just felt like eating well tonight." Liam hummed, setting his glass down. "Or maybe," he mused, "you didn't like hearing Felicity Covington's nearlier." Izzy rolled her eyes. "I don't even know the woman," she muttered, reaching for another roll.

Liam leaned back, watching her carefully. "She wants to make a deal with me," he said casually.

Izzy paused mid-bite, then set the roll down, dusting off her fingers. "A deal," she echoed, looking at him expectantly. “Letguess-it's not a marriage proposal, is it?" Liam stared at her, momentarily speechless. He blinked, then let out a low chuckle. "That was oddly specific," he remarked, shaking his head. "No, not a marriage deal." Izzy waved a hand. "Good," she muttered. "So what does she want?" Liam took his tanswering, watching as the amusement flickered in Izzy's expression before something sharper settled in. "She wants to be the CEO of Covington Group," he said finally. "After I acquire it." Izzy didn't look particularly impressed. "And what does she want in exchange?" she asked, her voice a fraction sharper than before.

Liam smirked at her reaction, swirling his wine. "You tell me," he said. "You're the one who seems to have an idea of how these things work." Izzy narrowed her eyes slightly but didn't answer. Instead, she reached for her glass again, taking a slow sip. Liam exhaled softly, setting his drink aside. Without another word, he pushed himself up from his seat and disappeared into his office.

Izzy frowned, watching him go. "Now what?" she muttered under her breath.

A moment later, Liam returned, a folder in hand. He placed it in front of her, sliding it across the table. "You'll want to see this," he said.

Izzy eyed the folder, then reached for it, flipping it open. The moment her gaze landed on the contents, her expression shifted.

Frederik Vasili.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the paper as her eyes scanned the details inside. Whatever she had been expecting -it wasn't this.

She looked up at Liam, her grip firm on the folder. "What the hell is this?" "Miss Covington already asked for a deal when I was still in London, but I didn't see any gains in it, so I declined her request. This time, she cup with that." "She cup with this?" Izzy frowned. The woman had actually researched her, knew her current circumstances, and then tried to find ways to help-only to give it to Izzy's husband. "That's brave," Izzy admitted.

1/4 Chapter 164 "The Vasili family isn't simple. Isn't she scared that they would trace this back to her?" she asked.

Liam shrugged, watching her reaction. "Only if they trace it back to her." Izzy snorted, shutting the folder. "Well, that's not my problem," she said, leaning back in her chair. "I won't be with Weiss Inc. much longer." Liam's fingers tapped lightly against his glass as he studied her. "That so?" Izzy didn't respond immediately. Instead, she looked at the folder again, her fingers drumming against its surface. Something wasn't adding up. If Frederik Vasili was involved, this wasn't just about a business deal.

Her gaze lifted to Liam. "Frederik isn't targeting the project,” she said. “He's targeting me." Liam didn't look surprised. If anything, he seemed like he had expected her to reach that conclusion.

Izzy's grip on the folder tightened. Her grandfather had always been a careful man-too careful at times. He had arranged her engagement to Liam, claiming it was for the best. She had always known that he wanted Liam to protect her. She turned her head, looking out at the San Francisco skyline. Was her grandfather wise or just paranoid? Liam broke the silence. "What's your plan?" Izzy exhaled through her nose, closing the folder. "I don't know yet." Liam leaned back in his chair. "Are you going to work for Rossi Group?" Izzy hesitated before answering. "I might." Liam reached for something beside him and placed it in front of her-a tablet. "As the largest shareholder, you have the right to know its ins and outs," he said.

Izzy took the tablet and turned it on. The screen displayed an organized structure of Rossi Group-its subsidiaries, key businesses, and leadership. She scrolled through, quickly taking in the details.

Rossi Group was a financial powerhouse, with holdings across multiple industries-a chain of malls, convenience stores, and pharmacies. She already knew this.

She glanced at Liam. "I already know all this." Liam didn't move. "Keep reading." Izzy scrolled through the tablet, her fingers tightening around the device as she took in the long list of unresolved cases tied to Rossi Group. Labor violations, bribery allegations, real estate fraud, environmental infractions-swere buried under technicalities, others simply dismissed without further investigation. "These cases are all unsolved," she said, her gaze flicking over each entry. There were too many for this to be a coincidence.

She looked up at Liam. "They bribed someone," she said flatly.

Liam didn't respond right away. Instead, he leaned forward, watching her carefully.

Izzy tapped the screen. “These aren't just minor violations. There are forced evictions, illegal land acquisitions, and-" her brows furrowed as she scrolled further, “pharmaceutical fraud? Were they selling counterfeit medicine?" Liam's expression remained unreadable. "If that surprises you, you're not looking hard enough." Izzy exhaled, shaking her head. "Why haven't I heard about any of this before?" 2/4 46% 14:13 Thu, 13 Mar Chapter 164 Liam tapped the table once, drawing her attention back to him. "Because your grandfather didn't want you to," he said. "You were never supposed to be involved in the business."

Izzy pursed her lips, turning her eyes back to the tablet. She had known Rossi Group was powerful, but she hadn't realized how much was being hidden from her. And if Frederik Vasili was trying to push her out before she even got involved..... "What if he's trying to cover something up?" she said, more to herself than to Liam.

Liam leaned back, arms crossing as he studied her. "It's possible." Izzy shut the tablet and set it down on the table. "I should look into it," she muttered.

Liam scoffed, shaking his head. "No, you shouldn't." Izzy frowned. "And why not?" Liam reached for his wine glass, taking a slow sip before placing it back down. “Because Rossi Group is dangerous," he said, watching her reaction. "You're better off walking away." Izzy crossed her arms. "And do what instead?" Liam smirked and leaned in slightly. "Work under me." Izzy arched an eyebrow.

"As my personal secretary,” he added smoothly.

Izzy's eyes narrowed. "You wantto abandon my family business to be your secretary?" Liam shrugged. "Why not?" Izzy scoffed, shaking her head. “You're unbelievable." For a few seconds, she thought he was joking.

Liam reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers lingered for a moment before he pulled away.

"I'm serious," he said. "You wouldn't have to deal with Rossi Group, and I you'd be right where I can keep an eye on you" Izzy sighed, leaning back against the chair. The offer was ridiculous, but somehow, coming from him, it didn't sound as absurd as it should have. She glanced at him, tilting her head slightly. "You just don't wantstaying away, do you?" Liam's smirk didn't waver as he leaned in, his voice smooth. "Can you blme?” He let his gaze linger on her.

"I happen to like having you close." Izzy arched a brow, swirling the wine in her glass. "Possessive, are we?” Liam chuckled, his gaze drifting lazily over her. "I prefer the term 'exclusive."

Izzy rolled her eyes, but the corners of her lips twitched slightly. She m picked up her wine glass and took a slow sip, looking out at the city lights. Exclusive... Why did that sound so tempting when he said it like that? 3/4 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofifl0&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1