Chapter 3

Trembling with fear, Brett Hawkins snarled, "Then I'll take your wife down with me!"

Liam Blackwood had never been one to yield to threats. A deadly glint flashed in his piercing eyes.

Suddenly, seven gunshots shattered the silence, ringing violently in Evelyn Carter's ears.

Her body jerked violently before freezing in shock. She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling warm droplets splatter across her cheeks.

At that moment, calling herself Liam's wife felt like a cruel joke.

He was here to save the hostages—not her. So what if she got caught in the crossfire?

A sharp pain clenched her heart. Overwhelmed by terror, her vision blurred, and darkness swallowed her whole.

The military headquarters of Aldenria was the nation's largest weapons production facility, heavily guarded and impenetrable.

"No!"

A nightmare jolted Evelyn awake. Her eyes flew open, her body drenched in cold sweat.

She gasped for air, her pulse racing as she scanned the unfamiliar room.

Her gaze landed on a woman standing beside her bed—Victoria Dawson, her expression carefully blank as she held a tray with a glass of water and a plate of food.

"You're awake?" Victoria said flatly. "Liam asked me to bring you something to eat."

"Thank you," Evelyn murmured, pushing herself up weakly. Her limbs felt like lead after going without food for an entire day.

Victoria smirked. "Too bad you don't deserve it."

With that, she took a deliberate step back and flung the tray to the ground before throwing herself down with it.

The crash was deafening. "Ouch!" Victoria wailed, her voice thick with fake tears.

Evelyn stared, stunned.

The door burst open, and Liam stormed in, his sharp eyes immediately zeroing in on Victoria sprawled on the floor. His subordinate, Ryan Sullivan, followed closely behind.

Liam strode to Victoria and helped her up. "Are you hurt?"

Victoria sniffled, her lashes fluttering. "I kept insisting Evelyn eat, but she refused. I—I shouldn't have pushed her. Now the food's wasted, and the floor's a mess. It's all my fault."

"Leave it," Liam said, his voice softening. "Go rest."

Victoria nodded, but before leaving, she caught his hand. "Liam, please don't be angry with her. It was my mistake."

He gave a curt nod.

Evelyn watched the entire act with disgust.

The moment Victoria left, the room plunged into suffocating silence. Liam's presence alone made the air feel heavier, colder.

He loomed over her, his gaze icy. "What was that about?"

Evelyn knew he'd never believe her over the woman he loved. Still, she whispered, "I didn't do anything."

His expression darkened. "If you ever treat Victoria like that again, there will be consequences."

His words lashed at her like a whip. The pain was so sharp her vision blurred with unshed tears.

She lowered her head, unwilling to let him see her weakness.

After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice barely audible. "Mr. Blackwood, I didn’t know you were forced into this marriage because of your grandmother."

"She told me you wanted this. That you were someone I could trust. But I was wrong."

Her heart ached, but she forced her voice steady. "You're in love with someone else. And back there—you fired without a second thought about whether I'd be hit. There's no reason to stay in a marriage like this."