Chapter 494

"Wife?" Victoria stormed into the living room, her fists clenched so tight her knuckles turned white. The fury in her voice was barely contained as she spat out, "Liam, are you two actually married?"

"Yes, we are," Liam answered smoothly, his expression unreadable.

Victoria's face darkened like a thundercloud. She jabbed an accusing finger at Evelyn's barely visible baby bump. "And you're claiming that child is yours?" she hissed through gritted teeth.

"Obviously it's mine. Why wouldn't I?" Liam took a step toward her.

Victoria let out a frustrated growl, grinding her teeth loud enough to hear.

"Would you like some breakfast?" Liam offered casually.

"You know damn well I didn't come here for breakfast," Victoria snapped.

"Good, because I didn't make any for you. There's extra if you're hungry. If not, the door's that way." Liam's tone was ice cold.

"Liam, don't you think you're rushing into this marriage?"

"I don't."

Evelyn stood silently nearby, watching the exchange. Her heart felt like it was being crushed under a boulder, each breath coming harder than the last.

She didn't care about keeping their marriage secret. But seeing how intimately Liam interacted with Victoria made her stomach churn. They moved like lifelong confidants, their connection obvious even in anger.

Rational or not, the jealousy burning through her veins was overwhelming.

Evelyn pressed a protective hand to her stomach as she pushed past them toward the front door. Liam moved to intercept her.

"Where are you going, Cassandra?"

Her face hardened as she shoved his hand away. With deliberate movements, she reprogrammed the fingerprint lock, entering a new code and scanning her thumb while everyone watched.

"Why are you changing the password?" Victoria demanded, her frown deepening.

After finishing the reset, Evelyn turned back to the room. "Ms. Hudson, from now on you'll knock before entering my home."

"What about me? You haven't even registered my print yet," Liam protested, confused.

Evelyn shot him a withering look. "Same rules apply. Knock first. If no one answers, don't bother coming back." Liam suddenly burst into laughter, his face lighting up with undisguised affection.

"I've lost my appetite," Evelyn muttered. Then she stomped up the stairs - each heavy step a clear indictment of Liam's behavior.

Victoria's eyes nearly bulged out of her head. She whirled on Liam. "You're seriously marrying someone like that?"

"She's adorable!" Liam replied, his gaze following Evelyn up the stairs.

"Adorable?" Victoria scoffed. "She just locked us both out of your house! She can restrict my access, fine, but yours too? That's not adorable, that's psychotic!"

A shadow crossed Liam's face. "Victoria, there's never been an 'us.' Cassandra's jealous, that's all."

Victoria stared at him in disbelief.

Liam looked down, smiling to himself. "Everything she does when she's jealous... I find it completely charming."

Victoria planted her hands on her hips, breathing hard through her nose. "You've lost your mind. You're claiming a baby when she's barely showing. She's jealous over nothing, and you think it's cute? Love really has blinded you."

Liam gathered the breakfast tray from the dining table and headed upstairs. "You'll understand when you're married."

Victoria's face twisted in disgust. She paced the living room like a caged tiger, her hands still firmly planted on her hips, searching for some outlet for her boiling rage.