My Double Kills Me, So My Husband Kills Her

Chapter 5

As soon as Alexander spoke, every head in the courtyard turned.

He stood at the entrance in a perfectly tailored suit, thin-rimmed glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. His features were sharp, his presence commanding, elegance and danger wrapped in one.

The moment Olivia saw him, her arrogant smirk vanished. She transformed instantly, voice sweet and soft as honey. Slipping her arm through his, she looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Alex, weren't you in a meeting? I didn't expect you home so soon," she said, all innocence.

Alexander didn't respond to her question. His gaze swept over the scene like a cold gust of wind.

"This villa is off-limits," he said flatly. "What are you doing here?"

Though his voice was calm, there was an edge to it, sharp and dangerous. His obsidian eyes glinted, sending a visible shiver down Olivia's spine.

"I, I saw some plastic surgery freak sneaking around," she stammered. "I just came to handle it before she caused any trouble."

Alexander's jaw tightened slightly as he looked past her toward the heart of the villa.

"You didn't go inside, did you?" he asked, his tone cool and measured.

Olivia shook her head quickly. "Of course not! We stayed in the courtyard. We already dealt with her."

Her friends jumped in one by one:

"Mr. Holt, Olivia knows how important this place is to you. She'd never cross a line."

"She was just trying to protect you, really, she was worried someone dangerous might have gotten in."

"She only did this because she cares about you so much. Please don't be upset with her."

Their voices overlapped, trying to smooth things over. Alexander's expression relaxed slightly, but only slightly.

"Don't come here again," he said, voice cold as steel.

Olivia blinked, caught off guard. "Why not?" she asked, her tone light but laced with confusion. "I actually really like this place. It's such a waste to leave it empty. Why don't I just move in?"

She gave him her best doe-eyed look, like a kitten begging for affection.

For a brief second, something flickered in Alexander's eyes, like a spark snuffed out before it could catch. His face, which had just begun to thaw, turned ice-cold again.

Olivia's smile faltered. She looked up at him, hurt creeping into her voice.

"Alex… did I say something wrong?"

But Alexander wasn't looking at her. His gaze had drifted upward, to the second-floor window of the villa.

A subtle smirk curved the corner of his mouth.

Then, as if on cue, he turned back to Olivia, wrapped an arm around her waist, and pulled her close.

"No," he said softly, brushing a hand down her back. "I just think you deserve something better."

"This place is too rundown for someone like you. If you're going to live anywhere, it should be the Holt family estate."