Mr. Villain's Lovely Wife (Izzy) novel Chapter 48

Chapter 48 

The faint glow of the city lights stretched out below them, shimmering against the backdrop of San Francisco Bay. Izzy leaned back in her seat, the plush private booth offering both comfort and a breathtaking view from the rooftop of The Argent, one of the city’s most exclusive restaurants. A soft breeze swept in from the open balcony, mingling with the faint hum of conversations from other diners. 

Liam sal across from her, impeccably dressed as always. Despite this, he had a calm and languid posture. He raised his glass toward her, an eyebrow lifted in question. “Cheers, Mrs. Horvath Are we celebrating something? Or did I forget your birthday again?” 

Izzy smirked, clinking her glass lightly against his. “You’ve never forgotten my birthday. Unfortunately” For as long as she could remember, Liam had always been the first to send her a greeting on her birthday. Even if he was halfway across the globe, he wouldn’t miss the chance to bother her with a midnight call, his voice was always so smug as he wished her a happy birthday. 

Over the years, she had started to reciprocate–though in her own way. She had started calling him at dawn just to greet him. Izzy doesn’t care if she was the first one to call him. All she cared about was disturbing his sleep. 

Liam leaned forward, his eyes narrowing with playful suspicion Unfortunately? 1 thought my gifts were memorable.” 

“Oh, they’re memorable.” Izzy said dryly, taking a sip of her wine. How could she forget the gifts? The silly ones that seemed designed to scare her. “Who could forget the horrifying doll with one eye you gave me when I was, what? Ten?, 

“That was a collector’s item,” Liam countered, smirking. “It had character, just like you.” 

“It had nightmares,” Izzy shot back, shaking her head. The memory was still vivid. She had cried so much when she first unwrapped the gift, the doll’s single, glassy eye staring back at her like it was plotting something. Unfortunately, her grandfather hadn’t let her throw it away, insisting it was “too unique to discard.” Instead, he made her keep it under her bed, where it haunted her for weeks. Night after night, she dreamed of that one–eyed menace crawling out to get her. It wasn’t until she begged and bargained that her grandfather finally agreed to store it in the attic, just in case she ever “changed her mind about ugly dolls.” 

“And then there was the… what was it?” Izzy continued, her expression shifting to amused exasperation. “The life–sized flamingo lawn ornament?” 

Liam laughed softly, cutting into his steak with precision. “That was a masterpiece. You had it on your balcony for weeks” 

“I kept it there to scare off pigeons,” Izzy replied, her eyes glinting with amusement. That flamingo was definitely unforgettable. If she was right, the flamingo was still in her grandfather’s mansion until now. “You’ve got to admit, your gifts improved. The antique tea set last year was actually thoughtful. 

Liam tilted his head in mock thoughtfulness as he slid a slice of steak onto her plate. “So you’re saying I’m growing on you.” 

“Don’t push it,” she said, though the corners of her lips twitched 

“Why are you talking about my gifts when you’ve sent me weird ones too?” he asked. 

“It was revenge, alright?” 

He chuckled at that. “Admit it, you were really proud of that nean light–up tie.” 

“Who wouldn’t be?” Izzy snorted. It had taken her days to find a tie with a special mechanism that lit up. It was actually fun. and Izzy was tempted to keep it. 

Liam’s smirk faltered. “You gifted me a crime against fashion.” 

“And yet you wore it.” 

10:44 Sat, Jan 4 

Chapter 48 

had no choice. You brought it to my office and threatened to how the entire team if I didn’t.” 

Izzy shrugged, her grin widening. “You deserved it after the flaringo.” 

Liam poured more wine into her glass. “Admit it, though. You enjoyed my singing telegram.” 

Izzy almost choked on her sip, setting her glass down quickly. “That was not enjoyment. That was secondhand 

embarrassment 

“You laughed.” 

“I cried,” she corrected. There’s a difference.” 

Liam leaned back, watching her with a faint smile that held a hint of something more. He didn’t say anything, but his lingered a little too long, making her suddenly hyperaware of how close they were despite the table between them. She cleared her throat, breaking the silence. 

gaze 

Speaking of birthdays,” she said, picking up her fork and knife. “What’s the theme for this year’s disaster?” “You’ll just have to wait and see,” Liam said smoothly. “But let’s not call it a disaster. I prefer ‘creative genius.” 

Izzy laughed softly, shaking her head.. 

Not long after, the two finished their meals and enjoyed some cocktails while looking at the view of San 

n Francisco. 

Liam set his cocktail down on the table, his gaze fixed on Izzy as she stared out at the glittering San Francisco skyline. “So.” Ire began, leaning back into his seat. “What do you want to do for your birthday this year? It’s coming up in a few weeks.”