Elias looked at Livia, his gaze flickering slightly. He wanted to refute her, but her analysis was almost flawless. Indeed, if Livia took over, Eryx's plans would be completely disrupted, and Marcellus wouldn't truly lose his power.
But…
"Are you sure?" Marcellus finally spoke, his deep voice carrying a hint of complexity as he locked eyes with her. "Do you understand what this means?"
Livia nodded without hesitation. "Of course, I do."
She took a deep breath, her tone softening slightly. "This isn't just about your safety. It's because…I don't want Eryx to get his way."
Marcellus's gaze darkened, a trace of unreadable emotion flashing in his eyes.
For a moment, the air in the hospital room seemed to freeze.
Marcellus stared at Livia in silence, struggling with something within himself. Then, he slowly spoke, his voice carrying an unusual trace of concern. "But what about your safety?"
Unlike his usual composed self, there was a subtle, almost imperceptible worry in his voice. "If you take over the expansion project, you'll be exposing yourself to danger."
Livia let out a cold chuckle, a hint of irony flashing in her expression. "And do you think I'm safe now?"
She lifted her chin slightly, her voice calm but laced with a chilling edge. "I've already been kidnapped once. It's even possible that those people were the same ones who attacked you. As long as I'm still your wife, as long as you remain one of the most powerful figures in this city, and as long as you refuse to abandon the expansion project, I will never truly be safe."
Marcellus fell silent for a moment, his gaze deepening as if weighing his options.
Then, he spoke, his tone more solemn than ever before. "You can leave."
Livia's heart skipped a beat.
"I can divorce you," Marcellus said in a low voice, his eyes locked onto her expression. "That way, you won't be dragged into danger because of me."
He paused for a moment, his lips pressing into a thin line, his gaze complex and restrained. "Truthfully…I don't want to part ways with you. There are still many things between us left unsaid. But for your safety, I am willing to let you go."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Elias looked at Marcellus, his expression shifting slightly. He had never imagined that this cold and domineering man would voluntarily make such a decision—one that felt almost like a sacrifice, just to protect Livia.
Livia, on the other hand, was stunned.
She stared at Marcellus, her heart pounding as if something had struck it hard.
He said he didn't want to part with her… yet he was still willing to let her go.
A flood of complicated emotions surged through her, but in the end, she took a slow breath, forcing herself to remain calm.
Then, she lifted her head and spoke with unwavering determination. "What do you take me for?"
Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable strength. "Our problems are between the two of us. How can we let outsiders decide for us? Do you really think this will protect me? Or are you underestimating me?"
Her gaze sharpened, and a faint, almost ruthless smirk tugged at the corner of her lips. "I won't be so easily defeated."
Elias sighed softly, a faint smile playing on his lips—part exasperation, part admiration.
Marcellus, however, simply stared at her, his eyes betraying a flicker of emotion.
Livia continued, "There's another advantage to me taking over the expansion project—Adrian will fully support me. And Elias will help me as well."
She turned to Elias, her expression unwavering. "If he's willing, that is."
Elias was momentarily surprised before letting out a low chuckle. He leaned lazily against the wall, arms crossed, raising an amused brow. "So, you've already factored me in?"
"Of course," Livia replied without hesitation. "Since you're not going to oversee the expansion project yourself, you should at least stand by my side and help me consolidate all available resources. And I believe you will."
She paused, her gaze steady. "That way, my position will be more secure, and I'll be safer."
Elias chuckled softly, the corners of his lips curling up, his eyes glinting with an unreadable emotion. "Naturally."
Marcellus, however, continued watching Livia, his expression growing even more complex.
He sighed lightly, his voice hoarse. "…You really won't listen."
Livia tilted her chin up slightly. "Then you'd better recover quickly, or else your plans might end up becoming mine."
Marcellus let out a low chuckle—it was unclear whether he was amused or resigned, but perhaps there was even a trace of relief.
At that moment, he finally realized—Livia was no longer someone who needed his protection. She had her own will, her own strength.
And that, more than anything, was why he found himself falling for her even more.