Chapter 632

Vivian Bennett snatched up the telephone, her fingers flying over the keypad.

She had only pressed two digits when the butler's voice came from behind her.

"Young Madam, the telephones here can only receive calls. Outgoing calls are not possible."

Her movements halted. Unconvinced, she tried a few more times.

The receiver only emitted a persistent busy signal.

Vivian slammed the phone down heavily and turned to glare at the butler.

"Receive only, no outgoing? You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

"Yes," the butler admitted frankly. "Since yesterday, the Young Master had the entire island's telephone system modified. Young Madam, there's no need to try the other phones. They are all the same."

A suffocating feeling tightened Vivian's chest.

"So... I can't even call for help?"

"Not exactly," the butler said.

Her eyes lit up, and she immediately adopted a pleading expression.

"You'll help me? If you just help me contact the outside world, I will reward you handsomely."

"You can ask the Young Master for help," the butler said with a faint smile. "Only he can take you away from here."

Vivian felt a lump of frustration lodge in her throat.

Of course. Liam Sullivan's people were just as infuriating as he was.

"Didn't you hear what he said today? He told me to figure it out myself. He won't take me away."

"The Young Master was merely speaking in anger," the butler said gently. "If you coax him a little, make him happy, he will naturally take you back. Marital spats are always temporary."

Vivian knew the butler misunderstood.

What existed between her and Liam was far from a simple lovers' quarrel.

Wait for Liam's anger to subside?

By then, she would have long missed her chance.

"Ask me to placate him? Impossible," she said coldly, turning her face away.

To surrender immediately after declaring war would only give him more power over her in the future.

Wasn't this exactly what he wanted? To force her to submit?

"Then I'm afraid there's nothing I can do," the butler said, spreading his hands.

Vivian stared at him for a few seconds. Suddenly, she stood up and walked to the table.

She picked up a fruit knife, turned, and pressed the blade against the butler's neck.

"Don't lie to me. Even if the regular phones don't work, you must have a satellite phone. Hand it over. Otherwise, I won't be polite."

The cold, sharp edge pressed against his skin.

The butler's expression remained unchanged.

"You are correct. But I cannot give it to you. The Young Master's orders are not to be disobeyed."

Vivian's eyes darkened. She applied a little more pressure.

The blade broke the skin, a thin line of blood beading up.

"Is a phone call worth your life? Give me the phone, or you'll die right here today."

The butler closed his eyes.

"An order is an order. A person who disobeys orders has no reason to live."

Fury surged in Vivian's heart.

Even Liam's subordinates were willing to die for him.

She couldn't bring herself to harm such a person.

She also understood now—Liam dared to be so brazen precisely because his people were utterly loyal.

He had calculated everything.

There was no escape for her.

Venting her anger on his subordinates would be pointless.