>>108405190My favourite theory when you consider that this May is competent enough with engineering to be her Peter's Alfred is that May used to work as a scientist at Oscorp and Liv was her protege.
Eventually, May was turned off by Oscorp's increasingly dubious methods and objectives and wanted to destroy her research and leave the company. Liv, however, prioritised science over morality and either refused to join her or stole her research to protect it.