Chapter 125

Evelyn's fingers trembled as she pulled out her phone and dialed Julian's number.

The line connected after three rings.

"Evelyn? Is everything alright?" Julian's voice came through, laced with concern.

"Victoria's dead. Did you have any part in this?" Evelyn demanded, her voice sharper than intended.

A sharp intake of breath. "What the hell are you talking about? I'm at St. Elizabeth's for my annual physical... She was perfectly fine when we spoke yesterday evening!"

"Did you two argue?" Evelyn pressed.

"Of course not!" Julian snapped.

Then, after a weighted pause, his tone shifted. "Actually... I just remembered something. Victoria was here when Dominic came over for dinner last week. It was... tense. He told her she wouldn't live to see next month. She's been paranoid ever since—"

"That's absurd! I was with Dominic all night. He couldn't have—"

"God, Evelyn!" Julian interrupted with a bitter laugh. "You lose all rationality when it comes to Dominic, don't you? I'm just telling you what I witnessed. You're the only person I'd share this with. The police won't hear a word of it from me."

"Listen carefully, Julian Whitmore," Evelyn hissed. "If I find out you're involved in Victoria's death in any way—"

"It wasn't me!" Julian's voice turned icy. "What possible motive would I have? Even if we fought, murder isn't my style." A beat. Then softer: "Ever since Dominic came into your life, I've meant nothing to you."

"Spare me the victim act!" Evelyn shot back. "What exactly did I mean to you when you were screwing Victoria behind my back?" She ended the call with violent jab of her thumb.

The officer raised an eyebrow. "Who was that?"

"Julian Whitmore. Victoria Thorne's boyfriend." Evelyn recited Julian's number mechanically. "They've been inseparable lately. He must know why she..." Her voice cracked.

That afternoon, Evelyn left the police station in a daze and hailed a cab to Clara's apartment.

After breaking the news, Evelyn whispered, "I barely recognized her, Mom... There was so much blood... Her face was..." She shuddered.

Clara pulled her daughter into a fierce embrace. "Don't think about it, darling. Her choices were her own. We have our own lives to live."

"Julian implied Dominic was involved," Evelyn murmured. "But that's impossible. Dominic would never—"

"Have you asked him?" Clara interrupted gently. "Even if he was, I'm sure he had his reasons."

"Mom! There's never justification for murder! If Victoria broke the law, the authorities should—"

"And how well did that work with your uncle?" Clara countered, squeezing Evelyn's hands. "I'm not condoning murder. I'm just saying Julian might be lying."

Evelyn took a steadying breath. "I just came to tell you... I need to go. I have to see Dominic."

"Let me drive you," Clara insisted. "You're in no state—"

"I'm fine." Evelyn was already moving toward the door.

Dominic had been ordered to bed rest after last night's incident. When Evelyn arrived at Blackwood Manor at two, she found him propped up in bed, reading financial reports.

His sharp gaze took in her pallor and the shadows under her eyes. "Evelyn?"

"We need to talk." She sat stiffly beside him.

Dominic's large hand enveloped hers—a lion claiming its mate. The warmth of his touch was almost painful.

Evelyn jerked her hand away instinctively.

After a charged silence, she blurted, "Victoria's dead. Did you kill her?"

Dominic's expression darkened instantly. "How interesting. You're more concerned about Victoria than the person who tried to murder me last night. Is her life worth more than mine?"

The reminder hit Evelyn like a physical blow. In her distress over Victoria, she'd nearly forgotten the assassination attempt.

"Who was it?" she demanded, eyes blazing. "Did you identify them?"

"Would you still mourn her if I told you it was Victoria?" Dominic's gaze pinned her in place.

Evelyn watched as shock morphed into dawning horror. "So... you did have her killed." Her throat constricted. "Was there no other way? Did it have to be so... final?"

The tenderness vanished from Dominic's face. "Don't look at me like that, Evelyn." His voice turned glacial. "I send all my enemies to hell. You know this about me."