Chapter 165

Lily and Henry found Sophia in a restless state. She was murmuring incoherently under her breath.

"Brother... please..."

The twins exchanged worried glances and rushed to her side immediately.

Sophia's cheeks burned crimson, her skin radiating intense heat. "She's burning up! I'll get Mom!" Lily cried, darting out of the room.

Henry gripped Sophia's trembling hands, his small fingers barely able to contain hers. "Sophia, stay with me!" he urged, his voice cracking with concern.

At the sound of his voice, Sophia's eyelids fluttered open slightly.

In her feverish delirium, she mistook Henry for Dominic.

The scorching heat inside her felt unbearable.

"Brother... hold me..." Sophia sobbed pitifully. Henry's heart ached, but his tiny frame couldn't possibly embrace her properly.

He could only wait helplessly for his mother's arrival. "Brother... don't you love me anymore? Why won't you hold me?" Sophia wailed, tears streaming down her flushed face.

The resemblance between Henry and Dominic as a child was uncanny - no wonder Sophia had confused them.

Evelyn burst into the room moments later, her medical instincts kicking in immediately.

Her palm pressed against Sophia's forehead confirmed her worst fears. "Her fever's spiked dangerously high," Evelyn said through gritted teeth. "We need immediate hospital care."

Lily's wide eyes filled with tears. "Mommy, is she... is she going to—"

"Shh, sweetheart," Evelyn soothed while administering fever reducers. "We'll get her proper treatment."

Clara arrived just then, having heard the commotion. "Evelyn, should we call an ambulance?" she asked urgently.

Evelyn hesitated, her mind racing through the consequences.

An ambulance meant exposure. Exposure meant Dominic would find Sophia.

And if Dominic took Sophia back to Zoe Montgomery...

Sebastian's warning echoed in her mind - Zoe couldn't cure Sophia.

Would sending Sophia back to that gilded prison really help her?

Could Evelyn stand by and watch this innocent woman suffer?

"Mom... should I help her?" Evelyn's voice broke as she turned to Clara, her fists clenched so tight her nails dug into her palms.

Clara placed a comforting hand on her daughter's shoulder. "You owe them nothing, darling. There's no shame in walking away."

"But I'm not just Dominic Blackwood's ex-wife!" Evelyn cried, her professional ethics warring with personal resentment. "I took an oath as a doctor!"

Taking a shuddering breath, Evelyn wiped her tears and gently lifted Sophia from the bed.

Meanwhile, at Blackwood Group headquarters, whispers spread like wildfire.

"Have you heard about Sophia? What's her connection to Mr. Blackwood?"

"Must be his secret mistress! Can you blame him? That porcelain doll face could tempt any man."

"Absolutely! She's the most exquisite creature I've ever seen. No wonder he's offering millions for information."

The scandalous gossip reached every corner of the corporate empire.

Nathan sipped his espresso thoughtfully. "Our boss never mentioned her before."

Lucas took an angry gulp of his coffee. "I've known him since college, and he never breathed a word! Some best friend he turned out to be. This is downright humiliating."

Nathan attempted damage control. "Lucas, my sources say she disappeared near Willowbrook Academy. Did some digging - it's a special needs institution."

Lucas's expression darkened. "My research says the same. This woman's no ordinary affair. Never pegged Dominic for having... unconventional tastes."

Nathan nearly choked. "Are you implying our CEO is some sort of—"

"Exactly," Lucas cut in with a sardonic smirk. "Why else would he keep it so hush-hush?"

The pieces clicked into place for Nathan.

"Now Evelyn's divorce makes perfect sense," Lucas continued. "She must have discovered his dirty little secret. That's why she left him and those... special friends of his."