Chapter 176

Evelyn felt the air leave her lungs as if invisible hands were tightening around her throat.

Never in her wildest dreams had she imagined her twins would show up at the hospital searching for her.

Worse still, she never expected St. Elizabeth Medical Center to betray her trust by releasing security footage they had promised to keep confidential.

Dominic had always been relentless when it came to uncovering secrets. Evelyn knew he would dig until he found out who brought Sophia to the hospital.

But there was one crucial detail he wouldn’t know—Sophia had been admitted the day before yesterday, not yesterday.

No matter how much footage he reviewed from yesterday, he would never see Evelyn’s face in those halls.

"Dominic, we’re divorced," Evelyn said coldly, forcing her voice steady. "It’s none of your business whether I was at St. Elizabeth yesterday, or how many children I was with."

Her next words came out sharp, laced with old pain. "They aren’t yours. I could never have a child with you. Or have you forgotten? You were the one who ended our baby’s life."

Without waiting for a response, she hung up.

She didn’t want to hear his voice—not his excuses, not his guilt. All she wanted was for Dominic and Sophia to live their lives far away from hers.

She was done with the past.

Dominic clenched his jaw as the line went dead.

The dial tone mocked him, echoing in the silence of the empty mansion.

Evelyn’s words had struck like a blade.

He had forced himself to forget that night—the night he made her go through that procedure. But she never had.

The memory had festered in her heart all these years.

His chest tightened.

Did he regret it?

The answer came instantly, as it always did.

No.

"Mr. Blackwood," Mrs. Wilkins interrupted softly. "Dr. Montgomery is here."

Dominic schooled his expression and strode toward the living room.

Zoe Montgomery stood near the fireplace, bathed in sunlight.

Gone was her usual crisp professionalism. Today, she wore a flowing dress in vibrant hues, her hair loose around her shoulders, her makeup light and effortless.

Dominic paused.

"Don’t tell me you don’t recognize me," Zoe teased, laughing.

"I’ve been under so much stress with Sophia’s surgery. Now that it’s over, I finally feel like myself again."

She glanced around. "I’m actually from Ravenswood originally. My father moved us abroad when I was young, but this city still feels like home."

Dominic nodded. "Do you need someone to show you around?"

Zoe’s eyes brightened. "That would be wonderful."

"I’ll have my driver take you," he said.

Her smile faltered.

Dominic added, "Sophia needs me here."

Zoe recovered quickly. "Of course. It’s a shame she doesn’t warm up to me. Otherwise, I’d love to spend time with her."

"Let’s discuss your payment," Dominic said, steering the conversation back to business.

Zoe flushed. "The deposit you gave me was more than generous. There’s no need—"

"One and a half million," Dominic stated.

He had spent years searching for doctors who could help Sophia. None had succeeded until Zoe.

Money meant nothing compared to that.

And he never liked owing favors.