Chapter 193
Could it be because she asked him to sneak her out of school, and he got in trouble for it?
That was the only explanation she could come up with.
When Dominic heard her apology, his fury only intensified!
Was she confessing to her inappropriate relationship with him? Was she admitting she caused his parents' divorce?
"Get away from me!" Henry shouted, his voice cracking with emotion. "I never want to see you again!"
Sophia froze in her tracks, tears welling up in her large eyes.
Mrs. Wilkins rushed to comfort the distraught girl. "Sweetheart, don't cry," she murmured, guiding Sophia to the plush sofa. "If he doesn't appreciate your friendship, you shouldn't chase after him."
The housekeeper worried Henry's harsh words would only hurt the sensitive girl more.
But Sophia refused to give up so easily. She shook her head violently, dark curls flying.
"Shh, darling," Mrs. Wilkins gently stilled the girl's movements. "You'll hurt yourself. Stay here while I talk to Henry, okay?"
Sophia nodded eagerly, her tear-streaked face hopeful.
Mrs. Wilkins selected two premium chocolates from the silver tray and approached the brooding boy.
"Henry," she began softly, "I was quite close with your mother years ago." She extended the treats with a kind smile.
Henry hesitated, remembering how calmly Evelyn had greeted this woman earlier. He pocketed the chocolates without refusing.
"Why do you dislike sweet Sophia?" Mrs. Wilkins probed gently.
"I don't need a reason!" Henry snapped, storming toward the grand foyer.
Mrs. Wilkins let him go.
She understood Henry's prejudice stemmed from Sophia's cognitive challenges. While her heart ached for the girl, she couldn't fault the boy entirely.
Henry shared Dominic's striking features but none of his blood. Perhaps their resemblance was mere coincidence?
Returning to Sophia, Mrs. Wilkins dabbed the girl's cheeks with a monogrammed handkerchief. "There is a way to make everyone love you, dear."
Sophia's tearful eyes widened with curiosity.
"Focus on your studies and treatments," the housekeeper advised. "When you're better, everyone will adore you."
Sophia beamed, clinging to this promise.
Meanwhile, in the study, Evelyn had finally ended the debate about her supposed lover by declaring that Dominic's disdain only made her favor Lucas more.
A classic reverse psychology play.
Evelyn had mastered the art of verbal sparring with Dominic. Recognizing defeat, he dropped the subject.
She rose to leave, but he produced another damning piece of evidence - a surveillance photo from St. Elizabeth Medical Center.
It showed Evelyn leaving with two children after Sophia's surgery.
"The girl you're holding," Dominic's gaze burned into her, "you adopted her?"
Evelyn tossed the photo aside carelessly. "Both of them, actually. Why the sudden interest? Looking to adopt? Oh wait - you despise children."
Dominic's jaw tightened. "You barely have time to breathe. Why take on two children?"
"Because I wanted to," Evelyn countered with a defiant smirk. "Got a problem with that?"
Dominic had no retort.
Glancing at her watch, Evelyn realized it was nearly six. Time to collect Henry.
She swept out of the study and froze in the grand hallway.
A striking woman in a lavender gown stood in the foyer, her long hair cascading down her back. Zoe Montgomery - Dominic's newest conquest?