Chapter 198

Evelyn's breath hitched when Dominic's accusatory tone pierced through the phone.

"Your little girlfriend must have given you quite the sob story," she countered, her fingers tightening around her phone.

Dominic froze. He hadn't even seen Zoe since the incident.

The damning recording had sent him spiraling, making him dial Evelyn's number in a blind rage.

"Evelyn, answer the damn question! Stop deflecting!" His voice turned dangerously low this time.

The sharp command ignited Evelyn's temper. "Isn't it obvious? I scalded your precious Zoe's hand with boiling water! Tell her to stay the hell away from me unless she wants her pretty face melted next!"

Silence stretched between them.

Evelyn scoffed. "Cat got your tongue? No passionate defense for your beloved?"

She heard his sharp intake of breath, teeth grinding audibly.

"If Dr. Montgomery's hands are permanently damaged, who's going to operate on Sophia? Oh dear," Evelyn continued mockingly, "I'm suddenly so worried. Tell me, Dominic Blackwood, are you going to make me pay for this?"

"Evelyn Thorne, even a child could see through your bullshit!" Dominic exploded. "But damn if your words don't make me want to strangle you!"

A crisp knock interrupted their heated exchange.

"Enter!" Evelyn called out, not breaking eye contact with her office door.

Her assistant stepped in, oblivious to the ongoing call. "Miss Thorne, a Mr. Julian Whitmore claims to be an old friend. He's insisting on seeing you."

Evelyn smirked at her phone. "Your darling nephew's here. We're done talking."

She ended the call with a decisive click and strode to the private bathroom.

Five minutes later, Julian swaggered into her office behind her assistant.

Evelyn had composed herself, but the sight of that smarmy face made her stomach churn.

The door clicked shut behind her assistant.

"Evelyn, I can't believe you're back in town!" Julian's grin didn't reach his eyes. "The whole six hundred million dollar building purchase for Thornfield Industries was all over the news. I would've come sooner, but... pressing matters."

He took a step closer, that familiar predatory gleam in his eyes.

"Julian, you've somehow become even more repulsive," Evelyn deadpanned. "What do you want?"

"Can't an old flame just want to reconnect—"

"Let's reconnect over Victoria's death then." Evelyn rounded her desk, ready to play his game.

Julian's face paled. "She's gone. Why dredge up the past?"

"Such touching devotion," Evelyn sneered. "You two were practically glued together at Dominic and my wedding. Or has your goldfish memory failed you?" Watching his complexion shift between red and white, she pressed on, "If this is how you treat women you've slept with, why bother pretending to remember me?"

Julian's jaw clenched, but the calculating gleam in his eyes remained. He needed something from her—that much was clear.

"Since we're clearly not here for nostalgia," Evelyn crossed her arms, "let me guess—money troubles? Or did you come to offer me a loan since starting a business is so exhausting?" Her laugh was razor-sharp. "How's Veritas Capital these days? Still bleeding money? If you're offering financial help, I assume it's interest-free?"

Julian's mouth opened and closed like a stranded fish.

Regret radiated from every pore. This had been a mistake.

Evelyn was just warming up.

"Evelyn, must we always be at each other's throats?" Julian attempted a conciliatory tone.

Her fingers flew across her phone screen, alerting Sophie while keeping her voice light. "At each other's throats? I'm doing you a favor, Julian. You're what—thirty? Still trying to sleep your way to fortune?" She tilted her head. "Honestly, I'd get more loyalty from a stray dog."