Chapter 201

Sophie knew.

"Evelyn, why haven't you told Dominic? If he discovers those are his children..."

"He doesn't want children, Sophie. If you breathe a word of this to anyone - even Dominic - our friendship ends here."

Evelyn's voice was ice, her expression even colder, as if an entirely different person stood before her.

"If this is serious, of course I'll keep quiet. This is your private matter and I'll guard your secret." Sophie wrung her hands nervously. "I truly don't understand Dominic. What do you think - is there something wrong with him mentally?"

"Quite possibly." Evelyn perched on the edge of the bed, articulating each syllable clearly. "All I want is to raise my children until they're grown."

"Evelyn, don't worry. I swear on my life I won't tell a soul about this."

At the Blackwood family estate.

Dominic returned home at seven in the evening.

"Dominic, is Zoe alright? How could she be so careless? A doctor's hands are their most valuable asset!" Eleanor had heard about Zoe's burns and was visibly distressed.

"It's nothing serious." Dominic didn't want his mother worrying unnecessarily.

He'd taken Zoe to the hospital himself and seen the damage to her hands firsthand.

The burns were severe.

The skin surface was completely destroyed.

"That's good. We need Zoe to treat Sophia's condition!" Eleanor murmured under her breath.

"Mother, let's not discuss this now." Dominic guided his mother to the dining table and seated her.

A lavish spread covered the table. The entire family had waited for his return before eating.

"Uncle, remember that girl I mentioned?" Julian couldn't contain his curiosity any longer. "When I visited Evelyn this afternoon, I saw a photo of the same girl on her phone."

Dominic's movements stilled, his eyes darkening.

"I'm certain it's the same girl who approached me. The resemblance to Evelyn is uncanny - I'd recognize her anywhere! I suspect she's Evelyn's biological daughter." Julian shared his theory with Dominic.

Dominic's fork clattered onto his plate.

Gregory glared at his son. "Don't spread baseless rumors! And what were you doing visiting Evelyn today? Even though your uncle is divorced, she's still your former aunt! Get a grip!"

Julian shrugged. "Dad, I was passing by Thornfield Industries and decided to stop by. I won't go looking for her again." He muttered under his breath, "Evelyn's words cut sharper than any blade. Poisonous woman."

Dominic shifted restlessly before abruptly standing.

"Dominic, you haven't finished dinner! Even if Evelyn has a daughter, she's not yours! Why are you so worked up?"

Eleanor grasped her son's arm, attempting to reason with him. "You have Zoe now - don't go running back to Evelyn."

That night, sleep eluded Dominic.

He'd never met Evelyn's daughter.

He wondered about her appearance. Was she adopted? Or Evelyn's biological child?

An insistent voice in his gut whispered that Evelyn was hiding something significant from him.

He couldn't trust anything she said.

Including her supposed intentional burning of Zoe. How could he believe such a claim?

Zoe's act of recording their conversation to give to the bodyguard had disgusted him.

He despised indirect, scheming women like her.

Though he and Evelyn fought constantly, she would never resort to such underhanded tactics.

At dawn, red-eyed and hoarse, he called his assistant. "Find me Evelyn's current address."