Chapter 227

Dominic's expression darkened as he spoke in a low voice. "Grandma won't let us go find Mommy if she finds out."

Lily puffed out her cheeks, her small face scrunched in conflict. "Fine... Then let's just go ourselves! What if Mean Daddy is being horrible to her again?"

Henry pressed his lips together, weighing the options in his mind before making a decision.

"I'll go alone. You stay here. If Grandma asks, make something up," he said firmly, then slipped out of the house before she could protest.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Lily's long lashes fluttered, hot tears spilling down her cheeks.

How could she let Henry face Mean Daddy all by himself?

What if he got hurt?

She couldn’t lose her big brother!

Panicked, she sprinted to Lucas’s room, her tiny feet pounding against the floor.

She flung the door open, rushed to the messy bed, and yanked at his arm, sobbing. "Wake up, Uncle Lucas! Henry left! He went alone... He didn’t take me!"

Meanwhile, at the Blackwood mansion, a servant stepped out of the kitchen, frowning. "Why is the power out?"

Mrs. Wilkins sighed. "There was no outage notice. I’ll switch on the backup generator."

The lights flickered back to life—but only for ten minutes before darkness swallowed the house again.

Dominic descended the stairs just as Mrs. Wilkins hurried toward him. "Sir, the power is out again. The backup generator failed too. I’ve called for repairs, but the utility company says there’s no outage in the area."

His expression remained unreadable.

He strode toward the front door, where a bodyguard intercepted him.

"Sir, this power outage is suspicious. I’ve doubled security."

Dominic gave a curt nod and continued toward the gates.

The bodyguard hesitated but followed.

At the gates, Dominic’s sharp gaze landed on a small figure lurking in the shadows. He pointed. "Bring him to me."

The bodyguard squinted. "That little boy, sir?"

Before they could move, Henry stepped forward on his own, his small frame defiant.

The bodyguard stiffened in surprise.

Dominic’s cold stare never wavered.

Henry had changed clothes and wore a cap that obscured most of his face, but Dominic recognized him instantly.

There was no doubt—Henry was behind the blackout.

If his plan had worked, he would’ve hacked into the mansion’s entire network by now.

He was here for Evelyn.

Henry marched past them, deliberately stomping on Dominic’s polished shoe as he passed.

Dominic didn’t flinch.

The bodyguard gasped, dropping to his knees to brush off the scuff. "That little brat! No manners at all—probably some street orphan! Let me throw him out, sir."

Dominic’s voice was glacial. "You’re right. He is an orphan."

Then he turned and followed Henry inside.

In the living room, servants gawked as the small boy stormed in.

"Evelyn Thorne! I’m here for you!" Henry shouted toward the staircase.

Mrs. Wilkins recognized him immediately. "Henry, isn’t it?" She knelt, smiling warmly. "Your mommy is still resting. She’ll be down soon."

Just then, Dominic entered, his eyes locking onto Henry’s backpack. He snatched it, yanking out the laptop inside.

"Did you cut the power?" His voice was dangerously quiet. "Turn it back on. Now. Or else—"

Henry lifted his chin, meeting Dominic’s glare with defiance.

And when Dominic finally saw his face—really saw him—his words died in his throat.

His heart stopped.