Chapter 253

Evelyn couldn't bear to listen any longer.

The sounds coming from Dominic's suite were a cruel reminder - no matter what title she held, his heart would always belong to Evelyn Thorne.

She collapsed onto the plush sofa, feeling as if part of her soul had withered away. Her body turned to ice as she sat motionless.

At precisely 2:07 AM, the bedroom door finally creaked open. Evelyn emerged, her movements sluggish as if carrying the weight of the world.

Her blood ran cold when she spotted Zoe waiting in the sitting area.

"How was my boyfriend, Miss Thorne?" Zoe's voice quivered with barely contained fury, her eyes burning with accusation. "Twenty minutes. That's all it took for you to sneak in like some common whore while he was vulnerable!"

Evelyn opened her mouth to explain, but no words came. What defense could possibly justify this betrayal?

The irony wasn't lost on her - she'd become the very thing she despised.

"I'm so sorry," Evelyn whispered, her voice breaking.

"Sorry?" Zoe let out a bitter laugh as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I waited until after your divorce! I've never wronged you, Evelyn. Why would you do this to me?"

The apology died on Evelyn's lips as she approached Zoe. "There are no excuses."

"Here's what's going to happen," Zoe hissed, wiping her tears with violent swipes. "We'll pretend tonight never occurred. You'll tell no one - especially not Dominic. And I'll handle his memory when he wakes." A cruel smirk twisted her lips. "Who knows? He might not even remember your pathetic little tryst."

Evelyn nodded numbly. "Understood."

Stepping into the hotel corridor, the night air sliced through her like a blade. She wrapped her arms around herself, tilting her face toward the moon as if it could cleanse her shame.

The confusion and guilt threatened to consume her, yet she couldn't share this burden with a single soul. Sinking onto the curb, Evelyn couldn't bring herself to go home or even book another room.

Dawn would come soon enough. Perhaps with it, some semblance of redemption.

At 8:03 AM in Suite V906, Dominic awoke to a skull-splitting hangover. His bleary eyes scanned the unfamiliar luxury suite before landing on the woman beside him.

The raven-haired beauty had a distinctive beauty mark on her left shoulder blade - a dark contrast against her porcelain skin.

Memories came flooding back. Evelyn had come to him last night, and he'd lost all control...

But where was she now?

As he dressed with mechanical precision, the sheets rustled behind him. Zoe stretched languidly, offering a sleepy smile. "Morning, darling. Come back to bed?"

Dominic froze. Every muscle in his body locked as shock and horror crashed over him in waves.

Zoe? Had he mistaken Zoe for Evelyn?

"Dominic?" Zoe's voice trembled as she clutched the sheets to her chest. "Last night...you brought me here yourself. I would never have presumed..."

His hands clenched into white-knuckled fists. "I owe you an apology."

The realization hit him like a freight train - he'd confused the two women in his drunken stupor. How could he have made such an unforgivable error?

"Don't be silly," Zoe purred, blinking back manufactured tears. "We're together now. This was...inevitable, wasn't it?"

Internally, Zoe reveled in her victory. Dominic's confusion confirmed her suspicions - he truly didn't remember Evelyn's presence last night.

Checkmate, Evelyn Thorne. You've lost him for good.