Chapter 255

Dominic coughed roughly, his voice strained. "There's no need to involve the police! Evelyn, where are you right now? You sound exhausted."

Evelyn leaned heavily against the nearby pillar, forcing steadiness into her voice. "I'm at home."

"Were you still asleep? Go back to bed, then. I'm fine—just frustrated. Nathan blames me for everything. He's being completely unreasonable!" Ranting to Evelyn seemed to ease some of the tension coiled in Dominic's chest.

Evelyn hailed a cab and let it carry her home.

She swallowed a fever pill before collapsing into bed. Clara didn’t get the chance to ask what had happened.

At the Blackwood estate, Dominic remained under the shower’s spray for over an hour. His mind replayed the previous night, unable to reconcile the fact that it had been Zoe in his bed. Dealing with Zoe was simple, but facing Evelyn? That was another matter entirely.

One thing was clearer than ever—he was still irrevocably in love with Evelyn.

He couldn’t lie to himself anymore. He had never stopped thinking about her.

Stepping out of the bathroom, Dominic nearly collided with Mrs. Wilkins and Sophia. "Master, Sophia waited for you all night," the housekeeper informed him softly.

Right. Evelyn had come to his room last night, telling him to go home to Sophia. The memory sent a sharp pang through his chest. Had it really been her?

He remembered her presence vividly—her touch, her voice, the way she had looked at him.

So how had Zoe ended up in his bed?

"I couldn’t reach you last night, so I called Evelyn for help. She promised to find you, but you never came home… She must not have succeeded," Mrs. Wilkins explained.

Sophia had cried until three in the morning, exhausting both herself and the housekeeper.

Dominic’s breath caught. His gaze dropped. "She found me. I heard her telling me to come home."

Mrs. Wilkins sighed. "You must have been too drunk to move. I’ll fetch you some aspirin."

Once she left, Dominic turned to Sophia. Her eyes were still puffy from crying. "Sophia, why were you crying last night? Did you miss me?"

Sophia shook her head, her small hands clutching the hem of her nightgown. "I was scared… They hurt me."

Dominic pulled her into his arms. "Did you have a nightmare? They’re gone now. I’ll protect you, Sophia. No one will ever hurt you again."

"But… you weren’t here last night," she whispered, fresh tears spilling over.

Dominic’s chest tightened. "I’m so sorry."

Once Sophia fell asleep, Dominic dressed quickly. The line between dream and reality blurred in his mind. He needed to see Evelyn.

At Mooncrest Manor, a sleek black Rolls-Royce idled at the gates. Clara bolted the entrance the moment she spotted the car.

"Grandma, why did you lock the door?" Lily asked, confused.

Clara’s expression darkened. "Dominic Blackwood is outside. Do not open that door, understand?"

Lily nodded vigorously before darting off to find her brother.

Dominic stared at the locked gates. He pulled out his phone and dialed Evelyn’s number.