Chapter 350

Dominic was silent for a long moment. He'd never imagined Evelyn could be this heartless.

"Evelyn, we're talking about a human life!" His voice was a low growl. "How can you be so cruel?"

"Is your child really gone?" Evelyn inhaled sharply, raising her glass mockingly toward Zoe. "Is Zoe secretly celebrating right now?"

"Trading her own baby to frame me - no wonder she's the woman who's stayed by your side all these years!"

Every word Evelyn spoke carried venomous implications. Not only was she calling Zoe ruthless, but she was implying Dominic shared that same darkness.

Dominic's expression turned stormy. "She's hemorrhaging right now while doctors fight to save her. If this was all part of some scheme, then she gambled not just her child's life but her own. Do you really think you're so clever?"

Evelyn's lips parted, but no sound emerged.

"Evelyn, this time... I won't show mercy." Dominic enunciated each syllable before the line went dead.

The phone slipped from Evelyn's trembling fingers. Her face drained of color as if all vitality had been sucked from her body.

Michael watched her with growing concern. From the fragments he'd overheard, the situation sounded dire. "Evelyn, what the hell happened?"

She forced composure. "Nothing important. Go get lunch."

"Don't give me that! I heard enough. Zoe lost the baby. Did she blame you? That conniving witch deserves worse than a beating!" Michael's hands clenched into fists, his temper flaring.

"Violence won't help. She's bleeding out while they try to save her." Evelyn's voice was eerily calm. "I'm starting to wonder if I really did push her. Maybe it's my fault she's dying. But if she planned this... the price was too high."

Michael's brow furrowed. "Is Dominic coming after you?"

"Don't worry about me. Even if he seeks revenge, he won't bury me with his unborn child." Her tone was matter-of-fact.

"That fetus wasn't even fully formed yet - technically not human! I studied biology!" Michael blurted. "But he'll want blood for this."

"Go eat."

"But I'm worried sick!"

"Will your worry stop his vengeance?" Evelyn rose and physically pushed Michael toward the door. "Bring me back something edible."

"Evelyn, if he shows up, call me immediately. I'll protect you," Michael insisted.

"Sure."

Alone again, Evelyn collapsed into her chair.

Her nails dug into her palms as she replayed the morning's events.

Zoe had arranged their meeting at the old Thornfield estate through Eleanor. Every word had been calculated to provoke. Every interaction designed to infuriate.

Evelyn had tried leaving multiple times, but Zoe's grip had been ironclad. If Zoe had simply wanted to talk, a phone call would have sufficed. The elaborate setup at the mansion now seemed glaringly obvious.

The more Evelyn analyzed it, the clearer the trap became.

Having given birth herself, Evelyn knew the medical realities. A simple fall shouldn't cause miscarriage, let alone life-threatening hemorrhage.

Zoe couldn't have predicted the complications, but gambling with her child's life proved she felt nothing for it.

Yet Zoe desperately wanted to marry Dominic - how could she not care about his heir?

Unless... there was something wrong with the pregnancy. The realization sent ice sliding down Evelyn's spine.