Chapter 361

They had parted ways before, but the man had crawled back to Margaret after she liquidated all her overseas assets for a staggering four hundred and fifty million.

"Richard, I heard Dominic gifted your daughter one hundred and fifty-five million dors yesterday?" Margaret deliberately raised her voice.

Evelyn's father spotted her approaching and puffed out his chest. "Indeed he did. Just last evening."

"Why don't you persuade your precious daughter to invest with me? I could triple that measly sum in weeks," Margaret purred, flashing a calculated smile.

"Absolutely! I'll discuss it with Zoe tonight. She's always admired you and fully supports our relationship."

Margaret's smirk deepened as Evelyn strode toward them. "Welcome back, Evelyn."

Evelyn halted, her glacial stare cutting through the humid air. "Good. Saved me the trouble of hunting you down."

"Oh darling, I returned just for you. Your mother's pathetic life could never compensate for my daughter and brother!" Margaret's manicured finger tapped her chin. "You're in love with Dominic, aren't you? How poetic—I'll destroy you using the very fortune he gave Zoe."

"By all means," Evelyn countered smoothly. "One of us won't survive this."

"My thoughts exactly! Should've eliminated you the moment you became a nuisance," Margaret hissed.

"And I should've excised you like the tumor you are," Evelyn fired back.

The air crackled with barely contained violence. Richard, sensing imminent catastrophe, yanked Margaret away by her designer sleeve.

Returning home, Evelyn's boots crunched over paint-splattered grass. She dragged out the hose, water sluicing away crimson stains. Memories surfaced unbidden—her mother kneeling in this same soil, coaxing life from seedlings, transforming chaos into orderly rows of vegetables. Now only brittle stalks remained.

"She'll pay with more than blood," Evelyn vowed to the twilight.

Dawn found her at the flower market, arms laden with vibrant replacements. After transforming the barren yard into a riot of color, she dialed Sophie.

"Bringing Wesley for barbecue tonight. You in?"

"Can I bring a plus-one?" Sophie's voice sparkled with mischief.

"Obviously! Drag Adrian along!"

Sophie's laughter tinkled through the receiver. "Oh, Adrian's just coming to drink with Michael since Wesley's sober these days."

"You realize Michael will invite Nathan, right?"

A dramatic gasp. "Wait—how serious are those two?"

"Let's just say their one-night stand sparked more than physical chemistry."

Sophie hung up mid-squeal, undoubtedly racing to Mooncrest Manor—gossip this juicy demanded front-row seats.

By sunset, Wesley and Nathan were flipping burgers when Sophie's phone buzzed. "Adrian! Get your gorgeous ass over here now!"

Thirty minutes later, tires crunched gravel. A sleek black Phantom glided to a stop.

Sophie's jaw dropped. "Holy hell—isn't that Dominic's car?"

As if summoned, Dominic's imposing silhouette emerged from the vehicle, casting a long shadow across the laughing group.