Chapter 371

Dominic might as well have just admitted outright that he only wanted Evelyn to carry his children—that he couldn't care less if any other woman bore his child, because he never wanted them in the first place.

"So you want Evelyn to have your baby, then?" Lucas teased, swirling his whiskey.

"Exactly."

Lucas nearly choked on his drink. "You're serious? You actually want her to be the mother of your child?!"

"Zoe demanded I avenge our lost child."

Lucas arched a brow. "So your grand revenge plan is... knocking Evelyn up?" He let out a disbelieving laugh. "If Zoe finds out this is your idea of vengeance, she’ll probably faint from sheer outrage."

Dominic’s expression remained unreadable. "How I choose to settle this is my business."

"Does Evelyn even want this?" Lucas knew there had to be more to it.

Evelyn already had two children—one adopted, but Lucas could see she loved Henry as fiercely as if he were her own. It made sense she wouldn’t be eager for another.

"She doesn’t." Dominic’s jaw tightened. "She despises me now."

"Of course she does! You’re trying to force her into motherhood!"

Lucas was stunned by Dominic’s ruthlessness. Dominic had never been the gentlemanly type, but this was borderline barbaric. Evelyn hadn’t intended for Zoe to lose the baby—so why punish her like this?

Unless...

This wasn’t about revenge at all.

Dominic’s voice dropped, rough with emotion. "She has a scar. Right across her abdomen." His fingers flexed against his glass. "A reminder that she carried another man’s child. Even if he never touched her, she still gave birth to his baby. It drives me insane."

That was the real reason he wanted Evelyn pregnant. Revenge was just an excuse.

"Dominic," Lucas said slowly, "if you only want her to bear your child... it means you’re still in love with her."

Dominic scoffed, but the misery in his eyes betrayed him.

"Is this love?" he muttered bitterly. "She wants nothing to do with me."

Lucas smirked. "They say a woman falls hardest when she’s carrying a man’s baby. Maybe your plan isn’t so terrible after all."

Dominic’s gaze darkened with resolve. Right or wrong, he’d already set things in motion.

A week later, Sophie dragged Evelyn to a bridal boutique, giddy with excitement.

"Have you ever tried on a wedding dress?" Sophie asked, fingers trailing over lace and silk.

Evelyn shook her head. "Just evening gowns that vaguely resembled them."

"Wedding dresses are different," Sophie insisted. "You should try one! With your figure and complexion, you’d look breathtaking." She held up an ivory gown. "What about this one? It’s similar to the one I had custom-made!"

Evelyn’s cheeks flushed. "I don’t have a fiancé, Sophie. There’s no point."

"Just humor me!" Sophie waved off her protests and signaled the attendant. "We’ll take this one. And you—" She pointed at Evelyn. "—are trying it on."

Evelyn rolled her eyes as Sophie pushed her toward the dressing room. "What’s next? Picking out a groom so we can have a double wedding?"

Sophie grinned. "I’d love to, but no man alive is good enough for you."

Evelyn couldn’t help but laugh.

An hour later, Sophie posted a nine-photo carousel on social media—her in her dream dress, and Evelyn in the borrowed gown.

Within minutes, someone forwarded Evelyn’s photo to Dominic.

He zoomed in, his grip tightening on his phone.

"Why is she in a wedding dress?" he growled. "Who the hell is she marrying?"