Chapter 379

Evelyn pressed her lips into a thin line and marched toward the exit.

"I'm not sure if this counts as investing in Thornfield Industries," Dominic's lazy drawl stopped her when her hand was on the doorknob, "but I transferred three hundred million to Zoe Montgomery."

"Three hundred million? He gave Zoe three hundred million?!" The numbers exploded in Evelyn's mind like fireworks.

"Wasn't it one hundred fifty-five million?" The question slipped out before she could stop it.

A dark chuckle rumbled from behind her. "So you've been keeping tabs on my transactions with Zoe. Yes, I gave her one fifty-five initially. Then another one fifty-five the day before yesterday." His voice turned clinical. "She performed two surgeries on Sophia. Seventy-five million per procedure."

Evelyn's nails dug into her palms. Because of those operations, Zoe had extorted an obscene fortune from Dominic. And every cent had gone straight to Margaret.

"How poetic! This is the cruelest joke fate's ever played on me. I'm the one who actually performed those surgeries! Which means I just handed Margaret three hundred million! That woman deserves to rot in hell!" The hysterical laughter bubbled up her throat.

Dominic noticed her rigid posture, the barely perceptible tremors wracking her frame.

He dressed with military precision and closed the distance between them. When he grasped her shoulder, her ashen complexion and hollow eyes sent a jolt through him.

"Evelyn, what's wrong?" His fingers circled her wrist like a manacle.

She inhaled sharply before wrenching free.

"I'm the punchline of this cosmic joke, Dominic Blackwood!" Her chin lifted defiantly as she battled the tears scalding her eyes. "Mercy was my mistake. I won't make it again—not with you, not with anyone in your orbit!"

Her VP had been right. Every dollar Dominic gave Zoe was another dagger in her back because Zoe and Margaret were partners in crime.

The realization that she'd betrayed both herself and her mother carved fresh wounds in her chest.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Dominic seized her wrist again, his scowl deepening. "Are you jealous about the money? Or do you think Zoe's overcharging?"

"Give her your entire fortune for all I care!" she shrieked.

"Ah, so that's it." His lips twisted into a mocking smile. "If you could cure Sophia, I'd pay you whatever you demanded! But can you? Can you heal my sister?"

His voice cracked like a whip.

"No! And I wouldn't if I could!" The words tasted like ash, but Evelyn forced them out. "I'd watch her suffer before lifting a finger to help!"

The venom in her voice made him recoil. He released her arm as if burned. It stung, knowing Evelyn neither wanted him nor his money.

Evelyn fled the suffocating room. She bypassed the event entirely, hailing a cab outside the Oceanview Grand. The driver nodded when she rattled off her home address.

In her current state, she'd only make a scene. Solitude was the only remedy.

By evening, the children's voices floated from the foyer as they returned from Mooncrest Academy.

"Mommy! You're home early!" Lily bounded toward her while Henry followed at a more sedate pace. Lily thrust out her index finger dramatically. "They took our blood today and it huuuurts!"

The tiny finger showed no visible mark when Evelyn inspected it.

Blowing gently on the imaginary wound, Evelyn murmured, "Mommy's magic breath will make it better."

"Henry got poked too!" Lily grabbed her brother's hand and presented it like evidence.

Evelyn's eyebrows shot up. "I thought you didn't like being touched?"