Chapter 381

Zoe Montgomery stepped out of Dominic Blackwood's grand estate, the evening air cool against her skin as she made her way back to the old Blackwood mansion.

Eleanor Blackwood had retired early, as was her habit. Gregory and his wife, Beatrice, were rarely home before midnight, and Julian—well, Julian was either out all night or holed up in his room for days. The mansion was eerily silent, as if holding its breath.

When Zoe reached her room, she pulled out her phone and sent Julian a quick message.

He appeared at her door moments later, his expression unreadable.

"Zoe," Julian said coldly, lingering in the doorway. "Our child is gone. What could you possibly want from me now?" The bitterness in his voice was sharp, a wound that hadn’t healed. He had wanted that child, despite everything.

"Do you think I didn’t want my own baby?" Zoe hissed, grabbing his wrist and yanking him inside before shutting the door behind them. "That was my flesh and blood too! But I couldn’t keep it—don’t you understand? If that child had been born, it would have ruined everything for us!"

Julian exhaled sharply, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "Then why call me here?"

"I’m leaving," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Consider this my goodbye."

Julian scoffed. "Don’t act like we won’t see each other again. You still agreed to treat Sophia, didn’t you? And you took three hundred million from my uncle."

A slow, knowing smile curled Zoe’s lips. "Julian, once I have enough money… maybe I won’t need to rely on your family’s influence anymore. But if you play your cards right…" She trailed off, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw.

His breath hitched. "Dr. Montgomery… what exactly are you suggesting?"

"Exactly what you think I am." With a sharp tug on his collar, she pulled him toward the bed and flicked off the lights.

Two days later, the phone rang at the Blackwood mansion.

Eleanor Blackwood had been waiting for this call—the paternity test results were ready. Just the thought of it sent her pulse racing. She had planned to retrieve them herself, but a sudden wave of dizziness forced her to sit down.

After taking her medication, she ordered the driver to collect the results in her stead.

As soon as he left, Eleanor couldn’t contain her excitement. She turned to the servants, her eyes gleaming.

"I refused to let them tell me over the phone," she declared, her voice trembling with anticipation. "I want to see the results with my own eyes! I had a dream last night—a wonderful dream! It was exactly the outcome I wanted!"

The servants exchanged glances but humored her with polite laughter.

At that moment, Julian descended the stairs, rubbing sleep from his eyes. "Grandmother, what’s all the commotion? You look like you’ve just won the lottery."

Eleanor beamed. "Oh, it’s far better than that! But I won’t spoil the surprise just yet. You’ll find out soon enough!"

Julian rolled his eyes. "Fine, keep your secrets. Wake me when the big reveal happens."

An hour later, the driver returned, clutching a sealed envelope.

Eleanor’s hands shook as she tore it open. But just as she pulled out the document, she realized—her reading glasses were upstairs.

With a frustrated huff, she hurried back to her room, her heart pounding.

Once the glasses were perched on her nose, she scanned the results—and her breath caught.

A slow, triumphant smile spread across her face.

"I have a grandson," she whispered to herself. "Dominic has an heir. Henry is his son. Of course he is—he looks just like Dominic did at that age! How could he not be? Evelyn hid this from us all this time!"

Her fingers trembled as she snatched up her phone, scrolling through her contacts with frantic urgency.

Then she dialed.