Chapter 397

The forest stretched endlessly before them, a sea of towering trees and tangled undergrowth. Wild creatures lurked in its shadows, their presence a constant threat. Even in daylight, attacks were possible—but at night, they were almost certain.

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With his bodyguards forming a protective circle around him, Dominic Blackwood stepped into the unknown depths of the terrifying wilderness.

The torch in his grip cast flickering light against the oppressive darkness, revealing twisted vines and gnarled branches. Despair clawed at his chest.

How could she? How could Evelyn Thorne have dared to enter this death trap? Did she truly believe she could survive?

If she knew this path led to certain doom, why hadn’t she turned back? Even if she had escaped the manor, she could have returned. He wouldn’t have been so furious with her.

"Evelyn!" His voice trembled as he shouted her name into the void.

The bodyguards echoed his call, their voices cutting through the eerie silence. "Miss Thorne! We're here for you! If you can hear us, answer!"

Only the distant cries of unseen animals answered them, along with the whispering wind and the rustling of leaves.

After struggling forward for another twenty minutes, the torchlight illuminated something on the ground—a robe.

Evelyn’s robe.

That afternoon, after washing her, Dominic had wrapped her in his own robe, as she had no other clothes. He had secured it around her himself.

So why was it here? How had it ended up discarded in the middle of the forest?

His heart hammered violently. He strode forward and snatched it up.

"Mr. Blackwood," one of the bodyguards said grimly, "the robe is torn. There’s blood on it."

Dominic’s hands shook as he gripped the fabric. The jagged tear and dark stains confirmed his worst fears.

She must have encountered a wild animal. Otherwise, the robe wouldn’t be ripped, and there wouldn’t be blood.

Evelyn was injured. And now, she had nothing to cover herself. Even if she survived the attack, she would freeze to death without protection from the elements.

Dominic refused to let his mind spiral further.

"Mr. Blackwood," the bodyguard reasoned, "Miss Thorne is hurt. She couldn’t have gone far. If we keep moving, we’ll find her."

Dominic’s eyes burned. He clenched his fists and pressed forward, deeper into the suffocating darkness.

Ten minutes later, they found her.

A pale figure curled into the underbrush, motionless.

The torchlight washed over Evelyn’s bare skin, illuminating her fragile form. Tears welled in Dominic’s eyes.

He had never imagined he would drive her to this—helpless, exposed, on the brink of death.

He loved her.

No woman had ever captivated him the way she did. He was consumed by her.

And yet, he had pushed her into this nightmare.

The bodyguards hesitated, keeping their distance out of respect for her nudity.

Dominic didn’t hesitate. He stripped off his jacket and draped it over her before lifting her into his arms.

Then, the skies opened.

Rain poured down in sheets, slicing through the forest canopy, drenching them without mercy.