Chapter 422

The medical report confirmed it. She had conceived the night Dominic plunged that dagger into his own heart.

The irony was almost too much to bear. They were completely estranged now, yet she carried his child. Evelyn couldn't find words to describe the shock coursing through her veins. It brought back memories of when she'd been pregnant with Henry and Lily. That same crushing heartache resurfaced.

Back then, Dominic had been fighting tooth and nail for a divorce. Now everything was different. She was financially independent. More than capable of raising children alone. One, two, even three - it didn't matter. She could handle them all.

But should she tell him?

After all, when Zoe had miscarried, he'd blamed Evelyn entirely, demanding she give him another child as compensation. Though they hadn't spoken in months, what if he came after her for not fulfilling that demand?

Michael noticed her panic from the corner of his eye. He closed the distance between them in two strides, trying to glimpse her phone screen.

Evelyn hit the power button instantly, plunging the screen into darkness.

"Something wrong with your test results? You look like you've seen a ghost." Michael reached for her phone, but she twisted away.

"It's nothing... just mild anemia." The lie slipped out easily. "Actually, I have an appointment this afternoon. Won't be back in the office."

She needed to get to another hospital. Had to confirm these results were accurate.

Michael's eyebrows knitted together. "What's really going on?"

"Personal matter. Stop being so nosy. I don't pry into your private life."

"I don't hide anything from you!"

"Well I do. So drop it for now," Evelyn said firmly.

"Then when will you tell me?"

The elevator doors slid open. Evelyn stepped out without looking back.

"When I'm ready."

Michael called after her, "Evelyn, are you going to see Dominic behind my back? Don't be stupid! He stabbed himself this time - next time it'll be you!"

His words sent an icy numbness through her skull.

"I'm not seeing him."

"Good! As long as you're staying away from that psycho, I don't care what else you're doing," Michael huffed.

Evelyn tossed over her shoulder, "Even if I was going to see him, you couldn't stop me."

Michael's frown deepened.

"Relax, I'm joking." She tugged playfully at his sleeve. "Lunch? Let's get something light. Did the doctors ground you from drinking because of stomach or liver problems?"

The distraction worked perfectly.

"My body's in perfect shape!" Michael protested.

"Oh really? Let's hit the bar then."

He caved immediately. "Stomach issues. Just minor ones. Half the office has them."

"Don't take stomach problems lightly." Evelyn's expression turned serious. She tilted her head up to meet his gaze. "No more drinking. Not even occasionally. Understood?"

"Fine, fine! Where are you going this afternoon? I'll drive you."

"No need. I'll take a cab."

Michael finally stopped pressing.

After lunch, they parted ways. Evelyn slid into a taxi and gave the driver directions to the nearest hospital.

Then she reopened the medical report, studying it carefully.

The pregnancy had been detected through bloodwork. The results were likely accurate - unless there'd been a mix-up with the samples. But with modern medical protocols, such mistakes were rare. Unless... someone had tampered with them deliberately. Evelyn gasped, pressing both palms against her still-flat abdomen.