Chapter 444

Lucas didn't bother knocking as he barged into Dominic's office, swinging the door open with careless abandon.

Dominic immediately set his phone face down at the intrusion.

"Uh... Dominic, I may have accidentally sent you a photo of Evelyn..." Lucas said with exaggerated innocence, clearing his throat.

Dominic's piercing gaze lifted. "I won't punish you even if you admit you did it deliberately."

Lucas chuckled nervously. "Adrian mentioned Evelyn's lost significant weight, almost like she's ill. Didn't believe him until he showed me the picture."

"Judging by your amusement, I assume she's not actually sick." Dominic's voice was flat.

Lucas's grin faltered. "Well... Apparently she's dieting. With her medical background, you'd think she'd know starvation isn't healthy. She's acting as irrational as when she tried to kill you."

Dominic's expression darkened as he set aside his documents. "Perhaps you'd prefer working at Thornfield Industries, given your sudden concern for her wellbeing?"

"Never mind! I came for something else entirely!" Lucas backtracked quickly. "Leaving early today. There's a dinner party I'm attending."

"Since when do you report your social calendar to me?"

"Fine, no more games. Want to come? Adrian says there'll be plenty of beautiful women..."

"Get out."

Lucas fled before Dominic could throw something.

Once alone, Dominic unlocked his phone. Evelyn's smiling face filled the screen.

Zooming in, he studied her features - that same bright, carefree expression from when they'd first met. Young. Radiant. Untouched by the bitterness between them.

It had been years since he'd seen her so relaxed. With him, she was always guarded, tense.

At the beachfront villa, guests began arriving in waves. The crowd skewed young, each more stylish than the last.

Evelyn sat curled on a sofa, feeling like she'd wandered into a high-fashion runway show.

With no scheduled morning activities, the group mingled over brunch, laughter ringing through the open space.

When lunch preparations began, everyone migrated to the kitchen to debate menus and cooking assignments.

Evelyn, appetite absent, excused herself to rest in her room after telling Sophie.

Adrian noticed her departure and nudged Sophie. "She's not seriously skipping meals again, is she?"

"That's exactly what she's doing!" Sophie shoved him away. "I told you to stay out of it, remember?"

Adrian caught her wrist, frowning. "You're acting strange. Every time I mention Evelyn, you react like I'm committing treason."

"Because you're Team Dominic!" Sophie snapped, inventing excuses. "Evelyn wants nothing to do with him. Her diet is none of your concern!"

Adrian sighed. "I'm just worried she'll collapse. She looks like a strong breeze could knock her over."

"She's an adult who makes her own choices. If she faints, we'll take her to the hospital. End of discussion."

After lunch, Sophie herded everyone to the beach, leaving the villa blissfully quiet.

Evelyn slept through the afternoon, only stirring when Sophie returned at dusk bearing dinner.

The rich aroma of spices roused her.

"Made you spicy chicken soup," Sophie announced, placing the steaming bowl on the bedside table. "Mom swore by this when she was pregnant with me - only thing she could keep down." Her voice softened. "Hurts seeing you like this. How much longer until you're better?"

Evelyn pushed herself upright, the scent triggering unexpected hunger pangs.