Chapter 471

Dominic's knuckles turned white as he rose from the sofa, his eyes bloodshot.

"Never come back here," Evelyn spat, her glacial stare piercing through him. "Surely you remember what you did to my son. Every time he sees you, those memories come flooding back."

Dominic's throat worked as he swallowed hard.

"You only saw me strike him. Did you ever ask what he said to provoke me?"

"Words should be answered with words, not violence!" she snapped. "There was no justification for your actions."

She was absolutely right.

He had been completely in the wrong.

"That's exactly the kind of heartless brute you are!" Dominic growled.

"Spare me the introduction," Evelyn retorted sharply. "I know exactly who you are!"

The light in Dominic's eyes dimmed as despair took hold.

He choked back the desperate explanations clawing at his throat, clinging to the last shreds of his dignity.

Snatching the gift box from the coffee table, he stormed out of the house.

Evelyn drew a shuddering breath.

Through tear-blurred vision, she watched Dominic stride down the driveway.

Her breath hitched when she saw him hurl the expensive present straight into the trash bin.

Absolute madness!

Not content with being insane himself, he had to drive everyone around him to the brink too!

The moment Dominic's car disappeared, Evelyn marched outside, jaw clenched.

The bodyguard emerged from the kitchen and hurried after her. "Miss Thorne, where are you going?"

Evelyn didn't respond.

She stopped at the gates, flung open the trash can lid, and retrieved the discarded gift box.

The bodyguard gaped in astonishment.

She could have simply ordered him to retrieve it. Why dirty her own hands?

"Thank goodness we use liners," the bodyguard offered awkwardly. "The box is still perfectly clean!"

Evelyn clutched the package tightly as she turned back toward the house.

The bodyguard trailed behind, rambling nervously. "Forgive my presumption, Miss Thorne, but Mr. Blackwood was being quite polite earlier... Perhaps you were too harsh? Since you retrieved his gift, it shows you're not completely heartless. Why put on such an icy front?"

Evelyn whirled to face him.

"An eternity wouldn't be enough to explain the history between us. You have no right to judge what you don't understand."

She lifted the box meaningfully. "As for why I retrieved this? Because I can't stand seeing beautiful things destroyed. That's exactly the kind of man he is - always ruining everything good!"

The bodyguard fell silent.

The long weekend passed in a blur.

At Blackwood Group's executive office, Lucas knocked and entered.

Approaching the desk, he deposited several books with careful precision.

"Dominic, I picked these up from the bookstore. Thought they might be helpful."

Dominic eyed the titles with disdain: "The Expectant Father's Guide," "The Complete Baby Care Manual," "Pregnancy Week by Week," "Newborn Essentials."

He shoved them into his drawer with unnecessary force.

Lucas pursed his lips. "You look miserable for someone about to become a father. Don't you want this child? Rumor has it you were desperate for this baby."

"Did those same rumors mention our fight?"

"Well... I might have heard something. Pregnant women are hormonal. Hang in there."

"She can't forgive my past with Zoe. She knows I was coerced, but the reasons don't matter - only the result," Dominic said bleakly. "Without love, there's no room for forgiveness, not even for the smallest mistake."