Chapter 484

Evelyn reached Mooncrest Manor approximately thirty minutes later.

She burst through the front door, still wearing her outdoor shoes as she marched straight toward Dominic.

"Where's Henry? Why are you alone here?"

Dominic opened his mouth to respond, but Evelyn cut him off when she noticed the state of his clothing.

His usually pristine dress shirt was crumpled beyond recognition. Her eyes traced the deep wrinkles down to his back where a sizable piece of fabric was missing.

Beneath the torn section, an angry red bite mark stood out against his skin. Though the bleeding had stopped, the wound looked painfully raw.

"Did Henry do this to you?" Evelyn demanded, her voice trembling slightly.

"I deserved it," Dominic replied evenly. "He's upstairs in his room."

Evelyn nodded curtly. "Stay here. I need to check on him first."

As she ascended the staircase, Michael strolled up behind Dominic, examining the injury with a low whistle. "Damn, little H really got you good! Looks like you tangled with a rabid dog!"

Dominic turned slowly, fixing Michael with an intense stare. "Michael... is Henry my son?"

Michael's expression froze for several heartbeats before he managed a forced laugh. "What kind of ridiculous question is that? You made Evelyn terminate your first child together. Henry was adopted. Do you need to see the paperwork?"

"Show me the adoption papers," Dominic said quietly.

Michael's face paled. "I-I don't have them on me. Evelyn keeps those documents. But I wouldn't bring it up if I were you. Mentioning Henry will only remind her how you nearly killed him that night!"

"I apologized to Henry today."

"And you think that fixes everything?" Michael scoffed, seizing the opportunity to test Dominic's resolve. "Even if Henry were your biological son, do you honestly believe he could ever forgive you after what you did?"

The words struck Dominic like a physical blow.

Michael was right.

Even if he was Henry's father by blood, the damage between them might be irreparable.

Just as Dominic had never forgiven his own father.

The bitter irony wasn't lost on him - he'd become the very man he'd spent his life despising.

Noticing Dominic's red-rimmed eyes and slumped shoulders, Michael cleared his throat awkwardly. "Relax, I'm just messing with you. Though Henry does hold grudges like nobody's business. Only one person could convince him to forgive you..."

"Who?" Dominic rasped.

"Evelyn, obviously," Michael said with a shrug. Then, changing tactics, he added, "Where's Sophia? I wanted to ask what possessed her to sneak Henry into that massive coding competition. Thank God he won - imagine the humiliation otherwise."

"I had security escort her home."

"You should have a serious talk with her. Maybe arrange for some proper schooling too."

Their conversation halted as Evelyn descended the stairs, carrying a first aid kit and a fresh shirt.

"Michael, go keep Henry company," she instructed.

"I'll take him out for ice cream instead!" Michael moved toward the staircase, pausing to whisper in Evelyn's ear, "Dominic suspects Henry is his."

Evelyn's breath caught in her throat.

Dominic sat motionless on the sofa, his dark eyes burning into her with unsettling intensity.

Steeling herself, Evelyn approached him. "Let me tend to that wound," she said, her voice carefully neutral.

Without protest, Dominic began unbuttoning his ruined shirt, revealing his sculpted torso. Evelyn averted her gaze, focusing on preparing the antiseptic and antibiotic ointment.

"Can I ask you something?" Dominic's sudden question made her hands falter.

"Don't distract me while I'm cleaning this," she warned. "Unless you want me to make it worse."

She dreaded the question she knew was coming.

If Dominic investigated further, the truth about Henry's parentage would be impossible to hide.

Her threat proved effective - Dominic remained silent until she finished bandaging the wound.