Chapter 56

"Stop acting like a child," Evelyn murmured softly as she dabbed Dominic's face with a damp cloth. "Do you honestly think I enjoy playing nursemaid? You reek of alcohol... Weren't you the one who'd throw a fit over a single wrinkle in your sheets? Was all that perfectionism just for show?"

She sighed, adjusting the blanket around him. "I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for your injured leg."

Her voice, smooth as honey, seemed to soothe Dominic's restless movements. His breathing steadied, eyelids growing heavy under her care.

By the time Evelyn returned from freshening up, Dominic had succumbed to sleep. She exhaled deeply, tension leaving her shoulders as she perched on the edge of the bed.

Her gaze swept the lavish bedroom, memories surfacing of those first terrifying months when hidden cameras tracked her every move. The surveillance had stopped long ago—Dominic might be volatile, but he wasn't a voyeur.

Retrieving her pillow and blanket from the guest room, Evelyn settled beside him. Dominic stirred occasionally through the night, too intoxicated to register her presence. They slept undisturbed until dawn.

Golden sunlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, painting the room in warmth. Evelyn slept soundly, one arm draped across Dominic's chest, her leg entwined with his.

A pounding headache dragged Dominic to consciousness. He blinked, finding Evelyn's serene face inches from his own. Something unfamiliar tightened in his chest.

Evelyn's lashes fluttered open moments later. Their eyes locked, electricity crackling between them. Dominic's gaze, though still bloodshot, held sharp clarity now.

Heat flooded Evelyn's cheeks as she realized their tangled limbs. Seeing his lack of reaction, she feigned nonchalance, slowly withdrawing her leg.

"You look rested," Dominic rasped, voice rough with sleep. Evelyn froze mid-retreat.

"I suppose," she mumbled, hastily disentangling herself. "You skipped showering last night. Shouldn't you...?"

The diversion worked. Dominic rose without comment, disappearing into the ensuite. The moment the door clicked shut, Evelyn snatched her bedding and fled.

Safe in the hallway, she pressed a hand to her racing heart. Close call. At least nothing inappropriate had happened.

She prayed Dominic would forget everything—their car argument, the accidental intimacy. Otherwise, her already complicated situation might become unbearable.

Though part of her wondered if provoking him further might finally secure that elusive divorce...

Meanwhile across town, Sophie Mercer adjusted her wide-leg trousers as she waited outside the bistro. Her second meeting with Adrian Vaughn felt significantly more relaxed than their first encounter.

Dressed in a tailored jacket and sneakers, her hair in a simple ponytail, Sophie looked up as Adrian approached—mirroring her casual chic in a denim jacket and loafers.

Their smiles bloomed simultaneously.

"You were quite the seductress at that gala," Adrian teased, holding the door open. "I'd assumed that was your default setting."