Chapter 69

"If you ever gamble again, I'll personally break every bone in your body!" Dominic Blackwood snarled, his voice dripping with venom.

"Why are you shouting at him? He just regained consciousness! There's no way he could've lost that much money alone—it must've been that little snake, Victoria Thorne!" Beatrice Thorne shrieked before storming out to summon Victoria.

Victoria entered the room, her gaze flickering to Julian Whitmore lying weakly on the hospital bed. Instantly, guilt weighed her down, and she lowered her head.

"Mom... Why are you blaming Victoria? Someone set me up last night! Otherwise, I wouldn't have lost that much!"

Julian's voice was frail, but his mind was sharper now.

"It was Uncle Dominic... No one else would do this! He found out I used to date Evelyn Thorne, and now he despises me!"

"I know it was your uncle! He doesn’t care about you or your father!" Beatrice wailed hysterically. "He's twisted—completely unhinged! We shouldn’t provoke him!"

Gregory Blackwood shoved his wife aside and barked, "Stop spouting nonsense in front of outsiders! Dominic and I don’t get along because of our age gap! If your son had any spine, Dominic wouldn’t be able to crush him like an insect! Look at yourselves—pathetic! Just seeing you makes me sick!"

With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out.

Beatrice burst into tears.

Julian clutched his head, pain throbbing behind his temples.

"Don’t cry, Mom! It's my fault! I'm worthless! You should’ve just let me die!"

"Julian, stop that!" Victoria grabbed his arm, her voice firm. "You might not be as ruthless as your uncle, but you're ten times the man he is in my eyes. Focus on recovering first. Then, we'll make him pay. Once he's gone, your father won’t compare you to him anymore."

Julian stilled.

Beatrice’s sobs ceased abruptly.

"Julian, you see Evelyn’s true colors now, don’t you? She’s on your uncle’s side. Forget her. We’ll eliminate them both. Once they’re gone, everything Dominic owns will be ours."

Victoria’s ambition blazed in her eyes.

Beatrice narrowed her gaze and stalked toward her. "What exactly do you bring to the table? I heard your mother siphoned a fortune from the Thorne family. Why didn’t she help with the loan sharks last night?"

Victoria pouted. "Mom is wealthy, but she’s launching a new venture overseas. Once it takes off, our net worth might surpass Dominic Blackwood’s! The international market is far more lucrative than here—"

"Spare me the excuses! The way you two gambled last night, you’d burn through any fortune!" Beatrice snapped.

"We won’t do it again! I swear!" Victoria raised her hands in surrender, eyes glistening. "We were just curious! It’ll never happen again!"

"Julian is this family’s last hope—Dominic will never have children," Beatrice muttered.

Victoria’s curiosity piqued. "Why not? Is there something wrong with him?"

"That’s none of your business! You’re not even my daughter-in-law yet," Beatrice hissed. "I’ll only forgive you if you prove useful to Julian from now on."

Victoria smirked. "Just wait. I’ll show you exactly what I’m capable of."

That evening, Bianca Chamberlain sat at an upscale restaurant, swirling a glass of red wine. Her appetite was nonexistent, her brows knitted in frustration.

"Have you lost your mind, Tristan? Giving that much money to Evelyn Thorne? If you’ve got money to burn, why not hand it all to me?"

Tristan Chamberlain chuckled, shaking his head. "I’d give you anything, Bianca, but you’re missing the point. This isn’t about money—it’s about revenge. Dominic Blackwood played with your heart. Now, I’m returning the favor."

Bianca scoffed. "You think you can mess with Evelyn Thorne? Dominic loves her. You really believe he’ll let you walk away unscathed?"

The absurdity of it all made her head spin.

"Stay out of this, Tristan. I don’t want you as Dominic’s enemy."

"We were never friends to begin with," Tristan said coolly. "I invested in Thornfield Industries because it’s undervalued. Once I take control, I’ll turn it around completely."

Bianca glared. "Evelyn Thorne is my nemesis. Are you trying to infuriate me by making her richer?"

"Look at it this way—what if she falls for me instead?" Tristan smirked.

Bianca rolled her eyes. "And if she doesn’t? Don’t get me wrong—you’re exceptional. But Dominic... there’s something about him. His dominance, his indifference, his self-restraint—"

"Do you know how his father died?" Tristan interrupted, swirling his wine. His voice dropped to a whisper.

"Dominic killed him."