Chapter 122

Dominic heard his son mumbling loudly outside the bathroom. The words "emergency contraception" stood out sharply.

He snatched the small rectangular box from Alexander's hands. Staring at the medication, Dominic's mind flashed to the wound on his arm - the one Evelyn had given him yesterday.

He had touched her, yes. But it was nothing more than anger-fueled retaliation. In the end, he couldn't go through with it.

Alexander and Isabella finished washing up and waited obediently by the door, shoes on, ready for breakfast with their father.

Sebastian had been waiting downstairs for ages with the Bentley idling behind him. With Dominic's injured arm, Sebastian took on all assistant duties now.

Despite the injury, Dominic still carried his daughter as they exited. Sebastian opened the car door so his boss could settle the child inside.

The moment they drove off, Sebastian spotted the tail.

"We'll discuss it at the pancake house." Dominic was already working on yesterday's unfinished business on his laptop.

Sebastian obeyed, ignoring their pursuer.

They arrived at the twins' favorite breakfast spot.

Dominic emerged with a child in each arm. The shop owner recognized them immediately, greeting them warmly and holding the door open.

Sebastian parked and followed them inside.

Several meters away, in a white Volkswagen, a scantily clad woman in the backseat aimed her camera equipment at the pancake house while her driver scrolled through his phone.

Sebastian rapped sharply on their window. "What do you think you're doing?"

Both paparazzi jumped, too focused on Dominic Blackwood and his children to notice anyone else.

"Get out or I call the police." Sebastian's tone left no room for argument.

They complied immediately.

The driver was just hired help, but he'd worked with paparazzi long enough to consider them friends. "Easy there," he said, stepping between Sebastian and the woman. "No need for threats."

Dealing with caught photographers was always messy. Wealthy targets often destroyed equipment on the spot. The temperamental ones sometimes threw punches.

"Which publication?" Sebastian demanded.

"New Magazine," the woman said. "Doubt you've heard of it. And I have permission to photograph Mr. Blackwood today."

Sebastian frowned. "Permission from whom?"

The reporter dialed a number. "Maxwell? It's me. Your cousin's assistant is causing problems... Yes... Okay, I'll hand you over..." She passed the phone to Sebastian.

Maxwell's voice was sleep-rough. "This is Maxwell Lockwood, Dominic's cousin. Let her work. I'll call Dominic myself, so don't worry about it."

"Goodbye." Maxwell hung up and tossed his phone onto the hotel nightstand.

The clatter woke the woman beside him.

Sophia groaned awake, blinking sore eyes. The unfamiliar man walking toward the bathroom made last night come rushing back.

Nathan had called her drunk last night. "Sophia, I can't drive. Can't find my DD. Come get me?"

She hadn't wanted to go until she heard a woman's voice in the background.

After all her effort to secure Nathan as her fiancé, she couldn't risk losing him now. Next month, her mother would receive the Luojiazhen demolition money. Then she and Nathan would wed.

But at the club, she'd been mistaken for someone else before finding Nathan. Dragged into a VIP room, surrounded by wealth and power, Nathan suddenly seemed... small.

Among those men stood last night's companion.

Despite carrying Nathan's child, despite extorting a house from his mother as a wedding gift, despite their impending marriage, she'd yielded to temptation.

She'd always dreamed of being a wealthy wife.

Years abroad ended in failed relationships. Returning home to steal Evelyn's boyfriend had been her last resort. At least Nathan could afford a house and car.

Marrying him beat marrying some penniless loser.

Sophia rose naked, spotting men's trousers on the floor. As she hung up the suit jacket, a business card fell from the pocket.

Maxwell Lockwood. Company. Phone number.

She pocketed it.

The shower stopped. She slid back into bed, feigning sleep but leaving one breast exposed.

"Still pretending?" Maxwell saw right through her.

Before she could react, he flipped her over and gripped her hips.

She winced.

"Trying to seduce me?" His voice was flat as he entered her without preamble.

"No... It hurts..." She wanted this, just... gentler.

Maxwell wasn't gentle. Each thrust felt punishing.

She soon writhed in pain, fingers twisting the sheets.

When pleasure finally came, he withdrew abruptly. "Disappointing." He turned away.

Sophia reached for him, then froze at the bloodstains beneath her.

Her stomach cramped violently.