Chapter 130

Dominic refused to use the children as leverage against Evelyn.

A true relationship should begin with marriage in mind. Once vows were exchanged, that bond should last forever.

Yet he found himself trapped in an impossible situation.

Their connection had started all wrong. He never got the chance to properly court her, to confess his feelings. Instead, they'd jumped straight to parenthood with twins!

Whenever she resisted him, he could simply reveal the children's true parentage and force her hand.

But what kind of love would that be? If she only married him for the sake of the children, would she ever truly choose him? Would she sacrifice her freedom just to stay with Alexander and Isabella?

That kind of marriage would be tainted from the start.

Her resentment would drown out any affection he might earn.

It wouldn't be love keeping her by his side - only obligation to their children.

He couldn't force her like that.

As he'd told himself before, he wanted her to choose him willingly.

In the bedroom, the two adults stood locked in tension while the twins clung to their father and "Aunt Evelyn's" legs, creating a deceptively harmonious family scene.

Footsteps approached from upstairs.

"I searched the entire house for Dominic," Eleanor Lockwood's voice carried down the hall. "Victor just told me he saw him come up here."

Frederick Lockwood's tone turned serious. "So what if he came upstairs? What trouble could he possibly cause?"

Sebastian Whitmore trailed behind them, sweating bullets.

The past two minutes had thrown him completely. Listening to his boss's aunt and uncle, he couldn't make heads or tails of the situation.

Rumors were spreading through the Blackwood estate that Maxwell had brought home a disheveled, pale young woman - quite beautiful apparently - who'd fainted and needed an IV.

That had to be Evelyn.

But Sebastian knew his boss had feelings for Evelyn.

Dominic had even brought her to meet his family, who'd approved of her.

Everything had been going so well. Why was Evelyn suddenly Maxwell's girl now? Some misunderstanding? Or was this Evelyn's doing?

Baffled, Sebastian followed the older Lockwoods upstairs, worried about potential conflict.

Downstairs.

Maxwell entered from the courtyard and asked his uncle, "Where are my parents?"

"Upstairs. Both of them," came the reply.

Maxwell headed up.

On the second floor, he heard his mother's voice.

"Dominic, let me be clear. Background means nothing. Evelyn is a wonderful girl who's won my heart. I won't have you pressuring her."

"Or I'll have my future daughter-in-law resign from your company."

Maxwell stepped into the bedroom.

All eyes turned to him.

"Take the children downstairs," Dominic ordered Sebastian.

Sebastian nodded and quickly ushered the confused twins away.

In the tense bedroom, Dominic fixed Maxwell with a dark stare.

Evelyn grabbed her bag and hurried out without looking up. Passing Maxwell's mother, she muttered, "It's a misunderstanding. There's nothing between me and your son."

Eleanor frowned and shoved her son toward the door. "What are you waiting for? Go after her!"

Maxwell turned and chased Evelyn down the stairs.

Eleanor nudged Frederick, signaling him to speak.

Frederick addressed his nephew still standing in the bedroom. "Dominic, your generation is more educated than ours. More open-minded. You shouldn't stand in Evelyn and Maxwell's way. Let them love freely - it's progress beyond our old-fashioned thinking."

"Exactly," Eleanor agreed. "Dominic, Evelyn didn't choose her ordinary background or career path any more than she chose her family. Meanwhile Maxwell has his own... complicated history. I can't promise he'll make a good husband, but Evelyn is certainly worthy of him."

"I asked Maxwell," Frederick lied smoothly. "He's the one pursuing Evelyn." He feared Dominic might think Evelyn had seduced his cousin.

Dominic turned to face them. "I never said Evelyn wasn't worthy of Maxwell."

"Then..." Eleanor hesitated. "Are you saying Maxwell isn't worthy of Evelyn?"

Dominic's expression darkened.

Knowing her son well, Beatrice Lockwood didn't try to defend him. She raised her hand solemnly. "I swear on my life that if Evelyn marries into our family, she'll never regret it!"

At a loss, Dominic simply waved them off and hurried downstairs.

In the courtyard.

Yvette Prescott froze when she saw Evelyn.

Watching Maxwell chase after her, she thought, 'What the hell? Why is Maxwell so frantic?'

'Has he fallen for Evelyn too?'

'Is this just another fling for him? Or is he actually serious this time?'

As Dominic prepared to leave, he nearly collided with Maxwell returning alone - clearly having failed to stop Evelyn.

Maxwell smirked at Dominic in the driver's seat. "Didn't mean to cause confusion, but everyone assumes she's my girlfriend now. Too late to explain. Besides, you two are over. She fainted on the street today - I was just being a Good Samaritan."

Dominic's glare could have frozen hell over. He hit the gas and sped through the estate gates.

Maxwell watched the car disappear, then felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning, he found Yvette holding a wine glass.

"Maxwell, are you really interested in Evelyn?" Yvette pursed her lips.

Maxwell studied the various women in the distance, then the 19-year-old before him. None stood out - he couldn't even guess their ages. He gave Yvette a tired nod. "More than I've been interested in any woman before."

Yvette hated hearing others praise Evelyn.

"It's always what you can't have," she sneered. "I know how men think. Maxwell, do you actually want to marry her?"

Maxwell raised an eyebrow. "What fantasy are you spinning? Trying to clear Dominic's ex so you can marry into the Blackwood family?"

"Just answer me. If you want to marry Evelyn, I can make it happen." Yvette was desperate to remove the Evelyn obstacle.

Evelyn could marry anyone - preferably Maxwell. Once tied down, Dominic would finally be Yvette's.