Chapter 171

"Until our divorce is finalized, you remain my wife. Any man who dares to pursue you will be labeled an adulterer and risk having his reputation utterly destroyed."

Maxwell delivered his chilling threat before storming out.

Evelyn slumped against the cold kitchen wall, watching Olivia bustle around the counter. "What the hell was that? That man's insane. What's his game? Forcing you into marriage, then acting like some possessive lunatic? I refuse to believe he actually has feelings for you. This makes no sense."

There was no doubt in Olivia's mind—those matching shoes had been worn by Evelyn and Dominic's children.

But how had that deranged man found out?

He knew. Otherwise, he wouldn't have shown up to issue that warning. Demanding some archaic standard of virtue, even burning the shoes by the stove like some twisted ritual.

Evelyn's lips parted slightly, her lashes trembling. "Prison changes people. Warps their minds. So nothing he does surprises me anymore. But you're right—he has zero interest in me. None of his past women resembled me in the slightest. There's only one explanation for this forced marriage."

"What?" Olivia pressed.

Evelyn scooped the charred remains of the shoes into a bag, ready to toss them out.

"He's Dominic's cousin."

Olivia's eyes widened. "Cousins? Then you—" As Evelyn's closest friend, she should've been sympathetic. But this level of drama was almost impressive.

"Some long-standing family feud, no doubt. Polite on the surface, but Maxwell's been competing with Dominic behind the scenes." Evelyn couldn't think of any other reason.

A grown man, no matter how twisted, wouldn't do something this drastic without motive.

Olivia shuddered. The tangled webs of wealthy families were beyond ordinary comprehension.

"So you're just collateral damage in their war," she sighed.

Evelyn nodded.

By 8:30 PM, Olivia started gathering her things. "I should head back."

"Aren't you staying?" Evelyn had assumed she'd spend the night.

Olivia shook her head. "Mom's been nagging nonstop, but with her heart condition... I should check in. They're probably asleep by now, but I'll rest easier under the same roof."

Evelyn understood. She didn't press further.

"Drive safe," she said, watching Olivia disappear into the night.

Alone in the empty apartment, Evelyn washed up and prepared for bed.

Then the doorbell rang.

Still in pajamas, she moved toward the door instinctively. Before she could check the peephole, a familiar voice cried out.

Isabella.

Evelyn flung the door open without hesitation.

Dominic stood there, one arm cradling a tearful Isabella, the other gripping a sulking Alexander.

"What happened?" Evelyn scooped her daughter into her arms while Dominic carried Alexander inside.

"Bad Miss Evelyn!" Isabella buried her face in Evelyn's freshly showered scent, sobbing dramatically.

"Shh, sweetheart. Crying will make your eyes worse."

Evelyn shot Dominic a questioning look as she comforted her daughter, her movements tender yet unpracticed, like a new mother all over again.

"Alexander got dirt on Isabella's new shoes," Dominic explained before heading to the bathroom.

Evelyn said nothing as the man navigated her home with unsettling familiarity.

Alexander pouted. "It was just a little dirt! I even wiped it clean!"

"Mean big brother!" Isabella wailed.

A flush sounded, and Dominic emerged moments later.

It took Evelyn considerable effort to calm Isabella down. She removed the gauze from her daughter's eyes, checking the healing progress. Following the doctor's instructions, she dabbed away tears, sterilized the area, and reapplied fresh gauze.

"Miss Evelyn, can I have water?" Alexander asked, throat dry from apologizing.

"Of course." She finished with Isabella and moved to the kitchen.

The water she'd boiled earlier had cooled to the perfect temperature. She poured two glasses.

Isabella slid off the sofa, wandering around the room.

Evelyn handed one glass to Alexander, who gulped it down. The other, she offered to Dominic, seated on the couch.

"I wanna sleep with you, Miss Evelyn!" Isabella suddenly hugged Evelyn's leg from behind.

Caught off-balance, Evelyn's grip loosened. Before Dominic could take the glass, water splashed directly onto his lap.

"I'm sorry—" She scrambled for tissues.

Dominic glanced down at the damp stain between his legs, expression unreadable as he stood and strode back to the bathroom.

Evelyn pushed aside her embarrassment, smoothing things over between the siblings. Soon, Alexander was back to his protective big-brother role, and Isabella forgot her shoe-related grievances.

The bathroom door remained shut. Evelyn knocked lightly.

It swung open to reveal Dominic under the dim light, frowning as he towel-dried his soaked trousers.

"I couldn't handle them tonight. Didn't have the energy to keep pacing, so I brought them to you." His tone was matter-of-fact as he explained his late-night visit.

"Thank you for bringing them." Gratitude warmed Evelyn's voice. Caring for her children, even in small moments, filled her with quiet joy.

Dominic studied his reflection silently.

Evelyn continued, "What about your pants? Should you call Sebastian to bring a change? You can't leave like this..."

"Sebastian isn't at my beck and call. He has a life—probably on a date." Dominic's voice was calm.

Evelyn flushed, realizing the intrusion.

"It's dark out. No one will notice if you leave like this," she suggested.

A dangerous glint entered Dominic's eyes as he tossed the towel aside.

Stepping closer, his breath warm against her cheek, his voice dropped to a low, steady murmur. "If paparazzi snap me outside your door at this hour, what headlines would run tomorrow? 'Dominic Blackwood caught leaving a woman's apartment with a wet crotch'? Or perhaps, 'Desperate man begs for pleasure, only to be rejected'?"