Chapter 181

Evelyn snatched the only blanket in her apartment, unfolding it with quick movements before draping it over the man's broad shoulders.

As she adjusted the edges, her slender wrist was suddenly seized by an iron grip just as she started to pull away.

Her gaze lifted to meet Dominic's intense dark eyes. Those fathomless pools seemed to swallow her whole without warning.

Without preamble, he yanked her forward.

Evelyn barely had time to gasp before tumbling onto the floor before him. Her breath hitched as she found herself nose-to-nose with the imposing figure.

She swallowed hard, her body growing inexplicably warm under his smoldering stare. Every nerve ending tingled with awareness.

Dominic possessed the perfect aristocratic features - sharp double eyelids framing those penetrating eyes, strong brows accentuating his chiseled jawline. The combination exuded both refinement and raw masculinity.

Her gaze dropped to his sculpted lips, mere inches from her own. Their mingled breaths created an electric charge in the morning air. No woman could resist this magnetic pull.

Evelyn was drowning in the moment, her common sense evaporating like morning dew beneath the summer sun. She was falling... falling...

"Aunt Evie..." Isabella's sleepy voice shattered the spell. The little girl emerged rubbing her eyes, the gauze bandage slipping from her face as she stumbled into Evelyn's arms.

Evelyn steadied herself, cradling the child. "What's wrong, sweetheart? Bad dreams?"

"Can you and Daddy take me to school today? Please?" The plea in those innocent eyes tore at Evelyn's heart.

It was a simple request most children took for granted. But for Isabella and Alexander, this ordinary ritual represented everything they'd been denied.

Dominic rose from the sofa, his voice low. "They've wanted a mother for years. In every way that matters, they've been deprived compared to other children."

The unspoken implication hung between them. Not 'Aunt Evie' - but mother. Evelyn's throat tightened as she nodded her consent.

Breakfast became a study in contrasts. Evelyn had shaped the rice into adorable animal figures, decorating them with vibrant vegetables. Isabella giggled as she nibbled on a panda-shaped rice ball.

Dominic sat apart, methodically eating plain toast with strawberry jam, his breakfast conspicuously lacking the love poured into the children's meals.

"This is your last night here," Dominic announced abruptly. "Tomorrow you return to the manor."

The twins froze mid-bite, their disappointed expressions speaking volumes. Evelyn smoothed their hair before excusing herself to change.

When she returned, she found Dominic pretending to watch news reports, his disinterest palpable. The man's world seemed so... sterile. No wonder the children craved warmth.

Before leaving, Evelyn meticulously ironed Dominic's crisp white shirt. Her fingers lingered as she searched for nonexistent wrinkles - or perhaps evidence of another woman's presence.

Halfway through, she realized this wasn't the shirt he'd worn yesterday. He'd changed at some point during his mysterious absence.

The car ride passed in tense silence. Evelyn barely registered Isabella's chatter, her mind whirling with unanswered questions.

As usual, she exited the car blocks from the office. Dominic allowed the charade, though his tightened jaw betrayed his irritation.

The design department buzzed with morning activity. Yvette arrived fashionably late at ten, flashing an apologetic smile. "Sorry darlings, I overslept. My husband kept me up all night..."

A colleague smirked. "That good, huh?" The women tittered, playing along for potential perks from the office spendthrift.

Olivia's text interrupted Evelyn's thoughts: "Was the boss with you last night?"

Evelyn's fingers hovered before typing a single word: "Yes."

Meanwhile, Abigail stormed past Sebastian in the hallway, venting about Yvette's inappropriate workplace behavior. "Check the security footage if you don't believe me!"

Sebastian blinked as Abigail flounced away. Since when did she roll her eyes at him? The interaction left him unsettled throughout his morning tasks.

By lunchtime, Sebastian decided Dominic needed to know about Yvette's fabricated escapades. This couldn't continue.