Chapter 243

Evelyn stirred her coffee absentmindedly with a silver spoon. She lifted her gaze cautiously. "Maxwell, what concerns me most are those two children. Where did they come from?"

Maxwell blinked in surprise.

Brother Maxwell?

That saccharine title caught him off guard.

The last time Lillian had called him that was when she first emerged from the orphanage into high society, bestowing everyone with familial titles like "Brother" or "Sister."

As her status rose, she'd stopped using such terms, considering herself Maxwell's equal.

Of course, she could claim equality - being Jonathan Prescott and Genevieve Prescott's adopted daughter gave her that privilege. In fact, as a Prescott, she technically outranked him.

Maxwell had never considered Lillian an ally in his attempts to separate Evelyn from Dominic. Yet something clicked in his mind. "Honestly, I don't know their origin story either, though it's occasionally discussed in family circles. My guess? Dominic isn't close with their mother."

Exactly what Lillian wanted to hear!

She prayed Dominic had zero connection with the children's mother! From what she knew, Dominic never allowed women near him.

If some woman had borne his children, it meant they'd shared a bed...

Lillian needed to identify her rival before making her move. Knowledge was power.

"Care to share how you reached that conclusion?" She pressed for concrete evidence to ease her mind.

Maxwell had no desire to see Lillian fail, so he didn't sugarcoat it. "Truthfully, no one knows what transpired between Dominic and the mother except Dominic himself."

Lillian nodded thoughtfully.

"You should understand - Reginald Blackwood desperately wants an heir. Even if Dominic has no interest in women, if someone was willing to bear the Blackwood heir, the family would accept them readily." Maxwell's words held truth.

He simply omitted that Evelyn was the mother.

Lillian's expression darkened. "I wonder how Dominic convinced their mother to abandon them."

"Money talks." Maxwell recognized her concern.

That much was true. Dominic and Evelyn's relationship had indeed been transactional initially.

A sly smile crept onto Lillian's lips.

From Maxwell's account, Dominic remained distant, aloof, emotionally detached. Business took precedence over relationships.

What a thrilling challenge!

She would conquer him!

She wanted to become the center of Dominic's universe!

Stealing a glance at Maxwell, Lillian recalled that small-town scene where Dominic shared drinks with Evelyn, Maxwell's wife...

Downtown traffic showed no signs of easing.

Sebastian navigated the luxury sedan smoothly through congested streets.

Thirty minutes later, Dominic's family arrived at their penthouse.

After dropping them at the lobby, Sebastian drove off.

Before entering the elevator, Dominic said, "I've handed the case to Victor. I know you reviewed the security footage before your father passed."

Evelyn startled before comprehending his meaning.

Hypoglycemia still fogged her mind.

"If they come looking, call me immediately." Dominic worried about disruptions to Evelyn's life.

Evelyn twisted her fingers, meeting his gaze softly. "Thank you."

Silence lingered until the elevator arrived. Dominic's arm encircled Evelyn's waist as they stepped in.

The ascent passed wordlessly.

At their door, Isabella suddenly turned. "Mommy, remember our unit number - 3369. Should I write it down for your purse? So you won't get lost again. Alexander and I worry."

Perhaps she'd seen videos where elderly people carried address tags.

Evelyn's nose tingled as Isabella spoke.

Again?

Since when had she gotten lost?

Alexander seemed to read her thoughts. Darting inside, he bypassed the shoe rack to retrieve Evelyn's slippers, placing them before her. "Daddy said you got lost, that's why you weren't with us."

Isabella nodded, clutching Evelyn's sweater hem.

Evelyn stood speechless.

Once inside, Evelyn cast a grateful look at Dominic crossing the living room.

She'd agonized over explaining her abandonment to the children.

To them, it was unforgivable.

No justification could change "Mommy left us."

Those crucial first five years - spent motherless.

Guilt and helplessness consumed her, yet Dominic had provided the perfect cover story...

When older, they'd understand.

"Thank you," Evelyn murmured as Dominic stopped before her.

"How exactly will you thank me?" His husky voice brimmed with desire.