Chapter 265

Evelyn couldn't focus all day at work. Her mind kept wandering, leading to multiple mistakes that earned her a stern reprimand from the department head.

"Are you okay? Something's clearly bothering you," Olivia and Abigail had asked during lunch.

She shook her head silently. Some thoughts were too private to share, even with close friends.

She tried reasoning with herself to trust Dominic. But the doubts kept gnawing at her.

Finally giving in, she dialed his number repeatedly. Each time, the same automated response: "The number you have dialed is not in service."

Her stomach dropped like a stone.

Leaving work promptly, Evelyn returned to the penthouse. Even with the twins there, the absence of one person made the home feel incomplete.

Isabella and Alexander ate dinner quietly while Evelyn turned on the TV.

A breaking news segment caught her attention.

There he was - the man from her dreams, appearing on the financial news channel.

"Daddy's on TV!" Isabella squealed, pointing excitedly at the screen.

Alexander kept eating his risotto, though his eyes remained fixed on the television.

Evelyn stared in shock. Dominic looked impeccable in a tailored suit, his chiseled features radiating authority. But his icy demeanor created an intimidating aura that set him apart.

Reporters swarmed around him, firing sharp questions. Dominic maintained perfect composure despite the hostility radiating from his tight lips.

A foreign correspondent with a thick beard asked, "Mr. Blackwood, Regal Restaurants under T Corporation pride themselves on quality. Yet undercover footage shows multiple violations - improper sanitation, substituting dead seafood for live stock, even using recycled oil. How do you respond?"

Dominic's gaze turned glacial. His voice boomed with conviction. "T Corporation's success stems from integrity. I swear on my reputation - we never serve dead seafood. Every Regal location discards expired ingredients immediately. Our vegetable plantation provides only fresh produce. These allegations are baseless rumors!"

The press corps quieted momentarily before another journalist pushed forward. "Your statement contradicts evidence from Meat Locker in Oxford last month - a Regal franchise caught using filtered recycled oil."

Snickers spread through the crowd. The nationalist reporters relished this chance to undermine the foreign chain dominating their market.

All cameras focused on Dominic, waiting for his response. One wrong answer could destroy T Corporation's century-old reputation.

Evelyn's nails dug into her palms. The twins cheered for their father, oblivious to the tension, while she watched anxiously.

Dominic remained unshaken. He glanced at the reporter's badge and smirked. "New Metro Times? Weren't you sued for fake news recently? Your credibility is questionable at best."

The reporter flushed crimson.

Dominic continued smoothly, "Meat Locker ceased being our franchise in March 2016. The termination notice remains on our website. I invite all media to inspect our kitchens openly - no need for undercover theatrics. Our operations are transparent."

His masterful handling left the reporters speechless. Even Evelyn marveled at how effortlessly he controlled the situation.

The Dominic she knew was gentle and refined. This commanding version left her breathless with admiration.

Then her blood ran cold.

Standing beside Dominic was Vivienne Laurent.