Chapter 295

A strong arm suddenly yanked Evelyn and the child she was shielding away from danger.

Dominic's grip on Evelyn was iron-tight, his face drained of color. "Have you lost your mind?" His voice shook with barely contained fury. "That was reckless beyond belief!"

He'd watched in horror as the young mother fumbled with the controls, managing to halt the motorboat mere inches from Evelyn and the child. One second later would have meant catastrophe.

The sight had nearly stopped Dominic's heart.

His legs had moved before his brain registered the danger, muscles burning as he sprinted toward them. Now that the adrenaline was fading, raw terror twisted his features into something unrecognizable.

The little boy's father came barreling through the crowd, his face ashen. He'd only stepped away for a cigarette when disaster nearly struck. Seeing his only child almost crushed under the boat's hull had been his worst nightmare come to life.

Evelyn's quick thinking had saved his son.

But before he could voice his gratitude, Dominic's scolding cut through the air like a whip. The words died in the father's throat as he took in the intimidating man's thunderous expression.

Dominic's anger was a living thing, but when his gaze landed on Evelyn, it softened despite himself. "Think of Alexander and Isabella," he ground out. "Think of me. We can't lose you."

Evelyn trembled in his arms, the reality of her close call finally hitting her. "He was just a child," she whispered. "I couldn't let him..."

Isabella crashed into Evelyn's legs, her tiny frame wracked with sobs. Alexander clung to his mother's shirt, his usually composed face streaked with tears. "Don't scare us like that again," he hiccuped.

The rescued boy, taking cues from the other crying children, began wailing loudly. His father scooped him up while shooting nervous glances at Dominic.

The motorboat's driver - a frazzled young mother - kept apologizing profusely until Dominic silenced her with a glare sharp enough to cut glass. When her daughter started crying in response, Dominic's infamous impatience with children surfaced. "Enough!" he snapped.

The child's wails only intensified.

Park staff arrived to diffuse the situation. Dominic issued terse orders about safety inspections before whisking Evelyn and the twins away, his protective arm never leaving her waist.

Meanwhile at the hospital...

Serena Delacroix arched an eyebrow at the bandaged man lounging in his hospital bed. Maxwell Lockwood was currently tossing grapes into his mouth with alarming accuracy for someone supposedly at death's door.

"I came expecting a grievously injured patient," Serena drawled. "Not a man playing fruit basketball."

Maxwell caught another grape between his teeth. "Your concern touches me. But since you're here..." He leaned forward, all traces of humor vanishing. "I need your legal expertise. How do I stop Evelyn's divorce petition? And if it goes to court, what are my chances?"

Serena's lips curved. "Without Victor Langley representing her? I'd give you ninety-nine percent odds."