Chapter 316
"Enough of this disgraceful behavior! You're embarrassing me!"
Dominic had no choice but to wrap his arms around his mother, Beatrice, shove her into the car, lock the doors, and speed away.
Evelyn was still shaking long after Beatrice had been taken away.
Her fists were clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white, her fingers icy cold.
Through the window, she could see Beatrice pounding on the glass, desperate to get out. The woman had shed every ounce of her high-society grace, resorting to wild, savage behavior—all just to tear Evelyn and Dominic apart.
Evelyn didn’t understand.
How could she ever be at peace if Beatrice refused to accept her relationship with Dominic?
The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating.
Even with the heater blasting, Evelyn couldn’t shake the chill that had settled deep in her bones.
Divorcing Maxwell was the least of her worries now. Even if she managed to break free from that marriage, countless obstacles still stood between her and Dominic.
She exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples to force the spiraling thoughts away.
Turning back to her computer, she threw herself into work, desperate for a distraction.
Strangely, the earlier confrontation had sparked something in her. A fresh wave of inspiration hit, and suddenly, she knew exactly how to refine her design.
Old Mr. Prescott had rejected every proposal from the senior designers.
Maybe it was because their designs were too rigid—just houses, nothing more.
What if she infused hers with something deeper?
Evelyn tapped her pen against her lips, deep in thought.
Old Mr. Prescott’s son was a man of influence, and the elder Prescott himself was a retired politician.
A man like that was used to structure, to control. Retirement must have left him adrift, his once-vast social circle shrinking overnight. That could explain his erratic behavior.
Evelyn envisioned a classic-style estate—something serene, a sanctuary where he could retreat from the world.
A sprawling garden, maybe. Space for him to tend to plants, to keep pets.
A hidden paradise in the heart of the city.
That was it.
She deleted her previous draft and started anew.
The ideas flowed effortlessly, her fingers flying across the keyboard.
Before she knew it, night had fallen.
It wasn’t until Dominic returned, wrapping his arms around her from behind, that she snapped out of her trance.
One o’clock in the morning.
Dominic’s eyes widened as he took in her design.
He knew Evelyn was talented, but this—this was something else.
Her vision didn’t just meet expectations. It surpassed them.
The blueprint resembled the Royal Botanic Gardens, but with a modern twist.
A lush lawn surrounded the main house, dotted with towering trees. A rock garden and artificial waterfall sat in one corner, while peach trees lined the perimeter.
The vibrant flowers contrasted beautifully with the evergreen pines.
But the most striking feature?
A vegetable patch, complete with lettuce leaves sheltering tiny yellow chicks. Nearby, geese glided across a tranquil pond.
Dominic pulled Evelyn onto his lap, pressing a kiss to her cheek. His gaze burned with pride.
Still, he didn’t hold back his critique.
"This is stunning," he admitted, "but there are flaws. You’ve created an oasis, but you’ve ignored practicality. Old Mr. Prescott’s budget isn’t limitless, and some of these features aren’t elderly-friendly."
Evelyn listened intently.
Dominic’s feedback was sharp, precise.
As CEO of Blackwood Corporation, he was a force in business—but he was also a world-renowned designer.
His eye for aesthetics was unmatched.
And Evelyn respected that.
She absorbed every word, adjusting her design accordingly.
By the time she finished, it was nearly two.
Exhaustion weighed heavily on her.
Before she could protest, Dominic scooped her up.
"Wait—I haven’t saved it yet!" she yelped.
He reached over, fingers flying across the keyboard. The file saved with a quiet click.
Then he carried her to the bedroom.
"It’s late," he murmured. "You need rest."
Evelyn squirmed, but his grip was firm.
The warmth radiating from him should have been comforting.
Instead, it only reminded her of the day’s tension.
Beatrice’s words echoed in her mind.
"My son deserves better than a married woman."
The ache in her chest flared.
She lashed out.
"Your mother made it clear she doesn’t want us together."
Dominic stiffened.
"Do you really think I’m that easily swayed?" His voice was low, rough with frustration. "You know where my loyalty lies."
He wanted to argue, but the sight of Evelyn curled against him softened his resolve.
This wasn’t her fault.
It was his mother’s.