Chapter 325
Outside the Civil Registry Office.
Dominic's piercing gaze lingered on Evelyn's delicate features, as if trying to memorize every curve of her face.
Her raven-black hair was elegantly pinned up, the scarf around her neck folded with effortless grace. The only makeup she wore was a soft pink gloss on her lips.
She looked radiant.
Her eyes sparkled with unrestrained joy.
It tore at him.
He couldn’t let her go.
"Evelyn," he began, voice rough. "I know I forced our marriage before. But if I changed—if I tried to win you properly this time—would you give me a chance?"
"What?" Evelyn blinked, too absorbed in her newfound freedom to process his words.
Dominic stepped closer, his tall frame casting a shadow over her. "I said, can we start over?"
His heart pounded as he waited.
He already knew her answer.
But hope was a stubborn thing.
"Absolutely not," Evelyn said without hesitation.
His jaw tightened, emotions churning beneath the surface. "I mean it, Evelyn. No tricks, no manipulation. Just me, trying to deserve you."
"I said no!" She glared at him. "It's over, Dominic. Stop bothering me, or I won’t be polite about it."
She turned sharply, flagging down a taxi.
The car pulled away, leaving Dominic standing in the exhaust fumes.
A bitter laugh escaped him.
She hated him.
She hadn’t even looked back.
Evelyn went straight to the company after leaving the registry office.
She couldn’t wait to tell Maxwell the news—she was finally free.
As if fate agreed, her phone buzzed the moment she stepped into the elevator.
Maxwell.
He wanted to see her in his office.
When she arrived, he was engrossed in paperwork, unaware of her presence.
A mischievous smile curved her lips as she crept up behind him, covering his eyes with her hands.
"Guess who?"
"Hmm." His fingers traced her arms, sending shivers down her spine. "Such soft hands. Must be my favorite little troublemaker."
His touch wandered lower, teasing the curve of her waist before giving her backside a playful squeeze.
Evelyn gasped, cheeks burning as she jerked away.
This man!
Who knew the icy CEO was such a rogue?
Maxwell pulled her into his arms before she could protest, his lips claiming hers in a searing kiss.
Evelyn squirmed, her body torn between resistance and surrender.
Her gaze darted to the door.
This was his office. Anyone could walk in.
If someone saw them like this—
"Relax," he murmured against her lips. "No one enters without my permission."
His hands slid under her blouse, fingertips tracing patterns on her skin.
Evelyn shivered.
Maxwell chuckled, his voice husky with desire. "Still shy after everything we’ve done?"
She huffed.
Shy?
After last night?
His lips trailed down her neck, his touch growing bolder.
Desperate for a distraction, she blurted out, "I divorced Dominic today!"
Maxwell barely reacted.
A single, indifferent hum.
He had backed Dominic into a corner. The man had no choice but to comply.
Evelyn stared at him, stunned by his lack of surprise.
Before she could question it, his hands resumed their exploration.
"Maxwell—"
He silenced her with another kiss, his fingers toying with the hem of her skirt.
The office door was locked.
But that didn’t make this any less reckless.
Evelyn’s pulse raced.
She wasn’t this bold.
Not here.
Not like this.
Yet as his lips moved to her collarbone, her protests died in her throat.
Maybe…
Just this once.