Chapter 427

Phoenix Town.

Just after seven in the morning, Dominic and Evelyn stepped out of their suite, preparing to return to A City.

As Evelyn passed the adjacent room, she noticed the door slightly ajar. Her gaze instinctively drifted inside.

A young woman with long hair sat wrapped in a white bathrobe, leaning against pink cushions in a daze.

Purple wind chimes tinkled softly above her head.

The girl's delicate face was streaked with tears, her expression distant as if lost in another world.

Evelyn froze when she recognized those features. It was Scarlett Fairchild, the waitress from Blue Honors Club.

She wanted a closer look when suddenly - BANG! - the antique carved door slammed shut, cutting off her view.

"Dominic," she tugged his sleeve urgently. "The girl next door looks exactly like Scarlett..."

Dominic frowned. "Scarlett? Who?"

His indifference toward other women extended to forgetting their names and faces entirely.

"The Blue Honors waitress whose Persian cat got drugged," Evelyn reminded him.

Recognition flashed in Dominic's eyes. His expression darkened at the memory. "That animal scratched you. We never settled that score."

Evelyn sighed at their communication gap.

"It was just a scratch. She seemed genuinely kind - definitely not intentional..." Evelyn bit her lip. "But why is she here crying? Do you think someone hurt her?"

Last night's disturbing noises from that room replayed in her mind - desperate sobs and repeated cries of "No!" It hadn't sounded like playacting. More like genuine distress.

Seeing it was Scarlett intensified Evelyn's concern. Despite their brief acquaintance, she'd felt an odd connection to the girl.

Dominic guided her firmly toward the exit. "Curiosity killed the cat, darling. Not our business. This resort has excellent security - nothing dangerous would happen here."

"But—"

When Evelyn kept glancing back, Dominic simply scooped her up. "We're leaving now or we'll be late. My schedule's packed today. Didn't you say your quarterly review presentation is due this afternoon?"

"What? Today? But I'm only halfway—"

"Exactly why we need to leave." Satisfaction curled Dominic's lips when her attention shifted.

He'd always been ruthlessly selective about who deserved his concern. That waitress's pet had harmed Evelyn - she was lucky he hadn't retaliated. No chance he'd intervene in her problems now.

The car glided smoothly back to A City, finally parking at T Corporation's garage.

Dominic turned to find Evelyn fast asleep, her heart-shaped face relaxed in slumber.

He'd never realized pregnancy could make someone this drowsy.

His hand hovered, then retreated. Instead, he adjusted the heating and reclined her seat into a makeshift bed.

Retrieving documents from his briefcase, he settled in to work.

When Evelyn finally stirred, she blinked groggily at her watch. "9:30? You should've woken me! We're half an hour late!"

"You needed rest more." Dominic's thumb brushed her cheek. "You come first. Work can wait."

Evelyn's breath caught.

Hearing those words from this work-obsessed man left her both touched and guilty. His devotion overwhelmed her.

After changing in the ladies' lounge, Evelyn finalized her presentation. By 2 PM, she'd completed everything flawlessly.

The design department's quarterly review commenced precisely on schedule.

Dominic presided at the head table with Julian on his left and Vivienne on his right. Every seat filled as colleagues arranged themselves by rank.

Though experienced with public speaking, Evelyn's stomach fluttered nervously. This was her first formal corporate review.

Hearing Abigail, Gregory, even Bernadette deliver incisive analyses only heightened her anxiety.

"Evelyn," Olivia whispered, nudging her discreetly.

Dominic's baritone echoed simultaneously: "Your turn."

Steadying herself, Evelyn approached the projector. Her USB clicked into the laptop as she began:

"I'm Evelyn from Design Team Two. Please direct your attention to the screen. This summarizes my Q3 performance—first, order volume; second, profit analysis; third, client satisfaction; fourth, Q4 projections..."

In her tailored suit with hair swept into a sleek ponytail, Evelyn's natural glow outshone any makeup. Unlike others' dry templates, her vibrant slides combined precision with visual elegance.

Her half-hour presentation earned resounding applause.

"Brilliant work!" Julian gave an approving thumbs-up.

Dominic's jaw tightened. Since when did others praise his woman?

Evelyn beamed under the accolades from Olivia, Abigail, Gregory and team. Only Vivienne and Bernadette's smiles didn't reach their eyes.

Particularly Vivienne - her gaze simmered with barely concealed envy.

Unaware, Evelyn had no premonition of the gathering storm about to break over her...