Chapter 459

The call ended abruptly after delivering its cruel message, leaving Evelyn no chance to respond.

At first, she dismissed it as a prank. But as she turned toward the kitchen, a memory surfaced - that mysterious woman in the dessert café days ago.

The stranger had pressed a CD into her hands, claiming it contained damning evidence against Dominic. Her threat had been clear: leave him or face the consequences.

Evelyn had completely forgotten about the incident until now. Pregnancy brain, they called it.

Now the woman's warning echoed in her mind. What could possibly be on that disc to shake her so deeply?

She adjusted the stove to low heat, letting the herbal tonic simmer. Digging through her purse, she found the forgotten CD.

Her hands trembled as she inserted it into the player.

The screen flickered to life. Evelyn's gentle expression froze. A bone-chilling cold swept through her body as if she'd plunged into arctic waters.

Midnight found Evelyn standing by the window in silk pajamas, moonlight painting silver streaks across her troubled face. The children slept soundly while she wrestled with her thoughts.

Dominic entered quietly, his sharp eyes immediately finding her silhouette. Moonlight draped over her slender frame like liquid gold, her solitude tugging at his heart.

Shrugging off his coat, he approached silently and wrapped his arms around her from behind. His stubbled jaw brushed her shoulder. "My love, you'll catch cold standing here. Why aren't you in bed?"

Evelyn buried her face against his chest. Her arms locked around his waist with desperate strength, as if he might vanish. "Our engagement ceremony is in two days, Dominic. What if... what if it never happens?"

Dominic's muscular arms encircled her delicate frame, pulling her flush against him. "Who could possibly stop us now? Everything's arranged. Just focus on being my beautiful bride. Leave the rest to me."

Moonlight danced across Evelyn's tear-streaked face as Dominic studied her sudden melancholy. His sharp gaze narrowed. "Are you having second thoughts? Do you want to call it off?"

She shook her head violently.

Tears welled as she brought his fingers to her lips, pressing featherlight kisses along them. "No one wants this more than I do. You're everything to me, Dominic. My greatest blessing. To be your wife, bear your children, share your life - that's all I've ever dreamed of. I want to grow old with you, never parted..."

Her dark tresses cascaded forward as she bowed her head. Trembling lashes cast shadows on her cheeks, her vulnerable beauty igniting Dominic's primal hunger.

It had been too long since he'd tasted her.

In one smooth motion, he lifted her carefully and carried her to bed, mindful of her pregnancy. Evelyn gasped as he caged her beneath him without putting pressure on her stomach.

"You're playing with fire, darling," he murmured, voice thick with desire. "Don't you know how dangerous this is for me?"

Evelyn stiffened at the smoldering intensity in his eyes. She wedged her arms between them protectively. "It's... it's not safe yet... we can't..."

Her whisper was barely audible - shy, fearful, and heartbreakingly sweet like a drenched kitten seeking shelter.

Dominic nuzzled her ear, his warm breath sending shivers down her spine. "I know your condition, my love. No matter how much I want you, I'd never risk harming you or our baby. You know that."

Tears clung to Evelyn's lashes as she clung to him. "You're too good to me. I don't... I don't deserve..."

Her broken whisper might have been meant for him, or perhaps just for herself.

Dominic attributed her mood swings to pregnancy hormones. Lately, she'd become increasingly emotional - nothing unusual, the doctor had said.

His tongue traced the seam of her lips until she yielded, allowing him to plunder her sweetness. His embrace radiated warmth and safety, his sun-kissed scent enveloping her completely.

Between kisses, his velvet voice whispered promises against her skin: "If you can't let me go, then stay with me forever. You're my everything, Evelyn. My salvation. I want you by my side for all our days..."

She drowned in his affection, clinging like a shipwreck survivor to driftwood. Without Dominic, she had nothing. Only in his arms did she find true security.

He claimed to love her, but her love ran deeper still.

Yet Evelyn knew their happiness was borrowed time.

Any moment now, it could all come crashing down.

She pushed the thought away, determined to savor every second they had left together.

Morning brought them to A City's most exclusive bridal boutique. Dominic's assistant had arranged everything in advance.

The entire staff stood at attention when the Lamborghini pulled up. "Mr. Blackwood has arrived!"

The manager barely finished speaking when Dominic emerged, then carefully helped his beautiful companion from the passenger seat.