Chapter 54

Alexander tugged at Evelyn's sleeve. "Grandpa Walter told me Mommy already has a boyfriend. So Daddy doesn't stand a chance anymore."

Isabella nodded absently, only half-listening to her brother's words.

"Then let's find Daddy a new girlfriend. Miss Vivienne would be perfect." Alexander sighed dramatically. "It's not that Daddy doesn't want Mommy. Mommy just moved on first."

At the breakfast table...

Beatrice Lockwood descended the stairs, impeccably dressed with flawless makeup. "Father, I have an appointment this morning," she announced to the assembled family.

Reginald Blackwood opened his mouth to respond when Margaret Lockwood cut in with a mocking laugh. "Look at you - dressed to kill with those blood-red lips. Meeting your latest sugar daddy?"

After ten years of daily squabbles, only the family patriarch still reacted to their constant bickering.

Beatrice remained unruffled. "Unlike you, Margaret, I don't need male attention to feel alive. Edmund died young, but I'd never dishonor his memory."

"Who are you calling desperate?" Margaret slammed her chopsticks down with a clatter.

A maid quickly restrained Margaret as she lunged toward Beatrice.

"You homewrecking bitch!" Margaret shrieked, finger jabbing the air. "If you hadn't seduced my husband, I wouldn't be in this mess! Just looking at your smug face ruins my appetite!"

Noticing Reginald's darkening expression, Beatrice wisely chose not to engage further. Grabbing her limited-edition Chanel bag, she swept out of the mansion with regal poise.

Left with no outlet for her rage, Margaret pounded her chest in frustration until maids escorted her upstairs.

Julian Blackwood frowned. "Call Dr. Whitmore to check on Mother," he instructed the butler.

Beatrice had barely slept three hours last night.

She'd overheard everything yesterday when the twins discussed questioning their father about their mother's whereabouts in the garden.

The identity of the children's mother remained such a closely guarded secret that even family patriarch Reginald knew nothing...

Walter Harrison and Margaret Whitmore kept their silence so well that no amount of bribery or subtle questioning could extract information.

Before leaving this morning, Beatrice had cornered Alexander when no one was looking.

"Daddy just said Mommy's alive," the boy confessed. "When I asked more, he told me to drop it..."

Everyone knew Dominic's infamous temper, so the children dared not push further.

Beatrice couldn't help wondering: Was the twins' mother some secret lover? A girlfriend even she didn't know about? Or perhaps the result of some under-the-table arrangement?

Whatever the circumstances, there had to be clues. Why would her own son keep this from her?

Giving birth to the Blackwood heir was every social climber's dream. No woman would pass up the chance to marry into such wealth.

Once in her car, Beatrice made a call.

The line connected immediately.

"Don't play games with me, Robert Sinclair," she warned coldly, gazing out the window. "This is your last chance, or our past relationship means nothing."

Meanwhile...

Evelyn stood in her kitchen preparing noodles.

She tossed in fresh vegetables and two perfectly poached eggs. Soon, the aromatic broth filled the apartment.

Olivia Kensington, freshly showered, waited eagerly for breakfast.

Evelyn's phone kept buzzing on the counter.

Since both women were now working, urgent messages weren't unusual. Olivia checked the screen - Victoria Montgomery's name flashed with a preview:

"Eve, want the recording of Nathan cheating with that woman? Useful for the breakup."

Olivia's blood boiled.

Impossible!

She unlocked Evelyn's phone and replied: "Yes, send it now."

Victoria forwarded the damning audio.

Every word between Nathan Kensington and Sophia Montgomery came through crystal clear.

My brother really betrayed Evelyn...

They even have a child on the way.

What the actual fuck!

Olivia immediately called Nathan. "You claim to want a proper woman but can't resist some slut? Perfect match - a bitch deserves a dog! Hope you both get syphilis and rot in hell together!"

Hearing the commotion, Evelyn rushed from the kitchen. "Liv, what's wrong?" Who was she screaming at this early?

Olivia hung up. "Nothing. Just borrowing your phone to curse someone out."

During their commute, Evelyn checked her call history but found it erased. With no further messages, she dismissed the incident.

Olivia had a site visit with her supervisor, so Evelyn took the subway alone.

As she boarded the crowded train, she puzzled over Olivia's strange behavior. Those curses about a cheating couple...

Is Liv in a relationship? Did some bastard hurt her too?

Evelyn sighed. Why must good women always attract scum?

The subway grew more congested. A middle-aged man deliberately pressed close, sharing Evelyn's handhold when plenty were available.

Recognizing the creep, Evelyn tried to move away, but he only pressed closer.

Just as she wondered how to escape the harassment, strong hands steadied her.

She looked down to see elegant masculine fingers gripping her waist.

Dominic's deep voice tickled her ear. "Still mad at me, wifey?"

His muscular frame enveloped her protectively. That single word - "wifey" - made the pervert slink away under Dominic's icy glare.

Why is Dominic Blackwood on the subway? I must be dreaming...

Safe in his embrace, Evelyn nonetheless felt uneasy. The train swayed, forcing their bodies together repeatedly in the packed car.