Chapter 69

A sharp slap echoed through the room.

Olivia Kensington screamed at the same time, "You're dead, girl! How dare you hit your sister-in-law?! What if you hurt the baby in her stomach?"

"I'd rather die than carry this child..."

Sophia Montgomery's tears might have been real—or maybe they were fake. After uttering those words, she stormed out, clutching her reddened cheek.

Patricia Kensington didn’t even have time to scold her own daughter. She rushed after Sophia, desperation in her voice.

"Sophia, slow down! You're carrying my grandchild! I'll let you decide! You said you don’t feel secure after marriage, that even having a baby doesn’t guarantee anything. So tell me—what do you need to feel safe?"

Anxious to keep her future grandchild, Patricia chased after Sophia like a woman possessed.

"Is this witch ever going to stop? Does she want to ruin our family that badly? All this drama just to force my parents into buying her a house?"

Evelyn Sinclair exhaled sharply, grinding her teeth in frustration.

Her own mother was being manipulated by a conniving gold-digger.

As she descended the stairs, Evelyn muttered under her breath. "How could my idiot brother fall for this she-devil? After rich men used and dumped her, she had the brains to target a fool like him. She better stay away from me unless she wants another beating."

Fury burned through her. She wanted to tear Sophia apart.

Outside the hospital, a milk tea shop provided temporary refuge.

Evelyn slumped into a chair, whispering bitterly, "I warned Nathan to stay away from Sophia when he went abroad. But no—he didn’t listen. From friends to lovers, and now she’s pregnant."

Olivia sighed, lowering her head helplessly.

At eleven, Dominic Blackwood called.

Evelyn glanced at Olivia before answering, her voice quiet.

"Are you with someone?" His deep voice rumbled through the phone.

"Yeah." She wasn’t used to talking to him in front of others. Less than a day into their relationship, she still didn’t know how to act.

"Have you eaten?"

"I ordered, but it hasn’t arrived yet. I’m with Olivia."

Olivia mouthed from the side, Is that our boss?

Evelyn nodded.

Dominic asked about the hospital situation. He wanted to meet her, but Evelyn explained her father hadn’t arrived yet. It would be too shocking for Robert Sinclair to see him like this.

Reluctantly, Dominic backed off.

At one in the afternoon, Robert finally arrived.

Thanks to Dominic’s connections, the hospital staff treated him like royalty. The private ward was the best available, with a dedicated male nurse, a female nurse, and a top specialist overseeing his case.

When Robert changed into the hospital gown, he hesitated. "Eve, this..."

"Dad, a colleague knows someone here, so..." The excuse sounded weak even to her.

Robert didn’t press further.

The examination began, forcing Evelyn to step outside.

Olivia leaned against the wall, whispering, "You didn’t tell him about Dominic?"

Evelyn shook her head, sinking into a chair. "If he knew, he’d refuse treatment until he got answers. He’d assume my boss is toying with me."

"Honestly..." Olivia hesitated, then continued, "Your dad’s being extreme. If what Sophia’s mother said is true, your mom left him for a rich man. That’s why he hates them. But not all wealthy guys are heartless players. Unless your mom was tricked—and your dad knew."

Evelyn stayed silent.

She always suspected her father knew more than he let on.

But she never asked. His health was fragile, and over time, her curiosity about her biological mother faded.

They sat in silence. Olivia pulled out her iPad, offering one earbud. "Watch this. Distract yourself."

Evelyn rarely watched dramas.

After a few minutes, she yanked the earbud out, horrified. "This is immoral! A brother and sister in a relationship?"

"What? No!" Olivia paused the show. "They’re not related by blood. You missed the first episode."

Reluctantly, Evelyn kept watching.

Robert’s tests lasted two hours. More were scheduled for the next morning.

Seeing him confined to a hospital bed twisted Evelyn’s heart.

At three, Olivia was called back to the office.

Once her father was settled, Evelyn left to handle personal errands before working overtime to compensate for her absence.

Abigail Thornton knew about her relationship with Dominic, but their department head didn’t. Work remained separate from her private life—so tasks piled up.

Evelyn didn’t complain.

By 7:30 PM, the office was empty.

The city lights glittered outside as she rubbed her temples and headed to the pantry for tea.

A noise made her freeze.

Usually fearless, the deserted office felt eerier than an empty home.

Footsteps approached—steady, masculine.

She set the cup down, turning just as a solid body pressed her against the counter.

A searing kiss landed on her neck.

"You’re here?" She hadn’t expected him.

Alexander and Isabella went to his uncle’s. How’d he get back so fast?

"Let’s get married now." Dominic’s lips claimed hers.

Evelyn melted into his warmth. In the cramped pantry, only the sound of their ragged breaths and the slick slide of lips filled the silence.

Her knees weakened. She clung to his shoulders, her timid fingers tracing the hard planes of his waist.

The kiss deepened, turning feverish.

As his hands roamed, her mind blanked. A taut string inside her threatened to snap.

"Ah—" She arched, overwhelmed.

When his mouth trailed lower, she gasped.

"No... not there..."

Her moan was swallowed by another kiss.

Her body trembled, pleasure coiling tight.

His breath hitched. "Do you want it?"