Chapter 83

"The owner's a friend of mine, so I got a spare key to your room..."

From what they overheard, the unidentified man Evelyn was fighting off had a wife. His family lived right here in this small town.

Evelyn's fingers clenched the bedsheet tightly.

Her heart ached for her father.

Dad had worked himself to the bone for over two decades to provide for Victoria and her daughter.

Yet now he lay in a hospital bed battling terminal illness while his wife Victoria betrayed him.

"You filthy pig..."

"Don't pretend you don't love it. At least I'm not some cancer-ridden weakling like your husband... Admit it... You know I'm better..."

"Ah... You're incredible... The best... Ahhh... Not so rough... You're going too deep..."

Too deep? I think you can take more!" The man's crude laughter echoed. "At your age, stop pretending... I can go deeper... You're not even that tight anymore... Only I can satisfy you..."

Evelyn felt bile rise in her throat.

"You know her?" Dominic whispered after hearing the commotion next door.

"She's... my stepmother."

Shame burned through Evelyn for both herself and her father.

Dominic pushed himself off her. Like magic, her wrinkled clothes smoothed themselves out instantly, restoring her composed appearance.

"Let's go." He wouldn't subject her to more of this filth.

Still breathless, Evelyn followed him out.

Earlier at the hospital, her father mentioned Victoria might return to town today.

"Wait outside," Dominic murmured, giving her shoulder a reassuring squeeze before approaching the front desk alone.

Evelyn had no choice but to sit on a moonlit bench outside.

Instead of taking the refund, Dominic placed a thick stack of cash on the marble counter. "Keep it."

Rooms in this town rarely cost over twenty dollars. With limited options, most guests haggled endlessly.

The owner eyed the money hesitantly. "You are...?"

Dominic handed over all the cash he'd just withdrawn. Lighting a cigarette, his dark eyes narrowed. "I need a favor."

After two minutes of waiting, Evelyn grew suspicious and went back inside.

"Checked us out," Dominic announced as he strode toward her.

"Why?" That meant either driving back to the city tonight... or staying at Grandpa's house with her.

When Dominic took her cold hands in his, he rubbed them warm. "Asked if any shops still sold bedding."

Grandpa's house only had one old blanket set.

The one she'd planned to use tonight was found damp in the taxi earlier, now drying in the yard.

Grandpa assumed his guest would stay at the hotel. Even as a future grandson-in-law, Dominic clearly came from wealth and wouldn't tolerate small-town poverty.

In the city...

Beatrice parked on a deserted street, repeatedly dialing her son's number.

"The number you have dialed is unavailable..."

She tried Sebastian instead.

"Sebastian, this is Mrs. Lockwood. Where's Dominic?"

"Apologies, Madam. Mr. Blackwood's personal affairs are confidential." Sebastian had received a call from his boss five minutes ago - from Evelyn's number.

Meaning Dominic was with Evelyn.

As for his whereabouts and return? No subordinate dared ask.

"Useless!" Beatrice hung up in frustration.

After fuming for minutes, she remembered her godson Adrian.

She dialed quickly.

"Adrian? It's Aunt Beatrice."

"Remember that blind date I arranged? You called her beforehand, correct?"

"Send me her number immediately."

Three minutes later, Evelyn's contact appeared.

Back in town...

The couple exited a shop with new bedding.

Dominic asked about Evelyn's stepmother.

Seeing no reason to hide it, Evelyn explained everything. "Dad probably meant Victoria wants Grandpa's demolition compensation. It's quite substantial."

"If your father refuses, she can't touch it, right?" Hearing Victoria's history, Dominic could imagine Evelyn's suffering under that roof.

Evelyn hugged a cartoon-printed pillow. "With Dad hospitalized, anger worsens his condition. Victoria knows I won't trouble him. She thinks Grandpa and I are easy targets."

Suddenly, commotion erupted from the hotel next door.

"You shameless whore! Stealing my husband! I'll skin you alive!"

Along with curses came the sound of tearing fabric.

A disheveled Victoria stumbled out, shocking Evelyn. 'Caught by the man's wife?'

Noticing Evelyn's stunned expression, Dominic smirked discreetly.

Evelyn stared at the scene.

Victoria's hair was being yanked by a muscular woman who cursed while groping under her skirt.

A brutal twist sent Victoria wailing to the ground.

The trembling man stood frozen in the doorway, clutching his clothes.

"Whore! I'll kill you first, then butcher him at home! At your age, squealing like a pig in heat! I'll cut out your tongue!" The woman rained blows as onlookers turned away.

Victoria's face swelled, mouth bleeding. Evelyn tugged Dominic's sleeve. "Let's go home."

He draped his jacket over her shoulders, guiding her toward the old house.

Inside, Grandpa said, "Evelyn, your phone's been ringing nonstop."

Dominic carried their new bedding to her room, determined to sleep there tonight.

Six missed calls from an unknown number.

When it rang again, she answered. "Hello?"

"Evelyn Sinclair? This is Dominic's mother!" Beatrice finally got through, voice sharp with fury.