Chapter 95

"Evelyn told me that..." Julian hesitated. He couldn't bring himself to reveal the truth, yet no plausible lie came to mind that could deceive his sharp-witted brother Dominic.

His words trailed off into uncomfortable silence.

Dominic crushed his cigarette violently into the ashtray. Snatching his car keys, he moved to leave.

"You're in no condition to drive after all that whiskey! You'll hate yourself tomorrow!" Julian had never seen Dominic this intoxicated. For the first time, he feared his brother might actually crash.

"If you need to go somewhere, I'll call the driver."

After a tense moment, Julian successfully pried the keys from Dominic's grip.

The city streets had turned into rivers under the relentless downpour.

Beneath the stormy night sky, Dominic refused both the driver's assistance and Julian's company. He walked alone through the deluge, arriving at Evelyn's apartment complex completely drenched.

At her door, he rang the broken doorbell repeatedly - first once, then twice, three times...

The cheap rental unit had substandard fixtures, including a malfunctioning doorbell. The exterior light would flash red when pressed, but no sound reached inside.

The elderly neighbors across the hall, still awake, sensed movement outside. Peering through their door, they saw a striking figure - a tall man in an expensive suit and leather shoes, his chiseled features accentuated by the dim hallway light. The luxury watch on his wrist and the latest smartphone in his hand marked him as someone important.

Yet this distinguished man stood soaked to the bone, reeking of alcohol and rainwater, looking utterly wretched.

"My apologies for disturbing you." Even drunk, Dominic retained his manners, offering a polite apology rather than throwing his weight around.

"No trouble at all. Are you looking for someone?"

The neighbors recalled two young women had recently moved in opposite them, though only one remained now - the kind girl who'd brought her ailing grandfather from the countryside.

"Yes." Dominic nodded stiffly, his imposing frame filling the narrow corridor.

Under the flickering hallway lights, surrounded by plumbing service flyers, the bespectacled woman in her fifties studied the drenched man. "Your girlfriend?"

Dominic nearly nodded, then remembered Evelyn's parting words: "Let's make a clean break." The gesture died halfway.

Calling her an ex-girlfriend might make him seem like some obsessed stalker.

"My ex-wife." The title felt painfully accurate.

"Ex-wife? I didn't know she was married." The woman's tone turned gossipy. "When did you divorce? You're living separately already?"

Dominic's jaw tightened. "This afternoon."

"Well, take your time. You're both young. If there's still love, you'll work it out." The husband pulled his curious wife back inside.

As their door closed, the woman sighed over her romance novel. "That felt just like a movie scene. I hope those two work things out."

Her husband, a fan of stand-up comedy, scoffed. "You don't know their story. Maybe he cheated."

"Impossible." Her eyes shone with romantic certainty. "That man's entire being radiates love. Deep, drowning love."

"Keep reading your novels," he muttered, reaching for his headphones. "I need some comedy to wash this drama away."

Early next morning, Olivia called Evelyn.

"Sure you don't want a ride? It's on my way."

"No, I'm heading to the hospital." Evelyn answered on speakerphone while washing her face, keeping the phone on the sink to hide her puffy eyes.

"Eat breakfast. Take care." Olivia hung up while driving.

Evelyn finished washing up and gulped down half a glass of water. Too drained to cook, she planned to grab bread and milk from the corner store.

As she grabbed her bag, the cigarette box on the coffee table caught her eye. Every corner of that package held her attention. Last night's crying session while smoking had provided unexpected relief.

When her entire being drowned in that acrid smoke, the pain had momentarily receded...

She pocketed the cigarettes and lighter.

Opening her door, she immediately recognized that familiar tobacco scent. Looking up, she met eyes even more exhausted than her own.

Dominic stood there, hands in pockets, his tall frame blocking the doorway. A nearly finished cigarette dangled from his lips, his bloodshot eyes terrifying in their intensity.

Evelyn steadied herself for ten full seconds before stepping out.

If she meant to cut ties, she had to commit. Otherwise, all this suffering would be for nothing.

That line could never be crossed. Whatever existed between them had to end here. Few dared violate nature's moral boundaries.

The only path was retreat, no matter how tempting his presence. She had to keep moving backward.

Dominic barred her exit. Without warning, his solid frame pinned her against the hallway wall.

Evelyn had no idea how long he'd been waiting, but he still wore yesterday's clothes.

"What are you doing? We're over."

Those words ignited something in him. Flicking away his cigarette, he seized her face and kissed her with desperate, bruising intensity.

Evelyn fought violently. His touch conjured Beatrice's face, those damning words...

"No... Stop..." She couldn't budge his immovable, furious form.

The cigarette between his fingers still burned, its acrid smoke curling toward her ear...

When Dominic finally released her, the coppery taste of blood filled his mouth. Evelyn had bitten his tongue hard during their struggle.

Still trapping her against the wall, he studied her with those exhausted, bloodshot eyes. His voice emerged tender yet commanding. "What happened? Weren't we good just two days ago?"

"That doesn't matter now. I told you - two days ago, I didn't know Nathan got that woman pregnant..." The lie tasted bitter, but her red-rimmed eyes betrayed her true feelings.

Dominic brushed her tear-stained cheek with his thumb, voice rough. "I'm sorry. In twenty-nine years, you're the only one I've ever loved. I have no experience with this. I messed up."

He searched her face. "A lifetime is long. But meeting the wrong person is worse than being alone forever. Are you absolutely certain we're... wrong for each other?"