Chapter 267

"I need to use the restroom." Evelyn tried to slip away, but Dominic wasn’t about to let her escape so easily. His arms tightened around her, pulling her closer.

"Not yet," he murmured, his voice low and teasing. "Repeat what you said first. Then you can go."

"I really need to go!" Her earlier words had been a slip of the tongue, and now embarrassment burned through her.

"If you truly need to go, then say it quickly. It’s just one sentence." Dominic leaned in until their noses brushed, his gaze locking onto hers. His voice softened, laced with affection. "Say it again, love."

"I—I—" Evelyn’s cheeks flamed, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might burst. She shoved against his chest, sitting up straight and planting her hands on her hips. "I said, my husband! Is there a problem with that?!"

Her tone was defiant, but her nerves betrayed her. Her face burned like the last embers of sunset.

"None at all." Dominic grinned, his satisfaction evident. "In fact, I’m proud you have such a husband."

Evelyn huffed and turned away, stepping onto the floor. "I’m going!" She took a few steps before pausing abruptly. "Oh, right!"

"Yes?"

"Do you know Lucien Dubois?" She wondered if Dominic might recognize the name—his network was vast, after all.

"No, never heard of him. Who is he?" Dominic frowned slightly, shaking his head after a moment of thought.

Evelyn hadn’t expected that. "Just someone in the industry. A perfumer. I didn’t think you’d know him since you’re not from that world."

Dominic watched her disappear into the bathroom, her words lingering in his mind. Not from that world? It felt like a subtle dismissal, and it irked him.

His gaze drifted to the two new wooden figurines on the shelf—delicate, hand-carved, their expressions joyful. He picked one up, inhaling the faint, earthy scent of the wood.

When Evelyn returned, she caught him examining them and beamed. "Do you like them? I have good taste, don’t I?"

"They’re well-made. A boy and a girl." Dominic nodded, his tone thoughtful.

"Exactly! The craftsmanship is incredible—every detail, even their expressions. And the wood itself is unusual. I found them in a little shop today. The scent was unique, nothing like ordinary wood. I was thinking… maybe there’s potential for a new fragrance line."

She spoke excitedly, oblivious to the shift in Dominic’s focus.

"Perfect," he murmured, turning the figurines in his hands before glancing back at her. "Why didn’t you tell me you were thinking about this?"

"About what?" She blinked, assuming he meant the fragrance idea. "Oh, it just came to me this afternoon. It’s only a rough concept—I haven’t figured out how to execute it yet."

Before she could finish, Dominic grabbed her wrist and yanked her close. "Execution is simple," he said, his voice dropping. "We can start now."

He bent to kiss her, but Evelyn pressed her hands against his chest. "What are you doing?!"

"Putting it into action." His grin was wicked. "If you’ve thought about it, we should try. Maybe not two at once, but we can take our time. Either way, effort is required."