Chapter 284

Dominic Reeves stood in the sterile hospital corridor, his mother's words echoing in his mind. For the first time, he saw Evelyn Carter not as the quiet girl he'd once known, but as the most enigmatic and regal member of the Hawthorne family.

"Evelyn." His voice caught as he spoke her name, rough with unspoken tension.

She didn't answer.

"Your woman is still in there," she said coolly, tilting her chin toward the operating room doors. "Save the performance for when she wakes up."

Dominic clenched his jaw.

Beside Evelyn, Isabella Thornton bit back a smirk. She'd never seen Evelyn wield such cutting precision before. It was almost thrilling—watching Dominic struggle to speak, his usual arrogance stripped away.

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"What happened to Vanessa?" Dominic finally managed, exhaling sharply.

"She followed me," Evelyn replied, her tone detached. "Tried to grab me, lost her footing, and fell." A pause. Then, flatly: "She was bleeding. A lot."

"Miscarriage?"

So he had known about the pregnancy. Evelyn's gaze flickered. "The doctors think so."

A slow breath escaped him—relief, not grief. Not even a flicker of remorse.

Isabella and Evelyn exchanged glances. Cold. Heartless. Was there anything left inside him?

"You said she followed you?" Dominic pressed, as if searching for cracks in her story.

Evelyn arched a brow. "She accused me of forcing you to break up with her. Care to explain why she'd think that, Dominic?"

His expression darkened. He hadn't expected Vanessa to confront Evelyn directly. Clearly, ending things had pushed her over the edge.

Evelyn studied him, silent.

"So you just... pushed her?" he ventured.

Her eyes turned glacial. "I didn't lay a finger on her."

"Fine. You didn't." But the way he said it—doubtful, testing—made her blood run cold. He'd always assumed she was meek. Compliant. Someone who'd endure his neglect without protest.

He'd been wrong.

Dominic stared at her, something raw flickering in his gaze. After a long moment, he murmured, "Even if you had, it wouldn't matter."

Evelyn stiffened. Isabella's lips parted in disbelief.

What kind of man says that? If Vanessa heard him now, she'd shatter all over again.

"I'll say this once more," Evelyn bit out, her voice like winter. "I. Did. Nothing."

The air between them froze solid.