Chapter 285

The moment Evelyn stepped into the hospital corridor, Dominic visibly stiffened under her piercing gaze. He swallowed hard, nodding repeatedly like a puppet on strings.

"Y-yes, I know you didn't do it," he stammered, fingers twitching at his sides. "Even if you had, it wouldn’t just be a miscarriage. You—" His voice cracked when their eyes met.

"You’ve been through it yourself. I know exactly what you’re capable of."

Evelyn’s lips curled in disdain. She didn’t dignify his words with a response. "Dom, I don’t care what twisted game you and Vanessa are playing. Your petty drama means nothing to me." Her voice was ice. "I brought her here. I called you to handle the bills. That’s the end of it. But if you drag me into your mess again?" A dangerous glint flashed in her eyes. "Don’t blame me for what happens next."

She turned sharply, heels clicking against the linoleum. "Let’s go, Bella."

Just being near them made her skin crawl.

"Wait—Evelyn!" Dominic lunged, fingers grazing her wrist. She jerked away before he could latch on.

His face twisted with something pitiful. "Vanessa and I… we’re over." The words dripped with forced regret. "I don’t know why she came to you. Maybe she couldn’t accept it."

A breath. Then, the performance began.

"But you—you’ve always been in my heart." His voice dropped to a whisper, saccharine and rehearsed. "I regret everything. Let me make it right. Give me one chance."

Bella, lingering by the window, nearly choked.

Is he serious? This isn’t some daytime soap opera.

Evelyn laughed—a sharp, humorless sound. "A chance? Fine." She tilted her head, venom lacing every syllable. "Go public. Admit that I created every award-winning formula DR Holdings stole. Renounce every honor you claimed as yours. Apologize—on your knees, if you have to. Can you do that?"

Silence.

Dominic’s jaw worked. "An apology… a statement, I can do. But the honors?" He hesitated, then scoffed. "Those belong to DR Holdings. You were part of the company. It’s not wrong for us to—"

"Refusing?" Evelyn arched a brow. She’d expected nothing less.

To his credit, he surprised her.

"I’ll do it." His voice hardened with sudden resolve. "On one condition." A calculated pause. "Come back. To DR Holdings. To me." His eyes gleamed with greed. "I’ll give you everything—money, resources, power. We’ll be unstoppable, just like before. I’ll compensate you tenfold."

Evelyn’s smile turned lethal. "Dom, your delusions are almost impressive." She leaned in, close enough to watch him flinch. "What about Vanessa? Or did you forget her already?"

She didn’t care. But his answer would be telling.

Dominic waved a dismissive hand. "I told you—we’re done. She’s a big girl; she’ll survive." His tone turned oily. "If you want, I’ll cut her off completely. Just say the word."

Bella’s nails dug into her palms.

Evelyn studied him—the man who’d stolen her work, betrayed her trust, and now discarded Vanessa like trash.

Pathetic.

She turned on her heel without another word.

Bella fell into step beside her, shaking her head. "How did you ever fall for that snake?"

Evelyn’s laugh was bitter. "Youthful stupidity."

Behind them, Dominic’s voice cracked like a whip. "Evelyn! You’ll regret this!"

She didn’t look back.