Chapter 288

Dominic felt no shred of sympathy for her now.

Looking back, he should have suspected she was plotting to get rid of the baby. He should have sent someone to investigate. But he hadn’t. He never imagined she would want to terminate the pregnancy so soon.

Dominic had even envisioned their future—building a life together. But she had been insincere, making her utterly worthless in his eyes.

"I’m being generous by not forcing you out of DR Holdings. Of course, the company will compete in the annual event, but it’ll be under DR Holdings’ name, not yours. You can only accept the award as a representative. That’s the best I can offer."

"No! You can’t do this!" Vanessa refused to accept it.

She had made a pact with herself—this competition was her chance to rise, to prove her worth.

Her emotions, her ambitions—everything was on the line. How could she just surrender her future?

"You have no right to take this from me! That new product is mine—my achievement! It belongs to me!" Vanessa lunged toward him, her desperation bordering on hysteria.

Dominic swiftly wheeled back, avoiding her. His gaze was icy as he studied her. The woman before him was unraveling. Once charming, once captivating—now she was nothing but madness.

Regret and disappointment twisted inside him.

"Take the credit?" He scoffed. "Vanessa, let’s not forget how you stole Evelyn’s recognition the first time. If you claim this product is yours, answer me—did you draft the formula? Was the inspiration yours? Did you even step foot in the lab? What did you contribute besides trading your body for results? What right do you have to call it yours?"

"From raw materials to trials, the company funded everything. Letting you accept the award as a representative is already leniency. If you push me further, don’t blame me for what comes next."

Vanessa hadn’t expected such ruthlessness. Her defiance crumbled, tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Dominic, why bother pretending to be righteous? Weren’t you part of the plan to ruin Evelyn? Now you regret it? Now you miss your ex and want to cut me off?"

"This has nothing to do with Evelyn."

Yes, he regretted it. He wanted her back. But even without Evelyn, there was no salvaging what he and Vanessa had.

The memory of her kneeling before Lucien, begging for his help—Dominic’s stomach turned. Disgust coiled in him so thickly he could barely stand the sight of her.

The more he denied it, the more Vanessa blamed Evelyn.

Her nails dug into the hospital sheets, drawing blood. "Do you really think Evelyn would take you back? Open your eyes—she’s already at the top with Celestia Group. Why would she waste a second thought on you? It’s pathetic!"

"Enough." His voice was steel.

Before, he might have believed her. But since leaving DR Holdings, Evelyn had thrived. And now, with the Hawthorne family’s backing, she didn’t need him.

"Don’t you know how to verify the truth? Go see for yourself. You think I’m vile? How many ‘pure’ people do you think exist in this industry? At least I’m honest! But Evelyn?" She laughed bitterly, mocking his naivety.