Chapter 36

The world around him blurred into insignificance. Only one thing mattered now—calming Evelyn down.

Dominic's words made Evelyn sick. These were the words she had longed to hear for years, yet now, they tasted like poison. Marriage? In his wildest dreams.

"That won't be necessary. If you want to prove yourself, there’s a simpler way," Evelyn said, exhaling softly as she wiped the mocking smirk from her lips.

Seeing her expression shift, Dominic thought he had swayed her.

He took a step closer, his voice dripping with persuasion. "Exactly. Trust is everything. You’ve stood by me through every storm. You’ll do it again, won’t you?"

"Fine. I have a solution," Evelyn nodded, her tone measured. "One that proves you’re not involved with Vanessa and saves DR Holdings from ruin."

Dominic’s eyes lit up. "What is it?"

The idea of solving two problems at once thrilled him.

For days, he had been scrambling to control the media fallout, but public opinion remained vicious. Sales had plummeted. Reputation was everything for a company like DR Holdings, and right now, theirs was in tatters.

Evelyn watched the desperation flicker in his gaze. At least he was right about one thing—she had always bailed him out. Every crisis, every failure, she had been the one to fix it. She had poured her soul into creating their bestselling perfumes, believing she was building their future together.

How foolish she had been.

"It’s simple," she said, tilting her head. "We return to the press conference. You announce to every reporter that I created every award-winning perfume DR Holdings has ever released. That I was the mind behind every success. Will you do it?"

Dominic’s face paled. She had outmaneuvered him completely, and the weight of her demand pressed down on him like a vise.

"You’re asking me to sign my own death warrant," he hissed through clenched teeth.

Evelyn laughed, the sound sharp and cold. "How dramatic. Isn’t it the truth? I did craft every bestseller. All you have to do is admit it. Surely that’s not too hard?"

"Evelyn, you never cared about recognition before. Why now?" His voice turned accusing. "Is fame more important to you than us?"

He was refusing, of course. And now he was twisting it, making her the villain. Fame? Glory?

How many times had he used those same empty words to keep her in the shadows? She had sacrificed everything for him, content to stay hidden while he took the credit. And now, he thought those tired manipulations would work again?

"Yes," she said, her smile razor-thin. "It is important. I didn’t care before, but I do now. Fame. Money. Justice. Can you give me those, Dominic?"

Her brows arched, daring him to answer.