Chapter 40
The past week had been a revelation for Evelyn. Alexander had shown her kindnesses Dominic could never comprehend, let alone replicate in all their years together.
"You're my wife," Alexander murmured against her lips before claiming them in a tender kiss.
Though a blush warmed her cheeks, Evelyn didn't pull away. Her quiet surrender ignited something primal in Alexander. A satisfied smirk curved his lips as he deepened their connection.
Meanwhile, Dominic returned to his penthouse feeling utterly humiliated. Never in his wildest nightmares had he imagined being held at knifepoint - especially not by Evelyn!
Since when had she become so proficient in combat? How had this crucial detail escaped his notice? The realization made him wonder what other secrets she'd kept from him.
Crunch.
His polished Oxfords crushed broken porcelain beneath them. Vanessa sat amidst the wreckage of their living room, clutching a throw pillow like a lifeline. Spotting Dominic, she hurled it at him with surprising force. "I thought you'd abandoned me too!"
Dominic sidestepped, watching the pillow collide with the doorframe before tumbling to the marble floor.
"What's all this?" He retrieved the cushion, navigating the debris carefully before sinking onto the ruined sofa beside her. Even expecting this meltdown, the destruction still unsettled him.
"What does it look like?" Vanessa straightened, turning her tear-streaked face toward him. "Tell me, Dominic, what's our next move? You heard Evelyn at the press conference! I warned you she couldn't be trusted, but you wouldn't listen. Now she's declared war! I can't even check social media without seeing my name trending!"
"Since when do you care about online trolls?" Dominic countered. "You've done nothing wrong."
"Stop placating me!" Vanessa gripped his arm desperately. "I need solutions, not empty reassurances!" Her dramatic exit from the press conference had been unavoidable - staying would have only given Evelyn more ammunition.
"And storming out helped how exactly?" Dominic's glare could have frozen lava. "Do you realize how guilty that makes you look? The media will crucify us!"
"Staying would have been worse!" Vanessa's delicate features contorted. "She practically accused us of adultery to the entire world! Nate, what did I ever do to deserve this? I only ever loved you! Yes, I benefited from her formulas, but she had you!"
Her words struck a chord. The memory of cold steel against his throat sent shivers down Dominic's spine. If Evelyn still cared, she wouldn't have been so ruthless.
"If she wants war, she'll get war," Dominic said through clenched teeth. "So she knows the formula? Big deal. Without concrete evidence, it's just her word against ours. And we control all the evidence."
"You can't mean... a lawsuit?" Vanessa paled. She'd assumed they'd settle this with threats and intimidation.
"Oh, we're suing alright." Dominic's smile held no warmth. "And we're making sure the whole world watches."