Chapter 48

Evelyn was stunned into silence. She never expected Dominic to track her down over the apartment she used to rent.

The fact that he’d only just realized she no longer lived there meant he hadn’t bothered looking for her in days.

Her lips curled into a smirk as she glanced at Alexander, picking up her phone with deliberate leisure.

"Since I’m not staying there anymore, of course I’d stop renting the place. I dealt directly with the landlord, so why would I need to inform you, Mr. Reeves?"

"Don’t forget—I paid your rent for years! You!" Dominic’s voice crackled with barely contained fury before he forced himself to take a deep breath. "Where are you staying now? Phoenix Labs can’t possibly be providing you with food and accommodation, can they?"

He was convinced they’d brainwashed her. With his involvement with Vanessa, the truth would be harder to hide. There was no other explanation for Evelyn—once so obedient—changing overnight.

She nearly laughed out loud, especially standing mere steps away from the man who was providing for her now. Meeting Alexander’s gaze, she replied, "Actually, they do provide both. So you can stop worrying, Mr. Reeves. By the way—weren’t you threatening to sue me? Couldn’t afford the legal fees? The rental deposit’s still with the landlord. Maybe you can use that for your lawyers."

Dominic’s voice turned icy. "You think that recording of yours scares me? Recordings aren’t admissible in court. Even if they were, how would you prove it wasn’t edited? I could easily claim you manipulated me into saying those things."

"If you’re so confident, then I’ll be waiting." She ended the call before he could retort, then blocked his number. The silence that followed was bliss.

Only then did she notice Alexander watching her, his expression unreadable.

"Uh," she said after an awkward pause. "Don’t worry. Once this is over, I’ll never speak to him again."

When they’d gotten engaged, she’d promised him loyalty. And she wasn’t the type to keep ties with an ex.

"Did I say I was worried?" Alexander tilted his head slightly. "But—what recording was he talking about?"

She blinked, then realized he was referring to Dominic’s earlier remark.

"At the press conference, he—" That day, Dominic had cornered her with bodyguards, trying to drag her away. Her boxing training had saved her.

"It’s nothing. Just a bluff."

"A bluff?" His brow arched.

She misread his tone. "I’d never lie to you. Only to him—because he lied first."

"I trust you," he said, reaching out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "But provoking him like this—are you sure? Legally, you’re at a disadvantage. DR Holdings’ employees will side with him. The evidence you have now isn’t enough."

He already had a plan to end this. But he wanted to see how she would handle it.