Chapter 159

She had braced for every scenario—except this.

Her supposed rival was… disabled?

Was that why Dominic had never mentioned her?

Evelyn sank onto the sofa, burying her face in her hands. The revelation was too much to process.

"Evelyn, what’s going on?" Clara sat beside her. "You know her, don’t you? That conversation was strange."

"I have a headache, Mom. Just… leave me alone," Evelyn muttered.

Clara nodded. "I’ll prepare the guest room."

Evelyn grabbed her wrist. "No. She knew Dominic. Their relationship was… complicated. I’ll take her somewhere else."

At the mention of Dominic, Sophia flinched.

She shook her head violently, tears streaming anew.

Clara held her hand, soothing her. "Do you know Dominic?"

Sophia shook her head harder.

If she admitted it, they might send her back.

And if she went back—they would cut open her skull.

She’d rather stay with these strangers than face that horror.

Evelyn found her reaction absurd.

This woman didn’t remember Dominic Blackwood?

Meanwhile, at Willowbrook Academy, chaos reigned.

The power had been cut, and staff scoured the campus twice.

Henry slipped inside unnoticed, his baseball cap pulled low.

He weaved through the parking lot, pausing when he spotted a sleek black Rolls-Royce.

That car.

His mother had tensed when she saw it earlier.

Curious, he edged closer, examining the license plate.

Then Dominic, the academy officials, and a group of bodyguards emerged.

"Mr. Blackwood, our security system was hacked around ten this morning," the vice headmaster reported.

Dominic’s jaw tightened. "Find out who did this."

"We’ve contacted top cybersecurity experts. We’ll have answers soon," the man assured. "The hacker may be someone within the academy. Breaching our systems so effortlessly suggests prior infiltration."

Dominic’s voice was ice. "Lock down the entire campus."

"Yes. I’ll personally oversee the investigation."

Henry remained hidden, his fingers flying across his phone.

The license plate confirmed it—this was Dominic’s car.

Why did his mother fear him?

Henry dug deeper, unearthing news of a car crash five years ago.

Then—divorce records from that very day.

Wait.

Dominic Blackwood had just finalized his divorce.

His ex-wife was… Evelyn Thorne?

His mother had been married to Dominic?

Henry’s mind reeled.

His mother and Julian Whitmore had two children.

Yet she had married Dominic.

So… who did she truly love?

Lost in thought, Henry didn’t notice Dominic approaching—until the man stood right in front of him.