Chapter 25

"I have an old friend who recently reached out to me," Clara said, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her sweater. "She's looking for a nanny for her grandchildren. The salary is quite generous - fifteen hundred a month. I thought... well, any job is better than none, so I took it. Today's my third day, and it's been manageable."

She hesitated before adding, "Your father left us with nothing, Evelyn. I can't afford to be picky."

Evelyn felt hot tears spill down her cheeks before she could stop them.

"Your friend must be quite wealthy," she rasped, her throat tightening with emotion. The tears made her voice even rougher. "Working as a nanny for someone you know... that must be humiliating."

Clara shook her head firmly. "Pride doesn't put food on the table, darling. Money comes and goes - who's to say my daughter won't be the wealthy one someday?"

She reached for a tissue and gently dabbed at Evelyn's face.

"Mom, please don't do this," Evelyn sobbed. "I can get a part-time job next semester-"

"And what about now?" Clara interrupted, her brow furrowing. "You're pregnant, Evelyn. If you're determined to keep this baby, we need to be practical." Her expression darkened. "Why would Dominic reject his own child? It makes no sense."

"He's in love with someone else."

Clara's face paled. "Then why didn't he marry her instead?"

"I wish I knew."

"Listen to me," Clara said firmly, pulling Evelyn into a tight embrace. "If it comes to it, we'll hide you until the baby's born. He'll never have to know."

Three days later...

Evelyn's phone buzzed with a call from Julian.

He wanted to meet. After a brief hesitation, she agreed.

There was only one reason he'd reach out - the baby.

At the café, Evelyn couldn't help staring at Julian's battered face. Bandages covered most of his visible skin, but purple bruises peeked through the edges.

"Stop staring," he muttered. "This is your doing. If you hadn't told my uncle the baby was mine..." He sighed heavily. "Consider it my repayment for what I put you through. Though when you asked me to run away with you... I just couldn't."

"Julian Whitmore," Evelyn said coldly, "your real betrayal wasn't refusing to elope. If I hadn't discovered your affair with Victoria myself, were you planning to tell me at all?"

His eyes widened. "How long have you known?"

"That explains why you ghosted me," Evelyn continued, ignoring his question. She took a steadying sip of water. "Where is Victoria now? Her uncle stole from Thornfield Industries. I won't let that slide."

"She's traveling the world," Julian said dismissively. "Going after her for her uncle's crimes is pointless."

"With my father's money, no doubt!"

"Technically, it was her father's money too," Julian countered. When he reached for her hand, she jerked away. "Evelyn, you're misunderstanding my relationship with Victoria. I never loved her. She... seduced me. Men have needs, you know? But you've always been the one I truly-"

"Enough!" Evelyn recoiled, disgusted.

"You don't see the worst of it," Julian continued, gesturing to his injuries. "I'm still hospitalized actually. Came straight here because I had to ask - whose baby is it really?"

"It's gone. Why does it matter now?"

Julian leaned forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Here's what I propose - you still have access to him. Find a way to... remove him. Once Dominic's out of the picture, no one can touch us."