Chapter 257

"Mr. Blackwood, we should leave!" The bodyguard's voice held urgency. "Your clothes are soaked through. You'll catch your death out here."

Though the autumn sun shone brightly, a biting chill had settled in the air.

Dominic remained motionless, his voice steady. "I'm fine."

Recognizing his employer's stubbornness, the bodyguard resigned himself to waiting in silence.

The crunch of tires on gravel announced an approaching vehicle. A crimson Porsche Cayenne pulled alongside them, its window descending to reveal Mike's surprised face.

"What in the world are you doing here?" Mike's eyes widened at Dominic's drenched appearance. "Did a storm roll through?"

The bodyguard shot him a glare. "That little demon Henry did this!"

Mike whistled low. "Damn, that kid's got more nerve than I ever did!"

When Dominic remained silent, Mike exited the vehicle with exaggerated flair. "You two look ridiculous standing here like drowned rats. Come inside before you freeze solid!"

After a brief hesitation, Dominic followed.

Mike punched in the security code with theatrical precision.

Clara's expression darkened when she saw Dominic trailing behind Mike, but she held her tongue.

"Just letting him borrow some dry clothes," Mike assured her. "You can kick him out afterward if you want."

With Clara's reluctant nod, Mike led Dominic upstairs.

Lily and Henry heard the approaching footsteps and stationed themselves like tiny sentinels outside their mother's bedroom door.

"We won't let him hurt Mom again," Henry whispered fiercely to his sister.

Dominic's sharp gaze immediately found the children guarding what could only be Evelyn's room. Their defensive postures told him everything.

Yet he didn't approach.

"Your assistant's a real piece of work," Mike complained as they entered his room. "And your CFO? They ambushed me like common thugs! This cut barely healed and now it's bleeding again!"

The children exhaled in relief when Dominic disappeared into Mike's room. Slipping into their mother's bedroom, they found Evelyn shivering violently beneath the blankets.

Henry pressed a small hand to her forehead. "She's burning up!"

"Stay with Mom," he ordered Lily before racing downstairs.

When Clara saw Evelyn's condition, her face drained of color. "Mike!" Her voice carried through the house. "We need to get Evelyn to the hospital now!"

Dominic moved faster than either of them expected, shouldering past Mike to reach Evelyn first.

Disoriented with fever, Evelyn barely registered being lifted from the bed. The medicine should have helped—why did she feel worse?

"What happened? She was fine this morning!" Mike trailed after Dominic.

"Stay with the children," Dominic instructed Clara as he carried Evelyn toward his Rolls-Royce.

The bodyguard already had the engine running.

Left standing in the driveway, Mike could only watch the luxury vehicle speed away. "Did he just abduct my sister?" he muttered to the empty air.