Chapter 315
Would dominic hold Evelyn's angry words against her forever?
After dinner, Evelyn called Michael's number, putting her phone on speaker as she started tidying up the kitchen.
"I'm coming home early today, Evelyn!" Michael announced in an unusually serious tone. "No bar tonight. It's work-related... Blackwood Group business. I'll explain everything tomorrow."
"Alright. Nothing too concerning, I hope?" Evelyn replied, wiping her hands on a dish towel. "This sudden responsibility is quite unexpected from you."
Michael chuckled through the phone. "Didn't want you thinking I was out fooling around. Don't bother saving dinner for me."
"Got it."
As the call ended, Evelyn glanced around the too-quiet house, her thoughts immediately drifting to Clara.
She'd refused to hire any help precisely because she wanted to recreate every chore her mother used to do.
Maybe then she could understand what Clara had been thinking during those quiet domestic moments.
The weight of guilt pressed heavier with each passing thought.
Clara had been her rock throughout the pregnancy.
After the twins were born, Clara dedicated every waking moment to helping raise them.
Never once had she lived for herself.
Evelyn had foolishly believed that was normal.
Only after losing Clara did she realize how she'd poured everything into work and the children, leaving nothing for herself.
"Mommy! Henry's being mean!" Lily's indignant cry shattered the silence as she burst from the bedroom.
Evelyn quickly wiped her damp cheeks and forced a smile. "What did he do this time?"
"He said my homework looks like chicken scratches! And threatened to tear my notebook if I don't rewrite it properly!" Lily sniffled, her lower lip trembling.
Taking her daughter's small hand, Evelyn led her back to the bedroom to inspect the offending homework.
No wonder Henry had been furious.
Lily's handwriting sprawled across the page like drunken spiders.
"Let's fix this together, sweetheart. First we'll erase this line..." Evelyn settled beside Lily at the small desk, guiding her tiny hand.
By the time homework was corrected and both children tucked in, the clock showed 10 PM.
Evelyn dragged her exhausted body toward the master bedroom.
Her mind felt simultaneously overloaded and empty.
She'd been busy all evening, yet accomplished nothing of substance.
Clara used to handle all these mundane tasks without complaint.
The debt she owed her mother could never be repaid - not in this lifetime.
Entering the walk-in closet, Evelyn reached for her pajamas.
The wardrobe door swung open to reveal a curled figure that nearly toppled out!
Reacting instinctively, Evelyn caught Sophia just before she hit the floor!
What was Dominic's sister doing here?
How long had she been hiding in the closet?
No time for questions.
Evelyn carefully lowered Sophia to the carpet, checking her condition before immediately calling Wesley.
When Lily and Henry woke the next morning, they found no breakfast prepared and their mother absent.
Though their preschool served meals, Henry particularly disliked the institutional food.
Evelyn always made sure to cook them a proper breakfast.
"Where's Mommy, Henry?" Lily rubbed sleep from her eyes. "Does this mean we don't have to go to school?"
Taking charge, Henry adjusted his glasses. "I'll take you to school if Mommy's not here."
"But where did she go?" Lily's voice quivered. "You don't think... she got tired of us and ran away, do you?"
Henry pressed a button on his smartwatch.
Evelyn's ringtone immediately echoed from the master bedroom.
"She left without her phone. Must have been an emergency." Henry marched to their mother's room, determined to check her recent calls.