Chapter 488
Lily let out a blood-curdling scream that echoed through the quiet neighborhood. Sophie scooped the trembling child into her arms and dashed inside the house.
"Shh, sweetheart! I'm calling an ambulance right now!" She settled Lily on the sofa with shaking hands before rummaging through her purse for her phone.
The little girl's sobs came in ragged gasps.
"Is... is Daddy dead?" Lily choked out between tears. "He doesn't even know I'm his daughter yet!"
Sophie clutched the hysterical child with one arm while dialing emergency services with the other. As soon as the operator answered, she rattled off their address in a breathless voice before hanging up.
"Stay right here, Lily. I need to check on him," Sophie instructed before bolting back outside.
Meanwhile, Evelyn had received an urgent call from the vice chancellor of Metropolitan University that morning. She'd brought Henry to campus immediately after breakfast.
Yesterday, her brilliant son had shocked everyone by winning the National Youth Coding Olympiad. While not the youngest participant, he'd been the youngest finalist in the competition's history.
More astonishingly - he'd taken first place.
"While Henry bypassed standard qualification procedures, the purpose of this competition is precisely to identify exceptional talents like him," the vice chancellor explained with an approving smile. "We're prepared to make exceptions for a prodigy of Henry's caliber."
"Would you consider enrolling him in our gifted program, Ms. Thorne?"
Evelyn had studied the elite program's curriculum thoroughly. Every graduate from Metropolitan's gifted program became a leader in their field - exactly the future she envisioned for Henry.
"What do you think, sweetheart?" Evelyn always made sure to include Henry in decisions about his education.
"I'll do whatever you think is best, Mom."
"I want you to have every opportunity to thrive, Henry. This could be a wonderful chance to explore new challenges and find where you belong."
She would never impose her will on her children. Their trust meant everything to her.
"Don't feel pressured, Ms. Thorne. Henry can attend on a trial basis before making any commitments," the vice chancellor offered kindly.
"That sounds perfect. Thank you."
After leaving Henry in the vice chancellor's capable hands, Evelyn stepped onto the sunlit campus grounds. When she retrieved her phone from her bag, she found three missed calls from Sophie.
Her stomach dropped as she scrolled through the frantic messages:
[Evelyn! Dominic showed up at your house and collapsed at the gate! Lily and I are freaking out!]
[Ambulance is on its way!]
[They took him to St. Elizabeth's! I called Adrian instead of going with them!]
[What happened between you two? Call me ASAP! Lily won't stop crying!]
Evelyn's fingers trembled as she immediately called Sophie back.
"Thank God you called!" Sophie answered on the first ring. "He's stable - just severe exhaustion."
"Exhaustion?" Evelyn repeated, her grip tightening around the steering wheel as she slid into her car. "He seemed fine yesterday."
"Clearly he wasn't. The man looked like death warmed over - dark circles, bloodshot eyes, the works," Sophie described with palpable concern.
"He claimed he was just 'in the neighborhood,' but I checked the map. Your place isn't anywhere near Blackwood Group or his penthouse." A dull ache spread through Evelyn's chest as she started the engine.
"How did your meeting go?" Sophie asked, deliberately changing the subject to something lighter.
"The vice chancellor agreed to a trial period for Henry." Evelyn adjusted her Bluetooth headset before pulling out of the parking lot. "How's Lily now?"
"She finally calmed down after I explained Daddy just needed rest. Thought we'd have to peel her off him when the paramedics arrived."
Evelyn's brow furrowed as she navigated the midday traffic. Their argument yesterday had been minor - just their usual bickering. What could possibly have driven Dominic to such extremes? The question gnawed at her as she accelerated toward the hospital.