Chapter 497

Though Dominic had a past with Zoe Montgomery, his romantic history was far less scandalous than most men of his stature.

At precisely six o'clock, Evelyn Thorne arrived at the upscale restaurant with Lily and Henry in tow, following the location Dominic had texted her the previous evening.

Dominic had secured the most exclusive private dining room in the establishment.

When Evelyn gave the room number at reception, a sharply dressed waiter immediately escorted them upstairs.

Lily gasped the moment they entered. "Mommy! It's like a fairy tale in here!"

The entire space had been transformed into a magical wonderland for Children's Day.

Dozens of colorful balloons floated near the ceiling, twinkling lights draped artfully across the walls, and an entire corner was piled high with beautifully wrapped presents.

"What's inside all these boxes, Mommy?" Lily asked, already reaching for the nearest gift.

"They're just decorations, sweetheart," Evelyn began, but the waiter quickly corrected her.

"Actually, Miss Thorne, Mr. Blackwood personally selected gifts for each box. They're all Children's Day presents for you and your children."

Evelyn's breath caught in her throat.

She opened her mouth but found herself speechless.

"Miss Thorne, Mr. Blackwood instructed us to begin serving dinner if you arrived before him," the waiter continued. "Shall we start now?"

Evelyn shook her head firmly. "We'll wait for him."

It didn't feel right to begin without Dominic, especially when he was treating them.

Besides, the table already overflowed with fresh fruit, delicate pastries, and an assortment of gourmet snacks.

"Very well. I'll be right outside if you need anything," the waiter said before discreetly exiting.

Lily practically vibrated with excitement over the presents, but Henry grabbed her wrist.

"I just want to look!" Lily whined, her lower lip trembling dramatically.

"Rich guys always know how to buy affection," Henry muttered darkly. "You'll fall for whatever junk he picked out."

Seeing her daughter's crestfallen expression, Evelyn intervened. "Henry, whatever Dominic bought, we can always reciprocate. Let Lily open them - today's supposed to be fun!"

Lily squealed with delight when her mother gave permission.

"I promise I'll just look, Mommy! I won't keep anything!"

Evelyn helped her daughter with the first package, revealing an incredibly detailed miniature fighter jet.

The craftsmanship was museum-quality.

Lily immediately carried it to Henry. "See? You said I'd like everything, but this is totally for you!"

The next gift contained a sparkling tiara adorned with rainbow-colored gemstones - exactly the sort of glittery accessory Lily adored.

There were eighteen presents in total - eight clearly meant for a boy, eight for a girl.

After opening several, Evelyn checked her watch and froze.

Seven o'clock. No Dominic.

The children had grown restless, nibbling halfheartedly on snacks while waiting.

Beautiful gifts aside, how could Dominic stand them up like this? Evelyn's stomach twisted as she dialed his number.

The call connected after several rings.

"Dominic..." she started.

Before she could ask about traffic or emergencies, Zoe Montgomery's tearful voice cut through the line.

"Dominic, if Evelyn hadn't killed our baby... he'd be celebrating today too!" Zoe sobbed hysterically. "Have you forgotten our son? He looked just like you! How could you forget him?!"

Evelyn's vision blurred as a high-pitched ringing filled her ears. The phone nearly slipped from her suddenly numb fingers.