Chapter 61
"Of course I know Tristan! We were practically drinking buddies back in the day!" Lucas exclaimed, deliberately emphasizing his next words. "Did he happen to mention how incredibly close he is with Bianca?"
Evelyn's fork paused mid-air as surprise flickered across her features. "He told me they weren't particularly close."
Lucas leaned forward with a knowing smirk. "Then he lied to your face, darling. You should really ask yourself - why would Veritas Capital suddenly take interest in Thornfield Industries? What's the real game here?"
"You think this could be some sort of setup?" Evelyn's voice dropped to a whisper.
Dominic's best friend shook his head slowly. "I'm just saying there are always multiple angles to consider. Money doesn't magically appear from thin air, sweetheart. You just had that explosive confrontation with Bianca, and now her brother comes knocking with investment offers? Doesn't that strike you as... convenient?"
Evelyn's fingers tightened around her water glass. "It does now."
"Think it through carefully..." Lucas trailed off before calling out, "Dominic! Done interrogating your wife. You can come out now!"
Evelyn nearly spat out her water at the word "wife."
When they moved to the dining table, Dominic deliberately chose the seat farthest from her.
Lucas returned from the bar carrying a crystal decanter filled with amber liquid. "Care for some whiskey, Miss Thorne?" He set it down with three crystal tumblers.
"No thank you," Evelyn declined quickly. "I have thesis work to finish tonight."
"Suit yourself." Lucas poured generous measures for himself and Dominic. "Good thing you were there to handle him when he got plastered last week."
Evelyn coughed into her napkin. "I didn't handle anything. He slept it off just fine."
"At least he's a quiet drunk," Lucas mused. "Though he's never been good at expressing what's really going on in that complicated head of his-"
"Oh please!" Evelyn interrupted. "He expresses himself just fine - with temper tantrums worthy of a toddler! I've never met anyone more dramatic about their feelings."
Lucas's jaw dropped while Dominic's expression darkened like a thundercloud.
"Let's eat," Evelyn muttered, suddenly very interested in her salad.
She attacked her food with single-minded focus, stuffing her mouth to prevent any further verbal disasters. Within minutes, she pushed back her chair. "Excuse me."
As Evelyn fled, Lucas whistled low. "Does she always inhale her food like that?"
"Usually faster," Dominic deadpanned.
"Is she... you know, one of those girls with eating disorders? She barely touched anything."
"Anorexics don't eat at all."
"Right." Lucas smirked. "Maybe she's watching her figure for you."
Dominic's eyebrow arched. "You honestly think she gives a damn what I think?"
If Evelyn cared even slightly, she wouldn't have humiliated him at his own dinner table. The old him would've exploded, but lately he'd developed an alarming tolerance for her antics.
"Point taken," Lucas conceded. "But that unfiltered mouth of hers is exactly why you're obsessed with her."
"Who said anything about obsession?"
"Cut the crap, Dom. It's just us here." Lucas swirled his whiskey. "And can you blame yourself? Evelyn's sharper than most women in your circles."
"Sharp? All she thinks about is getting knocked up."
Lucas nearly choked on his drink.
Upstairs in the guest room, Evelyn booted up her laptop but couldn't focus. An uneasy feeling coiled in her stomach, the kind that usually preceded disaster.
When her phone buzzed, her pulse spiked. The caller ID made her blood run cold.
Victoria.
After everything that had happened, what fresh hell could her half-sister possibly want now?