Chapter 71

The first hurdle was getting past the initial obstacle. Only then would the path ahead become clearer.

"Then don’t ask her—just buy her something," Lucas suggested. "Jewelry. Every woman loves jewelry."

"She doesn’t. I’ve never seen her wear any," Dominic replied flatly.

"What about skincare? All women use that, right?" Nathan chimed in.

"She doesn’t. When I checked her room, all I found was a single cleanser." He couldn’t possibly gift her something as mundane as a face wash, could he?

Lucas hadn’t expected Evelyn to be so unlike any other woman he’d encountered.

What shocked him even more was that Dominic Blackwood, the formidable CEO of Blackwood Group, had actually sneaked into a woman’s bedroom just to observe such trivial details.

"Then buy her that cleanser!" Lucas said, exasperated.

"It was covered in dust. Clearly, she doesn’t use it much," Dominic countered.

Lucas and Nathan exchanged glances, at a loss.

"Clothes, shoes, bags! She obviously wears those. She must carry a bag, right?" Lucas threw out more ideas. "After what your mother did, she’s probably heartbroken. She won’t even look at you unless you make a grand gesture."

"Actually, I think Miss Thorne is different," Nathan mused. "She’s still in university—material things might not impress her."

Lucas snapped his fingers as an idea struck. "Gifts might help, but what really matters is physical initiative."

"Meaning?" Dominic’s brow furrowed.

"Hugs? Kisses?" Nathan offered hesitantly.

"Exactly!" Lucas grinned.

Dominic’s expression darkened instantly.

Seeing his reaction, Lucas backpedaled. "We can help—if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself!"

"You want to hug and kiss her?!" Dominic’s voice was dangerously low.

Lucas choked. "I meant we could help pick out gifts! The rest is on you."

"Forget it," Dominic said coldly. He wasn’t about to rely on others for his love life. "It’s not like she’s the only woman in the world."

"Then why did you sneak into her room to inspect a dusty cleanser?" Lucas teased.

"Enough, Lucas. Give the boss some dignity," Nathan muttered, dragging him toward the door.

"Nathan," Dominic called as they left. "Set up a meeting with Tristan Chamberlain."

"Yes, sir. When?"

"Tonight."

"Understood."

That evening, Evelyn stepped outside for the first time in days.

A week cooped up indoors had left her restless.

The bruise on her cheek had worsened after she’d covered it with makeup for her checkup.

Without proper care, the healing process had been slow.

Even now, though faded, a faint purplish mark remained visible under close scrutiny.

Evelyn adjusted her face mask and walked beyond the neighborhood gates.

She’d barely taken ten steps when a motorcycle roared past.

By the time she registered the movement, her phone was already gone.