Chapter 85

"What now? Would Dominic have to grovel for her mercy?"

"I'll visit them after work," Nathan said.

"Should I ask my girlfriend to check on Evelyn?" Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Since when do you have a girlfriend?"

Adrian cleared his throat awkwardly. "She's Evelyn's closest friend... The one who exposed everything. I swear, if I weren't so crazy about her, I would've ended things last night!"

Nathan exhaled sharply. "You certainly have a type."

"She saw right through me. How was I supposed to know they were that perceptive?"

"Looks like you'll need to watch your words around her from now on. Consider yourself officially out of the inner circle."

"I'll hold my ground!" Adrian declared stubbornly. "For Dominic's sake!"

That evening, Lucas and Nathan arrived at the Blackwood estate.

"Master Dominic returned around dawn," Mrs. Wilkins informed them. "His security detail said he spent the entire night standing in the rain outside Madam Evelyn's mother's house. They only got him home after he collapsed at four in the morning." She wrung her hands. "He's upstairs now. The fever broke this afternoon but has returned with vengeance."

The two men exchanged uneasy glances.

Since when had Dominic Blackwood ever been reduced to such a pitiful state?

Standing all night in a storm for Evelyn Thorne?

"The tempest last night was relentless," Lucas muttered, rubbing his temples.

"It worsened after midnight," Nathan added. "The streets near my place flooded completely."

"No one could endure that downpour unscathed, no matter how strong."

Nathan turned to the housekeeper. "Where's Miss Evelyn? Hasn't she returned?"

Mrs. Wilkins shook her head. "She won't answer my calls. She always picked up before. This quarrel must be particularly severe."

Just then, the physician descended the grand staircase.

"How is he, Doctor?" Lucas inquired.

"The fever persists," the doctor replied gravely. "At this rate, pneumonia is inevitable. I suspect his lungs may already be compromised. I recommended hospitalization, but he refuses."

"We can't allow this!" Mrs. Wilkins fretted. "I'll try Madam Evelyn again. Master Dominic only ever listens to her."

Lucas's expression darkened as he strode toward the door.

Nathan followed. "What if she still won't answer?"

"Then I'll find her myself," Lucas stated.

"Do you know where she might be?"

"With Tristan Chamberlain most likely. His social media posts today were suspiciously cheerful."

"I'll remain here. If his condition deteriorates, I'll have him transported to St. Elizabeth's by force."

Lucas nodded and departed.

Villa Serenade stood as one of Ravenswood's most exclusive dining establishments.

Evelyn had resisted attending, but her management team's persistent badgering wore her down after thirty minutes.

Their persuasion wasn't entirely responsible for her attendance.

Exhausted from maintaining appearances and unwilling to burden her mother with her melancholy, she deemed temporary absence the wiser choice.

Tristan slid a crystal glass of apple juice toward her.

Evelyn lifted it absently, the cool surface chilling her fingertips.

Suddenly, the private dining room's doors flew open.

Bianca Chamberlain's flawless features materialized like an avenging angel.

She stormed toward Evelyn with barely contained fury.

"Enjoying playing two men against each other?" she hissed through clenched teeth.

In one fluid motion, she seized a water glass from the table and hurled its contents at Evelyn's face.