Chapter 92

The afternoon sun cast a golden glow over Ravenswood as Evelyn Thorne carried two pots of daffodils from the flower market. She made her way to her mother’s modest rented house, expecting Clara to still be at work. But when she stepped inside, the scent of simmering spices greeted her, and she found Clara bustling in the kitchen.

"Mom? Did you leave work early?" Evelyn slipped off her shoes and placed the flowers on the living room table.

Clara wiped her hands on her apron, her expression sheepish. "I’m not working there anymore, sweetheart. The family hired a more experienced nanny."

Evelyn’s heart ached for her. She wrapped her arms around Clara. "Don’t be upset. You’ll find something better."

Clara chuckled, patting her back. "Oh, I’m fine. But why the flowers?"

Evelyn glanced around the small, sparsely furnished space. "I passed by the market and thought they’d brighten the place up."

Clara sighed. "You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll find another job soon."

"Mom, just take a break!" Evelyn insisted, pulling her bank card from her purse. "Here. Use this for whatever you need."

Clara pushed the card away firmly. "Evelyn, after all these years, I’ve learned one thing—relying on others never ends well. Even if I have to scrub floors tomorrow, I’d rather earn my own way."

Evelyn couldn’t help but laugh at her mother’s stubborn pride. "Scrubbing floors at four in the morning? In this weather? No way. Find something easier."

Clara smirked. "If it pays well, I’ll wake up at three. Now sit down. Dinner’s almost ready."

Evelyn settled onto the couch and checked her phone. A message from Sophie Mercer lit up the screen.

[Sophie: What the hell is Dominic Blackwood’s problem? He’s still sick, yet he’s chasing after you? If he really loved you, he’d just hand over the money. This whole act is ridiculous!]

Evelyn sighed, unsure how to respond.

Another message popped up.

[Sophie: Adrian just visited him. The doctor said his immune system’s a mess. Needs hospital treatment. Is it bad?]

Evelyn typed back: [We won’t know until he gets checked.]

[Sophie: So… are you into Tristan now? That’s the rumor.]

Evelyn frowned. [Who’s spreading that?]

[Sophie: People around Dominic. They say you’re ignoring him because you’re with Tristan. Personally, I don’t see it. Tristan’s charming, but he’s got that slippery, too-smooth vibe. Dominic might be intense, but at least he’s not fake.]

Evelyn sipped her water, amused. [You think Dominic’s not intense?]

[Sophie: Oh, he’s intense. But not in a slimy way. More like… the kind of guy who ends up on true crime documentaries. You know, the handsome ones with anger issues.]

Evelyn nearly choked. [What about Adrian?]

[Sophie: Now he’s perfect. Younger, gorgeous, sweet, and clueless. If you divorce Dominic, go for a younger man. Easier to handle.]

Evelyn smirked. [Let’s get the divorce first.]

[Sophie: You’re really going through with it?]

Evelyn’s fingers hovered over the screen. [Why not? It’s not like I’ll get a dime from him either way.]

[Sophie: True. Men like him? They’re untouchable.]

At dinner, Evelyn barely touched her food.

Clara frowned. "Not hungry?"

Evelyn rubbed her stomach. "My bump’s showing."

Clara grinned. "You’re five months along. Of course it is."

"Thank God for winter layers," Evelyn muttered.

Clara hesitated, then said, "I’ve been thinking… What if you went abroad for grad school? Study, have the baby there. Fresh start."

Evelyn blinked. "Mom, that’s expensive. I need to work, not study."

Clara waved a hand. "I’ve saved enough. You focus on your future."