Chapter 503

Evelyn peered into the luxury car with cautious curiosity.

Dominic's piercing gaze locked onto her.

He lounged carelessly against the plush leather seats, one arm draped over the front headrest while holding a nearly burnt-out cigarette between his fingers.

His eyes held an unusual clarity - like liquid amber catching sunlight.

Everything about him screamed danger and unpredictability.

Those all-knowing eyes gave Evelyn an unsettling sense of familiarity.

Yet she couldn't place where she'd seen him before.

Dominic exhaled a slow stream of smoke before crushing the cigarette. "Get in," he commanded.

His crisp white shirt accentuated the sharp angles of his outstretched hand.

Evelyn found herself studying his features.

That nagging sense of recognition persisted.

She remained frozen, her instincts screaming caution. Dominic's

eyes narrowed dangerously. "Evelyn Carter," he enunciated each syllable, "I won't ask again."

His voice carried the cold finality of someone accustomed to obedience.

She startled at hearing her full name.

Her peripheral vision caught the battered sports car driver - now sporting fresh bruises - scrambling into his vehicle like a frightened rabbit.

The man didn't dare glance back at Dominic before speeding away. Evelyn's breath hitched.

Cresthaven's rumors about Dominic Powell painted him as volatile, unpredictable, and dangerously intelligent.

No sane person would enter a stranger's car under such circumstances.

Yet before she could react, an iron grip yanked her wrist, pulling her into the vehicle.

The Rolls-Royce's interior smelled faintly of sandalwood and leather - surprisingly pleasant for someone with Dominic's reputation.

His proximity made her skin prickle.

Dominic studied her with unnerving intensity.

She dropped her gaze, suddenly fascinated by her own trembling hands.

After an eternity, his voice cut through the silence. "No recollection at all?"

The disappointment in his tone contradicted his bold action as he gripped her chin, forcing eye contact.

"What a shame," he murmured, thumb tracing her jawline. "I'd love to dissect that pretty head of yours to understand how you could forget someone like me."

Evelyn's blood ran cold.

The rumors hadn't lied - this man operated on a different wavelength.

Her throat constricted, words failing her.

Dominic's fingers ghosted over her lips with terrifying gentleness. "Look closely, darling," he purred. "Don't I stir anything in that forgetful mind of yours? Because if you don't remember soon..." His smile turned predatory. "I'll make sure you never forget me again."