"You have a lot of work today, including hosting the anniversary event. I won't be accompanying you to the board meeting, as I'll be away for three days. Caleb will attend the meetings with you," Dominic said calmly, his tone flat yet commanding. Evangeline's fists tightened as she narrowed her eyes.
"Where are you going?" she asked, unable to hide her frustration. Dominic's lips curved into a subtle smile as he turned to her, noting the rare hint of concern in her voice.
"So, she does care—how adorable." His inner thoughts amused him as he replied with a hint of teasing, "To handle some personal matters. Let's just say… a man's job, something women might find a bit challenging."
Evangeline scoffed, rolling her eyes and folding her arms. She refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction. He merely raised an eyebrow, unaffected by her dismissal, and continued as though he hadn't noticed.
"Don't worry. The anniversary is this weekend—I'll be back in time. Also, I have to thank you for uncovering the schemes between the Hawrick and Selding families. It helped ease the burden on the hotel, sparing it from unnecessary chaos." He spoke with calculated ease, reaching for a sealed envelope before pausing, his gaze drifting toward the gun she'd thrown on the floor. A slight smirk tugged at his mouth.
"Oh, and I've noticed you've been spending quite a lot on bullets since we got married till now… besides the usual family expenses." His casual mention took her off guard, making her stiffen in surprise.
"Did he go through my accounts?" she thought, her face darkening as she pointed accusingly at him. "You…!"
Before she could finish, Dominic closed the space between them in a swift movement, capturing her hand and pressing his lips to it with a touch of indifference, as if it were a mere formality. Her cheeks flared at the contact, her heartbeat quickening, and she yanked her hand away, breathing heavily. His expression remained composed, though his eyes held a flicker of amusement.
Dominic turned and left, his steps calm and unhurried, leaving Evangeline behind in a mix of anger and confusion. She watched him go, her frustration only intensifying as he shut the door behind him without a backward glance. With a furious stomp, she let out a sigh, seething at his ability to both unnerve and dismiss her with such practiced ease.
The Seldings' Family Estate – Study Room
The study room of the Selding estate was bathed in the muted light of a rainy afternoon, its dimness reflecting the seething temper of its occupants. At the grand mahogany desk, the head of the house, Oscar Selding, a middle-aged man with intense golden-blonde hair and sharp features, slammed his fist down, making the room vibrate with his rage.
"What?! How could the Hawrick family be so foolish!" he thundered, his face contorted in anger. "You have a useless son, and you think I'd let my daughter marry into that! Marry my daughter to a family of incompetents like yours? Never!" His finger jabbed toward Eric Hawrick, who sat cowering, his face half-covered in bandages, beside his equally downtrodden father.
Beside Oscar, Goldyewn Selding, his daughter, leaned back, folding her arms in amusement as her eyes settled on Eric. She wore a smirk that only deepened as her father's words sliced through the room. Goldyewn's beauty was striking—golden-blonde hair cascaded down her shoulders like silk, her narrowed, cat-like eyes giving her a dangerous allure. Despite her elegant appearance, her aura was one of a razor-sharp predator. Her resemblance to Evangeline often brought comparisons between them, a fact that Goldyewn detested, the mere thought twisting her lips in disgust.
"Father's right," she drawled, casting a mocking gaze at Eric. "You'd never have the courage to speak to me that way, let alone touch me. The very thought of it…" She chuckled coldly, shifting her weight as she straightened her posture, exuding an air of absolute superiority.
Oscar's scowl deepened. "The thing we needed is gone," he muttered, the frustration in his voice building. "How are we to explain this failure to the Six Families?" His fist clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white as he whipped his gaze back to Eric. "You!" he snapped, his voice sharp as a knife. "Tell me about this woman who dared impersonate a member of my family. Describe her."
Eric swallowed hard, lowering his head under Oscar's piercing gaze. "From what I remember... the lady had very pale blonde hair, almost platinum—close to silver," he stammered. "She had grey eyes, sharp as glass, natural peach-colored lips... Her figure was slender, though she looked as if she'd been recovering from an illness. She was accompanied by a tall, handsome man with green eyes and brown hair, possibly her bodyguard… or maybe her lover." His voice grew faint as he continued, "And he... he beat us up. She seemed determined to secure her business at any cost."
Oscar's face twisted further in fury at the mention of this woman's audacity. In one swift, violent motion, he grabbed a glass from the table and hurled it across the room, the shards scattering as it shattered against the wall.
"That spoiled wretch!" he snarled, his eyes narrowing with cold rage. "The audacity!"
Goldyewn's eyebrow arched as she considered this information. "So," she mused with a wicked grin, "she's gotten involved in business after all. Interesting." She chuckled, her eyes glinting with malice. "Working behind the scenes while her husband stands in the spotlight… perhaps he's grown bored of her? Or perhaps she's just clever enough to use him as a shield."
She turned her gaze toward the rain-streaked window, her fingers absently toying with the pendant around her neck as her thoughts drifted to Dominic Brusward. Dominic, with his quiet, controlled beauty and indifferent demeanor that only seemed to enhance his allure. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she remembered the day she learned he was engaged to someone else, her stomach twisting with a mixture of jealousy and unfulfilled desire.
"Ah, Dominic…" she murmured to herself, a dark smile crossing her lips." If only he were mine. How cruel for life to have given him to Eliza Venison now it's Evangeline Sarogath". A dangerous glint sparked in her eye as she glanced back at her father.
Oscar's scowl softened only slightly as he noted his daughter's smile. Goldyewn's envy toward Dominic's wife was something he both understood and encouraged. After all, an alliance with Dominic would have strengthened their influence in society—if only things had gone differently.
"Father," Goldyewn said slowly, her smile growing more sinister. "You know, the marriage anniversary event is next month. Perhaps I'll make an appearance after all. After all…" Her voice dropped to a whisper, an unmistakable hint of malice in her tone. "Who wouldn't want to cause a little stir?"
The Verdaselles Palace- The Greenhouse
Evangeline sat alone in her mother's greenhouse, surrounded by lush greenery and the gentle scent of blooming flowers. The warm light filtered through the glass ceiling, casting dappled shadows as she sipped her tea, her gaze drifting from the Viceroy's records to the vibrant plants above.
"It's been so long since I've been here," she mused, tapping her pen thoughtfully against the parchment. "Ever since I married Dominic, I haven't had a chance to come back here. The servants have been keeping it up well, though, planting new flowers…" She glanced down at her notes with a sigh. "I'll probably be late arriving at the hotel today. Uncle Eddie's already received the reviews."
Her finger traced the rim of her teacup as her mind wandered to her husband. "Speaking of Dominic…" she thought, her fingers brushing over the ring on her hand as she tapped it absentmindedly against the paper. The recent revelation weighed heavily on her mind. "He said he's… impotent. How dreadful that must be for him." She frowned, her hand clenching slightly. "I'm sure he's already gone through my medical records, so perhaps it's only fair I find out about his."
Evangeline leaned back in her chair, her gaze falling to the garden outside. "Why do I care so much about his health?" she wondered." It's odd to feel this concern. Grandmother probably knows nothing of it either, yet society will expect children from us, especially now that we're soon to be the Duke and Duchess. She bit her lip, thoughts racing." I'll have to ask Caleb or Mr. Loverhart about Dominic's condition. Although… Mr. Loverhart is like a lovesick puppy around me, it's almost pitiful. And he always insists on hovering around, obsessed as ever. One of the reasons Why I ignore him"
A slight smirk crossed her lips as she recalled the many times she'd simply brushed Loverhart aside. "Dominic said he'd be gone for three days," she thought, her fingers tracing absent circles on the tabletop as the light reflected on her wedding ring. 'His presence has an odd familiarity, though, like Frederick. "Her mind drifted to her strange encounters with Frederick, a man whose face she'd never seen due to the mask he always wore. She shivered slightly, recalling the memory of waking to find herself drugged, by Frederick at the bar last night.
"Could Dominic have sent him?" she wondered darkly. "How despicable, if so. But if he does try anything to sabotage what's mine in his three days absence, I'll forget about that bet and strangle him myself! "The thought made her grit her teeth, her knuckles tightening around her teacup.
Setting down her pen, she checked her pocket watch. "Almost 11:30… I should head to the hotel soon." She sighed, collecting her thoughts when movement at the edge of the greenhouse caught her eye.
It was Richard, striding toward her with his hands in his pockets, his posture casual but his gaze keen.
"Richard?" she blinked, surprised to see him here.