Chapter 73

DOMINIC'S POV I ignored Evelyn's endless questions the entire ride back. Her voice buzzed in my ears like a persistent mosquito, flitting from one meaningless topic to the next—trying too hard, too quickly, to sound casual. But I knew her too well. She was trying to distract me. My mind kept going back to what I'd seen in the mall. The strange man she was with. The way their conversation fell silent the moment I appeared. The look of guilt that flickered across her face before she masked it with surprise. And the way he disappeared like a ghost. She was hiding something. "Dominic, you barely shop," she said, her tone forced, too cheery. "Were you buying something... special?" I didn't even glance her way. My eyes stayed on the road, my grip tightening on the wheel. "Yes," I answered curtly. "I came here to buy toys for the twins." She fell silent for a second, and I could feel her disappointment without even looking at her. She had expected a different answer. Maybe she hoped I'd say i