Chapter 281

Chapter 281
Evelyn's POV

I stood in the living room of Azure Heights, arms crossed defensively over my chest. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. Daniel approached me, holding out my phone.

"Here," he said gruffly.

I stared at the device but made no move to take it. "I can leave now, right? I don't understand why we're even here."

Daniel's eyes narrowed. "We haven't gotten any answers yet."

"Isn't it just some online rumors?" I kept my voice casual, dismissive. "Dorian doesn't lack this kind of gossip. Scaring a college student like this seems excessive."

Dorian stepped closer, his tall frame casting a shadow over me. He picked up my phone from the coffee table and held it out. "No one suspects you."

"I don't have anything important to handle," I said, still refusing to take it. "You can keep it."

The corner of Dorian's mouth twitched. He wasn't used to being refused, especially not by me. Usually, I played the part of the dutiful wife, but tonight I couldn't stomach the act.

"Why are we dealing with this trivial matter in person?" I asked, watching his face for any reaction. "Couldn't your legal team handle an online smear campaign?"

Without waiting for an answer, I moved toward the bedroom where they were keeping Willa. I needed to see her again, to make sure she was okay.

Dorian's hand shot out, grabbing my arm. "Not allowed."

I pulled against his grip. "Why hide things like this? Did she do something else? Otherwise, you wouldn't need to make such a fuss." I stared directly into his gray-green eyes. "What are you hiding, Dorian?"

His fingers tightened momentarily before he released me. "Fine. Go see for yourself."

I pushed past him, ignoring the warning glance Daniel shot his way. When I opened the door, my stomach turned.

Willa was sitting on the floor, her wrists bound with what looked like one of Dorian's expensive ties. There was a cloth stuffed in her mouth, and her once-neat braids were coming undone. Her glasses sat crookedly on her nose, and I could see tear tracks on her cheeks. Her blouse was torn at the shoulder, exposing red marks where she'd obviously struggled against restraints.

I moved toward her, intending to remove the gag, but one of Dorian's men stepped forward, blocking my path after a subtle nod from Daniel.

"Mrs. Blackwood," Daniel said smoothly, "this girl is fierce and bites. You're Dorian's treasure - I can't be responsible if you get bitten."

"Does she know who I am?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.

Daniel turned to Willa. "Do you know Mrs. Blackwood here?"

Her eyes, wide with terror, darted between us before she shook her head frantically.

"Why gag her if you want to question her?" I asked pointedly.

Daniel's smile didn't reach his eyes. "We've tried questioning. She wasn't cooperative."

I studied Willa closely. She didn't seem to recognize me at all, which was good. She only looked scared, her gaze darting between me and the men, as if I was just another one of her captors. With one last look at her, I turned and left the room.

"I've seen enough," I said as I brushed past Dorian.

In the car on the way back to Blackwood Estate, Dorian tried to hand me my phone again. "Take it," he insisted.

I kept my hands in my lap. "Keep it with you."

Leaning back against the leather seat, I closed my eyes. "I'm tired."

Dorian shifted closer, his arm moving to encircle my shoulders. I immediately tensed and turned slightly away from him. His cologne, usually enticing, now made my stomach churn.

"Dragged into a farce for no reason when I could be sleeping comfortably at home," I muttered.

"Daniel was just being cautious," Dorian started to explain. "He thought—"

"Don't you think he did this deliberately?" I cut him off, opening my eyes to glare at him. "To make me feel you don't trust me, to make me feel you're hiding something from me."

Dorian's face hardened for a moment before softening into an expression I'd seen countless times. The one he used when he wanted to appear sincere. "I will never distrust you. Never."

I wasn't listening anymore. His words meant nothing compared to his actions tonight.

The vibration of his phone broke the silence. Dorian answered it, his expression changing from annoyance to shock as he listened.

"What?" he barked. "How?" More listening, his jaw tightening by the second. "I'll be right there."

He hung up and turned to me. "Daniel has been taken away."

"Taken where?" I asked, though I had a pretty good guess.

"Someone reported to the police," he said, his voice cold. He picked up my phone from where he'd placed it between us and handed it to me again. "Go home and sleep. I might be back late."

This time I took the phone, sliding it into my pocket. "Will you be in trouble?"

He shook his head. "It's just a misunderstanding. I'll handle it."

As I started to exit the car, he caught my wrist. "Evelyn." His voice was uncharacteristically soft. "No matter what others do, I always trust you."

I felt a lump forming in my throat as I nodded and pulled away, clutching the phone in my pocket. He only said that because we'd been together the whole time and he had possession of my phone. He had no reason to suspect me.

Back at Blackwood Estate, I slipped into our bedroom and immediately pulled out my phone, fingers flying over the screen.

Your cousin is in trouble. Do you know? I texted Hunter.

The response came almost instantly. I know. I had someone report to the police. She's safe now.

Relief washed over me so strongly I had to sit down on the edge of the bed, my legs suddenly weak.

How did you know where to find her? I asked.

I knew she was taken but didn't know where, he replied. You appeared at her school, so I guessed you were with her. After tracking your location to that complex, I called the police after you left.

My hands trembled slightly as I typed back. Your timing was perfect.

There was a pause before his next message appeared on my screen, the words making my heart race.

Evelyn, in just a few days you can come back.