Chapter 286

Chapter 286
Evelyn's POV

Dorian's head whipped around as he sensed the shift in attention. His gray-green eyes widened when they landed on me, confusion giving way to dawning horror as his gaze dropped to the flowers in my arms.

"Evelyn—" His voice cracked, desperation etched across his handsome features. "What's going on with that tie clip!"

I didn't acknowledge him, keeping my eyes fixed on Hunter who stood tall and confident at the podium. The silk of my pantsuit rustled softly as I moved, the tailored jacket hugging my frame in a way that made me feel powerful. Behind me, I could hear the shuffle of feet as people leaned forward in their seats, eager not to miss a moment of the drama unfolding before them.

The room fell into complete silence as I approached Hunter, extending the bouquet toward him with a small, genuine smile.

"Congratulations," I said, my voice soft but clear enough to carry through the hushed conference room.

Hunter took the lilies and hydrangeas, cradling them in one arm while his other hand reached for me, pulling me effortlessly against his chest. The familiar scent of his cologne—woody and clean without the overpowering notes Dorian preferred—wrapped around me like a protective shield.

"Thank you," he murmured, his lips brushing against my hair.

We fit together with such natural ease, like two pieces of a puzzle finally reunited. It must have been terrifying for Dorian to witness—how comfortable we were with each other, as if we'd been together just yesterday rather than years apart.

From the corner of my eye, I saw the development committee members exchange bewildered glances. The chairwoman's mouth hung slightly open, her carefully crafted professionalism cracking in the face of our unexpected display.

A chair scraped violently against the floor as Dorian lurched to his feet. "Evelyn!" he shouted, his voice bouncing off the marble walls.

Daniel grabbed his arm, yanking him back while other Blackwood executives moved to surround him. "Man, isn't it obvious?" Daniel hissed, loud enough for me to hear. "Can't you see what's happening? They're in this together. She's been with you for a reason. She and Hunter planned this whole thing—it's a setup!"

The business people filling the room began to murmur, heads bending together as they whispered about the scandalous scene playing out. I caught fragments of their speculation—"affair," "betrayal," "knew all along."

I stepped out of Hunter's embrace, turning to face Dorian for the first time. I kept my expression blank, meeting his desperate gaze with cold detachment. The man who had once made my heart race now made my skin crawl.

"She is just your newest plaything," Marcus called out from his seat, his thin lips curved in a smirk. "Look around at who's here—don't embarrass the Blackwood name any more than you already have."

Phones appeared in hands throughout the room, angled to capture the confrontation. Tomorrow, we'd be headline news across every gossip column in town.

Dorian shoved past Daniel, lunging toward me with wild eyes and flushed cheeks. I instinctively stepped back, my body remembering every time his anger had filled a room.

"Dorian, don't do this," Daniel pleaded, grabbing his shoulder and trying to pull him back. Two other executives moved to block his path.

"Let go of me!" Dorian snarled, fighting against their restraining hands.

His gaze locked on mine, desperate and commanding all at once. "Evelyn, come back here. Now."

I felt Hunter's arm slide protectively around my shoulders, drawing me closer to his side. The weight of it felt like armor against Dorian's demands.

Hunter stepped forward, still holding the bouquet I'd given him. "Long time no see, Dorian," he said, his voice deceptively casual.

With deliberate slowness, he reached up to touch the silver tie clip glinting against his dark blue tie—identical to the one Dorian wore. He tilted it slightly, making sure Dorian couldn't miss the match.

"We both survived by sheer luck, didn't we?" Hunter's voice dropped lower, taking on an edge that sent chills down my spine. "Fancy seeing each other again like this."

The business elite around us shifted uncomfortably in their seats, sensing there was a deeper history at play than a simple professional rivalry.

Dorian broke free from his colleagues and rushed toward the stage, stopping just short of the steps. His perfectly styled hair had fallen across his forehead, and sweat beaded at his temples.

"Evelyn, let's go back to Blackwood Estate," he pleaded, his voice softening in that way I'd once found irresistible. "I made reservations at the Ritz-Carlton. We were supposed to have dinner together tonight, remember?"

I shook my head slowly. "I'm not going back with you."

"Don't be like this," he insisted, stretching his hand toward me. "About Sage, I can explain—"

"Wake the fuck up, man!" Daniel snapped, storming up beside him. "Look at the flowers she prepared, look at that hug. None of it was for you! She knew Hunter would be here today. She knew he would win. When she left the house with you this morning, she already had this all planned out!"

The committee chairwoman stood up, tapping her microphone. "Gentlemen, please, let's maintain some decorum—"

Nobody paid her any attention.

Hunter's laugh was cold as he looked down at Dorian from the stage. "Dorian, don't assume people have to accept your apologies just because you finally decide you want to make them." His arm tightened around me. "If anything had happened to her, you wouldn't even have had the chance to make amends. Evelyn is going to be just fine without you, so don't worry your pretty little head about it."

The blood drained from Dorian's face as the full weight of my betrayal sank in. His lips parted, but no sound came out.

Hunter gently took my hand in his. "Come on, let's go back to Evergreen Valley."

At the mention of Evergreen Valley, something inside Dorian snapped. "Get your hands off her!" he roared, lunging forward only to be caught by James.

Hunter's fingers brushed against the collar of my jacket, adjusting it with familiar tenderness. "You never did like wearing dresses. This suit is more your style, isn't it?"

I nodded mutely, lowering my gaze to avoid looking at Dorian. The realization struck me like a physical blow—Hunter remembered every little thing about me, while Dorian had never truly seen me at all.

We turned to leave, Hunter's hand resting lightly at the small of my back as we walked toward the exit.

"Evelyn! Evelyn!" Dorian's voice grew more frantic with each repetition of my name.

"Let's go," Hunter murmured, urging me forward.

Dorian finally broke free from James's grip. "I swear to God, neither of you is walking out of here!"

I quickened my pace alongside Hunter, never looking back even as Dorian continued to call my name. Each step took me further from the prison I'd been living in, each breath felt lighter than the last.

As we pushed through the conference room doors and stepped into the sunlit corridor beyond, I felt something I hadn't experienced in years—freedom.