Chapter 240

**Evelyn's POV**

Three days later, I found myself amid the glittering splendor of a Beverly Hills hotel ballroom, my mind still reeling from the energy project bidding conference. The moment was burned into my memory—standing beside Hunter in front of everyone, choosing to walk away from Dorian. I could still feel the weight of shocked stares boring into my back. I gotta admit, betraying Dorian didn't feel good. In that moment, it felt great, but after that, all I could think about were Dorian's shocked and hurt expressions. What was I thinking?

Hunter had brought me to this high-society charity ball, saying it was time for me to reintegrate into social circles and publicly declare my choice. The ballroom sparkled with crystal chandeliers, but my nerves remained on edge.

"Relax, little deer," Hunter whispered near my ear, using the nickname that belonged only to us. "No one can hurt you anymore."

I clung to Hunter's arm, wearing the deep blue evening gown he'd selected for me. We had barely stepped into the ballroom when a familiar voice suddenly boomed through the microphone, making me freeze in place.

"Distinguished guests," Dorian stood at a small stage in the center of the ballroom, microphone in hand, his eyes fixed directly on me. "Tonight, there's someone whose presence particularly surprises me—my dear 'wife' Evelyn."

He emphasized the word "wife" with a mocking tone that made my stomach clench painfully.

"Evelyn, how quickly your face changes," he continued, his voice echoing throughout the ballroom. "So intimate with me before, was it all just an act?"

His words were venomous, and despite my mental preparation, I felt dizzy. My face drained of color, my hands trembling involuntarily.

"Dorian, you're talking nonsense," I managed to say, though my voice sounded weaker than I'd intended.

Hunter stood beside me, his expression dark but composed. "Mr. Blackwood, we're all civilized people here. Don't you think smearing Evelyn makes you look foolish?"

"You weren't there when she seduced me," Dorian retorted with a cold smile. "Her allure, her tenderness—you couldn't feel any of it."

Among the shocked stares, Dorian suddenly announced, "None of that matters anymore. Because I'm going to take my wife back. Evelyn, you will always belong only to me."

A wave of whispers swept through the crowd. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Madison Fox being politely but firmly escorted out of the ballroom by security guards. She had clearly intended to create more chaos but was stopped in time.

The ball temporarily returned to order as guests began taking their seats. Hunter squeezed my hand reassuringly and whispered, "Don't take it to heart, Evelyn. This is just his vindictive nature."

Before dinner began, I signaled to Hunter that I needed to visit the restroom. As I walked down the long corridor, I sensed someone following me. Before I could turn around, a pair of strong hands suddenly gripped my shoulders.

"Help—" I cried out, but was quickly dragged into an empty conference room nearby.

Dorian pushed me inside and swiftly locked the door. I backed away, trying to maintain distance between us.

"Don't try anything," I warned, "there are surveillance cameras everywhere—"

"Surveillance?" Dorian scoffed, pointing at the ceiling. "This room is specifically used for 'private matters.' Do you think I'm that stupid?"

He advanced toward me, his eyes filled with resentment. "How does it taste—that piece of meat you snatched from my mouth? Do you really think Hunter will stay faithful to you?"

"You don't understand Hunter," I said with disgust. "For him, the days you brought were his darkest times, ones he never wants to mention."

Dorian's gaze grew darker. "We can call it even, Evelyn. If you come back to me, I can forget your betrayal."

"Impossible," I said firmly. "I will never return to you."

"I can disappoint others," he said in a low, dangerous voice, "but you absolutely cannot disappoint me."

I lunged toward the door, but he was faster, tackling me onto the conference table. My back slammed against the hard surface, the pain momentarily stealing my breath.

Dorian's fingers clutched the collar of my evening gown and yanked forcefully. The delicate fabric tore instantly, exposing my shoulder. I struggled in terror, but he held me down firmly.

The next second, he bit down hard on my exposed shoulder, the sharp pain making me cry out: "Let go, let go, it hurts—"

Instead of stopping, he bit the same spot again, even harder. Tears flowed uncontrollably down my face. "It hurts, Dorian, please..."

Finally, he released his teeth, but then bent down and sucked heavily on my neck, leaving an obvious mark.

"Remember," he whispered in my ear, his voice ice-cold, "you will always be mine, Evelyn. I won't let you and Hunter have peace."

I realized that even though I had helped Hunter return and appear in the public eye, my heart had been stolen by Dorian, this demon. I had been lying to myself, pretending I still loved Hunter, when only Dorian could make my heart race. His mistakes from three years ago had been balanced by my betrayal, but my heart was still deceiving me.

Instinctively, I kissed him. Dorian was surprised, but he grasped the back of my head and deepened the kiss. The world seemed to stop around us.

"What are we doing?" I whispered when we finally broke apart, my voice trembling with confusion.

His eyes burned with intensity. "What we should have been doing all along. Stop fighting what's between us, Evelyn."

"But after everything—the lies, the pain—how can this be real?" My mind was spinning, trying to reconcile the hatred I thought I felt with the electricity running through my body at his touch.

"Ask yourself who you think about when you wake up. Who haunts your dreams." His hand moved to cup my face. "It's me, isn't it?"

I couldn't speak, couldn't deny the truth in his words. For all my plans of revenge, for all my declarations of love for Hunter, my body betrayed me every time Dorian was near.

"We're toxic together," I finally managed.

A smile curved his lips. "We're magnificent together. Everything else is just noise."

His certainty was almost hypnotic. Had I really been lying to myself all this time?

Dorian pressed his forehead against mine. "Come home, Evelyn. Not because you owe me, not because I'm forcing you. Come home because you want to."

For a moment, I allowed myself to imagine it—returning to Blackwood Estate, to the passion that had always simmered beneath our battles.

But then Hunter's face flashed in my mind—his kindness, his steadiness, the history we shared. The man who had never betrayed me.

"I can't," I whispered, pulling back. "I need time to think."

"You can run from me, Evelyn, but you can't run from what you feel." He gestured to the mark on my neck. "Your heart belongs to me, whether you admit it or not."

Before I could respond, a commotion erupted in the hallway. The door handle jiggled, followed by Hunter's voice. "Evelyn? Are you in there?"

Dorian and I stared at each other, the moment between us shattering like glass.