She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 282

Preston's face was impassive, but his words cut like a knife.

Dominic immediately panicked.

"Melanie, don't listen to his nonsense. Evelyn is family. I only look out for Lila because she’s Everett’s daughter—she’s my niece!"

Dominic spoke with forced conviction. His speech was fast and his tone heavy, but it only exposed his guilt and agitation.

"That's right. Evelyn is family, so you should treat her child as your own," Melanie said, going along with his words.

Dominic looked at Melanie, his eyes filled with delight.

Melanie was truly magnanimous, sensible, and understanding.

The more Melanie acted this way, the more it made Evelyn seem like a venomous snake.

Dominic's emotions vacillated between pleasant surprise and disappointment.

The surprise came from Melanie.

The disappointment came from Evelyn.

Dominic led Melanie and Preston to Lila's hospital room.

Lila hadn't woken up yet, but the doctor said all her vitals were normal and she would likely regain consciousness tomorrow.

"I'm planning to stay here with Lila tonight..."

Dominic trailed off, hinting. As his wife, if he was staying, Melanie should naturally stay too.

It was what a dutiful wife would do.

She couldn't possibly leave him alone at the hospital and go off with Preston, could she?

Dominic waited with anticipation for Melanie to say she would stay with him.

"Since Lila is fine, I'll head back. I have work waiting for me at the office, and I'll have to work late tonight, so I can't stay with you and Lila."

Melanie's excuse was perfectly reasonable, and even though Dominic was disappointed, he couldn't find any fault in it.

Just as Melanie turned to leave, Dominic's phone suddenly rang.

After hanging up, Dominic's face was a mask of conflict.

"Melanie, something's happened to Evelyn. Gavin is waiting for me at Crestline General. As for Lila... I'll have to trouble you to stay here. I'll hire a nurse to watch her, but I don't know when Lila will wake up, so someone needs to be here. I have to ask you to do this. I'll make it up to you, I promise. Just name it."

Dominic's words were polite, but in reality, from start to finish, he was stating facts, giving Melanie an order, not making a request.

Without waiting to see if Melanie agreed, Dominic finished speaking and rushed out of the room in a panic.

A while later, a nurse came in to look after Lila. Melanie and Preston left the room and went outside the emergency building.

The summer night was still muggy. Melanie took a deep breath, but it did nothing to ease the tightness in her chest.

She didn't speak, and Preston remained silent as well.

Someone as sharp as Preston must have long since seen the numerous problems in her marriage with Dominic.

Perhaps that was why he had dared to confess his feelings to her so directly.

But he had never asked about her, Dominic, Evelyn, or even Lila.