Try Another One!

Facing Jeremiah's warm, inquiring gaze, the boiling anger in Evangeline’s chest rapidly cooled down into a dull simmer. For a fleeting moment, she felt dazzled by the elder's kind smile. It reminded her deeply of her own beloved grandfather, Silas. She took a steadying breath and gathered her composure. "Dominic asked me to help him dispose of his clothes," she clarified in a calm, clear voice. "Finley got the wrong idea about it."

The tense silence broke as all eyes shifted toward the doorway of the study. Dominic stood there, a tall, imposing figure framing the entrance. He offered a stiff, minuscule nod, a tacit confirmation of her statement. He had told her to do as she pleased with the jacket, which meant tossing it out was a valid option.

Relief smoothed the deep wrinkles on Jeremiah's face. He was visibly glad to know his future granddaughter-in-law was not at fault. He immediately turned a stern gaze upon his grandson. "Ah, so it is a misunderstanding. Apologize to Evangeline right now, you brat!"

Finley’s face twisted in disgust. His knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists, glaring a hole into the floorboards. He knew he was in the wrong, but swallowing his pride felt like swallowing shards of glass.

"What are you waiting for? Apologize," Jeremiah pressed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Finley squeezed his eyes shut. His chest heaved with shallow breaths. "I'm sorry," he muttered through gritted teeth, the bitter resentment clear in his voice.

Evangeline watched his humiliation unfold. She had done nothing wrong, yet a sharp twinge of unwarranted guilt gnawed at her stomach as she watched the boy forced into submission. She shifted her weight. "Uh... It's nothing," she faltered.

Jeremiah’s expression softened. He looked at Evangeline with earnest joy. "Please get along well with each other from now on. I am looking forward to you becoming the Vane Family's daughter-in-law."

Her heart sank into her stomach. Get along with this volatile boy? That seemed impossible. She wanted nothing to do with this family.

Early the very next morning, the sprawling Vane Manor hummed with the quiet activity of the cleaning staff. Finley trudged down the carpeted hall, his mind brewing with a vengeful need for payback. The humiliation from the previous night still burned in his veins. He spotted a manor cleaner working near the second-floor landing.

"Mr. Finley, please be careful," she warned. "The floor is a bit slippery."

Finley paused. A malicious prank took shape in his mind. He turned to the cleaner with a smooth smile. "Madam, could you please bring me a heavy bucket of mop water?"

Unsuspecting, the woman fetched a bucket of soapy water. She gasped in shock when Finley hoisted the heavy plastic rim and poured the slippery contents straight down the grand, polished marble staircase. The liquid cascaded over the steps, pooling on the slick stone.

"Don't clean the stairs for now," Finley ordered. "Do it after breakfast."

Knowing his reputation for trouble, the cleaner scurried away without a word. Finley knew Evangeline was the only person left upstairs. He ducked behind a marble pillar around the corner, chuckling to himself. He eagerly anticipated the heavy thud of her body tumbling down the steps, waiting for her humiliating fall to the bottom.

Unaware of the treacherous trap waiting for her, Evangeline stepped out of her bedroom. She sleepily headed for the staircase, her dark makeup set for the day. In the hallway, she crossed paths with an impeccably dressed Dominic. He politely stepped aside, allowing her to take the lead.

She gave him a brief nod of thanks and started her descent.

Barely three steps down, her shoe hit the invisible puddle of soapy water.

Friction vanished beneath her sole. She slipped backward, her arms flailing as her stomach dropped in sheer panic. She squeezed her eyes shut and braced for the agonizing crunch of bone against marble.

The hard impact never came.

Instead, a pair of strong arms wrapped securely around her waist. She found herself caught firmly in a warm, muscular embrace. A soothing, clean scent filled her senses. Her breath hitched in her throat. Her back pressed flush against Dominic's broad, solid chest, his hands gripping her waist tightly to keep her steady. The heat of his body seeped through her thin clothing.

A fierce blush heated her cheeks under her thick foundation. Panic flared, and she shoved off his chest, springing away as if she had been electrocuted.

She scrambled to put distance between them, frantic to escape the intense proximity of his towering frame.

"I helped you out yesterday at the party because Grandpa told me to," Dominic’s voice sliced through the heavy, lingering tension. His tone was freezing, laced with detachment. "Don't get the wrong idea."

Evangeline froze on the step. She took a slow, deep breath, steadying the erratic hammering of her heart. She turned back around, meeting his icy stare with a brilliant, mocking smile.

"I've always known my place very well, Mr. Dominic," she retorted smoothly, refusing to back down.

She searched his stoic face and caught a minuscule flicker of emotion crossing his features. Her grin widened into something bold and daring. "But you are so kind to me. I am afraid I might just lose control over myself and cross the line one day."

Dominic stood motionless, stunned into silence by her brazen reply. Satisfied with her counterattack, Evangeline turned her back on him and gracefully finished her descent down the dry side of the stairs.

Down in the elegant dining room, daylight poured through the tall windows. Finley sat at the long mahogany table, idly chatting and laughing with Lucian. He kept an ear tuned toward the grand staircase, waiting for the inevitable scream of pain.

Footsteps clicked steadily against the floorboards. Evangeline strolled through the archway, looking perfectly unscathed and deeply amused.

Finley’s cruel laughter died in his throat. His jaw slacked. Thoroughly defeated, he dropped his dry toast onto his plate and shoved his chair back, attempting to abandon his breakfast and flee the room.

"Sit down, Finley!" Jeremiah snapped, his booming voice halting the boy in his tracks.

Finley slumped back into his chair.

Jeremiah's stern glare transformed into a cheerful smile as he greeted Evangeline. "Hurry up and eat. Dominic will be driving you both to school today."

Finley’s face contorted in disgust. "Why? I don't want to go to school with her!" he protested, his voice tinged with bitter dread.

"My decision is final," Jeremiah stated, his tone leaving no room for negotiation.

Realizing his carefully planned staircase trap had failed, a heavy dread settled over Finley. He was inescapably saddled with her suffocating presence for the entire morning commute. He snatched his toast off the plate and viciously bit into the dry crust. He chewed with a burning anger, glaring at Evangeline across the table.

Since that trick didn't work to drive her away, he vowed silently, gripping his fork, I'll try another one!