All Chapters of The Don’s Dangerous Addiction: Chapter 51 - Chapter 60

The banquet hall of the Devereux estate was grander than Avery had imagined. Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting a warm, golden glow that made every face appear as though it were glazed in porcelain.Dominic held Avery close to him, a posture that made her skin crawl. The silk of her gown was thin; she could feel the heat of his palm seeping through the fabric.A massive sign-in wall stood at the main entrance—a deep gray backdrop with "Devereux" embossed in gold, flanked by the logos of sponsors and partner institutions: Devereux Biotech, Sacred Heart Medical Group, and several laboratories whose names she didn't recognize. A line of photographers stood before the wall, their flashes crackling as every newcomer stopped to offer a practiced smile.A staff member in formal attire offered champagne with a smile. Dominic took a glass, and just as Avery reached for another, his fingers moved first, clamping firmly around her wrist. He smoothly

Avery walked out of the dressing room.She had changed into a spare silver-gray silk gown provided by the estate. The cool fabric against her skin did little to suppress the searing heat of the turmoil raging within her. She had pinned her long hair up again, hiding the fine beads of cold sweat at the nape of her neck. Save for a slight pallor to her lips, she looked every bit the calm, self-possessed doctor.However, the keycard hidden in her clutch still made her heart thud with residual fear. She could still feel the weight of those eight minutes in the archives—the darkness, the ticking clock, the certainty that at any moment, the door would burst open. Crossing the corridor, Avery ran straight into Victor, who was lurking at the corner leading back to the main hall. He wasn't inside clinking glasses; instead, flanked by black-suited bodyguards, he leaned against a pillar as if waiting for someone.An unlit cigar was held between his finge

Avery reached out and gently smoothed a stray lock of Sophia’s hair. "You said you were going crazy last time, too.""Last time was last time. This is different." Sophia set her cup down, her eyes sparkling with a curious intensity. "That Evan Thorne—the blind date I told you about. We met again. He was the one who asked me out. He claimed we didn't get to talk deeply enough last time and said he wanted to get to know me better."Avery’s hand, mid-stir, paused. "And?"Sophia leaned her chin on her hand. "A few days ago, he suddenly messaged me, wanting to grab dinner. When I asked what for, he just said he wanted to chat. Don't you think he’s a bit strange?"Avery continued stirring her coffee slowly. "And after that?""Well, we had the dinner. He asked if I was settling in at Sacred Heart, asked what I like to do in my free time. The conversation was normal enough, but..." Sophia frowned, searching for the words. "I can&rsq

Dorothea required two stitches on her forehead.Because she was so young, the local anesthetic had to be strictly limited. She trembled with pain throughout the procedure but never made a sound, her small hand simply crushing Avery's fingers in a desperate grip. Avery could feel every tremor, every silent scream that never came. Her own throat tightened with the effort of holding back tears.This silent endurance made Avery's heart ache with a crushing sense of guilt.It was late at night by the time they returned to the villa. Avery emailed the school to request a week's leave for Dorothea. Once the child was settled and asleep, she opened the file the teacher had sent: the playground surveillance footage.In the video, three girls—each half a head taller than Dorothea—cornered her like hunters closing in on prey. The leader, a girl with a high ponytail, pointed aggressively at Dorothea's face, her mouth moving in what was clearly loud,

The corridors of the sanitarium were deep and echoing. As Avery led Dorothea through the quiet space, their two sets of footsteps created a rhythmic cadence against the sterile walls.The nurse behind the station spared her a quick glance. There was no polite small talk; she simply offered a solemn nod toward the far end of the hallway.The door was ajar. Avery pushed it open, met by a sharp, clinical draft of antiseptic. Julian was propped up against the headboard. The sunlight hitting his face revealed a much healthier color in his cheeks than before.At the sound of the door, he turned his head slowly. His gaze locked onto Avery’s face for a brief moment before darting past her to find Dorothea."Sis."Avery’s heart constricted. Her eyes burned as she crossed the room in a few strides and sat at his bedside, gripping his hand with all her strength. His fingers squeezed back.Dorothea climbed onto the chair at the foot of the bed, her arms tightly encircling her rabbit’s ears. She r