Chapter 375
Chapter 375
To Evadne, it felt like a sharp dagger piercing through her, going in white, coming out red.
“Thaddeus, I’ve never trampled on your dignity. After the divorce, wasn’t it you who shamelessly chased after me every single time?”
Evadne’s eyes welled up with tears, yet she maintained a defiant smirk, attractive but heartbreaking, “You discarded your own dignity, and now you’re blaming me. Have you lost your sense of shame?”
She shouldn’t have come.
She shouldn’t have given a damn about him!
Knowing this would happen, he should’ve been left to his own disaster!
Thaddeus‘ breath hitched, a sudden wave of dizziness,washing over him causing his tall figure to wobble slightly.
“What the hell are you doing?!”
Whoosh!
Before she finished speaking, a small stone, with perfect aim, hit Thaddeus squarely on the back of his head!
Thaddeus winced in pain, his brows furrowing instantly.
At this moment, Chasel was already striding over, reaching to grab the collar of the man’s shirt.
But Thaddeus was quick as lightning!
With a swift sidestep, Thaddeus let Chasel’s attempt fall through, causing the latter to stumble forward a few steps. Tall and lanky as he was, his figure in that moment looked like a praying mantis with its claws out..
Evadne, originally still fuming, bit her lip to suppress a grin at Chasel’s pathetic sight.
Titling his head, Thaddeus ran a hand over the back of his neck, his handsome face shadowed with an alluring touch of menace, “That’s your level of a sneak attack?”
“I’m doing the sneak attack, but at least I’m better than you, who behaved like a hoodlum on this dark night!”
Chasel dusted himself off as he got up from the ground, still somewhat shaken by the man’s earlier reaction, “You’re divorced and still damn laying hands on her. Is this how the President of the Abernathy group would react?”
“What exactly is your relation to her?” Thaddeus glared at Chasel, his eyes full of menace.
This weak sniveling man would dare to attack him for Evadne’s sake.”
It was clear, he too held Evadne close to his heart..
As Chasel opened his mouth, unsure of how to introduce himself, Evadne interjected in a soft voice, “His name is Chasel Bright, a’brain surgeon I brought over from
overseas.”
A brain surgeon?
Thaddeus immediately understood what she meant but remained silent.
“I came here this time, not for anything else, but for your illness.” Evadne’s gaze was steady as she looked at Thaddeus, devoid of any superfluous emotion, like a doctor studying her patient.
Such a distant look was infuriating for Thaddeus.
“I’m not sick.” He responded coldly.
“There’s no need to put on a brave face. Nobody knows better than you whether you’re okay or not.
Evadne said seriously, “Last time, your head suffered a severe blow. Even though I performed surgery on you, the operation wasn’t very successful. Now when you become emotionally agitated, your body starts to tremble uncontrollably, and you lose control of your actions. In the long run, you’ll start to experience hallucinations, fainting spells, and in severe cases, even paralysis. Do you really want to end up like that? Aren’t you afraid of how heartbroken your grandpa will be when he finds out?”
Chasel looked at Evadne in disbelief.
Thaddeus‘ brain surgery was performed by her?! Unbelievable!
“Dr. Bright is a renowned brain specialist inland. I brought him to Elmsworth specifically to treat your post–operative symptoms.”
“You should go back. I don’t need it.” Eyes downcast, Thaddeus refused immediately, without a second thought.
“Thaddeus, do you think I’m here to negotiate with you?” Evadne’s eyes flashed.
“Do you think I’m here to negotiate with you, Evadne?”
Thaddeus locked eyes with her, his gaze as cold as ice, “My affairs have nothing to do with you. I don’t need you to interfere.”
“If you want to continue attending the cocktail party, then head to the banquet hall. If you’re only here to talk about this, then take him and leave.”
With that, Thaddeus turned around to leave without hesitation.
As if he and Evadne had never known each other.
“Asshole! Do you have a death wish?!” Evadne shouted at his retreating figure.
But the man didn’t stop.
“Thaddeus! Stop right there! Thaddeus!”
The man’s figure gradually disappeared into the darkness.
Evadne stood dazedly on the spot, allowing the cold wind to assault her thin figure. She felt the chill seeping into her bones, permeating every inch of her body.
A profound sense of loss crawled up her legs, unavoidable.
“Once, someone offered me 10 million dollars to treat their illness, and I refused. Now, I’ve presented myself to Mr. Abernathy, and he didn’t even give me a second glance
Huh.
!
Chasel leaned against a tree trunk, a smirk playing on his lips, “Should we say Mr. Abernathy a tough guy, or should we say he’s a fool?” “Fool.” Evadne’s eyes were red–rimmed.
“Yeah, I thought so too. Just didn’t want to say it out loud.”
Chasel quietly watched her slightly trembling figure, then softly asked, “Hey, are you still in love with him?”
Evadne’s heart felt like it had been pricked by a needle; she clenched her fist, “What did you say?”
“I asked you, are you still in love with Thaddeus?”
“What’s it to you?”
“You’re still in love with him.” Chasel’s eyes curved in amusement, “The fact that you didn’t answer directly is answer enough.”
“Chasel, at this point, I might as well tell you.”
Evadne slowly turned around to face him, speaking word by word, “I used to love him so much. I even thought that my heart could beat for him for an eternity. Even if he didn’t love me, I could stay with him for a lifetime. But now, more than anything, I feel guilt towards him. just don’t want to owe him anything anymore.”
With that, she gave a carefree laugh and waved her hand, striding forward, “Let it be. Let the past go with the wind.”
Chasel’s heart jolted, the smile on his lips gradually freezing.
He didn’t believe in true love.
But if he did encounter it, he would respect it deeply.
Meanwhile, in the underground parking lot.
Dolores was hiding in the car, crying hysterically. Her mascara was smeared all over her face from her tears; it was a sight for sore eyes.
“Enough! Stop your crying! Look at yourself, a pitiful mess!” Bevis barked, visibly annoyed.
was so embarrassed in front of so many people. I can’t even cry?!”
Dolores whimpered, wiping her tears, “Mr. Abernathy was so unkind. I tripped right in front of him, and he could have at least helped me up! How could he just ignore me! In his eyes, there’s only that witch, Evadne! She’s got him wrapped around her finger!”
Recalling the way Thaddeus was looking at Evadne, the unapologetic gaze, Bevis was equally infuriated.
“Dad, Mr. Abernathy is clearly still smitten with Evadne! What do we do?!” Dolores asked through her sobs.
“Smitten, my foot! If he was still smitten, they wouldn’t have gotten divorced! Divorce means they couldn’t stand to be together even for a day!”
Bevis took a deep breath, his eyes shadowed, “Right now, if you want to get close to Thaddeus, Evadne isn’t your only obstacle! There’s also that girl from the Fairhaven family!”
Dolores immediately thought of Edith, which added to her headache.
Moreover, the rumors about Edith’s clandestine meeting with Thaddeus in the hotel was still the talk of the town, and now there were whispers of a potential marriage alliance between the Fairhaven family and the Abernathy family.
However, she always–felt that Edith, a greenhorn, was no threat.
Evadne, on the other hand, was like a sword dangling over her head, occasionally sending chills down her spine and making her feel like there was a fishbone stuck in her throat, a thorn in her side, and like sitting on pins and needles!
“Yes, there’s also that girl from the Fairhaven family.”
Dolores sniffed, “I can understand if Mr. Abernathy’s still into Evadne, but why is he still tangled with Edith? Am I not even comparable to that girl?!”
“You’re usually sharp enough, but why are you so muddled now!”
Bevis clicked his tongue in disdain, “Thaddeus surely doesn’t fancy Edith. About the hotel incident, it might just be a trick played by Edith in order to marry Thaddeus and become the wife of the Abernathy group’s president. If Thaddeus truly had feelings for that girl from the Fairhaven family, why hasn’t he announced it or made a move until now? This marriage alliance, I don’t think it’s a done deal!”
Upon hearing this, Dolores had an epiphany.
She always listened to her father, and knew that he was a man of great wisdom. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been able to hold his ground in front of her ruthless uncle.
“Since the Fairhaven family can play tricks, why can’t we? Now perhaps we should strike while the iron is hot.” Bevis squinted his calculating eyes.
“Dad, what do you mean?”
“Sweetie, as the saying goes, you can’t catch a wolf without sacrificing a sheep, and you can’t hook a wealthy man without sacrificing your pride!”
Bevis clapped her shoulder, “In my opinion, if you want to get Mr. Abernathy, you need to cast off your pride and go all in.”
Pride? She never had it
Go all in, that was a must!
Without going all in, how could she change her destiny!
“Dad, my dear dad, do you have a plan? Please tell me!” Dolores clung to Bevis‘ arm, pleadingly.
“With your current situation, the chances of meeting Thaddeus privately are not many, so whenever there’s an opportunity, you need to seize it!”
Bevis whispered something into her ear, and Dolores‘ frown eased as she was suddenly enlightened.
“Got it, dad. To become Mr. Abernathy’s woman, I’m willing to do anything you said!”
Thaddeus returned to the party, his expression clearly grim.
Jareth immediately went to his side, studied him for a while, and tentatively asked, “What happened? Did you and Evadne have a falling out?”
“We didn’t have much to talk about in the first place.” Thaddeus slumped in the sofa, picked up his champagne glass, and drained it in one gulp.
Thinking of Evadne, he felt suffocated, restless.
His breathing became heavy, his eyes reddening.
“Man, you can’t even say anything nice! Evadne agreed to meet you. She must have cooled off! Why didn’t you seize the opportunity to win her back, to please her? Don’t tell
me you really want to be my brother–in–law?! I’m the first one from the Fairhaven group to object to your marriage!” Jareth glared at him, looking exasperated.
“Jareth, from the beginning, do you think the only person who did wrong was me?” Thaddeus‘ grip on the champagne glass tightened, the veins on his hand prominent, as if he was suppressing some tormenting emotions.
“What do you mean? If not blaming you, should we blame Evadne?”
“I don’t know.”
“Thaddeus, given the sacrifices Evadne has made for you, you have no right to blame her, to resent her. If you truly love her, whatever she does is right! Don’t try to reason with women, it’s utterly foolish.” Jareth said bluntly.
While Thaddeus was in deep thought, footstep sounds approached them.
“Mr. Abernathy, Mr. Fairhaven, nice to meet you!”
Both of them looked up, standing in front of them were Bevis and Dolores.
The moment Thaddeus saw Dolores, his eyes turned icy cold.
He didn’t utter a single word, but his cold gaze was enough to keep the Ashbourne father and daughter at a distance.
Dolores, who was just crying messily in the parking lot, had now reapplied her makeup meticulously, even accentuating her eyes, making her look pitiful and adorable. Jareth didn’t know Bevis well, and he knew Dolores even less.
However, he was the quintessential aristocrat at heart, and he knew his manners.
So, Jareth got up and with a smile, he asked, “I’m afraid I’m a bit out of touch. May I ask who you are?”
“My name is Bevis Ashbourne. I’m a managing director at the K Group.” Bevis added with a smile, “Oh, speaking of which, Mr. Abernathy, you might know our family, the Ashbournes, a bit better, considering your past ties with my niece.”
“Your niece?” Jareth looked puzzled.
“My brother’s apple of his eye, Evadne. Evadne is my niece.”
As he said this, Bevis slung an arm around Dolores shoulder and grinned, “Evadne is a cousin of my dear Dolores. They’ve grown up together, quite close, really!” Jareth was taken aback!
Turned out Bevis was actually Emeric’s own brother!
This was indeed unexpected and made him see Bevis in a whole new light.
Seeing Jareth’s face soften, Dolores couldn’t help but feel pleased with herself. Having the Ashbournes to back them up had its perks. It certainly elevated their social standing.
“Do you two need something?” Thaddeus swirled his champagne glass and suddenly asked, his tone icy.
He did not show any enthusiasm for them being Ashbournes.
In fact, he found Bevis‘ constant mention of Evadne in an attempt to get closer to him utterly distasteful.
Over the years, as the–CEO of the Abernathy group, he had seen all sorts of scheming individuals in the world of high society. Despite his youth, he was a good judge of character.
Although Bevis was Emeric’s brother, he was nothing like Chairman Emeric.
And naturally, he was nothing like Thaddeus either.
“Well, my daughter, she was a bit forward in your presence earlier. I’ve brought her here to apologize. But my daughter is not an impertinent woman, so I hope, Mr. Abernathy, you won’t take it in a wrong way.” Bevis said, trying to lighten the mood with a smile.
“Mr. Abernathy, I’m really, really sorry for my behavior earlier.” Dolores‘ hands clasped in front of her in an attempt to look as pitiful as possible.