SWNOVELS Chapter 393
Chapter 393
When Elspeth and Glynnis heard that there had been a shooting and that Evadne and her secretary Jason had been injured, and that Ward was now a wanted man, they were beyond terrified, their hearts burning with fear and worry.
“Mom, mom, what do we do now?”
With a crisp slap, Elspeth, her eyes bloodshot, struck Glynnis across her flushed face in her fury, sending her tumbling back onto a coffee table. She was in so much pain that she barely could stand up.
Despite her usually delicate and gentle demeanor, she had hit her own daughter with the force of a fury, showing a strength they hardly knew she possessed.
1
Glynnis‘ cheek swelled as if she’d stuffed a mini bagel inside her mouth. Through her tears and messy hair, she glared at Elspeth with a look of deep resentment.
“You incompetent fool! Who asked you to interfere? I wanted you to take care of the maid, not touch Evadne!”
Elspeth was seething but dared not raise her voice, her harsh words twisted with anger, “Do you even know who Evadne is? Emeric’s precious gem! Hamilton’s apple of his eyes! Thaddeus‘ dream girl! You targeted her at such a critical time. If you want to die, fine, but don’t drag me down with you!”
“I did all this because you’re my mom, do you not understand?!”
Glynnis managed to stand up, her voice shaky with sobs, “You said it yourself, this was a golden chance! Evadne meeting Erica in secret. Surely they wouldn’t have any bodyguards. Ward is a mercenary, killing her would be as easy as squashing an ant! If we succeeded, you wouldn’t be manipulated by her anymore!”
“But did you succeed? Now even Ward is on the most wanted list!”
Elspeth was fuming; she wished she could strangle her impossibly stupid daughter.
Unable to control her rage, she trembled, quickly wrapping herself in a blanket like a burrito.
Tomorrow she would have to visit Victor for an injection. Without any medication, her emotions were unstable, and she couldn’t even sleep.
“First it was Alex, now Ward, all because of you! I’ve lost two key players!”
“How am I to blame for Alex! You didn’t like Myra and wanted to mess with him. What does that have to do with me!” Glynnis was a sharp one; she would admit to her mistakes, but wouldn’t take the fall for others.
What relieved Elspeth was that as Glynnis‘ biological father, Alex didn’t rat her out.
But what about Ward? He was in the national list as wanted by the police, and Thaddeus also had pulled all strings to capture him.
Would he give her out under such pressure?
At that moment, her phone rung, startling them both.
With trembling hands, Elspeth picked up the phone. It was a private number.
It took her a while to answer, “Hello?”
“P
“Ward, is that you?”
“Mrs. Abernathy, it’s me.” Mr. Ward’s voice was unusually low, and the signal was poor.
“Where are you?!”
“I’m safe for the time being. Mrs. Abernathy, I need some money for travel expenses. Please arrange it within three days.”
Elspeth turned her back to Glynnis and asked in a low voice, “How much do you need?”
“20 million, and I need a boat. I plan to smuggle myself into another country.”
“20 million?!”
Elspeth gasped, her eyes wide with shock, “Where on earth am I supposed to get that kind of money! Besides, if not for your reckless actions, we wouldn’t be in this mess! You have the audacity to ask me for 20 million?!”
“Mrs. Abernathy, over the years I’ve handled countless problems for you. You’re well aware of that.”
Ward’s tone was steady, cold and threatening, “I’ve helped you secure your position as the wife of the Abernathy Group’s CEO. It wasn’t easy. I think 20 million before my retirement is fair. It’s what I deserve.”
“You!”
“Besides, as the wife of the Abernathy Group’s CEO, a woman of wealth and power, surely 20 million is just pocket change to you. Your savings in the Country R bank alone, which I know is embezzled from the Abernathy Group projects, should be 100 or at least 50 million, right?”
Elspeth thought of her secret stash, a hard–earned 100 million, accumulated over the years through corruption and bribery.
If this money was discovered by Thaddeus and Evadne, they could easily use it against her, and she would be in big trouble.
What awaited her then was a lifetime behind bars!
Unless Frederic, out of their marital bond, decided to protect her. But right now, she couldn’t trust Frederic anymore.
“Mrs. Abernathy, you’re not even fifty yet. You still have many years of luxury and wealth ahead of you, and you have two daughters yet to be married. Don’t you want to see them wed? Don’t you want to enjoy life with your grandkids? Given how delicate you are, the conditions in prison are harsh. One day there might be too much for you.”
It was a clear threat!
With gritted teeth, Elspeth made a decision, “Fine! I’ll get you 20 million within three days! But after that, you must disappear. Don’t ever show your face in Elmsworth again!”
“Three days is too late. I can’t wait that long. Not only is there police that are looking for me, but also Thaddeus and Jareth who are tracking me secretly I need to see the money in my account by sundown tomorrow. Mrs. Abernathy, let’s not make this a lose–lose situation.”
In the hall, Alva happened to be passing Elspeth’s room with a suit that Thaddeus had just tailored.
When she reached the door, she heard the sound of things being smashed inside.
Alva frowned and muttered to herself, “Crazy old witch, what’s she up to now? Even if she married Zeus himself, she wouldn’t change her shrewish nature!”
At this moment, Alva’s phone buzzed, a call from Thaddeus.
Alva quickly moved to a corner to take the call, “Hello? Mr. Abernathy, are you coming home tonight?”
“Alva, are Elspeth and Glynnis at Windermere Estate?” Thaddeus was always gentle with Alva.
“They are. I just eavesdropped at the door and it seems they were arguing quite fiercely. I think they’ve almost smashed all the vases in the room.”
Concerned, Alva asked, “Mr. Abernathy, has something happened? You haven’t come home for these days.”
After some thought, Thaddeus decided not to tell Alva about Erica’s death yet, fearing she might not take it well, “Alva, I need you to do something for me in the next few days. Please don’t leave Windermere Estate and keep an eye on Elspeth. If she leaves, inform me immediately. Don’t interfere with anything else.”
“Yes, Mr. Abernathy, I got it!”
“Remember, don’t meddle in anything unnecessary, Elspeth is a wicked woman. If provoked, she’s capable of anything.” Thaddeus‘ voice was somber. Alva felt a chill, “Mr. Abernathy, what on earth has happened? Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Erica for a couple of days either. She hasn’t asked for a leave from the housekeeper, and I can’t reach her on the phone. Has something happened?!”
“I’ll let you know about Erica when the time is right. Just do as I told you for now.”
As Thaddeus was about to end the call, Elspeth emerged from her room.
In the dead of night, the usually flamboyant Elspeth was dressed rather low–key, all in black.
To the uninitiated, she might have appeared to be a widow.
Alva hurriedly dodged and ran to the window, watching Elspeth get into the car and drive away from Windermere Estate.
“Mr. Abernathy! Elspeth just left the house!”
Alva quickly reported to Thaddeus, “She’s dressed in black, like a widow. It doesn’t look like she’s up to any good!”
Upon receiving Alva’s report, Thaddeus immediately dispatched Gordon to tail Elspeth.
The man was just wanted by the police and Elspeth was leaving in a hurry; it couldn’t be a coincidence!
Perhaps, by tailing Elspeth, they could catch the murderer!
Two days passed, and Thaddeus was still staying in the hospital, in a room separated by a wall from Evadne’s.
During the 48 hours, he didn’t disturb Evadne. Only when she had taken her sedatives and fallen asleep would he stand at the door, gazing at her gaunt
but still beautiful sleeping face through the glass window, and then raise his hand to trace the contours of her peaceful face on the glass with his fingertips.
He could stay like this with her, silently.
What he feared was that she might not even want his quiet companionship.
“Thaddeus.”
The door to the smoking room opened and Thaddeus‘ cigarette trembled at his fingertips as he turned to see Elvis at the door.
Elvis walked up to him and stood shoulder to shoulder with him, “Give me a cigarette, will you?”
Thaddeus‘ eyelashes fluttered as he handed him a cigarette, which he put between his lips, and then motioned for Thaddeus to light it for him.
The man’s brows slightly furrowed, he did what Elvis said.
No one had ever made Mr. Abernathy stoop so low before; Elvis was the first.
Well, considering he was one of his brothers–in–law, Thaddeus had come to terms with it. Being grumpy and acting superior in front of the Ashbourne family was pointless and only made him disliked.
Now, if he was to have any hope with Evadne, he had to take a detour.
Elvis took a deep puff and blew out smoke rings, teasing Thaddeus, “You have incredible self–control. You haven’t gone in once these past few days, just watching her from afar. If I were you, I would have rushed into the room, passionately kissed her, made love to her.”
As he spoke, he even licked his lips.
Thaddeus‘ hand trembled.
Talking so openly in front of him, this crazy man didn’t consider him an outsider at all.
“Recently, I’ve been too busy taking care of my sister.”
In the smoky room, Elvis‘ face became serious, “So I need you to help me. Inform me as soon as you hear anything. I’ll kill him myself!”
With that, he clenched his fist, making a menacing cracking sound.
Thaddeus was silent for a moment before crushing his cigarette butt, “You don’t need to get involved. I can handle it.”
“No, you can’t.” Elvis flatly stated.
“We’re both doing this for Evadne. Why can’t I?” Thaddeus asked, puzzled.
“If you really want a future with Evadne, then you better behave.”
Elvis lowered his eyelids, spread his palm, and then slowly clenched it, his gaze somewhat obscure, “I’m used to this sort of thing. But you’re not. If you have blood on your hands, things could spiral out of control. Evadne wouldn’t want you if you were a murderer.”
“I already have blood on my hands.”
Thaddeus lit another cigarette, a bitter smile on his lips, “When I was a special forces soldier in the peacekeeping troops in Zenithia, I killed more than one person.”
“You know it’s not the same. All I’m saying is I hope you don’t cause more trouble. The more trouble you cause, the more trouble Evadne will be in.”
Elvis snorted, “Don’t think I care about you. I’m only doing this for my sister.”
“I know, but I still want to thank you.”
Thaddeus‘ eyes shimmered slightly, he cleared his throat and softly called out, “You’re my brother–in–law.”
Elvis turned to look at him in surprise.
What the hell? Did he hear that right? What did this douchebag call him?!
Thaddeus pressed his lips, his jawline gradually tensing.
For some reason, a wave of embarrassment washed over him. He had never kissed up to anyone like this in his thirty years of life!
Yes, to him, this was already kissing–up.
If Jareth were to find out, he’d probably laugh about it for a year.
The atmosphere was awkward.
Suddenly, Elvis‘ phone rang, breaking the silence.
“What’s up?”
“Mr. Waverley, Avery wishes to see Miss Ashbourne. We’ve stopped him, as per your instructions.” The bodyguard reported truthfully.
“Good job! I’ll treat you to a round of beers later!”
“Thank you, Mr. Waverley! We’ll guard the door like hawks. He won’t get past us!”
Hanging up the phone, the corner of Elvis‘ mouth curled up in a devilish grin, “Well, let’s go.”
“Go where?” Thaddeus looked puzzled.
“To help you vent some anger, in honor of how you called me. What do you think?”
Outside the hospital room where Evadne was staying.
He just found out that Avery, who had been barred from entering by the Ashbourne family’s bodyguards, which made him astonished.
Even though Evadne had clearly rejected him not long ago, Emeric had always been on his side.
Ever since their talk, Chairman Emeric had looked at him with newfound respect, as if he were his own son.
How dare people from the Ashbourne family stop him!
“Let me in.” Avery adjusted his golden–rimmed glasses, a cold glint reflected in the lenses.
“Sorry, Mr. Chambers, you can’t go in.” The bodyguard was firm.
“We’re just doing what we’ve been told. Please don’t make things difficult for us, sir.” The other bodyguard chimed in.
“What did you say?”
Avery’s jaw clenched, his eyes dark, “You should know my relationship with Chairman Emeric. Are you not afraid that he’ll give you a hard time for stopping me?”
“Well, well, well, who’s using the Chairman’s name to threat people now? So presumptuous.”
A familiar voice, laced with mockery, made Avery’s heart clench.
He turned to the source of the sound and was taken aback.
He never expected Thaddeus to be with Elviś!
“What’s he doing here?!” Harvey, standing behind him, was equally surprised.
Thaddeus stared at Avery’s uneasy face, his gaze sharp and intimidating.
“Oh, it’s you, Mr. Chambers.”
Elvis casually lifted his chin, looking quite insouciant, “From the way you were talking just now, one might think you’re some illegitimate kid of my Irresponsible dad, who’s come to claim kinship”