Chapter <b>383 </b>


    Cassius and Jason sauntered out, leaving behind a trail of whispers that the CEO of the K Group had dropped by the Abernathy group out of blue, which spread through the skyscraper like wildfire.


    Jareth, supporting visibly weakened Thaddeus, returned to the office; Gordon followed them because of concern.


    His arm was dislocated, the pain so intense it had soaked his clothes in sweat, yet he remained silent.


    Jareth had noticed something was amiss, leading to the discovery of Gordon’s injury. Their staff members took Gordon to the hospital for treatment regardless of thetter’s resisting.


    “That Cassius, always so polite and refined, who knew he could be such a boor.” Jareth signed, unable to find the words to describe the shock.


    It was terrifying.


    “It was all for his sister. I can understand that,” Thaddeus said weakly, slumped on the couch, his n*eck thrown back in exhaustion.


    If someone else had wronged Evadne, Thaddeus feared he would have reacted even more violently than Cassius.


    Recalling Cassius‘ words before he left, Thaddeus felt his breath hitch, as if his blood had frozen in his veins.


    “Fair enough. I guess if it were Mari, I don’t think I could have stayed calm either.”


    Jareth’s gaze fixed on the knife wound on Thaddeus‘ n*eck. It wasn’t deep, but enough to stain his crisp white shirt cor a jarring red, “You should get that checked out at the hospital.”


    “It’s nothing,” Thaddeus gasped.


    “Why did Cassius suddenly turn on you?” Jareth asked, worry clouding his features.


    “He found out that Evadne and I’ve been intimate.”


    “So it seems that in Cassius‘ eyes, Evadne isn’t just his sister anymore, she’s his daughter. He’s ying the overprotective brother, huh? You’re lucky he didn’te in guns zing,” Jareth joked, trying to lighten the mood.


    “Anyway, it’s my fault. After the divorce, I shouldn’t have touched her.”


    Thaddeus choked with frustration, running his hands through his hair, “But Jareth, I couldn’t control myself, my thoughts, my b*dy That night, she was so close, the temptation was too much. All I could think about was possessing her. I wanted her.”


    Possessing her, prating her, making her his.


    Remembering Mari’s words, Jareth felt a pang of sympathy for Evadne, “Thad, to be honest, I don’t me Cassius for wanting to kill you. What you did to Evadne was monstrous.”


    “What are you talking about?” Thaddeus asked, his eyes wide with confusion.


    “Two years ago, you imed Evadne as your woman, but you have no memory of it. Aren’t you a beast or what?”


    “Jareth.”


    – Thaddeus‘ eyes snapped open, his hand shaking as he grabbed Jareth’s, “Is that true? Who told you?!”


    He had been suspicious of Evadne’s words that day, but he couldn’t ept the truth. It was too earth–shattering!


    “Mari saw everything that happened that day.”


    Jareth sighed in resignation as he ryed Mari’s secret to Thaddeus.


    Thaddeus‘ mind was buzzing. The shock was so intense it almost made him faint.


    They had been intimate.


    Why hadn’t Evadne told him?


    She was so silly! Why was she so silly<b>? </b>


    “Mari is a reliable witness. If you don’t believe anyone else, you should believe her. And honestly, I’m amazed that you have no memory of sleeping with a woman. That’s just bizarre!”


    “I don’t know, I don’t remember.”


    Thaddeus confessed, holding his head in his hands, his chest aching with regret, “That day was the anniversary of my mom’s death. I was upset and I drank too much. I kept having these dreams about being in bed with Evadne. I thought they were just dreams. I never thought that we had actually spent the night together.”


    “Two years ago, I remember you were still involved with Acacia. You even told me that you would definitely get back together with Acacia and divorce Evadne, because she didn’t have a ce in your heart. Isn’t that right? Thaddeus<b>, </b>those heartless things you said, you confided them to me, didn’t you?”


    Jareth’s words were like arrows, piercing Thaddeus‘ heart. He felt as if he had been pped across the face countless times.


    He slumped down, his mind filled with images of Evadne’s tear–streaked face and her hateful gaze.


    What was she thinking when he took her virginity two years ago?


    How much did she love him back then, to endure such torment, such humiliation, and still stay by his side.


    He deserved to die.


    Cassius‘ dagger should have cut deeper.


    “Thad, I think you’ve had feelings for Evadne for <b>a </b>while now. But you didn’t understand what love was, how to love. You were being manipted by Acacia, who used your childhood debt to control you, which is why you couldn’t ept Evadne or face your own feelings.”


    →Jareth shook his head; he felt a mix of anger, frustration, and sympathy for his best friend, “I came over today just to tell you this. I was originally nning to persuade you


    <b>not </b>to give up on Evadne, to hold on to her no matter what, to persist until the end. But after seeing Cassius‘ attitude towards you, Thad, I sincerely feel that some things are just not meant to be. Maybe you two are destined to be star–crossed lovers. Forcing yourselves to be together would only bring more pain. Plus, Evadne values her family greatly. With Cassius‘ stance, he won’t ept you; the Ashbourne family won’t ept you. Even if Evadne loves you, even if you can reconcile, can <b>you </b>really be happy together?”


    There were too many obstacles standing between them.


    Jareth couldn’t persuade himself to convince Evadne to forgive Thaddeus. It felt like he was torturing her.


    “Jareth.”


    Thaddeus had a look of defeat in his eyes, like an old man that had seen too much. He was still young, but his face held a world of pain, “I want to see Evadne. I want to apologize.”


    Avery had found out about Evadne’s car ident and was worried sick. He went to the hospital to visit her that same night.


    “Mr. Chambers, Ms. Ashbourne’s older brother, President Ashbourne, went to the Abernathy group today to stir up trouble with Thaddeus. It was a big scene, word got around, and some of the Abernathy group’s staff members got hurt,” Harvey enthusiastically reported to Avery.


    Avery’s eyes narrowed slightly, “Oh? What happened exactly?”


    “I couldn’t find out the details between President Ashbourne and Thaddeus. But President Ashbourne is known for being overprotective of his sister, so it’s obvious that he did this for Evadne.”


    Avery’s eyes darkened.


    Could Evadne’s ident have something to do with Thaddeus?


    But something must have happened that caused the usually calm andposed Cassius to lose his cool with Thaddeus.


    “Regardless, I see this as a good thing.”


    Avery closed his eyes once more, letting out a chuckle, “Before, Cassius looked down on me and sided with Thaddeus. He even tried to set up Evadne with that mongrel Thaddeus. Now that they’re at odds, it means that I’m on a‘ level with Thaddeus, and I might even have an advantage.”


    “Of course you have the advantage. How can Thaddeus, that illegitimate kid,pare to someone as noble as you? That would be an insult.”


    Harvey sneered <b>at </b>Thaddeus, “Thaddeus is just a pawn that Frederic uses to make himself look good. If Thaddeus coulde back healthy, would the Abernathy group even have a ce for him?”


    Avery’s eyes shed with an unreadable emotion at these words.


    After a moment of silence, he asked, “Did you find out anything about that man who was getting close <b>to </b>Elsie?”


    Harvey looked surprised, then diforted, “I’m sorry, Mr. Chambers, I couldn’t find anything.”


    “You couldn’t?” Avery raised an eyebrow.


    “I tried my best!” Harvey exined hurriedly, “But that man’s information was like a sealed vault: There was absolutely no trace of anything!”


    “Oh? Well, isn’t he an interesting person.”


    Avery arched his l*ps upward, but his eyes held no humor, “Have you been keeping an eye on Elsie like I told you? Has she been behaving?”


    “Of course, Ms. Archer has been either at the Velvet Haven or at the vi you bought for her. She hasn’t been anywhere else.<b>” </b>


    “Keep watching her. I don’t want her causing any more trouble.”


    At the hospital, Avery and Harvey were stopped by Cassius‘ b*dyguards as they tried to reach the floor where Evadne’s ward was.”


    “Do you even know who Mr. Chambers is to Ms. Ashbourne? Even if you don’t, you should know what the rtionship between Chairman Ashbourne and our Mr. Chambers


    <ol>


    <li>is. Or what the rtionship between the Ashbourne family and the Chambers Group is.” Harvey was obviously unhappy about his boss being turned away. </li>


    </ol>


    The b*dyguards exchanged nces but didn’t move aside for Avery.


    Although there was a smile worn on Avery’s face, his face darkened as he pushed his golden–rimmed sses up.


    Just as Avery was about to say something, a yful voice came


    “All this talk about rtionships sounds like a tongue twister.”


    Avery looked up, his eyes narrowing at the sight of the man who Harvey had been unable to find any information on., The man who had been with Elsie that night.


    Who was he, and why was he here?


    Elvis, hands in his ck trench coat pockets, exuding anguid aura, his gaze on Avery was yet sharp and cold.


    “So, what is Mr. Chambers’s rtionship with my sister? I’m quite curious.”


    Upon his words trailed off, Avery’s fists clenched, his brows furrowed in an instant.


    Sister?


    Was he talking about Evadne?


    “May I ask your name, sir?” Avery asked, letting out a faint smile.


    “Waverley.” Elvis replied, chin lifted slightly.


    Suddenly, Avery remembered. Evadne’s brother, Bet Waverley. He also carried their mother’s surname before her marriage.


    He knew Mrs. Ashbourne had five children.


    Hence, there was only one possibility.


    Avery adjusted his sses, a sinking feeling in his heart.


    The man in front of him was likely Evadne’s mystery brother, Elvis.