<b>Evadne’s </b>downcastshes cast twin shadows across her cheeks.
In the past, she might have believed that Avery genuinely cared for her father, Now, she only sensed ill intentions.
After <b>all</b>, if he was capable of causing harm to her sister and brother–inw, her father would mean nothing to him.
Avery was always ruthless.
However, his desire for her held him back, at least until he could have her until his lust was satisfied. He wouldn’t dare to harm her.
“My father’s fine. He’s fit <b>as </b>a fiddle at home”
A slight chilling smile yed at the corners of Evadne’s l*ps. “He’s always running his mouth, and his stomach can’t handle it. Probably ate something he shouldn’t have and upset his stomach. It’s nothing serious. You can go home”
“Really? Because Mr. Ashbourne locked pretty awful, and he hid a severe headache. It seemed serious. Could it be <b>a </b>stroke or something?
“Mr. Avery, are you cursing my father?”
Evadne cut him off sharply, her eyes shing with anger. “Or are you <b>trying </b>to sniff out some information about the Ashbourne family?”
“Evadne, I’m not. You misunderstand
Seeing her anger, Avery’s eyes were red–rimmed with anxiety. He stepped forward and grabbed her slender arm. I’m just worried about Mr. Ashbourne. I just wanted to see you<b>!</b><b>” </b>
Evadne recalled as if stung by a scorpion, jerked her arm away <b>and </b>stepped back, creating a distance between them.
“But I <b>don’t </b>want to see you!
“Evadne, what’s wrong with you?!
Avery’s pale l*ps trembled, his anxiety gnawing at him. He wanted to approach her <b>again</b>, but her wary gaze held <b>him </b>at bay. “What happened? <b>Can </b>you tell me? Please tell me, don’t treat me like this”
Evadne thought, “So innocent. Avery, your eyes are so clear and innocent, <b>it’s </b>almost believable”
“Do you want to know? Fine, I’ll ask you
Evadne took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, each word dripping with frost. “You know Eden, don’t you? He’s your man, isn’t he?”
Eden? Who’s that?” Avery looked nkly at her angry face.
But the tension under his well–tailored <b>suit </b><b>was </b>palpable.
the military <b>and </b>
He thought he had hidden everything well. Even if <b>Evadne </b>was astute and connected him to his dealings in Helgen and his close ties with the officials in Country T, she wouldn’t have been able to find any concrete evidence.
Without catching Eden himself, <b>she </b>had no proof that it was his doing.
But he never expected her to confront him so directly. Did she have no trust in him at all?
“You’ve done a lot of business in Helgen, with a wide range of connections, and you have close ties with many high–ranking officials and the military in <b>Country </b>T. Eden is a lieutenant colonel in the army of Country T, and he made his start in Helgen. Are you telling me you don’t know him?” Evadne crossed her arms and eyed him, full of suspicion.
Her mockingugh was beautiful enough to steal his heart and soul.
“Evadne, while I do have some connections in Helgen, you’re demonizing me. I’m not as powerful as you think.”
for your
Avery was frantic, his eyes bloodshot with anxiety. “But if this Eden has caused you trouble, or hurt you, no matter the cost, I willy
get rid of him <b>for </b>
Listening to his earnest words, Evadne gave a coldugh. “Of course, you naturally want to get rid of Eden. You want him dead more than anyone else, don’t you? As long as he’s alive, you’re never safe. He’s like a ticking time bomb that could expose all your <b>d*rty </b>deeds at any moment:
“Evadne, how could you think of me like <b>that</b>?”
Tears welled up in Avery’s eyes, his l*ps turning white from biting them.
He <b>yed </b>the pitiful misunderstood victim perfectly, so immersed in the role that he forgot the person who brought all the deadly troubles to Evadne was himself.
Evadne just stared at him, her calm eyes stirring withplex emotions.
“What exactly happened, Evadne? Can you tell me? What did I do to make you misunderstand? At least let me know why!” Avery questioned relentlessh his forehead slick with cold sweat
The always dignified Mr. Avery had never been in such a mess.
<b>Evadne </b>knew she wouldn’t get anything out of him. Revealing <b>what </b>she knew was just a warning to Avery, a way to pressure him into revealing his true colors out of panic. It was also a brutal way to tell him not to harbor any illusions about <b>her</b>.
They would never be possible.
Their friendship couldn’t even continue.
Fine. <b>You </b>refuse to admit to Eden’s matter. Then what about my sister Debby and her husband?”
Evadhe’s anger caused her shoulders to tremble uncontrobly. “How did you oppress them in Helgen for your own benefit? Are you also nning to deny
<b>“</b>Evadne, it’s true that some people in mypany did some bad things to your brother–inw in the past, but when I found out that Darcy’s wife was your sister I immediately ordered them to stop all ns! But as you know, thepany isn’t just mine. There are several major shareholders with significant say. When I stopped the n, they opposed it <b>and </b>tried to hinder me in every way. I did my best to appease them, but I couldn’t stop their private little moves!
Avery exined hoarsely, Evadne, please believe me! I love you, I’ve loved <b>you </b>for fifteen whole years! How <b>could </b>I bear to see you upset, to hurt your loved ones<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Evadne just stared at him, a chiling silence spreading between them.
After a while, she finally spoke. “You can go home now. If you don’t, I will.”
As she turned to leave, Avery suddenly pulled her into his arms from behind. “<b>Evadne</b>, don’t <b>leave </b>me
“Let go! Don’t touch me?
A chill ran down <b>Evadne’s </b>spine. She struggled with all her might like <b>a </b><b>porcupine </b>bristling its spines.
Avery stumbled back, his handsome face stiff, his eyes filed with sadness,
“Avery, I have someone I love. I have a boyfriend. Even if I didn’t, you shouldn’t take liberties with mel” Evadne’s rejection and disdain for him were clear and cruel
“Your boyfriend? Thaddeus?”
Avery was stunned, his spirit seeming to shatter. <b>“</b><b>You’re </b>back together?”
“Why not? Thaddeus risked his life to avenge me, captured <b>a </b><b>viin</b>, and almost <b>didn’t </be back alive from Country T. We were nearly separated by death because of Eden<b>. </b>
Evadne’s voice choked as she called how Thaddeus had fought for her, his b*dy covered in wounds. “A man who loves me with his ide, why wouldn’t want him? Why wouldn’t I love hign?
<b>You </b>can leave. I will continue to investigate Edenis <b>case</b>. I hope everything is as you say But if you are the culprit. Mr. Avery, you know what I would do. I will never let any unrighteous person go, no matter who he is!”
As she was about to disappear from his sight, Avery took <b>a </b>deep breath, his tears welling up.
“Evadne, my mother is sick. She is very ”
Evadne stopped abruptly but didn’t turn around.
“She’s in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s. She barely has any lucid moments now, and even eating has be difficult. Her limbs have shown signs of <b>paralysis</b><b>. </b>I’ve put all my work aside these days and have been staying in the hospital with her. I’ve only managed to attend some important events in the past few <b>days</b>.”
Tears brimmed in Avery’s eyes, his voice soaked with the bitterness of guih. “<b>Evadne</b>, these <b>days</b>, I’ve been so <b>upied </b>with taking care of my mother and I neglected you, I’m sorry that I couldn’t help you with all the major events happening around you. Even if this has led you to <b>doubt </b>me, I’m sorry for causing you trouble. My mother often doesn’t recognize me anymore, but she frequently mentions you She keeps asking when <b>she </b>can see you. Even <b>though </b>I know this is presumptuous<b>, </b>she doesn’t <b>have </b><b>much </b>time left. Could you visit her <b>and </b>talk to her? It might be beneficial for <b>her </b>condition<b>” </b>
Evadne stood with her back to him, not uttering a word.
Just as she was about to step inside, the <b>door </b>opened.
“Suri?” Evadne was taken aback when she saw Suriing out.
Suri gave her a gentle smile before turning to Avery with a serious expression. “Mr. Avery, my husband would like to see you. Please.”
“What? Dad wants to see him?”
Evadne widened her eyes, trying to keep her voice low. “He’s still sick. What is he thinking!”
Suri sighed. “I’m just doing as your father asked,”
“Thank you for personally greeting me, Mrs. Ashbourne.”
Avery lightly adjusted his sses, a faint glimmer in his eyes. He barely lifted the corner of his mouth in a slight smile.
After entering Silveke Harbor, Avery was guided by Surl to see Emeric in his study
In the Ashbourne family, guests were usually received in the tea room or the reception room. After all, for men, the study and the bedroom were rtively private ces.
Over <b>the </b>years apart from Emeric’s best friend Jeff Chambers, no outsiders had entered his study.
Avery was <b>the </b>second one. This showed Emeric’s high regard for this young man.
Evadne sat on the living room sofa, her eyes dark and clouded.
“Evadne, your father has been very <b>close </b>to Mr. Avery of the Chambers family recently. As far as I know, he has met with Jelf more than once in private
Suri took hold of Evadne’s cold hand, “I have the feeling that your father is serious about this.”
‘Serious about what?”
“About having you marry into the Chambers family”
Huh. Wishful thinking<b>” </b>
Evade clenched her fists, a cold current surging in her chest. There’s no chance while I’m alive, maybe <b>they </b>could consider it after I die!”
Evadne Don’t say such discouraging things!”
Suri frowned, her voice serious,“I know you can’t possibly marry the son of the Chambers family. We won’t let you marry someone you don’t love and struggle in an unhappy marriage. Your brothers, Myra and Aviana, and I will do our best to persuade <b>your </b>father.”
“My dad doesn’t really want a marriage ance. He just wants to break me and Thaddeus apart.”
Evadne closed her eyes in anguish and sighed. “As long as he can <b>obstruct </b>me and Thaddeus, he’ll do anything. That kind of tenacity, the lengths he would go to achieve his goal, I know it all too well. Because I’ve perfectly inherited that trait from him!
Indeed, out of all the children in the family, <b>you </b>resemble your father the most.”
Suri contemted for a moment before asking with a worried expression, “Evadne, can it <b>only </b>be Thaddeus?”
1 can only be Thaddeus.” Evadne affirmed, without any hesitation.
Just then<b>, </b><b>her </b>phone vibrated.
She looked at the name disyed on the screen, her eyes welling <b>up </b>with warmth and her l*ps curling up involuntarily.
She really couldn’t stop missing him.
1 won’t disturb you lovebirds. I’ll head upstairs. <b>Surl</b>,stood up and left tactfully.
Evadne bit her l*p and answered the call with a pounding heart.
“Evadne, haven’t you slept yet?” Thaddeus‘ voice was soft and melodious, so charming that it made her heart flutter.
But strangely, it also gave her a sense of peace.
I’m not sleepy Evadne stood up and walked towards the balcony, looung up at the moon in the gentle night
“Is it because you can’t sleep without me holding you?” Thaddeus chuckled”
<b>“</b><b>Cut </b>it out<b>, </b>that’s not it! Men are not my everything Evadne’s cheeks flushed, her words defiant
‘But Evadne, you’re my everything.”
Thaddeus’sudden confession made her heart race, the blood in her b*dy heating up until it was nearly boiling.
She missed him so much.
She <b>was </b>fine before the call, but hearing his voice made her miss him even more, like a tide that never ceased.
“What have you been up to today?” She changed the subject.
Besides <b>breathing</b>, <b>I’ve </b>been thinking about you!
“Thaddeus, sweet words are good, but too many of them will be too cloying.” Evadne shrugged.goosebumps forming on her skin.
Thaddeus got to the point, “There’s something I didn’t mention earlier. Today, I received a message from my man in City R
“Day R? You mean the maid who was manipted by Elspeth to <b>swap </b>your mother’s depression medication?” Evadne’s <b>mind </b>raced, connecting the dots immediately.
“Yes, I’ve been looking for her for a while. But she’s cunning and careful not staying in City R, and she’s even changed her name. The diner she ran was closed half a year ago, apparently because her husband gambled away a fortune and the diner had to be used to pay off the debts. My people searched all over City R and finally found the maid in <b>a </b>small town. Now she’s living in poverty, suffering from domestic abuse, and her son has been involved in some shady business, He’s been locked up for two years due to theft. Her life is a total disaster
“Well, she deserves i Even the heavens are punishing her
Evadne, unable to quell her anger, gritted her teeth and said, “Even if <b>she </b>lives the most miserable ide in this world, it can’t make up for all the evil done! A precious life was lost because of her greed. She should <b>pay </b>with her life<b>! </b>
“But before we get to that, I need to bring her back and control her.”
At this point, Thaddeus seemed to have calmed down and was thinking strategically, “And everything must be done in secret. If Elspeth or Glynnis find out about my n, they might interfere and even resort to murder.”
Evadne nodded, fully agreeing<b>. </b>
“Evadne, how’s everything or your end? Your father?”
“He’s doing well everyone’s doing well.” Evadne forced a smile.
“Really? But I cant help but feel that you’re hiding something”
Thaddeus <b>cared </b>about her deeply and even over the phone line, he could detect the slightest change in her tone.
“There’s realy nothing. Don’t overthink it.”
Evadne took a deep breath and spoke gently, “Rest well, and I’ll see you when I get <b>back</b>.”
Thaddeus’s voice, filled with warmth, wrapped around her like aforting nket, reaching straight to her heart.
Tim always waiting for you”
As Evadne and Thaddeus exchanged endearments over the phone, Avery stood quietly in the shadows, staring at her beautiful silhouette, gritting his teeth, <b>and </b>muttered,
“Exadne, I don’t care who you’re with. Because soon, you’ll be mine, and only mine.”)