<b>Chapter 539 </b>
Emeric’s voice cut through the chatter, and <b>suddenly </b>everyone stood <b>rooted </b><b>to </b>the <b>spot </b><b>and </b>got <b>enveloped in </b>an unexpected hush. Evadne’s eyes went round as saucers, and her rosebud <b>l*ps </b><b>were </b><b>parted </b><b>in </b><b>utter </b><b>disbelief </b>as she <b>stared </b><b>at </b>her <b>father</b>.
“What <b>did </b>you just say<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Thaddeus‘ chest heaved with <b>barely </b>contained emotion, <b>and </b><b>his </b>eyes were a deep well of fervor as <b>he </b><b>gazed </b>upon Emeric’s distinguished <b>and </b>handsome face. His breath hitched, <b>and </b>his <b>heart </b>were ticking down.
“<b>You’re </b>going <b>to </b>be dragging yourself home <b>at </b>the crack of dawn at this hour. If you’ve got nothing on <b>the </b><b>agenda </b><b>tomorrow </b><b>morning</b><b>, </b>why don’t you <b>just </b>crash <b>here </b>tonight?” Emeric <b>said</b>, giving out <b>a </b>soft rumble before he coughed discreetly <b>to </b><b>clear </b>his throat.
This <b>time</b><b>, </b>everyone heard him. Evadne heard him, and Thaddeus <b>heard </b>him<b>. </b>
A tidal wave of relief crashed over Thaddeus; he <b>felt </b>his heartbeat skyrocketing, and his eyes shimmering with unshed <b>tears </b><b>of </b>gratitude. He swallowed hard and then bowed deeply,to Emeric.
“Thank you, Chairman Ashbourne, for taking me in.”
The words ‘taking me in‘ humbled this towering man, a scion of the top consortium in Elmsworth, to the dust.
Evadne felt a pang of sadness, hating to see him so diminished, and quickly stepped forward to help him back to his feet.
“Come on, it’s just for one night. It’s no big deal.”
“It is, Evadne.”
Thaddeus‘ voice was thick with emotion, and a hint of tears glistened in his eyes. “I’m overwhelmed. All the aplishments of my lifebined don’t measure up to the happiness and contentment I feel at this moment.”
To others, it might be a simple sleepover.
To Thaddeus, it felt like a new lease on life.
Emeric gave Thaddeus a meaningful look and then led the way into the vi.
<b>“</b>Jason, Does this mean my dad’s forgiven Thaddeus? Has he finally epted him?!” Nydia, clutching Jason’s arm, whispered excitedly on tiptoes.
“I hope so. This might be eptance.”
Jason’s gaze softened as he looked down at b
and he tenderly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Any progress, even the slightest bit from yesterday, is a step in the right direction.”
Moved, Evadne cupped his chiseled jaw and pressed her soft l*ps to his in a k*ss as if there was no one around them.
Initially, Thaddeus was stiff with shyness, but soon he wrapped his arms around her waist and returned her k*sses with an urgency that spoke volumes.
The elders of the Ashbourne family, embarrassed to witness such a disy, turned away with awkward chuckles.
Jason tightened his grip around Nydia’s waist<b>, </b>with his Adam’s apple bobbing, before he hurriedly led his beloved inside.
“Hey. Jason, slow down!” Nydia’s slender legs scurried to keep up beneath her flowing white dress.
Jason’s jaw clenched, and his muscles were taut with desire.
Slow down? Not a chance.
He wanted her, fiercely so.
That night, the air over Silveke Harbor was thick with the sweet scent of happiness, like honey drizzled over warm bread.
Thaddeus had been swamped with work at the consortium, juggling the search for Eden with Jareth and staying on top of Elspeth’s case. He pushed himself to the limit, so as to free up as much time as possible to be with Evadne.
Though often exhausted to the point of being unable to keep his eyes open, once in bed<b>, </b>he came alive,vishing love and satisfaction upon his woman.
He was determined not to let her feel even a hint of weakness in him.
She was twenty–five, and he had reached the prime of his life.
His rivals, each and every one of them, might not match his wealth but were younger than him. He couldn’t afford to let Evadne
Chapter <b>539 </b>
sense <b>even </b>a hint of inadequacy.
Although <b>their </b>marital union was <b>a </b><b>known </b>fact, <b>Thaddeus </b>was as <b>disciplined </b><b>as </b>a monk <b>seeking </b><b>shelter</b>, meditating <b>in </b>his <b>own </b>room as if stepping beyond would plunge him into <b>a </b>world <b>of </b>temptation.
And wasn’t that the truth? His sweet <b>and </b>fragrant <b>wife </b>was <b>just </b><b>a </b>floor <b>away</b><b>, </b><b>an </b><b>irresistible </b>lure.
Tonight, Chairman Ashbourne had <b>unexpectedly </b><b>extended </b><b>a </b>hand of eptance toward him. <b>If </b><b>he </b>didn’t <b>behave </b>and <b>dared </b><b>to </b><b>overstep </b>and <b>climb </b><b>into </b><b>Evadne’s bed</b><b>, </b><b>he might </b><b>never </b><b>see tomorrow’s </b><b>sun</b>.
<b>Leaning </b>against the headboard, Thaddeus worked on urgent business matters sent <b>by </b>Gordon <b>on </b><b>his </bptop,
<b>Gradually</b><b>, </b>his eyelids drew heavy<b>, </b><b>and </b><b>he </b>dozed off<b>, </b>still <b>seated</b>.
After an indeterminate time<b>, </b><b>a </b>gentle breeze teased his senses; it felt like tickling and tantalizing.
Though he was exhausted, <b>his </b>military <b>instincts </b>kept his vignce and sensitivity above average.
<b>The </b><b>man’s </b>eyes snapped open, cold light flickering within them, as if he was a lion roused from slumber.
<b>“</b>Ah!”
<b>A </b><b>delicate </b><b>exmation </b>echoed in the dark.
The next moment, Evadne<b>, </b>who had reced theptop on his thighs, lost her bnce and toppled backward.
Thaddeus, now fully awake, caught her with a swift move<b>, </b>supporting her slender waist effortlessly and pulling her soft b*dy against his warm chest.
“Darling, how did you get in here? When did you?”
His mind was still foggy, but his hands<b>, </b>ustomed to caressing her, wandered to her sides and stroke gently up and down.
Evadne clutched her chest, pouting, “You scared me to death. Do you realize how terrifying you looked just now? As if you were
about to devour me.”
“I’m sorry<b>, </b>Evadne. It’s a reflex from my military days, an uncontroble response,” he apologized.
With her eyes filled withpassion, Evadne caressed his cheek.
Feeling a twinge of guilt, Thaddeus k*ssed the palm of her hand, but his heart raced with anxiety. “Why did you sneak in here? What if someone found out.”
“Sneak? This is my home. I walked in with my head held high,” Evadne countered with a mischievous squint, while yfully tapping his nose. “Hmm? Mr. Thaddeus seems a bit flustered, doesn’t he?”
“This is my first time in your home, truly your home, Evadne. I want to make a good impression on your family,” Thaddeus confessed, his l*ps curving in a stunning smile, and his voice was deep with sincerity.
“Pfft, so that’s what this is all about,” Evadne chuckled, her slender fingers yfully <b>undoing </b>the top two buttons of his shirt. “My family, they’re a tough bunch to deal with. The hardest there is. Otherwise, Snakey Avery, that sly fox, would’ve wormed his way into the inner circle by now, wouldn’t he?”
“Evadne,” the man sighed with a weary smile.
“They’re warming up to you, so there’s no need to be scared. Just be yourself.”
As she spoke in gentle tones, Evadne had already undone his shirt to thest button. “You’ve been burning the midnight oil behind my back again. You’ll end up with a sl*pped disc if you sleep slouched over like this until morning. Get changed into your pajamas and lie down properly.”
“Alright, fine,” Thaddeus agreed obediently. But as he changed, he stretched his back and felt a soreness that spoke to his age.
“Evadne, you should go back to your room.
Before he could finish, Evadne, swift as a nimble and adorable bunny, snuggled under his covers.
“I want to sleep with you.”
“Evadne, be good, once we get back to Elmsworth.”
“No, I want it now!” Evadne clung to the hem of his shirt, refusing to let go.
Thaddeus watched her bite her lower l*p; her petnt yet enticing demeanor stirred desires within him that tightened in his belly. He was struggling to keep his hands to himself, and to resist pinning her down on the bed.
In the end, hepromised andid down beside her.
Chapter <b>539 </b>
Evadne turned into his embrace, <b>and </b>he <b>wrapped </b><b>his </b>arms around <b>her</b><b>, </b>offering <b>his </b>arm as <b>a </b>pillow.
<b>In </b>that moment, both found contentment in a <b>shared </b><b>sigh</b>.
“You shouldn’t let Emeric make you feel so small<b>,</b><b>” </b>Evadne implored, <b>hating </b><b>to </b><b>see </b><b>his pride </b><b>wounded</b>. “He might have four wives, <b>but </b>he’s <b>no </b><b>emperor</b>. You don’t <b>have </b>to bow <b>your </b><b>head </b><b>in </b><b>front </b>of him. Always <b>remember</b><b>, </b>you <b>are </b>Evadne’s man.”
1 got too carried away<b>, </b><b>Thaddeus </b>admitted <b>with </b><b>a </b><b>hoarse </b>chuckle. “I <b>almost </b><b>thanked </b>‘<b>Chairman </b>Ashbourne‘ as if I was saying <b>‘</b><b>thank </b>you<b>, </b><b>dad</b><b>‘</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
Evadne’s <b>heart </b>fluttered<b>; </b>blushed<b>, </b>she <b>nted </b><b>a </b><b>k*ss </b>on his <b>l*ps- </b>
Smooch-
<b>In </b><b>the </b>quiet <b>of </b>the night<b>, </b><b>the </b><b>sound </b>was <b>as </b>sweet <b>as </b>it was enchanting.
<b>Thaddeus </b>smiled indulgently, his <b>l*ps </b>curving up in affection.
<b>The </b>yearning in Evadne’s eyes shimmered enchantingly <b>in </b>the night, captivating and bewitching.
<b>Her </b>hand, knowing exactly where <b>to </b>go, reached for his silk pajama bottoms and slowly began to pull them down.
“Evadne, we’re at <b>your </b>family’s house,” Thaddeus said; his breathing was heavy as he held her hand.
Even her soft gasp made him shiver with desire, “Isn’t it always at my ce?”
His eyes reddened with restraint, his voice rough, <b>“</b>It’s not the same.”
“In my eyes, it is the same.”
Evadne k*ssed his Adam’s apple, and lifted her leg to hook around his waist, “Home is where you are.”
And with a thud-
Thest string of restraint in Thaddeus’s mind snapped.
The next moment, he was breathing deeply and pressing Evadne beneath him, with his hands urgently peeling away her thin and gossamer nightgown….