<b>Chapter </b><b>546 </b>
“We’ve <b>been </b><b>tight </b>as a drum<b>–</b><b>no </b><b>leaks </b><b>anywhere</b><b>,</b><b>” </b><b>Thaddeus’s </b>eyes darkened <b>with </b>a cool <b>intensity</b>. <b>“</b>Looks like <b>the </b>Chambers Group had their <b>rats </b>nted near <b>those </b>two <b>key </b>witnesses‘ homes, watching their every move like hawks. <b>They </b><b>caught </b><b>wind </b><b>of </b>our <b>visit </b>to Ms. Higgins and panicked, thinking <b>she </b><b>might </b>fl*p and testify. That’s why <b>they </b>couldn’t wait <b>to </b><b>try </b>and silence <b>her</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b>Damn<b>!</b><b>” </b><b>Evadne </b><b>and </b><b>Gordon </b><b>cursed </b><b>in </b><b>unison</b><b>. </b>
<b>“</b><b>Byron’s </b><b>still </b><b>locked </b><b>up </b><b>downtown</b><b>; </b><b>he </b><b>can’t </b><bmunicate </b><b>with </b><b>the </b>outside world. <b>Who’s </b><b>doing </b>his d*rty work<b>? </b>Could it be Bitch <b>Avery</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>Gordon <b>spat </b><b>with venom</b>.
Evadne shook her <b>head </b><b>slightly</b>, <b>“</b>Not <b>Snakey </b>Avery<b>. </b><b>He’s </b><b>the </bst one <b>in </b><b>the </b><b>Chambers </b>family who <b>wants </b><b>to </b><b>see </b>the <b>Chambers </b>family thrive<b>. </b>There’s no way he’d <b>lift </b><b>a </b>finger <b>to </b><b>help </b>Byron. <b>It’s </b><b>got </b>to <b>be </b>someone like <b>Jeff </b><b>and </b>Matthew.”
“It’s Matthew<b>–</b>it <b>can </b>only be Matthew<i>,” </i>Thaddeus’s <b>eyes </b><b>glinted </b><b>sharply </b>as <b>he </b><b>spoke </b><b>with </b><b>certainty</b>.
Evadne’s eyes flickered<b>, </b>and she quickly grasped his hand<b>, </b>“Thaddeus<b>, </b>why are you so sure <b>it’s </b><b>him</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b><b>Jeff’s </b>no gangster who kills <b>at </b><b>the </b>drop <b>of </b><b>a </b>hat. He’s <b>a </b>businessman<b>, </b><b>and </b>a <b>sessful </b>one knows <b>the </b>value <b>of </b><b>staying </b>clean. He wouldn’t <b>make </b><b>a </b>move like this unless it was <b>absolutely </b><b>necessary</b><b>. </b>Even <b>if </b>Byron gets convicted, with the Chambers Group pulling strings in the shadows<b>, </b><b>he’d </b>be <b>out </b><b>in </b>twelve<b>, </b>thirteen years max<b>. </b>And <b>if </b><b>it’s </b>the chair<b>, </b>Jeff, as chairman <b>of </b>the group, wouldn’t d*rty his hands <b>to </b>save a <b>son</b>, especially one as disappointing as <b>Byron</b>.”
<b>Thaddeus’s </b>calm analysis was irrefutable<b>, </b><b>“</b>Besides<b>, </b>Byron isn’t his only son. With Matthew and the rising <b>star </b>Avery around, he’s got even less <b>reason </b><b>to </b>get his hands <b>d*rty</b><b>. </b><b>But </b>Matthew’s situation is different. Evadne, you <b>know </b>better <b>than </b>anyone <b>the </b>twisted dynamics within the Chambers family.”
Suddenly, the fog of confusion that had clouded Evadne’s mind cleared, her thoughts sharpening, “With Avery gaining favor with. Jeff<b>, </b>it’s <b>no </b>wonder Matthew is seething with rage, desperate to regain his father’s approval. Getting Byron off the hook must be his way of presenting a ‘gift‘ <b>to </b>Jeff. And I know the Chambers siblings have been bullying and sidelining Avery since they were kids. As adults, Byron and Bertha haven’t stopped using Matthew for their own gains. If Matthew can save Byron, he’s also saving an ally–Byron holds shares in the Chambers Group, after all.”
Thaddeus felt a rough edge of irritation rising within him as he tightened his grip around her waist, “Evadne, do you feel sorry for Avery<b>?</b><b>” </b>
“Yes, <b>I </b>do.”
His breath hitched, hand tensing at her side.
“But my sympathy is for the Avery of fifteen years ago. Not for the Devil Avery of today, driven by greed, ruthless and callous.”
Evadne reflected on the friendship she once shared with Avery, a torrent of emotions swirling within her, yet her gaze remained resolute, “I thought that someone who had been hurt would learn to shelter others from the storm. But instead, he turned into someone who cruelly tears apart the umbres of others. I don’t know what turned him into what he is now on his journey to Helgen, but regardless of his past, it’s no excuse for his downfall.”
Thaddeus had endured pressures and hardships that Avery could neverprehend.
Yet, through all the old grudges and the changing tides, he never abandoned his kindness or tainted his pure soul.
And that was why she loved Thaddeus.
His integrity and bright spirit were irresistible.
Hearing her words, Thaddeus let out a relieved yet self–deprecating chuckle, dipping his head to k*ss her tender cheek.
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“Mr. Abernathy, Mrs. Abernathy, I’ll get right on it and start investigating Matthew!” Gordon dered, his eyes burning with fervent
hate.
“Gordon, you don’t need to worry about anything. Focus on healing,” Thaddeus sternly replied, “As for Matthew<i>, </i>Evadne and I will handle it. And the man who hurt Ms. Higgins? I will see to him.”
Evadne nestled into his embrace, arching an eyebrow yfully.
Oh, the way he protected others was so S**y.
“But I can’t just sit by and do nothing!”
Gordon gasped for breath, his heart throbbing with pain, “Every time I think of Ms. Higgins being strangled, desperately crying for help, I just…”
I wish I could kill the bastard myself!
<b>“</b>If you can’t stop worrying, then stay by Beverly’s side,” Evadne said, reading his thoughts clearly, her eyes curving tenderly, “Be the
<b>08:33 </b>
good <b>neighbor she </b><b>knows</b><b>, </b><b>take </b><b>care </b><b>of </b><b>her, </b><b>fatten </b><b>her </b><b>up</b><b>–</b><b>that’s </b>your real <b>job</b><b>, </b><b>Mr. </b>Gordon<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b><b>Mrs. </b>Abernathy<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>Tears </b>welled <b>up </b>in <b>Gordon’s </b>eyes<b>. </b><b>He </b><b>started </b><b>to </b><b>say </b><b>something</b>, but <b>was </b>interrupted <b>by </b><b>a </b>knock at <b>the </b>hospital room door. “Miss Evadne<b>, </b><b>are </b>you in there<b>?</b><b>” </b>Jason’s voice came <b>urgently </b>from outside.
“Jason!”
Evadne <b>and </b>Thaddeus <b>hurried </b><b>to </b><b>the </b>door.
There stood <b>Jason</b><b>, </b>drenched <b>in </b>sweat <b>from </b>his rushed <b>arrival</b><b>, </b>his voice tinged <b>with </b>urgency, <b>“</b>Miss <b>Evadne</b><b>, </b><b>on </b><b>my </b><b>way </b>here, <b>I </b><b>burnped </b><b>into </b><b>Beverly’s </b><b>mother </b>and the <b>parents </b>of <b>another </b><b>victim</b><b>. </b>They’re insisting <b>on </b>seeing <b>you</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
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