<b>Chapter </b><b>548 </b>
The following day<b>, </b>Beverly <b>finally </b>woke from <b>her </ba <b>in </b>the <bte </b><b>afternoon</b>.
<b>As </b>she <b>opened </b>her <b>eyes</b><b>, </b><b>the </b>first <b>things </b>she saw <b>were </b><b>her </b>mom <b>and </b><b>Gordon</b><b>, </b><b>who </b><b>had </b><b>been </b>vigntly <b>waiting </b><b>by </b>her bedside <b>for </b><b>her </b><b>to </b><be </b><b>to</b><b>. </b>
Overwhelmed <b>with </b>emotion <b>and </b><b>gratitude</b>, <b>she </b><b>threw herself </b><b>into </b>her <b>mother’s </b><b>embrace</b><b>. </b>Mother and daughter<b>, </b><b>reunited </b><b>after </b>the ordeal<b>, </b>wept <b>together </b>in each <b>other’s </b><b>arms</b>.
Gordon, feeling his <b>age</b><b>, </b>was also <b>moved </b><b>to </b><b>tears </b>by the touching scene before quickly wiping <b>them </b>away. He had <b>to </b>maintain the <bposure </b><b>expected </b><b>of </b>his years.
“<b>Mom</b><b>, </b>nothing <b>you </b><b>say </b>is going <b>to </b>change my mind.”
<b>Beverly </b>gently <b>wiped </b>her mother’s <b>tears </b><b>away</b><b>, </b>her gaze filled with <b>resolve</b>. <b>“</b><b>I’ve </b>decided <b>to </b>testify in court<b>. </b><b>If </b>I don’t fight for my <b>own </b><b>fate</b><b>, </b>not even Ms. Evadne or Mr. Abernathy <b>can </b>help me.”
Mrs. Higgins choked back sobs. <b>“</b>Beverly, I just can’t bear <b>to </b><b>see </b>you hurt<b>.” </b>
“Mom<b>, </b>if you <b>really </b>care for me, then please don’t stop me. I want to stand up for myself and for the other girls Byron hurt<b>, </b><b>to </b>fight for justice.”
Gordon’s <b>heart </b>raced as he watched Beverly’s transformation, her determined eyes reminiscent of Evadne’s spirit.
“Beverly<b>, </b>I was wrong, I was so stupid.”
Mrs. Higgins nodded vigorously, holding her daughter tight. “I respect your decision<b>.</b>”
Just as Gordon prepared to leave quietly, Beverly turned to her mother with a grateful smile, “Mom, this is Mr. Gordon, Mr. Abernathy’s right–hand man. Yesterday, he went to great lengths to save me. He’s my hero.”
“Thank you! Oh, thank you so much, sir!” Mrs. Higgins was awash in gratitude.
Gordon scratched his head, his cheeks flushing with modesty, “Oh, please, just call me Gordon.”
“Mom, could you go home today and bring back the fabric I bought, and my sewing kit?” Beverly asked shyly, ncing at Gordon and biting her l*p. “I’m bored here in the hospital, and I’d like to finish the backpack I promised Mr. Gordon. I don’t want to keep him waiting.”
Gordon’s breath hitched, his heart pounding as if it would burst from his chest, “No, no need, Ms. Higgins! Focus on your recovery, don’t worry about this little thing for me!”
But Beverly justughed softly, shaking her head, her eyes sparkling with a tearful glimmer, “It’s just a craft, it won’t tire me. Besides, Mr. Gordon, youck for nothing, and I have little to give to repay you. This small gesture is all I have, and I hope you won’t find it too little.”
In the adjoining lounge.
Evadne and Thaddeus sat side by side on the couch, Thaddeus busy with corporate affairs on hisptop, while Evadne diligently ate from a lunchbox next to him.
“Mmm, Thaddeus, stop working for a minute and eat,” Evadne urged, offering him a piece of pork right to his l*ps. “This takeout ce nearby is actually pretty delicious. Have a try.”
Thaddeus kept his gaze on the screen and fingers on the keyboard, leaning in to nibble at the meat, chewing thoughtfully.
Evadne gazed at his l*ps, the subtle y of light on them, the elegant Adam’s apple, and those long, lushshes. It was maddening how even eating could be so sensual!
“Ugh. It’s too greasy,” Thaddeus frowned slightly.
“Be thankful there’s food at all. This ce gets rave reviews. You’re just fussy,” Evadne countered, taking a bite herself and enjoying every morsel.
Adorable.
FUE? SE FX FS
Evadne never put on airs<b>, </b>always adapting with grace. No matter the difort or harshness of the environment, her presence made him feel at ease<b>, </b>as if at home.
Thaddeus felt a warmth in his chest, his eyes glowing with affection as he suddenly pecked her glossy l*ps.
“Ah. I didn’t even wipe my mouth, and you don’t mind?” Evadne blinked her beautiful eyes, a fluttering sensation in her heart.
“Too much love to worry about that,” Thaddeus murmured, his handsome face inching closer, as if about to steal a piece of meat
08:34
from her mouth. “When we get home, <b>I’ll </b>cook for <b>you</b><b>, </b>I guarantee my cooking <b>skills </b>are far superior <b>to </b><b>this</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
Evadne wrapped <b>her </b><b>arms </b><b>around </b><b>his </b>n*eck, tilting <b>her </b><b>head </b><b>up </b>coquettishly. <b>“</b><b>Sounds </b><b>wonderful</b><b>, </b><b>I’m </b>looking forward <b>to </b><b>it</b><b>. </b>Just <b>don’t </b>burn it, okay<b>?” </b>
They <b>finished </b>their lunch <b>in </b>sweetpanionship.
Suddenly remembering <b>something</b><b>, </b>Evadne <b>chuckled</b><b>, </b><b>“</b><b>I </b><b>think </b>Gordon’s quite taken <b>with </b>Beverly. <b>Do </b><b>you </b><b>think </b>maybe<b>…</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b><b>It’s </b>not <b>appropriate</b><b>,</b><b>” </b>Thaddeus <b>said</b><b>, </b><b>furrowing </b>his brows.
<b>“</b><b>Why </b><b>not</b><b>? </b>Because <b>he’s </b>your <b>assistant</b><b>, </b>he can’t have <b>a </b>little romance<b>?</b><b>” </b>Evadne’s <b>eyes </b><b>narrowed </b>yfully<b>, </b>her elbow resting on his <b>broad </b>shoulder.
S
<b>“</b><b>There’s </b><b>nothing </b>wrong <b>with </b><b>a </b>young romance, but I wouldn’t want <b>it </b><b>to </b><b>distract </b>Ms. Higgins. She’s <b>got </b><b>tests </b>this year<b>, </b>right? Her <b>studies </b>muste <b>first</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
Thaddeus affectionately <b>cupped </b>her chin, though his concern was <b>almost </b>paternal. “Besides, they’ve only known each other a few days, how could <b>things </b><b>progress </b>so quickly<b>? </b><b>I </b><b>don’t </b>believe <b>in </b><b>love </b>at <b>first </b>sight.”
“Oh? You don’t?” Evadne’s <b>warm </b>breath tickled his <b>nose</b><b>. </b>“But with you<b>, </b><b>it </b>was love at first sight for <b>me</b>.<b>” </b>
“Evadne, the <b>first </b>time you saw me was at Misty Mountain<b>, </b>right? You were only eleven,” Thaddeus <b>chuckled</b><b>, </b>amused.
“Yeah, and I’ve liked <b>you </b>since I was eleven<b>, </b>chasing <b>after </b><b>you</b><b>, </b>Thaddeus.” Evadne didn’t hide her affection, her eyes shimmering like a fervently blossoming rose.
Thaddeus felt <b>a </b>pang of bittersweet emotion, his eyes reddening slightly.
Love didn’t need <b>a </b>timeline, it was about the journey together.
Yet her words still made him feel unworthy, almost unable to lift his head in her presence.
Just then, Evadne’s phone rang.
Seeing it was Aaron<b>, </b>she quickly answered,
Any news from the investigation?<b>” </b>
“The guy confessed, and we’ve uncovered his background. He’s a henchman that Byron kept on the payroll.”
Both were stunned. “Who? Byron?<b>” </b>
<b>08-34 </b>