<b>Chapter </b><b>558 </b>
<b>“</b><b>It </b><b>couldn’t </b>have been Matthew.”
Thad, with a decisive tone that cut through Evadne’s confusion like a knight’s advisor to his queen, said, “Now that he already got what he wanted, there was no point for him to overy his hand. Sneaking into a jail to kill someone is a huge risk. He’s already been burnt by acting on impulse once; he won’t be that foolish again.”
“Yeah, I agree,” Evadne nodded, feeling convinced.
“Although we have no proof, I can’t shake the feeling that this has Avery’s fingerprints all over it. Given his clout in Helgen and thework he’s been quietly building in Elmsworth, bribing someone to take out Byron wouldn’t be a tough job for him,” Thad continued with a grave look in his eyes.
“Sounds usible. When in doubt, me Avery!” Evadne’s l*ps tightened, fully on board with his line of thinking.
Thad’s rough fingertips gently lifted her chin, his gaze indulgent yet proud.
“You know, now that you mention it, I’m starting to suspect him too. I checked Byron’s visitation logs this morning, and thest person to see him was indeed Avery!” Aaron chimed in with this crucial piece of information, which immediately lightened up the couple’s eyes.
“Mr. Ashbourne, isn’t there surveince in the visitation room? Can we review the footage?” Thad asked eagerly.
“We can, but due to privacy regtions, there’s no audio, just video.”
“Then let’s get a l*p–reading expert to decipher what Avery and Byron were talking about,” Evadne immediately suggested.
“I was thinking the same. Unfortunately, Avery’s face isn’t visible, and only Byron’s is recognizable, but we should still be able to get some useful information from it. You’ll hear from me as soon as I have something,” Aaron promised before ending the call. Evadne’s longshes lowered as she fell into silence.
“Evadne, what’s the matter? You seem down,” Thad asked, while wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her onto hisp, snuggling her against him and soothingly stroking her back. “We were hoping for a death sentence for Byron, thinking it would take some doing. Now, he’s gone in a way far worse than a firing squad. No matter how you slice it, that’s not bad news.”
“It’s not bad, it’s just…”
Evadne sighed, brows knit in frustration, “What I really wanted was for Byron to stand trial, in the full re of the public, and to answer to thew. That would have been true closure for Beverly, Nydia, and all the other girls he hurt. This just seems too easy for him.”
Thad looked down at her with deep and affectionate eyes and k*ssed her earlobe.
“Evadne, you always set the bar high for yourself and everything else. Any slight deviation, and you feel let down. But life is full of imperfections. You just have to do the best you can and let go of.”
“Let nature take its course?” Evadne mumbled gloomily.
<b>“</b>No, leave it to me,” Thad’s voice was low and gentle, aforting echo in her ear, “or don’t do anything <b>at </b>all. With me here, you can rest easy knowing I’ve got everything under control.”
–
A warm glow filled Evadne’s chest, and she nuzzled into him, “I know I can rely on you, but you know me – I’m a worrier by nature. I can’t stand not being hands–on with things; it’s just who I am.”
“I get it. I’m the same way. That’s why I’ve personally overseen everything at Abernathy Group over the years. I can’t trust anyone else to handle it,” Thad sighed in understanding.
“Your dad, though, really goes too far. You’re such a capable and responsible <b>CEO</b><b>, </b>one he’d be hard–pressed to find anyone better, and yet he’s always <b>on </b>your case, poking holes in everything you do!” Evadne blurted out her inner thoughts, and then quickly covered her mouth<b>, </b>realizing her sl*p.
Thad chuckled <b>softly </b>and gently removed her hands from her <b>mouth</b><b>, </b>k*ssing her lightly, “You’re right, so why the panic<b>?</b><b>” </b>
“But he’s <b>still </b>your father. It’s one <b>thing </b>for you to say it, not for me.”
“Evadne, I’ve told <b>you </b><b>before </b><b>that </b>my rtionship <b>with </b>Frederic <b>is </b>strictly professional now. The father<b>–</b><b>son </b>bond is long gone<b>. </b>As for Abernathy <b>Group</b><b>, </b>the only person I care about is my grandfather.”
“And what about your half–<b>brother</b><b>, </b>the one <b>who </b>saved <b>your </b>life?<b>” </b>Evadne asked <b>softly</b>.
Thad’s gaze <b>faltered </b>for <b>a </b>moment<b>, </b><b>as </b>childhood <b>memories </b><b>of </b><b>terror </b>shed before <b>his </b><b>eyes</b>.
“Despite being half<b>–</b><b>brothers</b>, he did <b>save </b><b>my </b><b>life</b><b>, </b><b>and </b><b>I </b>owe him a debt I can <b>never </b>repay<b>,</b><b>” </b><b>he </b><b>admitted</b>.
<b>1/3 </b>
<b>07:37 </b>
<b>is </b><b>burder </b>
<b>“</b><b>If </b>your brother came back to fight for control of Abernathy Group, would you step aside for him<b>?</b>”
Thadughed gently, “Are you <b>that </b>worried <b>I’ll </b>end up working for your family?”
“I’ve been thinking about it a lot.”
Evadne said earnestly, wrapping her arms around his n*eck, “I’m pretty materialistic, you know. I’m all about ambition and sess. I can’t be content just being a supportive spouse. I want to dominate the business world and be a shining queen.
Since I’m involved in your life, I have to take responsibility for you. I need to know what you’re thinking so I can help you as much as I can.”
A surge of emotion filled Thad.
She was a phoenix meant to soar to great heights, yet for him, she had cl*pped her wings to be the unnamed woman behind him for three long years.
All he felt was indebtedness.
“Looking at the moves your brother has made, he doesn’t strike me as someone indifferent to power and wealth. It’s just his health that’s kept him out of the picture. But what if he recovers? As the eldest son of Abernathy Group, he ispetent, and has connections with both the government and William and his son. He’s cast a wide,id a lot of groundwork; there’s no way he won’t fight for it. I don’t buy it.”
Thad frowned, “My brother’s health is critical; he’s in a wheelchair most of the time.”
“Did the kidnapping leave him paralyzed?”
Thad shook his head and took a deep breath, “We were young, and he spent too long in a cramped shipping container. Theck of oxygen caused organ failure and damage. His health is hanging by a thread, you know? He’s popping pills like candy and toting around an oxygen tank; he’s also got this wheelchair because he can’t stand up for too long.”
“Sounds like he’s more delicate than a Victoriandy with the vapors.”
Evadne’s face lit up with sudden understanding, but she exhaled a sigh of relief. “These organ issues are the real deal. Looks like he’s out of the running for the family business, huh?”
“You’re still thinking about that?” Thaddeus frowned, with a bittersweet smile on his l*ps.
“Ah, let it go.”
Evadne squinted her eyes yfully and gave Thaddeus’s chiseled cheek a reassuring pat, “What can you do, right? Grandpa’s got your back, and I’m rooting for you all the way. After all, you’ve got the mighty Ashbourne family tree to lean on. Your best days are yet toe.”
Thaddeus’s l*ps curved into a pleased smile, and he suddenly leaned in, pinning her down on the sofa, his breath warm and eyes filled with a teasing spark.
“My queen, take me under your wing, won’t you?”
As evening approached, the sleek Rolls–Royce Phantom<b>, </b>a true chariot for the goddess of crystal, pulled up near the Police Station.
Before long, Aaron hurried out the front door and hopped into Evadne’s car.
Inside<b>, </b>Thaddeus and Gordon were also present<b>, all </b>eyes fixed on Aaron<b>, </b>waiting for the news he brought with him.
“Take a look <b>at </b>this video first,” Aaron said, pulling out his iPad and ying theplete footage of Avery visiting Byron.
Evadne leaned in to get a closer look and asked with a frown, “What did that snake Avery make Byron sign?”
“I had the tech guys analyze <b>it</b>. It’s a share transfer agreement,” Aaron replied with a grave tone.
The trio <b>was </b>stunned!
“How <b>is </b>that even possible<b>?</b><b>” </b>
<b>Gordon </b>couldn’t <b>help </b><b>but </b><b>speak </b>up first, <b>“</b>Shares represent their weight and <b>status </b><b>in </b>the Chambers Group<b>. </b>That’s a big <b>deal</b><b>! </b>Even <b>if </b>Byron spends his life behind bars, he hates Avery <b>to </b>the bone. He wouldn’t give him the time of day, let alone his <b>shares</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
“I hired <b>a </b><b>l*p</b><b>–</b>reading <b>expert </b>too. He tranted what Byron said<b>. </b>Basically, Avery must have convinced him that his downfall was <b>all </b>thanks <b>to </b>Matthew. If he transferred his shares to <b>Avery</b><b>, </b>he could <b>find </b><b>a </b>way <b>to </b>spring him. <b>That’s </b>the gist <b>of </b><b>it</b>.”
<b>Evadne </b>and <b>Thaddeus </b><b>eximed </b><b>in </b>unison<b>, </b><b>“</b><b>Fool</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
???
<b>07:27 </b>–
“I think so. Just when he managed to remove a big thorn in his side, why would he let him out? Byron really should use his head for once,” Aaron shook his head.
Gordon added scornfully, “Pfft! An imbecile like that deserves to bite the dust. He’s just wasting good air living!”
“Since Avery’s got Byron’s shares now, he should be satisfied. Why go to such lengths?<i>” </i>Thaddeus asked, looking at Evadne’s pensive face and feeling a bit perplexed himself.
“To a normal person, that would be enough. But for someone as ruthless and cold–blooded as Avery, getting the shares is just the beginning.”
Evadne clenched her fists tightly, “What he really wants is let Byron die. If the l*ps are gone, the teeth will feel cold. His next target will definitely be Matthew,”
“But even so, he’s acting too hastily.”
Thaddeus’s instincts were sharp; he always sensed something off, “It’s as if he had to move now, or Byron would be released.”
Aaron nced at the man, raising an eyebrow slightly, “Avery did give Byron some so–called evidence, iming it could overturn <b>his </b>testimony. That’s why Byron signed the agreement. After all, his top priority is to clear his name. Without that, all the money in the world is just paper to him.”
He inwardly admired Thad with such sharpness. The guy would make a great detective!
Ah, but he couldn’t praise him too much. Wouldn’t want him getting cocky!
Gordon had a moment of rity, “So Avery had to act fast, both for revenge and to make sure Byron never gets out!”
Evadne pressed, “And what about the stuff Avery gave him?”
“It’s gone, we were a step toote,” Aaron sighed regretfully.
Just then, as the atmosphere grew heavy, Evadne’s phone rang.
The caller was none other than Aviana Ashbourne!
“Aviana, what’s up?”
“Evadne! Are you in Elmsworth?!” Aviana’s voice wasced with urgency.
“Yeah, what’s wrong?”
“Is Thaddeus there? That boy, is he with you?!”
“Not only is Thaddeus here, but Aaron’s here too.”
Evadne’s confusion grew, “Aviana, did something happen at home? What’s going on, you’re scaring me,”
Thaddeus didn’t know what was going on, but he immediately tightened his hold around her waist, ready for whatever wasing.
“That guy you told me about before, Eden, he’s shown up!”
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