<b>Chapter </b><b>589 </b>
When Gordon came running up, his eyes were red<b>–</b><b>rimmed </b>and watery<b>, as </b>if he’d just been through a tearful ordeal.
As the most loyal <b>aide </b><b>to </b>Thaddeus<b>, </b>he had watched his employer carry the burden of a profound grudge, oveing countless obstacles <b>to </b>reach this day. The moment the <b>verdict </b>came through<b>, </b>Gordon, who had been handling affairs outside, burst <b>into </b>tears<b>, </b>sobbing so hard he seemed to shed twenty–eight years off his age.
<b>“</b>Is everything taken care of outside<b>?</b><b>” </b>Thaddeus asked, wrapping an arm around Evadne and smiling gently.
Gordon’s face broke into <b>a </b>grateful grin, nodding vigorously. “Yes, all sorted. Oh, and my phone’s been blowing up – nearly every major media outlet across the country has sent interview requests for you!”
Thaddeus shook his head. “I never do i
terview
”
<b>“</b>Understood, sir! I’ve politely declined on your behalf.”
Gordon’s voice still quivered with emotion. “Speaking of which, do you think we should hold a press conference? Now that Mrs. Abernathy’s identity has been revealed and the whole illegitimate child scandal has been blown wide open, perhaps we should <b>set </b>the record straight for both of you.”
32 8 8 9 8 2 2 3 3 <b>2 </b>0 7 5 PE PUS
Evadne gazed at Thaddeus withplex emotions dancing in her eyes.
<b>“</b>I’ve barely had time to properly be with Evadne with all that’s been going on. Now that I’ve settled scores, I’m in no mood <b>for </b>press conferences. I just want to spend time with Evadne, rx a little, and enjoy life,” Thaddeus said, his forehead resting
against hers <b>as </b>they exchanged tender smiles.
Indeed, they were both <b>in </b>high spirits, feeling as if even the air they breathed was sweetened by their joy.
“I <b>didn’t </b>do much, really. It was all thanks to your hard work,” Evadne murmured shyly, not wanting to steal his thunder at this
moment.
“Evadne, without you and your family setting aside past grievances to help me, my quest for vengeance wouldn’t have been so smooth, let alone end so perfectly. I owe you, and the Ashbourne family, a debt that can never be repaid. Should any of your kin ever need help, I’ll be there without question,” Thaddeus pledged, his gaze as bright and steadfast as the stars in the night sky.
Evadne’s beautiful almond–shaped eyes crinkled into crescents, and she tiptoed to peck his l*ps, sending a shiver of desire through him, his hands wandering restlessly over her slender waist.
“But I’ve heard that Mr. Abernathy is ready to cut ties with Elspeth for good, and there’s talk of a corporate announcement in the next few <b>days</b>. Whether he’ll acknowledge you publicly remains to be seen,” Gordon interjected, his disdain for the usurper who <b>had </b>paraded around in Cynthia’s ce for so long evident in his tone.
Thaddeus’s expression darkened. “I don’t need Frederic to acknowledge my mother’s identity. She’s just my mother. She has nothing to do with the Abernathy Group, or Frederic. To tje <b>her </b>name to that man’s would be an insult to her memory.”
Evadne sighed softly, her heart aching.
Vengeance was theirs, but it wouldn’t bring Thaddeus’s mother back. The hatred had been relinquished, but the pain in his heart <b>was </b>eternal<b>. </b>
“Though I won’t hold a press conference or issue a statement<b>, </b>I will establish a charitable foundation in my mother’s name to support women and children suffering from hardship. This foundation will belong to me and my mother alone, separate from the <b>Abernathy Group</b><b>,</b><b>” </b>Thaddeus dered.
“I’ll be the first to donate once <b>it’s </b><b>set </b>up,” Evadne said, yfully swaying their sped hands like <b>a </b>girl untouched by the world’s <b>cynicism</b>. “And not <b>in </b>the name of the Ashbourne family, but in my own name<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b>Evadne, you <b>don’t </b>need <b>to </b><b>spend </b><b>your </b>money. Your emotional support is enough,” Thaddeus replied<b>, </b>his love for her <b>so </b>overwhelming he wished to give her the world rather than asking her <b>to pay</b>.
<b>“</b><b>Hey</b><b>, </b>I came <b>over </b><b>to </b>share some terrific news with <b>you</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>Gordon suddenly <b>interjected</b>, a <b>mischievous grin </b>spreading across his face<b>. </b>
<b>“</b><b>Just </b>now<b>, </b>right <b>at </b><b>the </b>courthouse <b>steps</b><b>, </b>Cedric was <b>set </b><b>upon </b><b>by </b><b>a </b>group of <b>vigntes</b><b>. </b><b>They </b>left him bloodied and unconscious, <b>and </b>he <b>had </b><b>to </b>be <b>taken to </b><b>the </b>hospital <b>by </b>the police<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Evadne’s eyes hardened. “He brought <b>it </b>upon <b>himself</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b>Cedric’s <b>time </b>of <b>currying </b><b>favor </b>and doing unspeakable <b>things </b><b>in the </b>dark hase back to haunt <b>him</b>. <b>He </b>trampled <b>over </b>the rights <b>of </b><b>the </bmon folk<b>, </b><b>exploiting </b>legal loopholes <b>to </b>absolve <b>the </b>wealthy <b>of </b>their <b>sins</b><b>. </b>Now, his own demons <b>have </b>turned on <b>him</b><b>,” </b><b>Thaddeus </b>stated <b>coldly</b>.
<b>“</b><b>And </b><b>that’s </b>not <b>all</b>!<b>” </b>Gordon’s eyes <b>sparkled </b><b>with </b><b>excitement</b>. “I’ve heard <b>that </b><b>several </bw firm <b>heads </b><b>in </b>Elmsworth <b>have </b>banded
<b>1/2 </b>
08:07
together <b>to </b><b>file </b><b>a </b><b>formal </bint against Cedric <b>for his </b>years of abusing power and colluding <b>with </b><b>the </b><b>corrupt</b>. <b>The </b>Department <b>of </b>Justice hasunched an investigation, and <b>the </b>Bar Association is moving to revoke his legal license<b>!</b><b>” </b>
Evadne <b>and </b>Thaddeus exchanged a knowing smile. <b>For </b>someone like Cedric, who hadmitted so many wrongs<b>, </b>they didn’t need <b>to </b>lift <b>a </b><b>finger</b>. <b>There </b>were plenty in line waiting <b>to </b>take him down.
<b>“</b><b>By </b>the <b>way</b><b>, </b><b>Gordon</b><b>, </b>did <b>you </b>see my brother Arnold when you were over <b>there</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>Evadne remembered that everyone was around- <b>except </b><b>for </b>the man who yed a significant role.
“Ah, <b>I </b>didn’t run <b>into </b>Arnold, but I did see Miss <b>Camille</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
“Camille<i>? </i>She’s here?” The couple exchanged a look of surprise, their eyes wide with
At that very moment, Arnold was clutching avish bouquet <b>of </b>sun–k*ssed lilies, symbols of triumph and joy. He caught the arm of his colleague who had helped with the flower delivery<b>, </b>urgencycing his voice.
“<b>Hey</b><b>, </b>about that girl who delivered these flowers for me. Where did she go?”