<b>Chapter </b><b>638 </b>
“I’m gonna pee on your grave! Who’s the bedwetter now, huh?”
Evadne’s cheeks zed with embarrassment and anger as she pummeled Thaddeus‘ chest with her delicate fists, only managing to hurt her own hands in the process. “Your whole family wets the bed, except for Grandpa and Mari!”
Thaddeus caught her iling hands and pressed them against his heart, a yful grin spreading across his face. “Okay, okay, my bad. It’s just my lousy brain acting up. When we’re old and gray, I’ll probably be the one with a nightly wetting problem.”
Trying to maintain her indignation, Evadne tracedzy circles on his chest, but his words tickled her into a reluctant smile.
“What’s really got you riled up, though? You scared the daylights out of me earlier,” Thaddeus said, his voice softening as he caressed her cheek.
“I got my period,” Evadne muttered, clutching the edge of the nket and pursing her l*ps.
Despite their closeness as husband and wife, and their willingness to bare their souls to each other, Evadne, the refined heiress, always strove for elegance and self–control in her life.
Even in the throes of passion, she would start each encounter with a shy reserve, barely allowing herself to make a sound.
It was Thaddeus who gradually coaxed her into letting go, allowing her to surrenderpletely to the pleasure, to bloom with abandon in his embrace.
So this little embarrassment was a first for her.
“It’s early, isn’t it? Isn’t it supposed to be another week or so?”
A look of concern deepened in Thaddeus‘ eyes as he gently lifted the covers.
Oh boy, it looked like a crime scene!
“Ugh. I feel weak and look at this mess. Can’t sleep now!” The irritability that often apanied a woman’s cycle was starting to set in for Evadne as she rested her head on Thaddeus‘ shoulder<b>. </b>
“Don’t worry about it. We’ve got nothing on tomorrow. No need to wake up early.”
Thaddeus soothed her with his gentle voice, k*ssing her cheek. “Let’s switch rooms for tonight, and I’ll have Alva take care of the bedding in the morning.”
“No, that’s too embarrassing.” Evadne quickly shook her head, feeling utterly mortified at the thought.
“Then we’ll just toss them and get new ones.”
“That’s sovish. Never mind, help me change them, and I’ll wash everythinge sunrise.”
With that, Evadne clutched her abdomen and shuffled off to the bathroom, her b*dy bent with difort.
Watching her delicate figure retreat, Thaddeus felt a bittersweet pang in his chest.
He remembered the days when she first became his wife.
Alva used <b>to </b><b>say </b>that Evadne not only cooked <i>for </i>the family but also washed her own clothes and dressed modestly.
As <b>the </bdy of the Abernathy Group, she was approachable and never put on airs.
? ? ? ? ?
Back then, Thaddeus had been convinced she was putting on an act for him, feigning superiority.
He’d been trapped in <b>a </b>terrible cycle of suspicion, much like his cold–hearted father.
He was sure that by marrying him, knowing he couldn’t offer her love, Evadne was just disying vanity.
How sad it was <b>that </b>he couldn’t see the truth: that this girl truly loved him.
With a rueful smile, Thaddeus clenched his fist and pounded <b>his </b>chest in <b>self</b><b>–</b>reproach, setting off a coughing <b>fit </b>that slightly eased his troubled <b>heart</b><b>. </b>
In the shower<b>, </b><b>the </b>warm water cascaded down Evadne’s b*dy<b>, </b>washing away all traces <b>of </b>difort.
As she stepped out, clean and wrapped in a towel, her eyes widened in surprise.
“Thaddeus, what are <b>you</b><b>…</b><b>” </b>
Thaddeus had procured <b>a </brge basin <b>and </b>a stool <b>and </b>was vigorously scrubbing <b>the </b>bedding. His tall, strong frame looked incongruous hunched over the task, a sight <b>both </b>endearing and slightlyical.
“Mr. Thaddeus, <b>you </b>can doundry?” Evadne eximed<b>, </b>as if she’d discovered <b>a </b>new world.
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1 always could”
In no time. Thaddeus had the stains out, his smile easy. “Who do you think did myundry back in military school? You think they assigned me my own maid?”
Watching hith work so efficiently, Evadne rushed over and draped herself over his back, wrapping her arms around his n*eck, warmth filling her heart.
“Stop squirming, you’ve got your period, be careful not to hurt your back,” Thaddeus chided, wanting to return her embrace but cautious of the suds on his hands.
Thaddeus. I love you.‘ Evadne whispered her confession, unable to hold back her feelings.
His heart skipped a beat at her words, and he turned to nt a tender k*ss on her cheek. I love you too. So very much.”
Indeed, one can’t hide under the same nket and be different people.
Though bom <b>to </b>affluent families, what they both yearned for was the simplest, most ordinary life.
After themotion and with her period pains intensifying, Evadne couldn’t help but wail in difort.
Thaddeus sacrificed his own rest, cradling her and tirelessly rubbing her stomach, trying every trick in the book to ease her pain.
“Going to avoid the cold from now on, aren’t you?” he asked, pinching her side with a hint of reproach in his deep, resonant voice.
“Ugh, can’t help it, I love cold things. Hot water might as well be pee, Evadne pouted stubbornly.
“Evadne, can you try to listen for once? Constantly drinking cold isn’t good fordies.” Thaddeus pleaded, unable to win her over.
What’s good or not, doesn’t matter. I’m not nning on having kids.
Evadne’s words were hazy, spoken without thought, yet they unwittingly pierced Thaddeus‘ heart.
“Evadne, I know you’re still hurting. I’ll find a way, I’ll exhaust every option.”
His voice was thick with emotion as he held her close, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. “Medicine is advanced nowadays; there’s bound to be a solution.”
Feeling the strength of his embrace as if he wanted to merge her into his being. Evadne gasped for air. “Thaddeus, you’re overthinking. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“Do we need kids? That’s not what’s important. What matters is that we love each other, that we’re together. Haven’t you always said that I’m your kid? With me clinging to you, pestering you, isn’t that trouble enough? Another little monster? wouldn’t that just drive you nuts? I know it would me.”
The more she tried to console him, the deeper he sank into self–reproach.
Thaddeus felt as though he had a boulder lodged in his throat, leaving him voiceless.
After resting up through the afternoon, Evadne felt better and suggested they head back to Skyrim to check on Emeric.
<b>On </b>the way, Thaddeus ced a heated cherry stone pillow on her belly and handed her a thermos of hot water.
“There’s no cold water<b>, </b>no need for <b>a </b>restroom break. Take <b>a </b>sip of something warm, Ms. Ashbourne.”
Evadne was speechless.
So she reluctantly took a drink, and indeed<b>, </b>it did make her feel better.
“Avery just waltzed into power, the jerk!” Evadne said, angrily gulping down the hot water and scalding her tongue, making aically pained face.
Thaddeus looked at her with adoring eyes, rubbing <b>the </b>top <b>of </b>her <b>head</b>. “It seems easy, but you know the lengths he went to, the d*rty tricks he yed, the bones <b>he </b>stepped on to get there. We’re well aware.”
Evadne sipped the <b>hot </b>water and squinted at <b>him</b>. “From <b>the </b><b>sound </b><b>of </b><b>it</b>, <b>Mr. </b><b>Thaddeus</b>, you seem almost sympathetic to <b>the </b>hardships of sneaky Avery.<b>” </b>
The man chuckled helplessly. <b>“</b><b>Not </b>at <b>all</b>. I’m just remarking <b>on </b><b>how </b>ruthless Avery’s heart is.”
“Now that he’s taken out the Chambers siblings and <b>secured the </b>CEO position <b>of </b><b>his </b>dreams, what will he do next? Just thinking about it makes me shudder,” Evadne sighed, <b>her </b>hand <b>on </b>her forehead.
“Avery’s ambitions are insatiable. The title of CEO is not enough for him. What he wants is to take <b>Jeff’s </b>ce, <b>to </b>have the entire Chambers Group groveling at his feet.”
Thaddeus wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling <b>her </b><b>into </b><b>his </b>embrace, <b>his </b>eyes stormy. <b>“</b>So, he won’t settle down. He’s bound
to make a move.”
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“As long as he’s restless, his true nature will show, and we’ll catch him.”
“That may be, but I’m still worried.”
Leaning into his chest, Evadne felt a sudden pang of anxiety. “When Avery first came to the Chambers Group, he already had the power to stir things up. Now with even more power, I’m afraid he’ll seek revenge on you, on my family.”
“He wouldn’t dare.”
Thaddeus‘ eyes red with fury, his jaw clenching tight. “Whether it’s you, your father, or your brothers, if he touches any of you, I’ll make sure he falls as hard as he climbed. He thinks I’ve forgotten what happened on Star Ind? How he tried to take down Cassius? Let Avery watch his own downfall.”
Evadne sighed softly, intertwining her fingers with his.
He was always thinking of her, of her family. But he forgot that on Star Ind, in his effort to protect her, he was battered and nearly lost his life.
This vendetta, she vowed, would be settled with sneaky Avery.
Since that night when Suri and Chasel had their secret conversation, a heavy mood had spread throughout Silveke Harbor, especially between Chasel and Cassius.
Chasel, despite his breezy name, was as stubborn and unyielding as a rock!
The more Suri asked him to leave, the more he insisted on staying, silently challenging her.
These days, Cassius seemed busy, spending the whole day at the K headquarters anding homete.
Chasel waited and waited, from dawn until dusk.
When Cassius finally returned, if he wasn’t trailed by the butler, it was Jason.
On the rare asion Cassius was alone, and Chasel tried to approach, Cassius would m the door in his face, leaving Chasel out in the cold.
Night after night, Chasel sat by the window, smoking until dawn, his handsome face growing haggard and dark with exhaustion.
The warmth he used to cling to was now gone.
How could he ept this?
He had just managed to pry open a sliver of that man’s heart, and he couldn’t stand the thought of going back to square one.
Today, Cassius emerged from his room, impably dressed, his expression cold and stern. Chasel confronted him head–on.
“Cassius!” His voice was hoarse with urgency.
Cassius stopped in his tracks, his gaze snapping to him. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been waiting right outside your door since you came backst night.”
Chasel’s eyes were bloodshot from exhaustion, his l*ps parched as he spoke. “What’s going on? Why are you avoiding me?”
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