Avery’s gaze wwe try, mundercus intent seeping through has tightly pressed, pallid l*ps.
As Thaddeus staimed toward the master with a menacing air, Harvey, the loyal hound, was quick to bear his teeth and charge
**A Thaddeus, this is Ms. Evadne’s turf. You really want to cause a scene here? Aren’t you worried about embarrassing both Chauman Ashbourne and Ms. Evadne7”
Thaddeus eyes were cold, his thin l*ps curling with disdain. “Out of my way”
Mr Chambers, please get into the car I’ll handle this!”
But Harvey hadn’t finished his act
Suddenly, he felt a numbness in his arm, followed by excruciating pain that spread throughout his b*dy, and the world spun before his eyes.
“Argh!”
Thaddeus remained unflinchingly cold, grabbing Harvey’s arm and fl*pping him with a twist.
Harvey was sent spiraling through the air, crashing to the ground with a cry of pain so intense he couldn’t muster the strength to
Tise
Thaddeus, without so much as a blink, strode over the crumpled figure on the ground,
Avery tensed, his delicate features shrouded in a dark, ominous cloud,
As Thaddeus closed in, four b*dyguards from the Chambers Group rushed to Avery’s defense with swift precision.
Oh, right. Avery was no longer the discarded pawn skirting the edges of the Chambers Group; he was now a boss, and naturally, his entourage reflected his status,
Avery clenched his teeth. “Attack”
The four b*dyguards lunged at Thaddeus with fists flying!
But the man stood unfazed, his movements lightning–fast and ferocious. The towering b*dyguards were no match for him, crumbling like paper dolls–no contest.
It was no wonder he was top–ranked in military academy!
Now it was Avery’s turn to sh with him.
Both men threw punches, fierce, vicious, with the sound of rushing wind.
Avery, eyes zing with fury, struggled against Thaddeus, but he was clearly outmatched and overpowered.
“Ugh!”
Caught off–guard, Avery’s vision darkened, and then–a brutal, iron–cold punchnded squarely on his cheek, knocking him to the ground.
“Mr. Chambers!” Harvey cried out in terror, scrambling to his master’s side.
Avery gasped in pain, tasting blood in his mouth. His usually immacte suit was dust–stained, his hair disheveled<b>, </b>and a shocking streak of red marred his pale cheek./
“Mr. Chambers, your face.” Harvey was dumbfounded by the sight of his master’s wound.
Avery<b>, </b>panting heavily, shakily touched his face.
Upon inspection, his palm was smeared with crimson–this couldn’t have been the work of mere fists!
Thaddeus towered above him, looking down as if Avery were a filthy, dying mongrel.
His eyes were sharp with cold intent as he twisted his n*eck, a mocking smile lifting his l*ps. He raised his right hand, revealing <b>a </b>steel watch wrapped around his knuckles, the source of such devastating impact.
On the watch face was Avery’s blood.
Disgusted, Thaddeus flung away the expensive timepiece as if to rid himself of some contaminating disease.
“Thaddeus<b>, </b>you’re truly despicable!” Avery hissed through bloodied l*ps, twitching with fury.
“Despicable<b>? </b>I’m simply returning the favor. I could stoop to dark tricks and backstabbing<b>–</b>anyone can. I just choose <b>not to </b>sink to
10.56
your level, not to be a venomous <b>viper </b>like you.”
Thaddeus eyes <b>narrowed</b>, <b>“</b>But <b>Avery</b>, don’t touch Evadne <b>or </b>her <b>loved </b>ones. Otherwise, <b>the </b><b>beating </b>you received <b>today </b>will be nothingpared <b>to </b><b>what </b><b>I </b>will unleash upon you<b>, </b><b>with </b><b>a </b>hundredfold vengeance.*
With that, <b>Thaddeus </b>turned on <b>his </b>heel and walked <b>away</b><b>, </b>leaving <b>Avery </b><b>to </b><b>his </b><b>agony</b>.
“Mr. <b>Chambers</b><b>! </b>I’ll call for <b>backup</b>, we’ll <b>get </b><b>revenge</b><b>!</b><b>” </b><b>Harvey</b><b>, </b><b>having </b>never <b>seen </b><b>his </b>master so humiliated, was <b>nearly </b><b>in </b>tears. <b>Avery </b><b>spat </b>blood <b>onto </b><b>the </b>ground<b>, </b><b>his tooth </b><b>clinking </b>as <b>it </b>hit <b>the </b><b>pavement</b>–a <b>testament </b><b>to </b><b>the </b><b>severity </b><b>of </b><b>Thaddeus</b>‘ <b>attack</b>. “<b>Even </b><b>if </b>you <b>call </b>ten more thugs<b>, </b><b>they </b><b>won’t </b>stand a chance against <b>him</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
Using all <b>his </b><b>strength </b><b>to </b>stand, Avery’s <b>l*ps </b><b>twisted </b><b>into </b><b>a </b><b>sinister </b><b>smile</b><b>, </b>like something from <b>the </b>depths <b>of </b><b>hell</b><b>. </b>
“Don’t <b>rush</b>. There <b>are </b><b>always </b>bigger <b>fish </b><b>in </b><b>the </b>sea. And <b>if </b>he <b>doesn’t </b><b>fall </b><b>by </b><b>my </b><b>hand</b><b>, </b><b>someone else </b>will make sure <b>he’s </b>brought <b>to </b><b>his </b>knees.”
When <b>Thaddeus </b><b>returned </b>to Evadne<b>, </b><b>Emeric </b><b>was </b>looking much <b>better</b><b>, </b><b>enjoying </b><b>the </b>apple slices his daughter <b>was </b>feeding <b>him</b>.
<b>Thaddeus </b><b>entered</b><b>, </b><b>his </b><b>presence </b>cool<b>, </b><b>his </b><b>breath </b>uneven.
With <b>a </b>teasing <b>glint</b><b>, </b>Evadne asked, “<b>What </b>took <b>you </b>so long<b>? </b>Did your phone take a swim <b>in </b>the <b>toilet</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>
“<b>Sorry</b><b>, Evadne</b><b>, </b><b>had </b><b>to </b>deal <b>with </b>some <b>urgent </b>business<b>,</b><b>” </b>Thaddeus replied softly.
<b>“</b><b>Ms. </b>Evadne<b>, </b>let me <b>take </b>over,” Dn offered, seeing the couple might need <b>a </b>private <b>moment</b><b>, </b>and took the te <b>from </b>her hands<b>. </b>But Emeric was <b>in </b><b>no </b>mood for subtlety, shooting Dn a gruff look. “Look at you<b>, </b>I’m finally getting some pampering from my girl<b>, </b>and you have <b>to </b>step <b>in </b><b>now</b><b>? </b>Trying <b>to </b>show off how helpful you are?”
<b>With </b><b>a </b>resigned smile, <b>Dn </b>watched Emeric like an indulgent parent.
Evadne and Thaddeus couldn’t help butugh, the shadow cast by Avery’s presence fading away.
The couple retreated to a secluded nook in the office.
In a dimly <b>lit </b>corner filled with burgeoning affection, Evadne leaned in close, her chest pressing against Thaddeus‘ still–heaving chest as she propped her knee against his leg.
Her eyes<b>, </b>shimmering with a predatory gleam, locked onto his.
Thaddeus‘ throat went dry, his hand finding its way to the small of her back. “Evadne, your dad is just on the other side of that wall. You’re not thinking of doing something here, are you?”
“Your mind’s always filled with something horny,” Evadne whispered with <b>a </b>low chuckle, flicking his forehead.
“I never used to be like this.”
Thaddeus‘ hands roamed with a mind of their own<b>, </b>traveling from the small of Evadne’s back up to the nape of her n*eck, kneading gently. “But the moment I touch <b>you</b><b>, </b>I can’t help myself. It’s like I’m addicted. I want you so bad.”
Such shameless sweet nothings, Thaddeus could spout them on cue.
Evadne’s heart raced, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson as she yfully pounded on his chest. “Tell me<b>, </b>where the hell have you
been?”
Thaddeus bit his l*p, hesitating for a moment.
“You’re still panting. Did a phone call really wear you out that much?”
Her feline eyes narrowed, her fingertips tracing circles on his stubbled chin. “Did you make a call<b>, </b>or did you get into a scrap with some alley mutt?<b>” </b>
“Smart cookie, can’t hide anything from you,” Thaddeus murmured, k*ssing the corner of her l*ps.
“I know you’re steamed, but revenge is a dish best served cold.”
Evadne gripped his reddened knuckles tightly, holding his hands <b>in </b>hers<b>. </b>“<b>I’m </b>just scared some viper will bite <b>you</b><b>, </b>and that would <b>be </b>a loss too great.”
<b>“</b><b>If </b>I let Avery <b>so </b>much as scratch me/what kind of man would I be? How would I protect you or your dad?”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “Thad, after everything Emeric did to you, the insults, the beatings. And still, you turn the other cheek. How do you do <b>it</b>? <b>If </b><b>it </b>were me, I couldn’t be so forgiving.”
“Your dad was just trying to protect you, that’s <b>why </b>he punished me.<b>” </b>
<b>2/3 </b>
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Chapter
Thaddeus smiled, a bittersweet tinge to his grin. And I deserved <b>it</b>, maybe even more than <b>what </b>he dished out.”
Thad‘ Evadne’s eyes brimmed <b>with </b>tears.
“Your dad loves you a lot, so <b>I’m </b>gonna take care <b>of </b>him. I want <b>you </b><b>to </b>feel <b>all </b>the love in <b>the </b>world. <b>For </b>your happiness, I’ll do everything in <b>my </b>power.”
He thought, “T’ll make it <b>up </b><b>to </b><b>you</b><b>, </b><b>tenfold</b><b>, </b><b>a </b><b>hundredfold</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
With tears streaming<b>, </b>Evadne <b>pulled </b><b>his </b>face <b>close and </b><b>k*ssed </b>him fiercely<b>, </b>as <b>if </b><b>she </b><b>wanted to devour </b><b>him </b><b>entirely</b><b>. </b>
Deepening the k*ss<b>, </b><b>again </b>and <b>again</b>.
The <b>day </b>Chasel was dragged <b>back to </b><b>the </b>Bright <b>estate </b>by Warner.
<b>For </b><b>three </b>straight <b>days</b>, he was virtually <b>under </b><b>house </b>arrest. His phone <b>confiscated</b>, well–fed butpletely <b>grounded</b>.
“Warner! What the heck <b>is </b>this? This is kidnapping<b>!</b><b>” </b>
<b>Chasel </b>watched in <b>disbelief </b><b>as </b>a steel gate<b>, </b>reminiscent of a dog’s kennel<b>, </b>was installed on his bedroom door, <b>locking </b>him <b>in </b>tight. <b>“</b><b>Don’t </b><b>me </b>me<b>, </b><b>it </b><b>was </b><b>Dad’s </b>orders<b>.” </b>
Warner <b>red </b>at him through the bars. “Dad’s overseas on business. He <b>said </b>until he gets back to <b>deal </b>with <b>you</b>, you’re to stay put in <b>your </b>room. No leaving. Period.”
<b>“</b><b>I </b><b>have </b>to get back <b>to </b>the <b>States</b><b>! </b>I’ve got unfinished business. Let me out!” Chasel’s eyes were bloodshot as he shook the bars <b>in </b>desperation.
<b>“</b>Nope<b>, </b>not happening. Which part don’t you understand?”
<b>Warner </b>was visibly irritated. “Cut the act. Busy? Ha! I bet if I let you out now, you’d be running straight back to the Ashbournes! Have <b>you </b>fallen for Evadne or something, going to the lengths of taking care of Emeric? You’re just pping our grandfather and father in the face. Do you think <b>it’s </b>an honor for the Brights to be Emeric’s side piece? Are you itching to be the Ashbourne’s <b>son</b>–inw? Are we<b>, </b>the Brights, supposed to keep filling the Ashbourne’s holes? Are you out of your mind?<b>” </b>
Warner’s fury grew with every word. Just this morning he’d been icing his swollen cheek, all thanks to Evadne’s handiwork. Now, <b>he </b>was taking it all <b>out </b>on Chasel.
After all, <b>it </b>was this kid who started the whole mess. If it weren’t for his shameless eagerness to cozy up to the Ashbournes, would Warner have had <b>to </b>storm over there ande back reeking of trouble?
Chasel was burning up inside, seething with frustration.
But Warner wasn’t entirely wrong.
He stayed with the Ashbournes indeed for the one he loved.
Only<b>, </b>he wasn’t in love with the Ashbourne family’s daughter<b>, </b>but rather, humorously enough, the Ashbourne’s <b>son</b>.
If the Brights ever found out the truth, they wouldn’t just confine him; they’d probably erase him from existence.
“Warner, <b>I </b>swear I won’t go back to the Ashbournes! I swear!”
Seeing that tough talk got him nowhere, Chasel resorted to pleading, his eyes wide with feigned innocence as he sped his hands together. “Warner, please, just let me out. I was foolish. I felt sorry for Auntie Suri, got carried away and helped Chairman Ashbourne<b>. </b>I was wrong, I won’t do it again! Please!”
“Heh<b>, </b>you <b>little liar</b>. I’m more likely to believe that Shakespeare is still kicking than any of your tall tales.”
Warner knew him too well, having grown up together. “You’ve made promises before, haven’t you? And how many weren’t just tricks? Stop struggling and <b>stay </b>put!”