<b>Chapter </b><b>659 </b>
“Hahaha! My girl! Hurry <b>up</b><b>, </b><b>fetch </b>our <b>finest </b>wine from <b>the </b><b>cer</b><b>, </b>I need <b>a </b>good swig to celebrate<b>!</b><b>” </b>
Bevis had witnessed <b>a </b>spectacr turn of events today, leaving him in high spirits. He burst through the door,ughter booming through the house, startling the parrot perched nearby into pping its wings.
“Why <b>hasn’t </b>he died yet? Why hasn’t he died yet?”
The parrot squawked, mimicking Bevis‘ tone to perfection.
“Haha! Darling, has your beak been blessed? That old coot is truly on hisst legs now, this time it’s for real, hahaha!” Bevis <b>puckered </b>his l*ps, teasing the bird with a big smile on his face.
“Dad, who <b>hollers </b>like that in the afternoon? You’ve woken me from my nap,” Dolores Ashbourne, with her long hair loose, descended the stairs yawning, her voice dripping with lethargy, “What’s got you in such high spirits?<b>” </b>
Bevis <b>contently </b>settled back on the couch, a sly grin curving his l*ps, “This afternoon, at the board meeting, Emeric had an episode right in front of everyone!”
“Really?!” Dolores’s face brightened up instantly.
<b>She </b>had grown up amidst her father’s constant grumbling and grievances.
Influenced by what she had constantly heard, the family’s arch enemy, in her eyes, was none other than her father’s brother and his household!
Bevis often boasted about how incredible he was,ining that his elder brother, leveraging his position as the heir to the Ashbourne family, had always suppressed him out of jealousy for his talents, leaving him tonguish as a mere executive, unfulfilled and bitter.
As a result, Dolores was thoroughly indoctrinated.
She despised her uncle and harbored an even deeper loathing for her cousin Evadne, who had always seemed unattainably graceful and noble, like a swan since they were children.
“Hmph, and that’s not all. He wet himself in front of all the directors! Hahahaha.”
“Oh my! That’s so disgusting!” Dolores grimaced, but couldn’t help butugh.
Bevis pulled his daughter close, nting an excited k*ss on her cheek, “My dear girl, you have no idea how exhrating it was for your old man! All those years of frustration finally vented out! Even Emeric himself never imagined he would fall into such a pathetic state, did he? If he can’t even manage his own dder, how can he manage the K Group? He should just step down!”
As he spoke, a shadow of malevolence flitted across his gaze, “No, I don’t just want him to step down; I want the whole world to know about his disgrace!
Even if he doesn’t bite the dust, I’ll make sure he’s socially dead, to be utterly disgraced and never to hold his head high again!”
Bevis‘ words were so venomous and fierce, that even Dolores felt a chill run down her spine.
<b>“</b>Your uncle has been domineering and tyrannical since childhood. Anything good, he wanted; any good woman, he had to possess. His downfall today is nob*dy’s fault but his own, a direct result of his past misdeeds!”
Dolores paused, “Dad, what woman?”
Bevis clenched his mrs tightly, offering no answer.
The “good woman” he mentioned was Emeric’s wife<b>, </b>Evadne’s mother–Silvana Waverley.
She <b>was</b>, <b>without </b>a doubt<b>, </b>the most radiánt and graceful woman he had ever encountered. One nce was enough to bewitch.
But this angelic <b>beauty </b>in distress, despite him being her savior, ultimately chose Emeric!
<b>Being </b>a distinguished young master of <b>the </b>Ashbourne family <b>just </b>like his brother, why should he forever live in the shadows, deprived <b>even </b><b>of </b>the right to vie <b>for </b>the woman he loved!
How could he not hate; his <b>heart </b><b>was </b>bleeding <b>with </b>every <b>beat! </b>
“Dad<b>, </b><b>so </b><b>what </b><b>do </b>you <b>n </b>to do next<b>?</b><b>” </b>Dolores asked with curiosity.
“Hmph, they think they’ve contained <b>the </b>situation at <b>the </b><b>meeting </b>and <b>I’m </b>out of moves<b>? </b><b>They </b>underestimate me.”
Bevis took his daughter’s hand <b>into </b><b>his</b><b>, </b><b>his </b><b>eyes </b>glinting with excitement<b>, </b><b>“</b><b>Just </b>you wait and see<b>, </b><b>my </b>girl, our good <b>days </b>are yet to
.</b><b>” </b>
<b>14-171 </b>
“Dad, when you’ve finally dealt <b>with </b>uncle and <b>officially </b>taken control of K Group, could you perhaps find a way <b>to </b>snatch Thaddeus from Evadne for me?<b>” </b>Dolores clung to his <b>arm</b><b>; </b>her eyes filled <b>with </b>longing.
“Thaddeus<b>? </b>Get him out of <b>here</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>Bevis shoved her away harshly.
The humiliation that young man had caused him twice over, not to mention <b>the </b>smartphone incident<b>, </b>was enough to knot his guts <b>in </b>anger!
“<b>Why</b><b>? </b>Weren’t you very supportive of me being with Thaddeus before<b>?</b><b>” </b>
<b>Dolores </b><b>frowned </b>and pouted, “Being the father–inw to the CEO of the Abernathy Group isn’t good enough for you now<b>? </b><b>It </b>should <b>be </b>a dreame true for you!”
<b>“</b><b>You </b>can marry anyone you want, any rich bachelor or nobleman from Skyrim or Elmsworth, just not Thaddeus!”
<b>Bevis </b>grew more incensed with each thought, rising from his seat, “Put your affairs aside for now. Once I’ve dealt with Emeric and sessfully seized power, I’ll find you a match <b>that’s </b>second to none. Rest assured, Dolores. The future husband I pick for you <b>will </b>be no less than Thaddeus. I won’t let you be outdone by Evadne in matters of marriage!”
As Evadne had predicted, there were no secrets that could be kept forever.
With hiswork of informants spread around Skyrim and near the Ashbourne estate, it didn’t take long for Avery to learn of Emeric’s rpse and rehospitalization.
“Mr. Chambers, this is highly suspicious.”
<b>Harvey </b>stood by, watching his master y chess while voicing his confusion, “Thaddeus had just received the medication from <b>you </b>not two days ago. Even if it was only a temporary fix, Emeric’s condition should have improved immediately. Why the sudden hospitalization? Being hospitalized implies his condition has worsened. What’s going on?”
“Side effects.”
Avery’s golden sses reflected a cold light, and he coolly picked up a ck piece, capturing a white one on the chessboard, “Every medicine has its poison, and one with quick and powerful effects carries even more. Emeric is no longer young, and taking such medication without considering his actual condition is tantamount to quenching thirst by drinking poison.
Thest time I gave the medicine to him, it saved his life. Giving it to him again might very well take it.”
Harvey’s eyes widened in shock, “You mean you never intended to help Emeric, but rather?”
“The medicine was sought by Thaddeus, and I gave it as a favor<b>, </b>simply going with the flow. Moreover, it brings considerable trouble <b>for </b>the Ashbourne family, so why not?” Avery’s expression, however, betrayed his words and was far from pleased.
Chad’s attitude toward Evadne was still something Avery cared deeply about.
“Ah, sir, you truly are astute.”
Harvey almost spat out “sinister,” but he swallowed the word back down.
<b>“</b><b>No </b>one can match wits with Sir, whether it’s the Ashbourne family, or the Abernathy Group. The situation on both sides is under
<b>Sir’s </b>control.”
Avery captured another white piece on the chessboard and let out a heavy sigh, “I’m all in on whatever game Sir wants to y. Whomever he wants gone, be it Emeric or Cassius, I won’t bat an eyelid. But Evadne, just as long as he doesn’t harm Evadne,
<b>that’s </b>all <b>I </b>ask for.”
Harvey pondered for a moment before asking in a low voice, “Mr. Chambers, should we inform Jeff considering Emeric’s current situation?”
“Did you cast the bait I asked you to?” Avery’s eyes narrowed.
<b>“</b><b>Just </b><b>as </b>you instructed, sir.<b>” </b>
<b>“</b><b>Good</b>. Then <b>let </b><b>Jeff </b>know. <b>The </b>news <b>will </b>leak soon enough anyway.”
A sinister smile yed on Avery’s face, I can hardly wait <b>to </b>see that lingering wretch will try to make himself useful one <bst </b>
<b>time</b>.”
<b>Harvey </b>snickered<b>, </b>“Make himself useful<b>? </b>You’re giving him too much credit. <b>I’d </b>say it’s more <b>like </b>a dying gasp<b>.</b><b>” </b>