<b>Chapter </b>674
The chill in Elvis‘ voice sent shivers down Arnold and Aaron’s spines.
Elvis could be as cold as ice when he wanted to, reminiscent of a man who had mastered the art of emotional detachment. You only had to look at his nomadic lifestyle and the lingering grudge he held against Emeric to understand his stubbornness and the
hardness of his heart.
“Elvis, there’s no need to be so harsh,” Arnold chided.
Unexpectedly, Evadne shook her head with a serene expression, “As long as she is truly remorseful and willing to break free from Avery’s maniption, to turn over a new leaf and side with justice, I won’t make things difficult for her.”
Elvis looked taken aback, “Evadne, you mean?”
“If she’s ready to switch sides and even follow me, I’d dly wee her and find her a position at a subsidiarypany of the K Group. She doesn’t have to continue her days at the Velvet Haven, living a life of dim lights and forced smiles.”
At these words, even Thaddeus was surprised, “Evadne, do you really mean that<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Arnold frowned, “Although that woman helped our youngest and provided us with evidence, who’s to say this isn’t a setup by Snaky Avery, to win our trust and have her as a double agent?”
“If that was the case,” Evadne replied, “she would have caused a biggermotion that night when Elvis sneaked into the Velvet Haven. She would havee to his aid under the guise of helping, thus indebting him even further.”
“She isn’t trying to win Elvis‘ trust. Her actions were truly intended to ensure his safe exit and to provide him with evidence against Matthew as the best way to resolve the situation.”
With that, Evadne’s eyes gleamed with a certain intrigue as she looked at Elvis, “What Elsie offered Elvis was a token of her sincerity, and a card in Avery’s hand. If it was mere ttery, why take such a risk<b>?</b><b>” </b>
Elvis‘ expression remained impassive, but his eyes briefly betrayed aplex emotion that was almost imperceptible.
Aaron, perusing the documents again, asked in confusion, “These pieces of evidence were nearly all gathered. With the power struggles within the Chambers Group now public knowledge, why hasn’t Avery yed this hand to take down Matthew?”
“Exactly,” Thaddeus interjected coldly, “as Evadne said, it’s a card Avery holds close. Matthew still has a stake in the Chambers Group, and that’s the leverage Avery wants to use. He’s waiting for the right moment to force Matthew to cede his shares to him, <b>just </b>as he did with Byron.”
Evadne raised her face to look at Thaddeus. Her smiling eyes were full of affection.
“Damn it! Those bastards rely on the power they have won by drilling for these filthy ways. No matter how high they stand, they are still despicable<b>!</b><b>” </b>Arnold gave a hard bah.
“So, we must not let Snakey Avery be satisfied.”
<b>Evadne’s </b>jaw slightly raised, revealing a charming smile that was bound <i>to </i>be won. “We really have to take care of Matthew, <b>not </b><b>only </b><b>to </b>avenge Cassius, but also to make this card in Avery’s hand be a useless card that <b>can’t </b>be yed. We have to bring him <b>a </b><b>trouble </b>that <b>he </b>himself caused<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>Thaddeus</b>‘ hand caressed her waist, entranced by her proud profile, <b>“</b>Evadne, whatever decision you make, I’m with you<b>, </b><b>no </b><b>questions </b>asked<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>Arnold </b>patted <b>Elvis </b><b>on </b><b>the </b>shoulder <b>with </b>a <b>meaningful </b><b>look</b><b>, </b><b>“</b><b>For </b>the sake of our revenge<b>, </b><b>we’ll </b>need you to keep up the charm.”
Elvis‘ <b>intense </b><b>gaze </b>softened, and <b>with </b>a cryptic <b>smile</b>, he turned and left.
After discussing <b>important </b>matters <b>with </b><b>Evadne’s </b><b>brothers </b>and enjoying <b>a </b>delicious <b>fried </b>chicken dinner<b>, </b>the couple <b>retired </b><b>to </b>their room for <b>the </b><b>night</b>.
Thaddeus was preparing <b>a </b><b>bath </b><b>in </b><b>the </b>bathroom<b>, </b>and Evadne was setting <b>up </b><b>the </b>aroma diffuser and uncorking a bottle of <b>red</b>. wine <b>when </b><b>Camille </b>called<b>. </b>
“Hey<b>, </b>Evadne<b>, </b><b>how </b>have you <b>been holding </b><b>up </b><btely</b><b>?</b><b>” </b>Camille’s voice was cautious<b>, </b>wary of <b>upsetting </b>her.
“A bit busy<b>” </b>Evadne nced <b>at </b>Thaddeus, <b>who </b>was attentively adjusting <b>the </b>water <b>temperature</b>, and a warm feeling suffused her heart, I’m good. Having my man <b>by </b><b>my </b><b>side </b>makes me strong enough <b>to </b>face <b>anything</b><b>” </b>
Thaddeus, overhearing, couldn’t help but smile <b>contentedly </b>
An odd term of endearment<b>, </b>but <b>he </b><b>loved </b>it.
“Ah, now I’ve got a mentor <b>and </b><b>a </b>man <b>to </b>spoil on <b>holidays </b>Double <b>the </b><b>gifts</b>, double the expense<b>!</b>” Camille feigned distress with a
sigh.
Evadneughed brightly, “Don’t worry about spoiling him. Just keep the treatsing my way, and think of him as a freebie that came with your instant food!”
Camille roared withughter, “Got it, got it!”
Thaddeus just shook his head in mock despair.
Seems like after all his efforts, he was just a bonus prize.
After a brief moment of levity, Camille’s concern returned, “Evadne, are you sure you’re okay? Is there anything I can do to help? Don’t hesitate to ask; I’d do anything for you. It’d kill me to think you were struggling alone.”
“Things are mostly settled. My father’s condition has stabilized, and soon Cassius and Dr. Bright will take him abroad for further treatment. Thanks for caring.”
“Speaking of Dr. Bright, he’s got a couple of suits pending pickup at my ce. I’ve tried calling him a few times but no answer. I wanted to check with you, is everything alright with him? He’s not canceling, is he?”
“Dr. Bright ordered suits?” Evadne was puzzled. He was not one to wear suits often, so why?
Could it be<b>? </b>
“Ugh, I’m positive–no, not just positive, I’m certain this was tailored by Dr. Bright for Cassius.”
Camille was a top–notch tailor. Her eyes were like a pair of measuring tapes. Sometimes, she just needed to nce over someone from head to toe, and she could almost urately gauge their measurements. “A few months back, Dr. Bright came to me for a bespoke suit. He provided measurements that were muchrger than his own frame, and I thought he was getting it made for his dad. I even suggested that the style might be a bit too trendy for an older gentleman. Man, looking back, I was such <b>a </b>fool.”
Evadne couldn’t help but chuckle, “Now you get it? Chasel was making a suit for his love.”
“Got it, got it, I’m sweating bullets here.”
Camille’s voice was lively and full of zest, “Evadne, Dr. Bright and Cassius are such a great match! I swear, when I saw the news, <b>I </b>was so excited I rolled around in bed all night! Listen, I’m calling dibs on this<b>, </b>okay? When Cassius and Dr. Bright tie the knot, I’m making their wedding outfits, free of charge!”
Wedding?
Thaddeus, eavesdropping with his ear practically to the wall, suddenly pictured Cassius and Chasel in matching ck and white suits, hand <b>in </b>hand with beaming smiles <b>as </b>they walked down the aisle of a church.
Truly <b>a </b>perfect match.
“Thanks for the well–wishes. I hope to see Chasel and my brother settle down together one day too.”
Evadne smiled warmly, “Chasel’s probably too busy to check his phone. I’ll swing by your studio tomorrow <b>to </b>pick up the suit he ordered, and we can <b>catch </b>up.”
“Sounds like a n<b>, </b><b>Evadne</b>. <b>I’ll </b><b>have </b><b>some </b>delicious treats ready for <b>you</b>!<b>” </b>
After hanging up and with the bathwater ready, Thaddeus spoke, “Evadne<b>, </b>you go ahead and bathe. I’m going <b>to </b>call Gordon and delegate some work.”
<b>As </b><b>he </b>turned <b>to </b>leave<b>, </b>Evadne grasped hisrge hand, her eyes <b>soft </b>and cheeks blushing with a seductive pink, “Does <b>it </b>have <b>to </b><b>be </b>right now<b>? </b><b>Can </b><b>you </b>bear <b>to </b><b>leave </b>me bathing all alone?<b>” </b>
<b>Thaddeus</b>‘ Adam’s apple <b>bobbed</b><b>, </b>desire sharpening his gaze <b>as </b><b>the </b>veins on <b>his </b>hand <b>throbbed</b>, <b>“</b>I <b>can’t </b><b>bear </b><b>it</b><b>, </b>but <b>the </b><b>past </b>two nights<b>, </b>you’ve been worn out by my <b>antics</b><b>. </b><b>If </b>we go again tonight<b>, </b>I’m worried <b>your </b>petite frame won’t hold up.<b>” </b>
Before he could <b>finish</b><b>, </b><b>Evadne’s </b><b>eyes </b><b>shimmered </b><b>with </b>mischief<b>, </b><b>and </b><b>with </b><b>a </b>light flick <b>of </b>her ivory fingers<b>, </b><b>the </bst towel she wore sl*pped <b>to </b>the floor.
<b>In </b>an instant, <b>Thaddeus</b>‘ breathing <b>grew </b>heavy, <b>his </b><b>self</b>–control shattering like <b>the </b>crystal buttons that flew across <b>the </b>steamy bathroom<b>, </b>reflecting his scattered <b>senses</b>.
He k*ssed her fiercely<b>, </b>undid one button<b>, </b><b>and </b><b>the </b><b>rest </b><b>tore </b><b>open </b>as he carried her <b>into </b><b>the </b>grand <b>bathtub</b>.
Evadne’s arms wrapped around his n*eck, her soft whimpers filling the air as she melted <b>into </b>him. <b>Her </b>slender fingers clung to the edge of the tub, dipping below and resurfacing.
Ripples spread, lustful and enchanting.
After their indulgence, an exhausted Evadney in bed, enveloped <b>by </b>Thaddeus from behind.
214
“Will you tempt me like that again?” Thaddeus‘ voice was muffled against her n*eck, inhaling her scent deeply
“ming me? It’s you who can’t control yourself, Evadne protested, trying to wriggle away from the ticklish sensation, “You should be working on your willpower, hmph”
“How cruel. How could you expect a lion to eat sd?” His chuckle was tinged with defeat.
Evadne turned to face him, her voice soft, “Thaddeus, when I said earlier that I’d take Elsie in if she chose to turn over a new leaf, you really didn’t mind?”
“If it’s what you want, then I don’t mind.”
“I knew it, no one else would understand my thinking”
Evadne sighed, “Sure, she was Avery’s right hand woman and Impersonated me to set you up, causing a near irreparable misunderstanding between us. It’s a hard knot to untie from your heart.”
“But logically, your approach is correct,”
Thaddeus k*ssed her forehead, “Turning an enemy camp’s high–ranking member is far more valuable than destroying her.” Evadne nodded in agreement.
“Avery has Elsie and Harvey, his left and right hands. Harvey is as loyal as Gordon is to me; there’s no breaking through there. But Elsie, being a woman who’s been working in a ce like the Velvet Haven, must’ve suffered a lot over the years and is likely at her breaking point. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have risked everything to help Elvis escape.”
Her fingers traced Thaddeus‘ throat, “Do you know why I think Elsle has a chance to turn? It’s not because of her fall from grace, nor because she’s taken a liking to Elvis. It’s because she’s been wearing my face.”
Thaddeus paused, “Your face?”
“I believe Avery kept Elsie as a pawn for a long time, or perhaps out of unrequited love, he forced her to undergo surgery to look like me, just to satisfy his own twisted desires,” her voice trembled with anger, “Who would willingly be a duplicate of another, losing their true self? Does she really want to walk under the sun, recognized as Evadne? Do you know what that means? It means that to the world, the girl named Elsie is as good as dead, even while alive.”
Thaddeus shuddered at the thought.
“Her secretmunications with us through Elvis are her way of rebelling. She’s no longer willing to submit to Avery and be aughable stand–in.”
“That makes sense, Evadne. I’ve never thought of it that way.”
After a moment of reflection, Thaddeus asked with concern, “Do you think Elvis could develop feelings for Elsie after all this back and forth?”
“Not a chance. Elvis is even more of a blockhead than Cassius.”
Evadne didn’t even have to think before answering, “Cassius’s been a bachelor all these years ‘cause he’s into guys, and Elvis, well, it’s ‘cause of his job. He once told me that with all the missions the organization throws at him, he charms women left and right probably romanced close to a hundred in a year. He’s totally immune to the whole love affair thing.”
“A hundred?” Thaddeus‘ eyes nearly popped out of his head, “So, is Elvis, I mean, is he still, you know, healthy?”
Evadne burst intoughter, jabbing a finger at his forehead, “What on earth are you imagining? Elvis is all about <b>the </b>art, not selling himself short. Chill out, will ya? The stuff you’re worried about? Never gonna happen.”
The next morning, bright and early<b>, </b>Camille stepped out to gather ingredients and returned to the studio kitchen, cheerfully humming a tune as she prepared a delightful brunch for Evadne.
As lunchtime approached, she was about to give Evadne a call when her assistant burst in, breathless.
“Designer Evert, you’ve got a visitor<b>.</b>”
“Do they have an appointment?”
“Nope”
Her eyes narrowed. “You new here <b>or </b>something<b>? </b><b>You </b>know my rule no appointment, <b>no </b>meeting.”
told
The assistant frowned, helpless, told her that, but thisdy’s stubborn as a mule. Says if she can’t see you <b>today</b>, she’ll camp out here till you do
“Great, we’ve got ourselves a regr bulldozer<b>, </b>Camille huffed, hands on hips, flinging her <b>apron </b>aside with a <b>swift </b>gesture. “Ignore her. Let her do what she wants. If she thinks she can squat here ‘til nightfall, I can sure as hell set up a cot for her”
The assistant nodded awkwardly and was about to leave when Camille stopped her.
“Where’s this woman from, anyway?”
“She says her name is Elva West Chambers, the wife of the Chambers Group’s young master.”
At the mention of “the Chambers Group“, Camille’s eyes darkened instantly, and she ripped off her apron, “Take her to my office. I’ll see her.”