<b>Chapter </b><b>764 </b>
“What<b>?!</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b>Really<b>?!</b>”
Thad and Evadne burst <b>out </b>in <b>unison</b><b>; </b><b>the </b>shock <b>and </b><b>excitement </b>were <b>clear </b><b>on </b><b>their </b><b>faces </b>as they looked at each other <b>– </b>a perfect match <b>of disbelief </b><b>and </b>thrill.
Jason swallowed <b>hard</b><b>, </b><b>and </b>his <b>throat </b>was dry <b>from </b><b>the </b><b>dash </b>over<b>, </b>“As <b>true </b>as the sky is blue! To prevent <b>any </b>meddling, <b>the </b>DNA test was done <b>by Dr. Bright </b>overseas<b>, </b><b>and </b>locally <b>at </b><b>the </b><b>Ashbourne </b><b>family </b>clinic. I supervised the whole <b>thing</b><b>!</b><b>” </b>
Thad’s longshes cast <b>a </b>shadow over his brooding eyes as he sharply scanned the words that reeked of mockery<b>, </b><b>malice</b><b>, </b>and absurdity:
No gic link whatsoever!
While Evadne was beside herself with excitement, she was the picture of calm.
This paternity test result was just a confirmation of the puzzle she couldn’t figure out on <b>countless </b>sleepless nights.
She had doubted from Glynnis‘ personality<b>, </b>character, and looks that she wasn’t a true Abernathy. Now, the truth was crystal clear!“Jason, you had Chasel run the test, did he say anything?” Evadne asked, trying to steady her racing heart.“He did<b>.” </b>
Jason recalled the conversation with a mix of amusement and exasperation, “He asked if one of thedies had an Ashbourne bun in the oven; Emeric suspected that it wasn’t his seed and made him swear to take the secret to the grave.”
Evadne facepalmed at the absurdity.
He wasn’t nning on taking secrets to the grave; he was just too eager for some juicy gossip!
“Jason, keep this under wraps. No one else needs to know,” Evadne instructed firmly.
Jason scratched his head in difort, “Uh. well, Dr. Bright went straight to Cassius with the news, <b>so </b>he knows it too.”
Evadne’s lips twitched in resignation, “Alright then! Those two might as well be joined at the hip. Just make sure it doesn’t spread any further. Got it?”
Jason nodded vigorously.
A chilling aura crept around Evadne, and she looked up to see Thad; his handsome face was as cold as frost, and his eyes were sparking with an rming intensity.
“Thad, you okay?” Evadne asked; her voice was a gentle caress.
Thad tossed the crumpled report on the table, his voice devoid of emotion, “I’m fine. It’s just funny.”
“For a moment, I thought of my mother, of the day when Elspeth arrived at the Abernathy mansion heavily pregnant more than twenty years ago, and a myriad of other things. They all shed through my mind like a carousel.”
A sharp pain pricked at Evadne’s heart as she tightly grasped his cold hand, “I feel your pain, I understand you.” “Back then, right after Glynnis was born, Frederic had the paternity test done, and it confirmed their father–daughter rtionship. Elspeth must have had all her ducks in a row early on. It was so much easier to fake a paternity test two decades ago.”
Jason felt his heart tighten, his disdain for Elspeth was still strong, “Right. For a woman hell–bent on climbing the socialdder by marrying into wealth, such a sleight of hand is hardly surprising.”
<b>1/2 </b>
“<b>What </b><b>I </b>didn’t expect,” Evadne continued<b>, </b><b>her </b>voice <b>tinged </b><b>with </b>disbelief, is that Frederic, living <b>with </b>a child who bore no resemnce <b>to </b><b>him </b>days and <b>nights</b>, never once doubted Elspeth and Glynnis.*
<b>Thad’s </b>eyelids <b>dropped</b><b>; </b>he said <b>with </b>a voiceced with mockery<b>, </b><b>“</b>Perhaps Frederic was truly besotted with Elspeth. He didn’t even know that woman killed <b>my </b>mother, <b>why </b><b>would </b>he suspect anything about <b>Glynnis</b>‘ origins?”
<b>In </b>the silence <b>of </b>the <b>wine </b>cer<b>, </b>Evadneughed <b>coldly</b><b>, </b><b>“</b><b>I </b><b>actually </b><b>hope </b><b>that </b><b>Frederic </b><b>truly </b>loved Elspeth. <b>Only </b>in that <b>way </b><b>will </b>his world <b>crumble </b><b>and </b><b>will </b><b>he </b>lose <b>everything</b>, when <b>he </b><b>learns </b><b>the </b>whole truth.”
“I <b>used </b>to <b>wish </b>that Frederic <b>had </b>loved <b>my </b>mother, even just a <b>little</b>. I couldn’t <b>bear </b>the thought <b>of her </b>loving someone <b>who </b>never <b>loved </b>her <b>back</b>.<b>” </b>
Thad smiled resignedly<b>, </b><b>“</b>But <b>now</b>, <b>I’d </b><b>rather </b>he never loved her at all. That <b>man doesn’t </b><b>deserve </b>her.<b>” </b>
Evadne <b>stood </b>on her tiptoes and kissed the <b>corner </b>of his <b>lips</b>, “Your love is all that matters.”
His hand, warm on her waist<b>, </b>responded to her kiss instantly.
Whenever it was, wherever they were<b>, </b><b>no </b>matter what she did, he always had a response <b>for </b>her.
<b>“</b>So, with this <b>ace </b><b>up </b>your sleeve, what’s your n?”
Before Jason could finish, Thad’s <b>phone </b>rang
<b>“</b>Gordon<b>.</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b>Trouble, Mr. Thad! We’ve lost Glynnis!”