Maybe it was age catching up with him, or just a slower mind, but for a moment, he couldn''t find a single word to refute it.


    Thaddeus stood tall and straight, unshakable as a snow-capped mountain, an icy chill radiating from his very presence.


    Yet, something in those words pierced him deep inside. His fingers, hanging at his sides, curled ever so slightly.


    Watching Thaddeus remain unmoved, Hamilton slumped back into the sofa, eyes full of disappointment.


    How could everything just end up right back where it started?


    If even he couldn''t ept this oue, how was na supposed to bear it?


    Frederic''s voice broke the silence, deep and steady. "Thaddeus, you still have a meeting this morning. It''s time to go."


    Without a word, Thaddeus turned on his heel and strode out, every step crisp and


    sure.


    Evadne was still recovering. She slept fitfully through the entire morning, missing both breakfast and lunch, lost in a haze.


    It waste afternoon before she finally woke.


    Seeing her oldest brother, Arnold, and Aaron all keeping watch by her bedside, the heart that Thaddeus had left so cold was suddenly warmed.


    "Evadne, are you feeling any better?" Cassius''s voice was hoarse as he gently squeezed her frail, almost skeletal hand.


    She gazed at her brother''s handsome face, now etched with exhaustion and sorrow that seemed to have aged him overnight. Her heart ached for him.


    "What about you, Cassius? Are you holding up?" she asked softly.


    "I''m fine," he managed, forcing a stiff smile.


    But he was anything but fine-he was a wreck.


    "Cassius, leave things here to the rest of us. Go get a ne ticket to M Country and bring your wife home!" Arnold pped arge hand on his brother''s shoulder. "You two love each other. After everything you''ve been through, I refuse to believe a few harsh words could really tear you apart."


    Cassius closed his heavy eyelids and shook his head.


    He knew all too well-this mistake he''d made was unforgivable.


    Chasel, so proud and self-respecting, had gone so far as to hurt herself just to cut him out of her lifepletely. She was truly done with him.


    Could he really win her back...?


    Evadne saw the storm behind her brother''s eyes and offered gentlefort. "Let Chasel have some time alone, Cassius. Sometimes, if you push too hard, things only get worse."


    Sensing the gloom settling over the room, Aaron quickly changed the subject.


    "Evadne, I took that cigarette butt to the station and asked for a DNA analysis. We''ll have results in a couple of days."


    The hospital could onlypare blood samples, not test physical evidence. Thankfully, the Ashbourne family had plenty of connections.


    "That''s wonderful! As soon as we


    have the results, we''ll finally Hans is really. Hubery!" Hope


    elm


    flickered in Evadne''s chest the first good news she''d had in a long time.


    s


    Cassius and Arnold had never met Hans, so they didn''t understand how shocking


    that face was, but Aaron couldn''t hide his excitement.


    "If... if Hubery is really alive, then our family will finally be whole again!"


    Evadne''s eyes shimmered with tears as she nodded.


    "But if this Hans really is Hubery," Arnold pressed, anxious, "how did he survive? What''s his connection to Avery And why, when he saw you, Evadne, didn''t he remembera thing?"  s


    "Hubery always had a gentle soul," Arnold went on, growing more


    agitated. "Even if he lost his


    memory, there should be something left of the person we knew. How could he seem like aplete stranger?"  s


    Arnold''s words sent Evadne into deep thought.


    If Hans really was Hubery, even with amnesia, why would his personality change


    so drastically?


    Could it be...?


    Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.


    Arnold hurried over, and the moment he opened it, his face fell.


    "Mr. Chad?"


    "Arnold." Chad sat in his wheelchair, a thermal lunch box resting on hisp. He lifted his chin with a faint, unhurried smile. "Is Ms. Evadne awake?"


    Arnold''s eyes narrowed with a hint of suspicion. "Did you need something?"


    Chad''s smile was mild but persistent. "I brought some homemade soup and sides. It''s light and nourishing-good for recovery."<fne2c6> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n fin?novel</fne2c6>


    "That''s not necessary, my sister—"


    But before he could finish, a gentle voice called from the bed.


    "Is that Mr. Chad? Let him in, please." Evadne''s words drifted softly across the


    room.