Back then, Evadne had loved Thaddeus deeply, too-but in the end, didn''t she still resolve to divorce him?


    Both brothers knew their eldest sibling was reeling from heartbreak. It was no wonder his outlook had turned so bleak.


    "Ahem... Let''s be real, does Mr. Thaddeus even look like the type to lust after our Evadne?" Aaron, ever the one to break the tension, chimed in. "Besides, look at him—he''s frail, on medication all the time, stuck in a wheelchair. The guy''s a walking corpse."


    Cassius fell silent, but Aaron pressed on, "Seriously, could he even... you know? Evadne was used to being with a man like Thaddeus-how could she settle for someone who looks half-dead?"


    Cassius just stared at him. "Chad''s sick, not a damn eunuch."


    Arnold rolled his eyes, "Besides, my wife has a saying: The best way to tell if a man''s got desires is to check if he''s breathing. If he''s still breathing, he''s got needs."


    Cassius and Aaron exchanged a look.


    "So, what, Chad''s somehow different? Evadne''s gorgeous and brilliant. You really think he''s immune? I don''t buy it!"


    In the hospital room.


    Chad carefully opened a lunchbox,dled a small bowl of warm, nourishing soup, and set out a few delicate side dishes on the bedside table.


    Evadne forced a polite smile. "Thank you, but honestly, I don''t have much of an appetite right now."


    Chad didn''t reply; he simply ced the bowl in front of her.


    The gentle, familiar aroma drifted up, and Evadne''s eyes lit up in surprise. “This— this is..."


    "Alva made it herself. All the dishes are her handiwork, too."


    Chad''s smile was soft and kind, spreading warmth like sunlight on water. "So? Feeling a little more hungry now?"


    Evadne''s heart trembled. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "How did you...?"


    "Don''t forget, I''m part of the Abernathy family, grew up at Windermere Estate. When Alva first came, she was hired to look after me. Later, when Thaddeus and his mother arrived, my father assigned Alva to care for Thaddeus Turner.


    Chad held the bowl patiently, his eyes sincere. "So, she''s not just watched over Thaddeus-she''s watched over me, too. Asking her to cook a bowl of soup isn''t much to ask."


    Evadne stared at him with those round, dark eyes, unblinking.


    "I''m sorry-I shouldn''t have troubled her. She belongs to Thaddeus now and took care of you for years. You''re close."


    Chad''s intuition was razor-sharp; every flicker of emotion on her face, he caught. "Don''t worry. It won''t happen again."


    She couldn''t say why, but the more he tried to downy his own importance, the more uneasy she felt.


    Suppressing the rush of emotion inside, Evadne lifted her trembling hand to ept the bowl.


    But her body was still so weak; the moment she took the bowl, her hand began to shake uncontrobly.


    Just as it nearly slipped, Chad quickly caught her hand. The coolness of his touch sent a shiver through her.


    And suddenly, she thought of Thaddeus.


    Thaddeus''s hands were broad and calloused, rough around the edges. Yet his blood always ran hot; his palms were always warm, almost feverish. She''d loved to y with his hands, especially in winter when they served as her personal heater.  s


    But that warmth was gone now.


    Evadne''s eyes stung with tears. Her chest felt twisted, aching.


    Chad watched her closely, eyes narrowing with concern. Without another word, he scooped up a spoonful of soup and brought it gently to her trembling lips.<fn4e0f> Discover more novels at find?novel</fn4e0f>


    "Just pretend I''m your nurse for the day. Don''t overthink it-getting your strength back is what matters."


    Evadne drew a shaky breath and gripped the fabric of her pants tightly under the covers.


    Just then, a knock sounded at the door.


    Chad didn''t take his eyes off her. "Come in," he called quietly.


    The door opened. The familiar, steady sound of footsteps echoed into the room each onending squarely on the soft, quivering ce, in Evadne''s heart.  s


    Thaddeus entered, a bouquet of pure white lilies in his hands, his handsome face set in somber lines. He appeared in her vision just as tears threatened to spill from her eyes.


    s


    But in the next instant, Evadne turned away,posed, and leaned forward to


    ept the spoonful Chad offered.


    Thaddeus froze, shock flickering across his face as his grip tightened unconsciously around the flowers.


    A knot of stifled emotion lodged in his throat, impossible to swallow down.