At that moment, Thaddeus caught sight of Evadne with Chad.


    The scene before him—a womanughing alongside a man-was achingly familiar. Once, moments like these had colored his own memories, back when his world wasn''t just ck and white.


    He used to watch her like this, too. Used to see her brightughter, her yful mischief.


    But time had marched on. Now, someone else stood by her side, filling the space that once belonged to him.


    He was the one who''d ended things. He''d been the one to tell her not to waste her time with him, that she deserved better, that she should find someone else.


    And yet, watching his brother so obviously smitten with Evadne, seeing how easily she smiled in Chad''spany, left a bitter taste on his tongue.


    Thaddeus''s fingers curled until the tendons strained beneath his skin.


    It felt as if he were holding a bee in his mouth-its stinger pricking his tongue, the faint, numbing pain spreading quietly through his whole body.


    Lost in his thoughts, he didn''t notice the first few icy snowkes drifting down, brushing against the hard lines of his face.


    "Watch out, you two!"


    Without warning, a heavy clump of snow tumbled from a trembling branch above, plummeting straight toward Thaddeus and Alexia.


    A startled cry escaped Alexia, drawing everyone''s attention-Evadne''s and Chad''s included.


    As the snow threatened to crash down, Alexia shrank away, instinctively pressing into the unmoving man beside her, seeking shelter.


    At thest second, Thaddeus ducked his head and leaned forward, shielding them both as the snownded, drenching them in white.


    From Evadne''s vantage point, it looked as if Thaddeus were holding Alexia, protecting her. The sight was intimate-too intimate-and it pierced through Evadne like a shard of ss.


    A rush of jealousy and ache welled up, stinging her reddened eyes and wing at her throat.<fn9689> Checktest chapters at FιndNovel</fn9689>


    In that moment, her heart felt as broken and ruined as the snow chunk shattered on the ground-smeared, scattered, utterly destroyed.


    "That kid! How many times did I tell you, don''t shake the tree! Now you''ve done it!" the teacher scolded, hustling over to the sheepish child. She turned quickly to Thaddeus and Alexia, apologizing profusely "I''m so sorry! Are you alright? Would you like toe inside, warm up by the fire, maybe dry off?"  s


    "I''m fine," Thaddeus replied, his handsome features set in stone. He made no move to brush the snow from his dark hair or broad shoulders.


    "It''s alright-kids will be kids. A little trouble now and then just means they''re healthy," Alexia replied with a gentle, forgiving smile. She nced up at Thaddeus, then reached fo tenderly dust the snow from hi shoulder.  s


    But Thaddeus was staring straight past her, his eyes fixed on Evadne. He didn''t even register Alexia''s gesture.


    "Mr. Chad, excuse me," Evadne said, her voice scratchy, her gaze flickering away as she blinked back tears. "There''s something I need to take care of. I''ll be going now."


    Chad noticed the distress on her face and quickly offered, "Let me walk you out." "No, really. Please stay."


    With that, she turned on her heel and hurried away, not daring to look back. Chad didn''t linger. He navigated his wheelchair after her, keeping his distance so as not to intrude, but unable to let her disappear from sight.


    Thaddeus stood rooted where he was, watching the two of them grow smaller, receding until they vanishedpletely. He felt his heart sink, inch by painful inch. "Mr. Thaddeus, you''re covered in snow-you''ll catch cold. Let''s go inside and warm up,” Alexia said, reaching for his arm.


    He pulled away, cold and distant. "You go ahead. I don''t need anything."


    With that, he strode off, leaving Alexia stamping her foot in frustration, biting her lip in wounded indignation.


    Evadne pressed her lips together to stop their trembling, briskly wiping away the tears that threatened to spill as she hurried along.


    In her head, two voices argued—a little angel and a stubborn devil, locked in battle.


    "See, Evadne? You finally see him for


    what he is. That jerk never really cared he''s just a heartless, faithless


    bastard. Let him ge already! Dont make the same mistake twice!"  s