When Chad and Evadne entered the ballroom together, the entire room erupted in


    a fresh wave of shock. All eyes were fixed on them.


    "Am I seeing things?! The man with Evadne isn''t Thaddeus Abernathy!"


    "That gentleman is incredible! His presence and charisma are on par with Mr. Abernathy''s!"


    "The Ashbournes have more brothers than you can count. Maybe he''s one of them?"


    "Chad!"


    Frederic''s face lit up, and he strode toward the pair, practically beaming.


    *Chad?!*


    The name rippled through the stunned crowd.


    "Father," Chad said with a slight smile, his eyes as clear as a mountainke.


    Evadne, ever the poised heiress, set aside her past grievances with Frederic. This was an Abernathy event, after all. She offered a polite greeting.


    "Mr. Abernathy, my father is recuperating at home and couldn''t be here tonight. He asked me to send his regards."


    She was graceful and courteous. Standing next to the impossibly handsome man at her side, they looked like a paintinge to life.<fn130b> Th?s chapter is updated by Find[?]ovel</fn130b>


    "Please thank Chairman Ashbourne for his concern. I''m doing very well," Frederic replied, his tone surprisingly warm. He smiled at Evadne with an almost paternal affection, a stark contrast to his usual cold demeanor. To an outsider, it would seem he and the Ashbournes were on the best of terms. "I heard Chairman Ashbourne was recovering abroad, and I never found the time to visit. I''ll be sure to contact him in the next few days and arrange a visit when he''s avable."


    Just then, Thaddeus arrived, pushing Hamilton in his wheelchair. They, along with everyone else in the ballroom, heard Frederic''s words loud and clear.


    Evadne simply smiled, offering no


    real response. She was sharp enough to see right through Frederic''s maniptive ploy. When she had been with Thaddeus, rumors of a feud between their families were rampant. They had been deeply in love and had discussed marriage more than once, yet Frederic had never once set foot in the Ashbourne residence or even called Emeric. Now, in front of Chad, he was ying the part of the gracious elder. His tant


    favoritism was sure to spark endless spection.


    "Did Thaddeus and Evadne... break up?"


    "Really?! That''s fantastic! Now we all have a chance!"


    "Oh my god... they broke up? I don''t believe in love anymore!"


    "You''re such a hopeless romantic. Love is never something to believe in."


    "So, it looks like Evadne is with Chad now? And Frederic approves? First the


    younger brother, now the older one. She really gets around."


    "Getting both brothers to fall for her... she must be something else."


    Thements were made in passing, but Chad heard them. He turned his head slightly, his smiling eyes sweeping over the gossiping women. They immediately fell silent, nervously looking around.


    Chad calmly turned his gaze away. The look had held no emotion, yet it had sent


    a shiver of pure terror down their spines.


    The scene made Hamilton''s blood boil. He looked up at Thaddeus, who stood


    frozen beside him, and jabbed him sharply with his elbow.


    "Go! Go to Evadne, now!"


    Thaddeus stared at the perfectly matched pair, his powerful arms tensing beneath


    his suit jacket. But he didn''t move.


    "You stupid boy! Someone is


    stealing your woman, and you''re just standing there like an idiot?!" The old man was livid, so furious he wanted to leapup and throttle him. "Before, you couldn''t even stand another man talking to her without getting furious! Now your own father is practically pushing her into your brother''s arms, and you''re just going to let it happen? What''s wrong with you?! For Christ''s sake! Even a dog knows to piss on its territory to im it! Are you less than a dog?!"


    A sharp pain shot through Thaddeus''s head, and his chest heaved with a suppressed breath.


    Then, he turned and walked out of the ballroom.