After the nurse left, Thaddeus gave Gordon a faint nce and tried to pull on a hospital gown. But after saving Evadne, he had nearly given his own life. Now, he didn''t even have the strength to dress himself.


    "Mr. Thaddeus, don''t move! I''ll do it!" Gordon rushed forward and carefully helped him into the gown, then propped him up against the headboard.


    Seeing his boss covered in wounds-each one a testament to his desperate search for Evadne-Gordon couldn''t hold back his tears. "Mr. Thaddeus... please! Don''t scare me like this... If something happens to you, I... I don''t think I could go on!"


    Thaddeus looked at him, his gaze steady. "And what would you do? Die for me?" Gordon sniffled. "..."


    "That devotion should be saved for someone you love, not for me," Thaddeus said, his gaze dropping. "You''re my assistant. You don''t need to concern yourself with my life outside of work."


    The words sounded cold, almost dismissive, but they wereced with a hidden warmth. He was trying to spare those around him from worry and pain. It was just that his way of expressing it always came out sounding heartless.


    "Who attacked you? I''ll find out. I''ll kill the person who did this to you!" Gordon wiped his nose, his face contorted with rage.


    "Revenge? He could take you down with his hands tied behind his back." Thaddeus closed his eyes, an image of Hans''s de-straight figure shing in his mind. He also remembered the flicker of something in the man''s expression when he had casually mentioned Chad. It was enough to nt a seed of doubt about the older brother he had always known as an angelic, approachable man.


    "Hans..." he murmured, his eyes darkening.


    "Who did you say?"


    Hans hadn''t wanted to kill him; he had just been determined to stop him from reaching Evadne. But even without him, the Ashbournes and the rescue team would have found her eventually. So, the goal of the person pulling Hans''s strings was clear.


    But why had Hans let him go at thest second? Was it a sudden change of heart? Or was he truly Evadne''s brother, Hubery?


    A thousand thoughts swirled in his mind, but before he could process them, a knock came at the door.


    Gordon went to open it and froze. "Mr. Ashbourne?!"


    Emeric, supported by his son Arnold, stood in the doorway. His expression was unreadable as he spoke. "Is Thaddeus in there? May I have a word with him?"


    Gordon quickly stepped aside, respectfully ushering them in.


    Seeing the respected patriarch, Thaddeus struggled to sit up, despite his exhaustion. "Mr. Ashbourne..."


    "You''re injured. Don''t move," Emeric said quickly, stepping forward and cing a hand on his arm to steady him.


    Arnold looked at the man who had pushed himself to the brink to save his sister. His body was a wreck, and Arnold felt aplex mixture of gratitude, guilt, and a deep, aching sympathy.


    "Mr. Ashbourne... I''m sorry," Thaddeus said, his pale lips barely moving. His voice was subdued, filled with regret. He didn''t know what else to say, but he felt he owed Evadne''s father an apology. He owed Evadne one, too.


    "Thaddeus, you don''t have to say anything. I don''t me you." Emeric


    looked at him, his gaze soci


    and his throat tightened. "My


    daughter can be willful and reckless.


    You''ve been the one protecting her


    this time, helping her stay safe It''s the Ashbourne family that owes you. I should be the one saying sorry."


    A warmth spread through Thaddeus''s chest, but it was apanied by a sharp,


    pinching pain, as if a pair of tweezers were plucking at his heartstrings.


    "From the very beginning, I epted you. In my eyes, you are just like Cassius and Arnold-one of my own children see you as a son."


    Emeric''s eyes misted over. "Even though you and Evadne have separated, I won''t hold it against you. If you ever run into trouble with the Abernathy Group youe to me. I will always lend a hand. You''ve helped me countless times in the past, and I owe you for that."


    Arnold was stunned. He had been worried his father would me Thaddeus for the breakup, especially now that Evadne was in aa. He hadn''t expected such understanding and grace. No wonder this titan of industry hadmanded such unwavering loyalty for decades.


    Thaddeus''s throat felt raw, and he couldn''t speak. Evadne''s heart-wrenching words from the night before echoed in his mind, and a fresh wave of pain washed over him. "Mr. Ashbourne, I.....”


    "I''m no longer going to push for you and Evadne to be together. Whatever choice you make, we will respect it. Emeric''s voice was thick with emotion. "Before, you loved her, and it was only


    natural that y


    you


    would sacrifice for her. But now... if<fn490b> This text is hosted at find(?)ovel</fn490b>


    the feelings are gone, I won''t let her


    bother you anymore. I don''t want my


    daughter to be your burden."


    *No, she''s not!*


    Thaddeus''s breathing grew heavy. He pushed himself up, trying to speak, to


    correct the terrible misunderstanding.


    Just then, the door to the hospital room swung open.


    Chad sat alone in his wheelchair, his sudden appearance capturing all three


    men''s attention.