Thaddeus''s gaze hardened, his dry lips pressing into a thin line. Gordon''s internal rms red, and he instinctively moved to stand in front of the hospital bed, a loyal guardian protecting his master.


    Chad''s face, usually as serene as a calm spring day, was now etched with a rare, cold gravity. Seeing him storm in with such a thunderous expression, Emeric frowned slightly. This didn''t look like a friendly visit.


    "Mr. Chad, our Mr. Thaddeus is injured. Some rabid dog got off its leash and took a bite out of him," Gordon said through gritted teeth, making it clear their guest was unwee. "He''s not seeing visitors right now. He needs to rest. You should leave."


    At his words, Chad''s eyes darkened almost imperceptibly. Gordon didn''t actually know who was behind the attack; he was just venting his anger. But his words, though spoken without specific intent, had struck a nerve.


    Not wanting to air the Abernathy family''s dirtyundry in front of Emeric, Thaddeus shot Gordon a low rebuke. "Gordon, do not be rude to my brother."


    Chad ignored Gordon and turned to Emeric, his lips curving into his usual gentle smile. “Mr. Ashbourne, my apologies for the intrusion."


    Emeric offered a nomittal smile. "No need to be so formal, Mr. Chad. I''m the outsider here. You and Thaddeus are brothers. I''m the one interrupting."


    "Mr. Ashbourne, my request may seem impolite, but there is something I must discuss with my brother alone."


    The message was clear: he wanted him to leave.


    Emeric gave Thaddeus a long, meaningful look. "Thaddeus, you get some rest. I won''t disturb your chat."


    This man in the wheelchair had not only helped save his daughter, but his elegant and refined demeanor was asforting as a spring breeze. No one could meet him and not be charmed. And yet, for some reason, Emeric couldn''t bring himself to truly like him. There was a distance, a barrier that made him want to keep the man at arm''s length.


    "Brother, whatever you have to say, you can say it here."


    After the recent attack, Thaddeus''s suspicion of his once-revered savior had deepened. He had no desire to speak with him alone. "Mr. Ashbourne is a respected elder. I haven''t seen him in a long time and would like to spend more time with him."


    Emeric''s eyes widened slightly, a warmth spreading through his chest.


    "You can say what you need to right here," Thaddeus continued, his voice firm. "If it''s not convenient, then it can wait until tomorrow." He lowered his gaze, his posture signaling that the discussion was over.


    A shadow passed over Chad''s eyes. Hisposure faltered as he spoke, his voice strained. “Thaddeus, Ms. Evadne was in grave danger. She nearly died in that forest. I just spoke with her doctor. She has two areas of severe frostbite. For a young woman, extreme cold can cause serious long-term damage to her body." The atmosphere in the room instantly grew heavy.


    Thaddeus''s temples throbbed, and he gripped the bedsheets under the nket. The image of Evadne, curled into a ball in the vast, snowy expanse, looking at him with a mixture of hope and disbelief, flooded his mind. It felt as if the icy wind from the mountain was howling through his chest.


    Emeric felt a sharp pain in his heart. His already frail body swayed, and Arnold quickly steadied him, turning a worried gaze to Chad. "Mr. Chad, my sister... what are you trying to say?"


    A flicker of sorrow crossed Chad''s face as he hesitated, as if reluctant to continue.


    Just then, Alexia, dressed in a white


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    announced loudly, "Severe


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    hypothermia can be extremely damaging for a woman. It can even affect fertility and lead to a host of gynecological issues." She then shot a meaningful nce at Thaddeus, whose face had gone pale. "However, heard that Ms. Evadne had a miscarriage once and is no longer able to conceive. So, in that respect... I suppose you could call it a blessing in disguise."


    The words were dropped casually, but they were designed to kill Thaddeus and torture the Ashbournes.


    Gordon''s eyes zed with fury. He clenched his fists and stepped forward. "That''s enough out of you! How dare you bring that up in front of her family? You just had to twist the knife, didn''t you? You''re not just being cruel; you''re being malicious!"


    Alexia''s eyes widened in feigned innocence as she looked to Chad for help.


    "Alexia, that was inappropriate, but what she said is true," Chad said, suddenly lifting his gaze. His dark, sharp eyes bored into Thaddeus. "But, Thaddeus, you are one hundred percent responsible for what What happened to Ms. Evadne. If it weren''t for you, she never would have gone up that mountain alone. She wouldn''t have been in danger."


    He pressed on, his questions relentless. "Have you ever stopped to think, Thaddeus? Ms. Evadne is an experienced hiker. She knew a blizzard wasingst night. Why would she risk going up the mountain? Why wouldn''t she turn back, even if it meant being buried in the snow?"


    Each question was a dagger aimed at Thaddeus''s heart. He opened his mouth to argue, but his throat felt as if it were pierced by a rusty nail. No sound came out.


    Chad stared at him, his voice dropping to a low, chilling tone. "Because you broke your promise to her."


    "A... promise?!" The Ashbourne men were both stunned.


    Alexia, who knew the whole story, wisely remained silent.


    ve


    "She waited for you, but you never came," Chad continued, slowly moving closer to Thaddeus, his eyes like dark, churning pools. "But she still stubbornly went up the mountain, disregarding her own life, because she couldn''t ept it. She couldn''t ept that the man who once loved her, who held her in the palm of his hand, would now cast her aside for another woman. She was waiting for you. She didn''t believe your heart could be so cruel. She didn''t believe you would truly stand her up."


    Leaning in slightly, Chad''s lips curled into a smile that was like a crack in a sheet of ice, revealing something monstrous that had been lurking beneath for years. "But you betrayed her devotion. Thaddeus, whether you want to admit it or not, the truth is right in front of you. Ms. Evadne is no longer important to you."