"No, you did an excellent job." Thaddeus narrowed his eyes, a flicker of warmth melting the icy facade he had maintained for so long. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips. "You''re not just mywyer; you''re Jason''s brother. From now on, don''t call me Mr. Thaddeus. Just Thaddeus is fine."


    Gordon, in the passenger seat, nced in the rearview mirror, startled. For a brief moment, he saw the Mr. Thaddeus he used to know-a man with a hint of humanity, not the cold, unfeeling shell he had be.


    "I may be Jason''s brother, but my work is separate. And as I am still formally representing you, it is more appropriate to address you as Mr. Thaddeus," Ivan replied, politely maintaining his professional distance.


    Thaddeus simply nodded. "As you wish."


    Noting his haggard appearance, Gordon said gently, "Mr. Thaddeus, I''ll take you back to Windermere Estate to rest."


    "No. To the Abernathy Group." Thaddeus lowered his gaze, his voice low. "The senior management meeting is in an hour. Inform all department heads to be in the conference room on time."


    An hourter, Thaddeus arrived at thepany headquarters. Ignoring the strange looks from every direction, he walked with Gordon to the executive elevator and went straight to the conference room. But when the doors opened, Thaddeus''s expression darkened.


    "What''s going on? Why is no one here?" Gordon eximed. "I sent out the meeting notification!"


    Thaddeus stared at the empty room, a storm brewing in his chest. He turned and strode purposefully toward the president''s office. His executive secretary was still at her desk outside the door.


    "Mr. Thaddeus!" she scrambled to her feet, her face pale with rm.


    Thaddeus, his expression unreadable, reached for the door, but she quickly stepped in his way. "Mr. Thaddeus, please wait! You can''t go in there!"


    Gordon red at her. "What are you doing? This is Mr. Thaddeus''s office. Why can''t he go in?"


    Before she could answer, Thaddeus ced a hand on the door, his powerful presence undeniable, and pushed it open.


    The vast office was intimately familiar, every detail etched in his memory. The only difference was the man sitting in the grand leather chair behind the desk his back to the door. Thaddeus looked at the figure, and the air around him grew thin, a suffocating pressure closing in from all sides.


    The man in the chair slowly swiveled around.


    "Thaddeus. Congrattions on getting out in one piece," Chad said, his arms restingfortably on the armrests, a cold, mocking smile on his lips that didn''t reach his eyes.


    Thaddeus walked forward, each step as heavy as his heart. His voice was raw. "Why is it you?"


    "Why can''t it be me?" Chad tilted his chin up, leisurely spinning in the chair he had coveted for so long. "This seat should have been mine years ago. You were just keeping it warm for me."


    The man before him was a


    stranger-his smile triumphant, his tone arrogant, his expression


    contemptuous. This was not then et


    gentle, worldly brother Thaddeus knew. It was as if two entirely different personalities existed in one body, each aplete inversion of the other.


    "So, it was all a setup. From the very beginning." Thaddeus stared at this man who was both familiar and alien, the suffocating feeling intensifying. "From the day you returned to Elmsworth, you were nning to take this position from me?"


    Chad smiled and wagged a finger. "No, that''s the wrong word. It''s not taking." He leaned forward, his fingertips brushing against the sharp edge of the metal namete on the desk. "Thaddeus, nothing in the entire Abernathy Group was ever meant to be yours. And what isn''t yours, you must eventually return." <fn2d48> ?????? ???? F?ndNovel</fn2d48>