"What?!"
Evadne''s expression changed dramatically. She shot to her feet, her voice trembling with urgency. "Cassius, why didn''t you tell me something so serious happened sooner?!"
"You''ve been so busytely..."
“So what if I''m busy? Even if I were coughing up blood from exhaustion, I''d crawl back home! He''s the only father I have!"
Evadne''s eyes were red with panic. She snatched her jacket from the back of her chair and started for the door. "Is Dad stable now? I''m on my way!"
"Evadne, wait, listen to me."
Cassius took a breath, his voice heavy. "The reason Dad was rushed to the hospital this time... it has something to do with you."
Evadne froze. "What do you mean?"
"We''ve been trying to distract Dad for the past few days, spending all our time with him, watching TV and movies, just to keep him from seeing the news about you joining the Abernathy Group''s board and pulling out of the A5 Project.”
Cassius''s voice was filled with helplessness. "But despite all our precautions, we didn''t expect one of his business partners to call him specifically to talk about it.
When Dad found out, he was furious. He said you were a... traitor to the Ashbourne family."
Evadne''s brow tightened. She pressed a hand to her forehead, a stifling weight settling in her chest, making it hard to breathe.
"Dad just took his medication and is asleep now. Evadne,e byter and have a good talk with him."
Evadne''s voice was muffled as she forced herself to soundposed. "Thank you, I understand."
Evadne drove alone, speeding toward the hospital where Emeric Ashbourne was staying.
In the hospital room, Emeric had just woken up. Cassius, Arnold, and Suri were by his side, while the other Ashbournes, exhausted after several days, had gone home to rest.
"Dad." Evadne entered the room, holding a bouquet of fresh flowers.
They were pure white lilies, her mother''s favorite.
Emeric was about tosh out, but the sight of the lilies softened his gaze, though his tone was stillced with anger.
"You foolish girl, do you have any idea how much you resemble a traitor?! The A5 Project is crucial for KS Group''s future for the next five
just
even ten years, and you. you just handed it over to the Abernathy Group!
Not only that... you joined their board, you''re going to work with Chad... Don''t you know that boy has ulterior motives? Don''t you know he''s been scheming for the heir''s position, trying to harm Thaddeus?!"
"I know," Evadne said tly.
"And you did it anyway?!"
"I..."
Seeing her father''s misunderstanding, Evadne wanted to exin the entire n, but
she swallowed the words before they could escape.
Her n with her grandfather and Thaddeus couldn''t be known by anyone else. While her family was trustworthy, she couldn''t risk even the slightest, leak that might alert the cunning and suspicious chad, making him wary of her.
Then her sacrifice would be for nothing.
Cassius quickly interjected, "Dad, please don''t me Evadne. I''m sure she has her reasons for doing this."
Arnold Ashbourne chimed in, “That''s right, Dad. How could you call Evadne a traitor! That''s too harsh..."
"We finally managed to suppress Chad''s influence, and now you''ve be one of his allies, strengthening his position and handing him the A5 Project... Are you trying to make him an emperor, to let him ascend to the heavens?!"
Emeric became agitated again. "Maybe you have your reasons... your own calctions. But let me tell you, the only reason you think you can control the situation is because he''s not powerful enough yet!
Once he canmand the skies andpletely control the Abernathy Group, the situation will spiral out of your hands! Evadne, your cleverness might just be you digging your own grave!
Thaddeus..... he might even be kicked out of the Abernathy Group, losing any chance of bing the heir for good!"
Evadne''s chest felt tight, and she struggled to breathe. Just as she was about to
speak, Emeric''s brows knitted in pain, and his entire body was wracked by a violent convulsion.
"Dad!"