A sinister glint shed in Chad''s clear eyes. He nced at Evadne, who had her back to them, and his voice deepened.


    "Let''s discuss that some other time."


    "Why some other time? Is it because I''m here that it''s inconvenient for you to talk, Mr. Abernathy?"


    Evadne suddenly turned around, a bright smile on her face. "It seems that you and I are merely coborators, not true partners. You and Sean have many secrets you don''t want me to know."


    “Haha..... President Ashbourne, you''re being too harsh." Sean''sugh was incredibly awkward as he kept stealing nces at Chad''s face.


    Evadne could see it clearly. On the surface, Sean was the government official, and by all rights, Chad should be his subordinate. But in reality, their roles were reversed. Privately, Chad was the one in control.


    Chad was being secretive about this research institute in front of her, which meant there was something fishy about it, perhaps even some dark, illicit dealings.


    Otherwise, why couldn''t he talk about it?


    Seeing Chad remain silent, Evadne decided to throw a tantrum, her red lips curling into a cold smirk. “Hah, if you''re going to be so wary of me, Mr. Abernathy, you shouldn''t have invited me to this dinner in the first ce. It makes me feel like an unwee mole.


    I''ll leave you two to your secret discussion. Farewell."


    With that, she turned sharply and walked away without a backward nce.


    "President Ashbourne, please wait!" Chad called out urgently.


    But Evadne acted as if she hadn''t heard him, her steps quickening as if in a huff.


    Chad''s lips paled. The usually calm andposed man finally lost his cool. He shot to his feet and strode after her.


    Sean watched this scene, dumbfounded.


    Was this man, so desperate to chase after a woman, still the same majestic, profound Mr. Abernathy he knew?


    It seems even heroes struggle to resist a beautiful woman. Sir was no exception.


    Evadne heard Chad catching up but didn''t stop. In fact, she walked faster.


    It wasn''t until they reached the living room that Chad caught up to her, grabbing her wrist tightly and calling out anxiously.


    "Evadne, don''t go!"


    Evadne''s body tensed, her pupils widening slightly.


    Evadne.


    Thaddeus''s gentle voice echoed in her mind, and memories of their time together, filled with infinite tenderness and passion, reyed before her eyes.


    Her eyes quietly turned red.


    The name “Evadne" was the same, but the man standing behind her was no longer him.


    “Is there anything else you want to say, Mr. Abernathy?” Evadne kept her back to him, her voice icy.


    Chad moved to stand in front of her, staring at her intently. His gaze felt searingly hot, making her eyshes tremble, and she couldn''t hold his gaze any longer.


    "Why are your eyes red?"


    Chad''s voice was low and soft, his deep gaze seeming to pierce right through to her soul. "Are you this angry just because you think I''m hiding something from you?"


    Evadne suppressed her emotions andughed coldly. "And shouldn''t I be angry? You talk about a deep partnership, call me your important partner yet you hide things from me at every turn. Your words and actions don''t match. How can I


    possibly trust you?"


    Chad''s brow furrowed slightly.


    Sheughed mockingly again. "Hah, but I understand. After all, you and Thaddeus are mortal enemies, and I have such a profound past with him. It must sicken you. It''s only natural that you''d be on your guard."


    "No, I''ve never thought that."


    The fingers Chad had wrapped around her slender wrist tightened slightly, a subtle movement that betrayed a torrent of possessiveness. "If I cared about your past with Thaddeus, I wouldn''t be working with you.


    Evadne, you can treat me however you want, but please, don''t misunderstand my feelings for you.”


    Evadne listened impassively, her stomach churning.


    This deeply calcting, scheming man..... his “sincere feelings” were nothing but a cheap tool to confuse her.


    But she knew that if she kept rejecting his advances, their rtionship would stagnate.


    If that happened, she would never be able to prate the core of Chad''s inner circle.


    So, she had to ease the tension between them appropriately. She couldn''t suddenly get too close-that would be too fake-but she had make him see that things between Her and Thaddeus were well and truly over, that there was no going back. Only then would he gradually let his guard down.


    "Mr. Abernathy, there''s something I need you to understand."


    Evadne took a deep breath and met his intense, burning gaze. "By


    choosing to work with you, I''ve essentially alienated my entire family. My father got into a huge fight with me over it, which triggered bis ilmess, and now he''s stilkin aa. By leaving Thaddeus and joining your side, I can''t face my grandfather either.


    You could say that by choosing you, I''ve burned all my bridges. I''m panicked, scared, and emotional. It can''t be helped. I hope you can see it from my perspective


    and understand my predicament."


    "Evadne, that was my oversight."


    Chad gently pulled at her, trying to draw her closer. "It won''t happen again."


    Evadne''s back stiffened, her eyes filled with suppressed revulsion.


    Just then, the sound of heavy footsteps came from behind them, then suddenly stopped.


    Evadne quickly turned around, and the blood in her veins instantly froze—


    The air grew heavy, silent.


    A few steps away, Thaddeus stood tall and rigid, his eyes fixed on the two of them, who looked incredibly intimate. Finally, his dark, cold gaze locked onto Evadne''s wrist, tightly held by Chad.


    An invisible storm was brewing between the two men, spreading with unrestrained


    fury.