Evadne lifted her gaze coolly as Alexia stormed toward her, practically radiating fury. "Evadne, you''re an absolute curse!"


    Before Alexia even came to aplete stop, she unleashed her tirade. "When you were with Mr. Thaddeus, he almost died multiple times. Now that you two are broken up, you bring your horrible luck to our boss and get him hurt like this! Can you just stay away from him?!


    "If he hadn''t tried to protect you, he wouldn''t be covered in shes right now!"


    "Did I ask him to protect me?"


    Evadne crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair with a cold, mocking smile. "Your boss is the golden boy, the future heir of the Abernathy group. When danger strikes, he should prioritize his own precious life."


    Seeing Evadne''s totalck of remorse, Alexia''s lips trembled with rage. She looked like she was about to explode.


    "Furthermore, the Abernathy group is entirely responsible for this security breach. Your event staff was a joke, letting an armed lunatic walk right into the VIP area disguised as a waiter. The security team didn''t even react in time. If Mr. Thaddeus hadn''t intervened, your boss would be full of holes by now."


    Alexia choked on her words. "You-!"


    "Also, loyalty shouldn''t be split. If you''re so worried about your current boss, stick to worrying about him. Why keep dragging up my past with Thaddeus?"


    Evadne''s sharp eyes narrowed into a dangerous, beautiful curve, her red lips forming a smile designed to infuriate. "What''s the matter? Are you jealous that Thaddeus and I used to be together?"


    Alexia''s heart hammered wildly against her ribs, her throat suddenly dry.


    She had genuinely believed she was over him. Thaddeus had discarded her, crushing her pride into the dirt. She thought her heart now belonged entirely to Sir. But Evadne''s words pierced straight through her armor, hitting a raw nerve.


    Alexia trembled, a dull ache spreading through her chest as a horrifying realization washed over her. Deep down, she still cared about Thaddeus. A part of her still longed for him.


    "Alexia, don''t be rude to President Ashbourne."


    Supported by his secretary, Chad slowly emerged from his suite. The icy fog in his eyes as he stared at Alexia was enough to freeze blood.


    The bodyguards lining the hallway bowed in perfect unison.


    Panic seized Alexia. All her aggression toward Evadne evaporated instantly, and she lowered her head, stepping submissively to the side.


    "How are you feeling?"


    Evadne stood up quickly, walking over to support Chad''s arm, acting the part of a concerned partner perfectly. "Did they get all the ss out?"


    Chad offered a dismissive smile. "Don''t worry. Even if there are still a few shards left inside, it won''t kill me."


    "Well, we can''t have that."


    ет


    Evadne let her gaze wander over Alexia''s heavily augmented, stic face before speaking in a soft, falsely aggrieved tone. "If you don''t recoverpletely. Ms


    Alexia


    treat me like the ultimate viin. The pressure is just too much for me to handle."


    *Evadne! You little bitch!*


    Alexia ground her teeth, wishing nothing more than to lunge forward and rip Evadne''s throat out.


    "She''s been working for me for a long time. She just panicked out of concern. I make sure to have a talk


    with her when we get back," Chad


    said gently, though the side-eye


    shot Alexia promised absolute terror.


    he


    A cold sweat broke out down Alexia''s spine. She was standing perfectly still, yet she


    felt like she was a walking corpse.


    "Oh? Thaddeus?" Chad suddenly smiled, looking down the corridor.


    Evadne''s heart lurched. After a moment of hesitation, she forced herself to look in that direction.


    By sheer coincidence, Thaddeus


    was getting his hand bandaged at hospital. The bright white


    the sam


    gauze wrapped around his left hand


    was impossible to miss.


    A sharp sting of pain shot through Evadne''s chest, spreading rapidly through her


    body. Her eyes pricked with unshed tears.


    She desperately wanted to run to him, to check if his hand was okay. But right now,


    she had to y blind. She had to act like she didn''t care.


    The internal struggle was agonizing.


    "Evadne, Thaddeus hurt his hand."


    Chad nced at her distracted expression, his gaze a mix of worry and something


    far darker. "Do you want to go check on him?"