Chapter 352
Chapter 352
Everyone was like they had been hit by a powerful earthquake. Their pupils shook, and in disbelief,
they turned their eyes towards Elspeth!
This included Frederic and the members of the Fairhaven family.
But there was one person who remained just as calm as Evadne, and that was Thaddeus.
Because back when Evadne started having doubts about Elspeth, he had already begun suspecting
her too. But back then, he had sustained a severe head injury and had undergone a life–threatening
brain surgery. Then, Edith started causing a scene, which dyed his further investigation.
Tonight, when Evadne came to confront Elspeth by herself, he had tried to stop her.
He didn’t want her to get into trouble. If Elspeth dared to attack Myra in front of so many people, she
could also carry out a dangerous attack on her!
He could help her. She wouldn’t have to get her hands dirty, no mud on her shoes.
He could deal with all the dirt and all the evil. He could be her executioner.
He admitted that he was angry. He med her, and even somewhat hated her for not trusting him.
But he still loved her. This love made him extreme, no longer weighing pros and cons, only wanting to
make her the center of his life.
“Elspeth, is it true that you and that viin are old acquaintances?” Frederic’s heart tightened, as he
asked in a deep voice.
“Frederic, are you questioning me too? An outsider like Evadnees here and starts using me out
of nowhere, and now you’re going to follow her lead and step on me too?” Elspeth’s eyes widened, her
finger jabbing sharply at her own chest, a look of sorrow and grievance in her eyes.
This reaction was a bit over the top, like something out of a cheesy daytime drama.
At this moment, Glynnis, who had sobered up in the room, also staggered out.
She had heard every word of her father’s question to her mother, and her heart pounded like a drum in
shock!
In her memory, her father had always cherished her mother.
When her mother repeatedly provoked Hamilton, her father, as the biological son of Hamilton,
unconditionally protected his wife, almost falling out with Hamilton several times! But what happened
this time?
Just a probing word from Evadne, and her father started suspecting her mother?
“I did not mean to question you, you’re overthinking.” Frederic frowned, his fingers clenched.
“Of course it’s not true! How could I know such a person?”
Elspeth’s meticulously styled hair was soaked with sweat. She red angrily at the frosty–faced
Evadne, “Evadne, I know you hate me, and we’ve indeed had some unpleasant encounters before, but
I’ve let it go! Now when something happens to your family, you want to put the me on me! I’m not an
insurancepany, why do I have to take the me every time something happens to your family? Do
you think I’m easy to bully?”
Evadneughed slowly, “Elspeth, are you getting anxious? I only asked if you two were old
acquaintances, I haven’t asked anything else, why are you so nervous? Could it be, a guilty
conscience?”
“Evadne!”
Elspeth was so angry that smoke was practicallying out of her mouth, “I’m showing you some
respect because of Chairman Emeric and Mr. Hamilton’s friendship. Don’t push your luck!”
Jareth’s eyes turned red, and if it wasn’t for the fact that the elders were all present, he really wanted to
give her a good scolding.
Thaddeus’s fist tightened instantly, his pupils shrouded in a chilling shadow, “Elspeth, if you really
consider yourself as Mrs. Abernathy, you should watch your tone.”
Bastard! Thaddeus’s just a gun that this bitch pointed wherever she wanted!
In front of so many people, she’s still an elder, and he dared to confront her like this!
“Precisely because I am the hostess of the Abernathy family, I have to properly educate this junior!”
Elspeth red fiercely at Evadne, “Evadne, this is Windermere Estate, not the Ashbourne family’s
Silveke Harbor! As the wife of the chairman of Abernathy Group, the hostess of the Abernathy family,
how can I allow you to nder me here, spouting nonsense?”
Thaddeus couldn’t take it anymore, his charming eyes filled with a shocking bloodlust, just as he was
about to open his mouth, Evadne beat him to it,ughing scornfully, *Hostess? Does Mr. Hamilton
acknowledge you as the hostess?”
Everyone was shocked.
She dared to speak so brazenly and provoke Elspeth, truly befitting of the Ashbourne family’s young
lady!
Glynnis saw her mother’s face turn from red to white, almost unable to stand, feeling as if they were
being shat on.
She originally wanted to jump up and defend her mother, but she saw Jareth and Thaddeus were both
present. They would definitely unconditionally side with Evadne.
What scared her the most was Frederic. He hadn’t even spoken up to defend her mother, her anger
suddenly deted by arge margin.
She decided to continue observing the situation in secret.
“And also, you have the audacity to im here that you are the hostess of the Abernathy Group, but it’s
all because Mr. Frederic spoils you. As far as I know, whether it’s in the entire Abernathy Group or the
upper ss people in Elmsworth, no one truly recognizes your status as the hostess of the Abernathy
Group, right?”
Evadne had her hands in her suit pockets, slightly tilting her head, her bright and arrogant demeanor as
if there was no one in the world who could be her opponent, “If we’re talking about the hostess of the
Abernathy Group, it should be Mr. Chad’s biological mother, Mr. Frederic’swful wife.”
Everyone was shocked.
Elspeth felt as if she’d been stabbed in the heart, but even before she could register the pain, Evadne’s
second blow came. “Otherwise, it should have been Mr. Thaddeus‘ mother, Mrs. Cynthia Winter.”
Cynthia.
Mother.
Thaddeus‘ lips were pressed into a thin line, his gaze fixed on Elspeth’s pale face, his clenched fists felt
as if they would sink into his own flesh.
His heart throbbed heavily, as if it was being brutally extracted and crushed by a ruthless hand, as if
every drop of blood was being squeezed out.
Years ago, when he and his mother were brought back to the Abernathy family by Frederic, Chad’s
mother, ady from the Austin family, had just passed away a year ago.
At that time, the Austin family was flourishing in Elmsworth, ranking among the top six families in the
country. The Austin family and the Abernathy family had deep coboration in all aspects of the
business world. The Abernathy family certainly couldn’t afford to fall out with the Austin family.
So when the Austin family heard that Frederic was nning to marry another woman, a woman of low
social standing with a five–year–old son, they were enraged. They withdrew billions of dors In
Investment and halted the cooperation on three projects. The two families fell out, and the Abernathy
Group’s stock evaporated by several billions overnight.
It was only when Hamilton personally stepped in and negotiated with the Austin family that the
coboration was restored.
The condition was that Frederic could not bring anyone new into the house for three years, the woman
could only live as a servant in the Abernathy family, and her son would always be considered the
illegitimate child of the Abernathy family, not allowed to be included in the family tree!
Thest condition was immediately rejected by Hamilton.
The child of the Abernathy family, even if illegitimate, was not to be dictated by the Austin family. After
all, Frederic’s infidelity had hurt two women, the adults were to me, not
the child.
This was why even though Chad’s mom had passed away. Thaddeus‘ mother was still not given the
rightful status.
Because of herck of status, and not being recognized by the Abernathy family. Thaddeus spent his
childhood and youth under the shadow of rumors, living a life full of humiliation.
Two yearster, Elspeth, pregnant with arge belly, was openly brought back by Frederic. Inside her
belly was Glynnis.
Cynthia was naturally gentle and kind, treating everyone with generosity. Such a pure and good woman
was doomed to be no match for Elspeth.
In the end, this absurd and cruel power struggle ended with Cynthia’s depression leading her to jump
from a building.
The year Cynthia died was exactly the year the Austin family’s three–year wife limit ended.
Elspeth, having the upper hand, was legitimized by Frederic, taking over the position that should have
belonged to Cynthia and bing Frederic’s second wife.
“Thaddeus, don’t be heartbroken. It hurts us all that your mom passed away.”
“From now on, I am your mother, and Glynnis is your real sister.”
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“Ah, your mother was a good woman. It’s a pity she wasn’t as lucky as me. I hope she is not suffering
anymore, and I don’t think she would me me for taking her ce. She was so kind. She could never
me me.”
Thaddeus could never forget the mocking words Elspeth had said to him at his mother’s funeral.
Even as a young boy, he could feel the insincerity behind this woman’s friendly smile.
In a blink, more than twenty years had passed.
Over these years, it seemed like he was the only one in the Abernathy family, the only one in the entire
world, who had not forgotten his mother.
Now, when Thaddeus heard his mother’s name from Evadne, his eyes reddened inexplicably, and he
felt like crying.
“Cynthia. Cynthia.”
Frederic seemed lost in thought, muttering the name of the person long gone.
In front of him, from the depths of his memory, emerged Cynthia’s gentle and radiant face.
The deepest, softest part of his heart was suddenly pierced with pain.
Elspeth was closest to Frederic.
At this moment–she too heard him repeatedly calling out that long–forgotten name, that woman who
had once made her so angry. Red with rage, she directed her fury towards Evadne.
“Cynthia? Cynthia was not legitimate, she was just Frederic’s old mistress! When she came into the
house, she was nothing more than a servant of the Abernathy family! How on earth could she be
considered thedy of the house? Thedy of the Abernathy family is me! She’s not in my league!”
“Elspeth! Enough!”
Frederic, as if a dormant nerve had been stirred, roared at her in fury,pletely forgetting that there
were others present. “Cynthia was not a mistress! She wasn’t a servant! And she’s gone now. You have
no right to speak of her like that!”
“Why don’t I have the right?”
Elspeth’s eyes were wide open, her anger mounting. “Am I wrong? She was nothing more than a
mistress who could never be epted by high society!”
Before she could finish, she suddenly felt a chilling shadow envelop her, as if she was on the edge of a
precipice!
Elspeth was taken aback and looked up to find Thaddeus standing in front of her.
Suddenly, there was a sharp, ringing p that echoed through the hall!
Everyone was shocked, including Evadne, all dumbfounded with their mouths agape.
Thaddeus‘ starry eyes were dark, his thin lips pressed together like a de. He raised his hand and
pped Elspeth hard!
“Ugh!”
Elspeth’s cheek instantly turned red and swollen, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth. Her ears
were ringing and she felt so dizzy!
“Elspeth, you’ve gone too far!” Thaddeus snapped, his face pained. “Cynthia was not a mistress. She’s
my mother. And you have no right to insult her!”
Frederic looked stunned, repeating the long–forgotten name. “Cynthia. Cynthia.”
On the other side of the room, Elspeth’s face was a mask of shock. Her eyes were wide and
disbelieving, her mouth agape. She reached up to touch her stinging cheek, her fingersing away
smeared with blood.
Her gaze turned to Thaddeus, her face a mixture of disbelief and fury. “You dare strike me?”
“Yes, I dare,” Thaddeus shot back, his eyes shing with anger. “Because unlike you, I respect the
memory of the dead. Especially when the dead is my mother.”
The room fell silent, the only sound was the heavy breathing of the people present. The tension was
palpable, the air thick with unspoken words and hidden emotions.
And in that moment, it was as if the past was resurrected, the old wounds reopened, and an old battle
was set to be fought once again.
Elspeth stumbled back two stens bracing herself against the back of the couch to avoid an ungraceful
fall.
*Thaddeus.” Evadne’s pupils involuntarily contracted, her heart pounding in her chest for this man.