Chapter 374


    Chapter 374


    Yet, in the moment when Thaddeus and Evadne locked eyes, the surrounding chatter seemed to fade


    into silence, as if the world had ceased to exist.


    Upon Dolores saw the man she fancied, her eyes sparkled with excitement.


    She quickly pulled out herpact, powdering her nose and fixing her appearance. With a heart


    beating like a wild rabbit, she tip–toed towards Thaddeus. However, before she could reach halfway, a


    group of elite debutantes flocked towards him, leaving her stranded on the outskirts.


    Dolores clenched the hems of her dress in frustration.


    Why was it so hard to get close to this man?


    And Evadne, how did she manage to marry such an outstanding man, surrounded by admirers like a


    moon amidst the stars? Why was fate so biased, letting all the good catches fall into herp?


    The more Dolores thought about it, the more upset she became. With her red eyes brimming with


    determination, she bulldozed her way to the front.


    Seeing Thaddeus within reach, she pretended to lose her bnce and hurled herself towards him.


    Thaddeus scowled, trying to sidestep her, but the crowd around him rendered him immobile. Dolores


    crashed into his arms.


    The overpowering sweet perfume emanating from her m?de his head spin. He wished he could just


    push her aside.


    “Oh, I’m so sorry, Mr. Abernathy. I lost bnce. I’m truly sorry.” Dolores‘ hands pressed against his


    chest, a coy smile on her face. But inside, she was jubnt.


    No man could resist a woman who threw herself at him, especially a woman as beautiful as her.


    However, when Dolores raised her watery eyes to meet Thaddeus‘, a shiver ran down her spine.


    Those charming eyes stared at her without any emotion, so cold that made her shudder with fear.


    At that moment, Elspeth and Glynnis descended the staircase, witnessing the scene.


    Glynnis had just barely recovered from her facial surgery, her scars hidden beneath a thickyer of


    makeup.


    “Who’s that woman clinging onto Thaddeus?” Elspeth asked, yawning.


    Justst night, she had a secret rendezvous with that young, handsome doctor while her husband


    Frederic was out of town. They had done it all the night, causing her a slight backache.


    Oh, the vigor of youth.


    Elspeth felt rejuvenated after knowing that young doctor, feeling like she was springing back into her


    youth.


    “Let me see.”


    Glynnis squinted, racking her brain before recalling, “Oh, her name is Dolores Ashbourne. She’s from


    the Ashbourne family.”


    “The Ashbourne family? Since when did they have such a vixen?” Elspeth grimaced. It seemed like


    Dolores‘ behavior was all too familiar for her.


    Indeed, it took one to know one….


    “Her dad is Emeric’s younger brother, who only holds a nominal position in the family business. So no


    matter how much she stirs up trouble, she can’t make much of a ssh,” exined Glynnis, her eyes


    filled with disdain, “I couldn’t even recognize her at first. I heard she’s addicted to stic surgery. She


    must have undergone medical cosmetologytely.”


    Elspeth, noticing Dolores‘ cunning demeanor, asked in a low voice, “How’s her rtionship with


    Evadne?”


    “From what I’ve heard, not so good.”


    “Interesting.”


    Elspeth yawned again, her eyes gleaming with anticipation for the drama to unfold, “It’s a shame that


    the Fairhaven girl didn’te tonight. It would’ve been much more entertaining if she did. Just sitting


    back and watching the show unfold – there’s nothing more invigorating than that.”


    Glynnis knew that Barry was pulling all the strings behind the scenes to get Edith to marry into their


    family. At such a critical time, Edith needed to keep a low profile, hence her absence tonight.


    The thought of Edith bing her sister–inw was causing her sleepless nights.


    This is the property of N?-velDrama.Org.


    But knowing that Edith could help her take revenge on Mari and Jareth gave her some sce.


    Suddenly, Glynnis‘ eyes fell upon Jareth, who was sitting in a corner. A wave of fear washed over her,


    causing her to copse onto the staircase.


    Laughter erupted from the crowd, all eyes on Glynnis.


    “What the hell are you doing?”


    Elspeth shot Glynnís a disgusted look, “Get up, everyone’s watching!”


    But Glynnis was too shaken to stand up.


    For the first time in her life, she felt threatened, oppressed. The psychological torment was unbearable.


    Jareth’s nothing but a devil!


    Evadne watched as Dolores flung herself at Thaddeus, her ex–husband not making any move to push


    her away.


    A chilling sensation swept over her, her heart freezing over, her face icy cold.


    Chasel took a leisurely sip of his champagne, resting his elbow on the table and propping his cheek up


    on his hand. He watched the swarm of women around Thaddeus, tsk tsking, “Evadne, I finally


    understand why you two divorced. He’s too much of a catch. Being with him, you’re constantly under


    the threat of being reced How insecure would that be! Look at him now, basking in the attention. He


    doesn’t even spare a nce for you. You were just wasting your time on him.”


    “Can you stop with your useless chit–chat?” Evadne shot him a cold nce.


    “It’s not useless chit–chat. It’s the truth. If it weren’t for the fact that you’re my cousin, I wouldn’t bother


    speaking up.” Chasel shed a dismissive smile


    “Move, Thaddeus said coldly to Dolores.


    “Huh? Ah!”


    Before Dolores could even react, Thaddeus gave her a powerful shove, sending her sprawling away


    from him!


    Her unstable footing in towering stilettos caused her to stumble and fall backward!


    The two women behind her quickly moved aside as if avoiding a gue, leaving Dolores tond


    awkwardly on her behind.


    At that exact moment, Bevis entered the room with other guests, only to witness his daughter’s


    embarrassing state.


    “Mr. Ashbourne, I heard your daughter is attending tonight’s event?” An ill–timed question from a guest


    nearby.


    Bevis wished he could crawl into a hole and hide!


    He regretted bringing her along. They had barely arrived, and their dignity was already trampled!


    The room suddenly became chaotic.


    Dolores sat on the floor, dumbstruck.


    Then, the familiar sound of high heels clicking on the floor echoed from behind her, each step seeming


    to step on her spine.


    “Mr. Abernathy.”


    A cool, pleasant voice, elegant yetposed, sent a jolt through Thaddeus‘ heart.


    “It’s Evadne!”


    “Evadne! Oh my God. She’s just as beautiful in person, her legs so long, her shoulders so firm, her skin


    so fair!”


    “I love her suit, so cool! Suddenly, I feel inferior in my high–end dress!”


    “You wish! If you had Evadne’s face, you’d look good even in rags! Only she can pull off that outfit!”


    The crowd immediately parted, giving Evadne a clear path.


    Thaddeus locked eyes with Evadne, suppressing his yearning as he ruthlessly walked past Dolores.


    As if she was nothing more than a piece of trash at his feet.


    Dolores was a mess, kneeling on the floor, forgetting even to stand.


    Withoutparison, there is no harm done.


    But now, she felt like she had been hit by a nuclear weapon!


    “Ms. Ashbourne, may I help you?” Thaddeus walked up to Evadne, his gaze deep and voice husky.


    “Yes. Do you have a moment?” Evadne’s unruffled voice was soft but clear enough for everyone to


    hear.”


    Without hesitation, Thaddeus agreed.


    Under everyone’s watchful eyes, they left the room.


    Behind them, only surprised sighs and murmurs filled the room.


    Truly a perfect match, so enviable.-


    Evadne and Thaddeus retreated to the hotel’s garden.


    The cool night breeze tousled her hair; her beauty was like a mesmerizing painting.


    They fell into silence, as if they had a thousand words to say, yet everything was conveyed in their


    silence.


    Even their silence was in sync, which was heartbreaking.


    “I didn’t expect you to be here tonight, with a new partner.”


    Thaddeus broke the silence with a harsh statement, “I thought you’de with Mr. Chambers.


    “I didn’te with Ave. Did that disappoint you?”


    Evadne retorted without hesitation, “I also didn’t expect that Mr. Abernathy would have some


    connection with my cousin. I saw you two seemed pretty close earlier. I hope my sudden interruption


    didn’t ruin your fun.”


    Sharp as a tack!


    Thaddeus felt a lump in his throat, his handsome face turned pale then flushed.


    “You asked me out just to say this?”


    He coldly responded, “We have been divorced for quite some time. Whichever woman I associate with,


    why do you still care?”


    Evadne gave a faint smile, shaking her slender finger, “Thaddeus, you think too highly of yourself. Who


    you associate with has nothing to do with me. If you are interested in Dolores, I could even help you


    make a connection since she is my cousin. Who knows, we might even be rted.”


    Thaddeus clenched his fists, his eyes gradually reddening.


    No one could provoke her, except Evadne.


    Only Evadne.


    “But Dolores is from the Ashbourne family. She can’t be your mistress. Why don’t you make up your


    mind between Ms. Fairhaven and Dolores, stop being indecisive?”


    Those words couldn’t be harsher!


    Thaddeus felt a sharp pain in his chest, his eyes reddened as he pushed Evadne against a sturdy tree,


    his arms on either side of her head, looking down at her, his eyes dark and stormy.


    Evadne’s throat suddenly felt dry, her lips tightly pressed.


    She could even feel the man’s muscles under his dark suit, slightly trembling. She dared not meet his


    eyes.


    “Evadne, since you chose to leave me, you’re supposed to stay far away from me. Why do you keep


    appearing in front of me?”


    “Thaddeus.”


    The man’s pale lips moved closer to her, his eyes dark and deste, “I loved you. But that does not


    mean you can trample over my dignity, time and time again!”


    These words, not one foul.