Chapter 384


    Chapter 384


    Elvis, the corners of his mouth always curled up in that customary rebellious smirk, subtly sized up


    Avery.


    That night at the bar, the woman who bore a striking resemnce to his sister, swiftly left and got into a


    car belonging to the Chambers family.


    The alley was dark and no lights were on in the car. Elvis couldn’t see clearly who the man sitting in it


    was.


    But he was a top agent, his observational and recall abilities were above average. By recognizing the


    man’s silhouette, he could be seventy percent certain that the man sitting next to Ms. Archer that night


    was indeed Avery.


    “Elvis, a pleasure to finally meet you.” Avery quickly switched to a warm and genial smile, extending his


    greetings first.


    “Oh? You know me?” Elvis raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.


    “I’ve been good friends with Evadne since we were kids. My father and Mr. Ashbourne were also close.


    I used to y at your house a lot when I was a kid.”


    Avery spoke in a smooth, unhurried tone, “I know, Mrs, Ashbourne has five kids. Evadne has four older


    brothers, and Bet and you take the surname of your mom.” Elvis narrowed his eyes, quietly waiting


    for him to continue.


    “Bet Waverley, who I’ve met, now serves in the military, But I’ve never met you before.“.


    Avery lightly smiled, “It doesn’t matter though. You’re Evadne’s brother. I’ll take you as my brother too.”


    “You’ve got a pretty good handle on our family. Seems like you know quite a bit. Elvis tilted his head,


    looking amused.


    “As long as it’s about Evadne, I always hope to know more. It’s out of concern for her.” Avery’s eyes


    shone with sincerity


    Elvis already knew from Arnold that Avery of the Chambers family was ardently pursuing Evadne.


    As her older brother, he would of course pay attention to the potential suitors for her. He didn’t want


    Evadne to be hurt by scumbags again, to repeat the mistakes she made with Thaddeus.


    But for some reason, the man in front of him made Elvis feel slightly ufortable..


    Thaddeus definitely deserved to be cklisted forever, but Avery didn’t quite meet his expectations


    either.


    Plus that night at the bar.


    Although he wasn’tpletely certain it was Avery, Elvis still felt somewhat uneasy.”


    “Elvis, I heard Evadne had a car ident. I’m really worried about her and I want to see her, is that


    okay?” Avery took a step forward, his voice filled with urgency. “Well, she’s,”


    “Elvis.”


    Before Elvis could finish, a sweet voice called out.


    He quickly turned around to see Nydia closing the door to the hospital room and walking lightly towards


    them.


    “Did Evadne fall asleep?” Elvis hurriedly asked.


    Nydia pressed her lips and shook her head, then looking at Avery, “She vaguely heard Mr. Chambers’s


    voice. She said if Mr. Chambers came, she’d like to see him.” Upon hearing this, Avery’s eyes


    brightened.


    “Oh, if that’s what Evadne wants, then please go ahead.” Elvis moved out of the way, his tone


    indifferent.


    “Thank you, Elvis.”


    Avery still wore a warm, gentle smile as he swiftly walked past Elvis and into the hospital room.


    Watching the man enter the room and close the door behind him, Elvis immediately called Nydia over.


    “Nydia, exactly what is going on between Mr. Chambers and Evadne?”


    “Well, how should I put it? Childhood sweethearts? Innocent ymates?” Nydia put her finger to her


    lips, her brows slightly furrowed.


    “What the heck? Really?!” Elvis was taken aback, his eyes wide with surprise.


    “It’s true. They used to stick together all the time in primary school. Back then, Mr. Avery was often


    bullied by ssmates and it was always my sister who came to his rescue. I remember it clearly. Later,


    Mr. Jeff brought Byron and Avery to our house. From what my mom said, it seemed like he wanted to


    propose a marriage match for Evadne.”


    “Did Emeric agree?” Elvis hurriedly asked.


    Nydia lightly shook her head, “No, from what I heard, it seems like dad wasn’t satisfied with Mr.


    Chambers‘ two sons, so he never agreed. But Mr. Chambers seems determined, as if he’s already


    decided that my sister is the daughter–inw of the Chambers family.”


    “Ha, he wishes! Evadne is a celestial beauty. To pair her with any son of the Chambers family is a


    downright waste! Emeric probably thinks the same way, which is why he didn’t agree.”


    Elvis pursed his lips, murmuring under his breath, “At least Emeric have some taste.”


    “Evadne, I’m here.”


    Avery tiptoed into the hospital room, seeing Evadne sitting up in bed, half asleep, her cheeks gaunt in a


    way that tugged at his heartstrings. His heart ached with a sharp


    pain


    He admitted that he was full of schemes, that he had done many unforgivable things.


    But in the matter of loving Evadne, his feelings were truly sincere.


    In this lifetime, he, Avery, would marry no one but Evadne. His feelings hadn’t changed in the past


    fifteen years.


    “Ave, you came.”


    Evadne snapped back from the trance, smiling at him, “Thank you foring to see me. Have a seat.”


    She gestured towards the couch.


    But Avery wanted to sit beside her, to be as close to her as possible.


    He wanted to hold her, to kiss her.


    Avery’s throat tightened, and he sat down next to the bed, his voice trembling slightly as he asked,


    “Where were you hurt? Is it still in pain? How did you get into an ident?”


    “It’s just some scrapes and bruises, nothing serious.”


    Evadne’s eyes were clear as water, her smile tinged with bitterness, “It’s just a pity about my limited


    edition car. I think it’s probably totaled.”


    “It doesn’t matter. What’s a car inparison to your safety? That you’re okay is all that matters.”


    Avery found himself reaching out to hold her hand, his palms warm and firm around hers, “Whatever


    car you want, I can get it for you. Even if there’s only one in the world.”


    He wanted to give anything to his Evadne.


    Evadne quickly pulled her hand away, her pupils contracting a little. A hint of unease in her eyes, which


    hurt Avery deep down.


    Why?


    Thaddeus and her were clearly over. Why wouldn’t she even consider him?


    Was he out of league?


    He didn’t even have a glimmer of chance?


    Còntens bel0ngs to N?(v)elDr/a/ma.Org


    “Evadne.”


    “Avery, thank you for caring about me.”


    Evadne’s eyes glistened, her smile tinged with sadness, “But I don’t want to have anything to do with


    affection anymore, Avery, whether it’s now or in the future, I can’t ept your feelings. Don’t waste


    your time on me anymore.”


    Jason and Cassius left during the day, leaving only Nydia to look after Evadne at the hospital.


    Elvis naturally wouldn’t feel at ease leaving the two girls alone at the hospital. Even though his elder


    brother left his personal bodyguard, he still–felt uneasy.


    As the night deepened.


    Sitting side by side on the long bench in the corridor, Nydia, who had been watching over her sister all


    day, was so sleepy that her eyelids couldn’t hold themselves any longer.


    Her drowsy state was quite adorable.


    Eventually, Nydia, overtaken by fatigue, rested her head on Elvis‘ shoulder.


    Taken aback for a moment, Elvis nced at his half–sister, not daring to move a muscle.


    Since childhood, he had always been indifferent towards his father’s other children, as if he never really


    saw them as his family.


    But as time passed and they went through so many things together, his attitude subtly changed.


    After some time, Nydia suddenly woke up.


    She sat up straight, staring nkly ahead, wiping the saliva that had dribbled from her mouth.


    “Why did you wake up? Sleep some more.” Elvis nced at her dazed cute expression, a smile


    creeping onto his face.


    Just like Evadne when she was little.


    “I’m sorry, Elvis!”


    Nydia was flustered. Noticing that her drool had stained Elvis‘ shirt, her face flushed like a ripe peach,


    “I’ll wash your shirt. I’m sorry!” Seeing her in such a state, Elvis couldn’t help but feel a pang of distress


    for the youngest daughter in their family.


    The brothers always revolved around Evadne, subconsciously assuming that she was the youngest


    child in the family.


    Unbeknownst to them, Nydia was truly the youngest Ashbourne, who needed the most care, yet was


    often overlooked by them.


    “It’s okay. It’s nothing.”


    Elvis, with a brotherly smile, patted his thigh, “Come here and sleep, it’s morefortable.”


    Nydia blushed even harder, “I can’t.”


    “Evadne used to sleep on my thigh all the time. She was never more cozy.”


    Nydia pressed her soft lips, her hands nervously kneading together until they turned red.


    Elvis knew, she was too timid, and she didn’t dare.


    Nydia, his half–sister, was already satisfied that he recognized her as his sister.


    Elvis sighed softly, removing his trench coat andying it over Nydia’s shoulders, enveloping her petite


    body.


    “Elvis, I’m not cold. You should wear it.” Nydia tried to remove the jacket.


    “Be good, wear it.”


    Elvis‘ gaze softened as he looked at her, his hand gently pressing on her shoulder, “If you really


    consider me your brother.” Hearing this, Nydia no longer refused, a warm feeling flooding her heart,


    even tears welling up in her eyes.


    Thanks to her sister, she too had a brother who cared for her.


    Just then, a mor echoed from the distance.


    “Nydia, wait here. I’ll go check it out.”


    Elvis


    got up and walked out.


    When he saw Thaddeus and Jareth, his expression turned icy, his handsome brows furrowed, a chilling


    aura radiating from him. “Holy shit, it’s him!”


    Jareth recognized Elvis immediately, remembering the scene where Elvis had beaten Thaddeus to a


    pulp, he instantly felt goosebumps!


    “You bastard, you have the nerve to show your face here?”


    Elvis‘ muscles tightened, his eyes filled with hostility as he approached Thaddeus, “Get lost, while I still


    have my temper in check, disappear from here!”


    Thaddeus lifted his pale face, his throat tightening, “I want to see Evadne. I have something to tell her.”


    “She has nothing to say to you, scram.” Elvis red at him.


    “No.” Thaddeus took a deep breath, his eyes bloodshot, “I won’t go, not until I see her!”


    In the midst of speaking, he tried to barge in!


    Like a madman.


    Elvis was about to stop him, but to his surprise, Jareth hade prepared. Taking advantage of Elvis‘


    unpreparedness, he pulled out a stun baton and struck Elvis‘ lower back!


    “Ah!”


    Elvis‘ body shook violently, falling to the ground, unable to stand due to the numbness!


    “Sorry about that, mate. You rest for a bit. This thing won’t hurt you.”


    Jareth raised an eyebrow triumphantly, weighing the stun baton in his hand, “You Ashbournes, always


    so strong. If I didn’t use these dirty tricks, I really wouldn’t be able to break your defenses.”


    “You bastard!” Elvis red at him, as if he could tear him apart just with his gaze!


    “Well, for my only buddy, I’m willing to y the viin.” Jareth shrugged helplessly.


    Thaddeus ran to Evadne’s room, only to be stopped by Nydia.


    “I want to see your sister.” Thaddeus‘ gaze fell on the girl’s pale face, sweat trickling down his weary


    cheeks.


    Nydia bit her lip.


    “Please.” From the depths of his throat came a hoarse plea, “Let me see her.”


    He couldn’ty a hand on a girl. He could only beg her.


    After gazing at Thaddeus for a long moment, Nydia sighed deeply and stepped aside.


    “Thank you.”


    Just as Thaddeus was about to enter the room, Nydia said quietly, “If you knew this would happen, why


    did you even start?”


    Thaddeus halted, his chest heaving, his eyes filled with shattered crystals of tears.


    The moment Thaddeus stepped into the hospital room, Evadne’s radiant face turned deathly cold.


    It was a kind of alienation and resistance that pierced his soul.


    Avery shot Thaddeus a disdainful nce, the corner of his lips tugged downward, his eyes filled with


    the kind of animosity you only see when enemies cross paths.


    Thaddeus was taken aback, locking eyes with Avery; the air between them seemed about to spark a


    fire.


    “Thaddeus, I don’t want to see you. Please leave.” Evadne’s eyes reddened as she tly ordered him


    out.


    “I have something to say to you.” Thaddeus‘ Adam’s apple bobbed painfully, his voice hoarse and


    indescribable.


    “Get out!” Evadne sat up sharply and yelled at him, her fists pounding on the bed.


    “Evadne! You haven’t fully recovered. Don’t get worked up! Calm down!” Avery rushed to hold her


    trembling shoulders, his eyes filled with concern.


    Evadne’s hysterical state was tearing Thaddeus‘ soul apart.


    He stiffly took a step toward her, his feet heavy as if filled with lead, his vision blurred, “I came here this


    time to apologize to you. It was my fault for what did to you two years ago. I hurt you, Evadne, I’m


    sorry.”


    On hearing these cryptic words, Avery’s brows furrowed deeply.


    Two years ago.


    Before they divorced.


    What on earth had happened that Thaddeus felt the need to apologize?


    The next moment, Avery could clearly feel Evadne’s body shaking even more violently, her eyes


    bloodshot, staring at Thaddeus with a heartbreaking, bloody gaze.


    Suddenly, she grabbed the water ss from the bedside table, raised her slender arm, and harshly


    threw the ss at Thaddeus!!


    With Thaddeus‘ agile reflexes, he could have easily dodged it.


    But, he didn’t.


    He just stood up straight there, letting the ceramic ss hit his forehead and then fall to the ground,


    shattering into pieces.


    His wless forehead instantly swelled up.


    But Thaddeus didn’t feel the pain; his mind went nk.


    “Thaddeus, who wants to hear you say this? Who cares about your apology?!”


    He numbly stared at Evadne, watching her eyes welling up with tears; his heart felt like it was


    shattering.


    “We’re over. Stop tormenting me!”