Chapter 456


    Chapter 456


    After a quick shower, Thaddeus, not wanting Evadne to exert herself, scooped her up and carried her


    to the dining room for dinner.


    He had been on the move all day, and his normally crisp white shirt now clung to him, emitting waves of


    warmth mixed with the scent of masculine exertion.


    Evadne found her head spinning, not repulsed by the smell but rather pressing her nose into his chest,


    inhaling deeply like a kitten that couldn’t get enough.


    “What’s the matter, got an appetite for me?” Thaddeus lowered his head with a low chuckle, his lips


    grazing her forehead.


    “Even if I want, you’d have to be squeaky clean, wouldn’t you? The smell is just horrible.” Flushing,


    Evadne averted her gaze, “Aren’t you usually Mr. Clean? What’s with the no–shower today?”


    “Didn’t get around to it. I’ll take one after we eat.”


    Evadne pursed her lips, feeling a warm flutter in her heart.


    The table wasden with an array of exquisite dishes, some prepared in advance by Alva, just needing


    a quick heat, so it was all ready in no time. “Wow, Alva, you rock!” Evadne pped her hands in


    excitement, resembling a joyful schoolgirl.


    “Mrs. Abernathy, don’t tter me; your cooking skills are way beyond mine! A couple of Mr. Abernathy’s


    favorites here are your recipes, remember?” Alva’s smile was genuine.


    “Is that so? I’d forgotten,” feeling a bit embarrassed, Evadne started to tuck into her meal heartily.


    She knew Alva meant to praise her, but it inevitably stirred up memories of less happy times. Thaddeus


    was acutely aware of the hardships she had faced and felt a pang of sorrow as he took a napkin and


    tenderly wiped her lips.


    Just as he was about to say something, Evadne swiftly shoved a piece of shrimp into his mouth, “Don’t


    apologize. Didn’t we agree to leave the past behind?”


    Thaddeus paused, managing a wry smile as he chewed. Indeed, nothing tasted quite as good as when


    his woman made it.


    Suddenly, the sound of the front door opening echoed, and three boisterous men stormed in, instantly


    filling the vi with a festive, holiday–like noise. “Wow, Evadne, that’s just not fair, hogging all this food


    for yourself. That’s a bit much, don’t you think?!” Arnold, who hadn’t eaten all day while reviewing case


    files, lunged forward and grabbed a pork knuckle, stuffing it into his mouth.


    Aaron followed suit, chewing one dish he grabbed fiercely, as if he’d just returned from a hunt, “I’ve


    been interrogating suspects all day; I’m parched! Need to sink my teeth into some meat to quench this


    thirst!”


    The Ashbourne brothers, usually so polished, were devouring the food like it was theirst meal,


    leaving Thaddeus and Gordon dumbstruck. “Those two, they’re like mythical beasts, one a gluttonous


    tiger, the other a voracious wolf.”


    Evadne said with a sigh, resting her cheek on her hand, “If Emeric and Suri saw this, they’d probably


    strangle them. Like they never raised ‘em.” Alva, happy to see the young men enjoying the meal,


    hurried to invite them to sit, “Come on, there’s plenty! I even made some pasta, but since Mr.


    Abernathy isn’t fond of it, I didn’t bring it out. Would you two like some?”


    Arnold and Aaron’s heads bobbed eagerly, “Yes, yes, yes! Is there any other stuff?”


    Evadne exhaled in exasperation, resting her forehead on her hand, “Be grateful there’s food at all;


    you’re asking too much.”


    Gordon couldn’t stand it any longer and discreetly reminded them, “Ahem., Arnold and Aaron, Mrs.


    Abernathy had a serious fall from her horse. As her brothers, you should at least show some concern,


    shouldn’t you?”


    Arnold and Aaron looked at each other, one with a pork knuckle in his mouth, the other gnawing the


    food crazily, they said in unison, “She looks fine to me, eating and drinking merrily. Don’t create


    unnecessary panic!”


    Gordon was left speechless. Who’s being heartless here?


    Evadne, nestled in Thaddeus’s arms, was shaking withughter. His strong arm supported her waist


    gently, content just to watch herugh.


    The presence of both Ashbourne brothers together was a rarity and signified something serious at


    hand.


    Aaron belched, his demeanor suddenly solemn, “Elspeth tested positive for drug use in her urine test


    this afternoon. This is drug abuse, not just misuse of prescription meds. But she’s denying everything,


    iming she thought she was receiving regr beauty treatments from her doctor, Victor, and had no


    idea about the drugs. She ims she’s been set up.”


    Evadne was stunned.


    The treatments given to Elspeth were indeed prepared by Victor. With his extensive pharmacological


    knowledge, Evadne had trusted himpletely in this regard, never suspecting he would administer


    drugs to Elspeth!


    With such a dosage, it was as if he was aiming for her life!


    “Aaron, this has nothing to do with Victor. Elspeth must be desperate, trying to drag someone down


    with her by implicating Victor, Evadne insisted, defending Victor.


    “Evadne, I know Victor. He’s received support from our dad, and he’s on good terms with you.” Aaron’s


    brow furrowed as the brotherly banter faded from his gaze, “But as a police officer, I must act


    impartially and follow thew. I can’t use my position for personal reasons. Right now, Elspeth is


    adamant that Victor set her up. Even if her ims are false, we must follow procedure and bring Victor


    in for questioning.”


    Evadne’sshes drooped, her silence heavy with remorse.


    Thaddeus’s brows knitted slightly; he didn’t like to see friction between the siblings. While soothing


    Evadne’s hand in his own, he spoke calmly, “Captain Ashbourne, we understand it’s part of the


    investigation. You do what you need to do.”


    With that address, “Captain Ashbourne“, Aaron felt a renewed respect for the man. But Evadne was


    unsettled. She knew Aaron was right; she just felt guilty about Victor. She didn’t want anyone else to


    get hurt because of her.


    Such a tense atmosphere was rare when the siblings gathered.


    Aaron’s heart clenched as he didn’t intend to upset his sister. In a low voice, he said, “I’ve got to head


    back to the precinct. There’s unfinished business. Arnold, why don’t you keep our sispany? It’s not


    every day we get to see her.”


    Just as he turned to leave, Evadne suddenly sprang up and flung herself at him, her arms wrapping


    tightly around his waist, “Aaron, don’t go! I didn’t ask you to leave!”


    Instinctively, Aaron opened his arms and returned the embrace, his eyes glistening with emotion.


    As her half–brother, Evadne was just as dear to him as to any full sibling, yet he always felt a step


    removed. Rare were the moments he could openly express his affection and hug his sister without


    reservation.


    He’d always held back, too shy to voice the depth of his care for her.


    7 thought you were mad at me,” Aaron murmured, his voice barely above a whisper as his hand gently


    stroked her hair.


    Evadne looked up at him, her eyes bright with tears, and shook her head vigorously, “Aaron, how could


    I be mad at you? I know how hard you’ve worked – getting into the police academy, joining the


    detective squad, and now leading it. It hasn’t been easy for you. I shouldn’t be so willful. I shouldn’t mix


    personal feelings with business. Go do what you have to do. No matter what happens, I support your


    decisions.”


    Gordon watched the tender exchange between Mrs. Abernathy and Aaron, and couldn’t help but peek


    at the boss’s expression.


    Sure enough, he looked as foul as a spoiled pic, as if someone had dropped the entire spread into a


    cesspit.


    Thaddeus took a deep breath, trying topose himself, but envy still flushed his cheeks a telltale red.


    “Hey, feeling a bit jealous, are you?” Arnold quipped as he dropped into a chair beside him, grabbing a


    muffin and shoving it into his mouth, still managing to talk, “If you can’t handle this little sting, how are


    you going to cope with our Evadne? You’ll be weeping more often than not! Then you won’t just be


    Unfaithful Thaddeus; you’ll be our very own modern–day Heathcliff.”


    Thaddeus felt his blood pressure spike, his lips pressed into a thin line of restrained irritation, “Even


    though you are Evadne’s brothers, she has a partner now. And with all due respect, you’re not getting


    any younger. You should understand the importance of propriety.”


    Arnold nearly choked on his muffin, ring at Thaddeus, “If Elvis heard you say that, he’d make sure


    your bright future met an early end.”


    “No, he wouldn’t.” Thaddeus arched a brow, “He couldn’t stand his sister being a widow.”


    Arnold was speechless.


    Aaron was indeed busy, and the case involving Elspeth was no small matter. After all, she was involved


    in drug trafficking and had more than one life on her conscience. Until her crimes were settled and


    justice was served for the victims, he would find no peace.


    After dinner, they gathered in the living room to discuss matters. Aaron’s phone rang – it was a


    colleague from the precinct. After the call, his expression darkened noticeably.


    “Aaron, what’s wrong?” Evadne asked, her concern evident.


    Aaron looked at Thaddeus with aplex gaze, “Mr. Abernathy, your dad has hired Elmsworth’s top


    lawyer to represent Elspeth. He’s at the precinct now, demanding her bail.”


    “Darn it! He thinks he can just bail her out as if the police station is his family’s kitchen?!” Gordon


    erupted, “Somewyers have no conscience, taking any case thates their way! They im justice


    is blind, but it seems more like they’re ves to money, the scum of humanity!”


    “Elmsworth, topwyer?” Thaddeus and Evadne exchanged a knowing look, “Would that be Cedric


    Dempsey?”


    “You know him?” Aaron was surprised.


    “More than just know him, he’s an ‘old friend,” Evadne said with a scornfulugh.


    “Yeah, apdog for the Abernathy Group,” Thaddeus’s pretty eyebrows furrowed. Cedric was ruthless


    and cunning – no easy adversary.


    “We need to secure Elspeth’s conviction quickly. If it’s just for the drugs, with the Abernathy Group’s


    influence and Cedric’s defense skills, she might actually get bailed out.”


    Arnold looked at Thaddeus gravely, “Mr. Abernathy, I’ve seen your mom’s file. After twenty years, the


    evidence link isn’t sufficient any longer. If you want file awsuit for Elspeth’s crime of intentional


    homicide, chance of winning is slim.”


    Evadne’s eyes widened in shock as she stared at Thaddeus’s stern profile. Even Arnold had been


    consulted. He really had done everything in his power to avenge his mother.


    “Also, in Erica’s case, Ward was the hitman, Elspeth the instigator, an essory. But if Cedric


    manages to deflect the main charges onto Ward, she might only serve a decade or so, not the death


    penalty,” Arnold added, stating another harsh reality.


    The air grew thick, oppressive with tension.


    “Arnold, we have Erica’s recordings before she died. They contain conversations between Elspeth and


    Glynnis. Can’t those be used to convict Elspeth?” Evadne asked, desperation in her voice.


    Arnold shook his head helplessly. “Those are clearly unauthorized recordings and can’t be submitted


    as court evidence.”


    Evadne slumped, weakened, into Thaddeus’s embrace, her hope and anger draining away.


    The man wrapped his arms around her, his hand steadying her trembling shoulders, as he calmly said,


    “I understand that even if I find the aplice who helped Elspeth murder my mom, I would only have


    a testimony. But what if I say I have physical evidence?”Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.