Chapter 467


    Chapter 467


    Evadne didn’t even have time to hang up the phone, as she burst out of the longidor like a bird


    breaking free from its cage and sprinted through the gates of Silveke Harbor.


    The night was deep and silent, save for a solitarymplight.


    A tall and handsome silhouette was bathed in a soft halo of light, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.


    The weather forecast had promised a downpour tonight, but Thaddeus didn’t care. After wrapping up


    his work at Elmsworth, he jumped in his drove non–stop, eager for a reunion with his beloved.


    It had only been a day.


    Yet, the yearning was unbearable,


    Thaddeus!


    Evadne pushed through the heavy front door, tears glistening in her eyes as she ran toward him


    Thaddeus’s eyes, normally bright, narrowed into slits, and his thin lips lifted into a joyous, sweet smile.


    He had opened his arms early, ready to embrace her, but she was already flying into his presence: He


    tightened his strong arms around her, holding her


    close.


    “I raced here as fast as I could. I was so afraid that if I arrivedte, you’d be asleep and I’d miss seeing


    you


    Thaddeus’s warm breath tickled her ear, his right arm encircling her slender waist, his left hand gently


    stroking her lean back, his voice deep and tender, “But it wouldn’t have mattered, I would’ve waited all


    night right here for you. Waiting until morning, thought would’ve been excruciating.


    “Thaddeus.” Evadne sniffled, her eyes rimmed with red.


    It was like finding her way to the sea or the safety of the woods.


    It seemed there was no ce in the world moreforting than the sanctuary of his embrace.


    “Hmm? Evadne, are you crying?”


    Thaddeus was taken aback, gently lifting her chin to meet her tear–stained gaze. The pain in his chest


    sharpened, his brow furrowing. “You’re actually crying? Who has upset you?”


    Evadne’s fingers clutched at the fabric of his shirt, crinkling it in her distress.


    Emeric’s cruel words suggested the marriage between her sister and the heir of the Chambers Group


    was to facilitate her own rtionship with Thaddeus. Evadne’s eyes brimmed with more tears, and with


    a choked–up resentment, she asked, “Should we break up?”


    -Thaddeus’s heart tightened, his lips trembling with rm, “Evadne, what’s wrong? Why would you


    suddenly say that?”


    Is it because we’re together that people keep getting hurt?”


    As she spoke, Evadne felt a greater urge to dry. Always so strong in the face of others, she melted into


    vulnerability with the man she loved, “First, it was, my brother, and now it’s Nydia


    Thaddeus, we’re not a perfect match. We’re downright ipatible


    The color drained from his face, his heart aching and his hands trembling at her waist, he asked gently,


    Evadne, don’t scare me. What happened? Please, will you tell me?”


    Evadne bit her lower lip, unsure of how to begin.


    “Evadne, you can ask anything of me. If you wanted me to give up the entire Abernathy Group, I’d do it


    without a second thought”


    Thaddeus’s voice was choked, his breathingbored, “Just don’t leave me, don’t leave me.”


    They had been through so much to finallye together, she couldn’t bear the thought of leaving him.


    But what would it take to change Emeric’s mind, to prevent her sister from marrying Avery?


    Evadne took a deep breath and gave Thaddeus an overview of the night’s events, omitting the


    altercation with Emeric to spare him worry and guilt.


    Thaddeus held her close his brows furrowed in concern. “Just because we are dating, Chairman


    Emeric wants to rush your sister into marriage with the Chambers family? Even if he favors them, this


    seems too abrupt.”


    “It might seem dudden, but it’s not


    Evadne shook her head in frustration, her grip on his chest tightening, “Emeric’s been scheming all


    along. He’s never been happy about us, and he probably made arrangements with Mr. Jeff behind the


    scenes for me to marry into the Chambers Group. At thest race, I heard from Jason that rumors were


    circting about Emeric getting cozy with Avery, likelyying the groundwork for our marriage. If it


    weren’t for the Fairhaven family’s debacle and Elspeth’s arrest disrupting their ns, Emeric might


    have announced my betrothal to Avery at the race in front of everyone. He’s just that audacious!


    The pain from her grip was both stinging and sweet to Thaddeus, Evadne, don’t worry. Even if


    Chairman Emeric did that, do your really think I’d stand by and watch you be imed by that beast


    Avery?”


    He then captured her hand, kissing it gently, his gaze burning with intensity. “Td pay any price, bear


    any consequen ce, to take you back.”


    Evade thought, ‘No need to take me back. I’ve always been yours.”


    Evadine thought silently, hershes fluttering, “But, thanks to Edith’s interference, Emeric’s view of you


    has softened. Otherwise, he might have pushed both me and Nydia into the Chambers family’s arms to


    extinguish any hope for you. So I think Mr. Jeff must have pressured him somehow, prompting him to


    offer Nydia as a sacrifice. It’s despicable!”


    N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Thaddeus shared her indignation, Evadne, as much as I hate to say it, Avery’s obsession with you was


    deep. He might not settle for marrying your sister. If he’s set on taking you he won’t ept a marriage


    alliance. With Byron now incapacitated, Chairman Emeric would never let Ms. Nydia marry him. This


    marriage arrangement might very well fall through in the end.


    “True, but Avery is a sick man when he’s desperate. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do.”


    Evadne leaned into his chest with a sigh, “Maybe this is just one of his schemes. By agreeing to this


    arranged marriage, he can indirectly pressure me, making me feel so guilty that I can’t be with you


    without feeling torn inside. He can’t kill me, so he aims to torture my heart.”


    ‘Don’t worry, Evadne. Well face this together and find a way he assured her.


    As the words left his mouth, thunder rumbled in the distance and lightning tore through the sky,


    Secondster, a deluge poured down.


    Thaddeus quickly opened the car door, and they both squeezed into the back seat


    Maybe it was the cramped, humid space inside the car that made people secrete more dopamine,


    stirring intense desire, because without a word, they embraced and kissed passionately their fervor


    rivaling the storm outside.


    With breaths as heavy as the rain, Evadne’s brows softened under his kisses, and her hands fumbled


    with his tie


    A hint of red desire colored Thaddeus‘ eyes. His hand hooked around her shoulder, and her silk


    camisole sid down to her waist, revealing skin as pale and smooth as marble, dazzling him into a daze.


    “Evadne” he groaned, unable to hold back any longer, and pressed down upon her.


    Through the misty car windows, shadows intertwined and undted.


    The car was too restrictive, yet even so, Evadne felt as if her body floated to blissful clouds, her cheeks


    flushed as if melting into him. –


    After their intense embrace, the rain eventually eased.


    Evadney limply in his arms, her hair damp and disheveled from their fervor.


    “Next time, Thaddeus, can you maybe book us a room? My back’s killing me.”


    Thaddeus chuckled mischievously. “Do you think a bed will save your back?“,


    Evadne yfully punched him in the chest, her annoyance mixed with embarrassment.


    “Evadne, at the weekend gals, nearly all the esteemed familes of Elmsworth will be there” Thaddeus


    said earnestly. I want to announce our rtionship to everyone. Is that okay with you?”


    Her


    res widened in surprise as she gazed into his earnest eyes, at a loss for words.


    eyes


    He mistook her silence for dissatisfaction and squeezed her hand tighter, “Actually, I’d rather propose


    to you. But I’m afraid you’re not ready, and I don’t want to rush you


    “Why choose that day?” she finally managed to speak.


    ‘Because I can’t wait any longer. Thaddeus choked up, his emotions swirling, “I can’t wait to tell


    everyone that I belong only to you”


    Jason returned to the Dempsey residence, exhausted. From Evadne, he’d learned that Nydis had been


    crying and had desperately tried to contact her countless times, but she never answered and eventually


    turned off fier phone.


    He couldn’t understand; they were inseparable during the day, so why had she suddenly refused to see


    him by nightfall?


    What on earth had happened? His head felt like it was going to explode!


    “My dear brother, how was your date today with Ms. Nydia of the Ashbourne family? Cedric’s mocking


    volce floated over, causing Jason’s heart to clench as he turned to face him coldly.


    “It seems it wasn’t very pleasant, was it? Otherwise, why the gloomy face?”


    Cedric approached, shaking his head, “What’s wrong, has your golden mountain started to crumble?”


    “I wonder who it is, turns out it’s the Abernathy family’spdog, Jason retorted coldly, ignoring the


    mockery.


    “I may be apdog, but I work hard for my keep, openly and honestly, Cedric’s thick skin was evident


    as he continued to taunt, “Unlike you, clinging to a woman’s skirt to climb up thedder. When things


    didn’t work out with the Ashbourne heiress, you settled for Mg. Nydia. You’re really trying hard to marry


    into wealth, Jason I’m impressed


    Unable to take any more, Jason’s fists clenched like iron, ready to make Cedric’s nose even tter,


    when Mrs. Dempsey arrived just in time, “Jason Stop this at oncer


    But Jason, ina fit of rage, wasn’t listening and was already advancing towards Cedric, who quickly


    shielded his nose in panic.


    “Jason! Are you really going to hit your own brother over some tramp? Mrs. Dempsey cried out in


    anguish, her heart starting to hurt again.


    “Mom, Nydia is the woman I love the most, please don’t insult her like that!” Jason roared back with


    bloodshot eyes.


    Stunned, Mrs. Dempsey felt a pang in her chest. Her son always the most dutiful and caring, had never


    spoken back to her like this. It chilled her to the bone.


    “I want to be with Nydia, I want to marry her, Jason dered, his blood boiling with each word, “Without


    Nydia, I want no one else!


    “And what about your family? What about me?” Mrs. Dempsey’s voice broke with emotion.


    “If you want to keep me as your son, please don’t speak ill of Nydia and don’t stop me from loving her.


    And even if you try you can’t.”


    With that Jason turned and walked upstairs


    “Jason! Stand right there!”


    Mrs. Dempsey shouted after his retreating figure, “Are you trying to kill me? I’ll never let the daughter of


    the Ashbourne family mistress into this house! Not unless I’m dead“”


    Jason stopped in his tracks.


    Mrs. Dempsey’s heart leapt thinking he’d reconsidered, but he simply stated coldly, “Cedric, I advise


    you to back off now. Don’t try to absolve Elspeth of her guilt. Otherwise, I might do something, even I


    don’t know what.”


    “Are you threatening me? Cedric retorted angrily, hisughter cold


    “What if I am? You were right about one thing, I am a dog, but not like yo


    your kind ofpdog. I’m a guard dog.


    1. a. and if pushed too far I’ll bite


    With those harsh words, Jason left without looking back, leaving Cedric shivering in ce.


    Ever since the discussion of an arranged marriage with the Ashbourne family, for reasons unknown,


    Byron had been haunted by dreams of Nydia two


    nights in a row.


    your throat out.”


    Though she was merely Myra’s daughter and couldn’tpare to Evadne’s status, there was no


    denying the girl was quite the feast for the eyes.


    But that wasn’t the most important thing.


    The most crucial thing now was the fact that he, once a golden boy, had fallen from grace and


    desperately needed the support of the Ashbourne family. There was no way he was going to let Avery


    trample over him!


    That evening, he summoned Bertha to the wine cer.


    conversations.


    As kids, he and his siblings loved ying in their father’s wine cor. Now, it had be their private


    sanctuary for heart–to–heart co


    “Byron, you’re seriously considering marrying Myra’s daughter? Seems like a raw deal to me.”


    Bertha, always closer to her second brother than their more imposing eldest sibling, couldn’t help but


    feel he was selling himself short, “You were always Dad’s favorite. And who is Myra, anyway? A


    nobody clinging to Chairman Emeric, and her daughter, well, she’s got no official status. Sure, you can


    call her the Ashbourne heiress, but let’s be real–she’s a love child. Chairman Emeric’s wife had five


    kids, four boys and Evadne. And with Sun, the second wife, having a son and daughter of her own,


    there’s no way Myra and her daughter stand a chance at the Ashbourne legacy. What’s in it for you to


    marry her?”


    “No, the Ashbourne family is different from other elite ns. Even if Chairman Emeric doesn’t care


    much for the women, he values all his children.”


    Byron was visibly distressed, taking a big gulp of wine, “And in my current state, do I even have the


    luxury to choose? It’s good enough as it is


    Bertha had Intle to say, simply asking. “So what’s your n? You wouldn’t have asked to meet me here


    unless you needed my help.”


    “You societydies always find a reason to visit Elvira’s salons. There must be some way you can help


    me get to Nydia first, to cut Avery off and end his chances topete with me, right? Byron leaned in


    his expression gloomy and urgent.