Chapter 495
Chapter 495
“What exactly happened?” Thaddeus’s gaze sharpened as he exchanged a knowing look with Evadne.
“Just now, Jeff and Matthew took him out of the precinct, and that’s not all–they even brought a horde
of reporters! Matthew shamelessly whitewashed Byron in front of the media, iming he was innocent,
that it was all a setup, a misunderstanding!” Gordon’s voice rose with anger, cracking with emotion.
“Darn it! How is that even possible?”
Evadne boited upright in bed, causing Thaddeus to nch as he hurriedly pressed her back down,
“Evadne! Easy now, watch the IV!”
“How can Byron that sleazebag possibly get out of lockup?”
Snatching the phone, Evadne shouted to Gordon in desperation, “Thaddeus and I had everything
under control, and Emeric was in the loop–he cares about Nydia too. How could he let the Chambers
n pull strings? How could he not intervene?”
“Mrs. Abernathy, please, try to calm down.”
Gordon was equally frantic, “I’m still digging into the details, please wait for my update, you and Mr.
Thaddeus!”
No sooner had they ended the call than Evadne, unable to contain herself, decided to reach out to
Aaron.
But as if on cue, another call buzzed into Thaddeus‘ phone.
Evadne stared at the screen, her heart pounding furiously, lips quivering..
“Evadne, who is it?” Seeing her forlorn expression, Thaddeus asked with concern.
“It’s Cassius.”
Thaddeus too pursed his lips, then softly said, “Evadne, take the call. Don’t keep your brother worried.”
Remembering her brothers‘ overbearing control, Evadne felt ufortable, and her tone was sharp as
she answered the call.
“If you’re calling to take me back, please don’t bother. If it’s something else, make it quick.”
On the other end, Cassius’s expression stiffened for a moment, a stabbing pain hitting his heart.
She used to be so sweet and affectionate, even over the phone, always addressing him with a tender
voice as Cassius.
But now.
Their rtionship had be strained, the more he tried to protect her, the further she seemed to slip
away.
“Evadne, Elvis has filled us in on your situation.”
Cassius’s voice was as gentle as ever, “If being with him brings you peace and happiness, then I won’t
stand in your way anymore.” “Cassius.” Evadne gasped, breath catching.
“Evadne, you’re right to reprimand me. I was just angry with myself for not protecting you, and in trying
to ease my conscience, I tried to shelter you, even at the cost of your right to love.”
Cassius let out a bitter chuckle, “These past few days, I’ve been doing some soul–searching, asking
myself what I truly want. All I want is for you to find real happiness. Happiness that isn’t imposed on
you by others, nor measured by them. Isn’t true affection about giving you what you want, letting go if
you seek freedom?”
Evadne’s heart trembled fiercely, and she felt a wave of emotion, “Cassius.”
Thaddeus, standing by, heard Cassius’s heart–to–heart and couldn’t help but feel his eyes moisten.
“I’ll try to persuade Bet gradually. As for Dad.”
Cassius paused, trying to sound nonchnt, “As long as you’re truly happy, he’lle around
someday. So Thaddeus, you know what to do next, right.”
“I understand. Rest assured.”
Thaddeus’s voice was hoarse as he cradled the precious woman in his arms, “Evadne is my
everything, and I’ll cherish her with my life.”
A few heartfelt words, deeply engraved.
Nothing more needed to be said.
The siblings reached a reconciliation.
To Evadne, her big brother was as important as Thaddeus, and she didn’t want to be cross with him,
but she was simply resisting the pressure from the family.
“Cassius, how could Byron that mongrel be bailed out? Why wouldn’t Emeric stop it?” Evadne’s heart
was aze with anxiety.
“The reason I called is actually about that.”
Cassius took a deep breath, his voice tight with anger, “Myra, considering Nydia’s reputation and our
family’s honor, discussed it with Dad and ultimately decided to drop the charges.”
“Drop the charges?” Evadne and Thaddeus were utterly astonished.
“How else could Byron have been bailed out of the precinct?”
Cassius’s tone could barely hide his frustration, “Not just that, the Chambers Group has bought off
several major media outlets in Elmsworth, preparing a slew of articles to paint Byron as a pitiful victim.
Even if we strike back, now that the charges have been dropped, legally, we have no recourse against
him.”
“Has Emeric gone senile or what? To save face, he disregards his own daughter’s dignity? Are we the
Ashbourne family living just for appearances?”
Evadne was so furious she was almost choking, trembling with rage, “Myra’s gentle and meek, this
must be Emeric’s doing! She wouldn’t dare defy him!”
“Evadne, you’re actually wrong this time.”
Cassius sighed helplessly. “It was Myra and Nydia who proposed this. Dad was initially strongly
opposed, wanting to fight the Chambers family to the end. But Myra insisted on this course of action,
and it was the fiercest argument she ever had with Dad. So, Dad had no choice but to swallow his pride
and respect Myra and Nydia’s wishes.”
Evadne, already feverish, was now seeing stars from sheer anger.
Though harsh, wasn’t this just like being dragged down by an inept team in a high–stakes game?
Nydia was the darling of the Ashbourne family, an heiress yet to be married. If word got out about the
scandal, even as the victim, her reputation would have taken a serious hit. The idea of being the talk of
the town and the subject of gossip was certainly not appealing.
Moreover, the current public atmosphere was toxic. Online trolls, particrly harsh on women, were
rampant, spewing inexplicable malice at every turn.
If this became public, the one who would be most hurt wouldn’t be the scoundrel involved, but Nydia.
Thaddeus gently soothed Evadne’s back, his calm voice analyzing the situation, “Evadne, don’t be mad
at them. Making a choice. like this is a matter of weighing options.”
“Those online trolls are nothing but a bunch of jealous flies buzzing around wealth!” Evadne’s eyes
zed with fury. “As for those self–righteous high society types, who cares what they think! Those
greedy vultures. Myra and Nydia are Ashbournes, with fortunes in the billions. Who dares to belittle my
sister!”
Cassius stayed silent. He knew his sister well enough to understand that no words offort would
help when she was this upset.
Thaddeus, however, was patient, looking at her tenderly, “Evadne, you’re right, but you’re overlooking
something crucial. Not everyone is as fearless as you, and not everyone has a heart as strong as
yours.”
Evadne paused, then looked down, her fingers curling into fists, “Yes, you’re right. But we can’t let this
slide. Byron, and the entire Chambers family, they’ll pay a price!”
“If thew won’t punish them, then we will,
A cold smile yed on Thaddeus’s lips, “Taking matters into our own hands might be more
convenient.”
Evadne closed her eyes, taking deep breaths to calm herself, “Online trolls, in my room, on my
computer, there’s a file about Bertha’s husband–corruption, bribery, abuse of power. Hand it to Arnold.
He’ll know what to do.”
Thaddeus and Cassius were stunned by her revtion. This fierce woman, while under house arrest,
shing with the Chambers family, dealing with family disputes, and drowning in the sorrow of a love
lost, still had the energy for this!
“Not just that, I’ve been digging into Bertha too. She’s not clean in her private dealings either.”
Thaddeus’s chin rested on the top of her head, gently nuzzling, “My darling wants to start with that
woman? Then we must arrange it.”
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“Why, Nydia? Why?”
Jason, upon hearing the news about the dropped charges, was utterly shocked. He knelt at the
bedside, gripping Nydia’s mmy hand, “I could be yourwyer, I could stand against the Chambers
family for you! We could win this case! Why are we backing down? We have to fight them to the end!”
“Jason, I’m so sorry.”
Nydia curled up on the bed, her eyes brimming with tears as she gazed at him, “I know your heart, but
I’m sorry.”
The more she apologized, the more Jason’s heart ached as if it were being squeezed and wrung dry.
The real viins were the enabling Chambers Group, the beastly Byron!
“Jason, please, let’s end this here, don’t fight for me anymore.”
Nydia shook her head, tears rolling down her cheeks, “I’m still my father’s daughter. The Chambers
Group can’t do anything to me. But if the Chambers family targets you, what will happen to you? What
if they go after your family in secret? Besides, Byron defiled me. Even though he didn’t seed, if this
gets blown up, how would your family see me?”
“Nydia.” Jason’s voice was hollow with heartache.
In that moment, he finally understood. Nydia’s fear wasn’t the public scrutiny or the media frenzy.
It was the fear of being looked down upon by the Dempsey family, the fear of not leaving a good
impression on them.
“Jason, ever since I was very young, I wanted to marry you. And even now, I still wish to take yourst
name.”
Nydia lifted her hand to touch the face she loved so deeply, “I know your family doesn’t like me. If I
can’t stand before them with my honor intact, they’ll never ept me. And you’d be caught in the
middle, torn.”
Torn.
She didn’t know that her sister had used the very same word the night before.
Both sisters were too understanding, too considerate of their loved ones. They suppressed their own
grievances, nearly bowing down to the dust.
Evadne had made it through, but when would Nydia’s suffering end?
Jason’s throat bobbed with emotion, and he pulled his beloved girl into his arms, holding her as tight as
he could.
“If you’re willing, we can get married right now.”
His arms tightened around her, as he vowed with every ounce of his being, “Jason’s wife will be you,
and you alone.”
Nydia closed her eyes, moved by the sentiment.
She didn’t know what the future held, but at least in this moment, she felt it was worth all the hardships.
Then, a knock on the door interrupted them, and Aviana’s anxious voice came through..
“Jason, are you in there? Can youe out for a moment?”
Jason paused, rose to his feet, and opened the door.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, his eyes still red.
Aviana nced inside the room, then pulled Jason out, closing the door firmly behind them.
Jason sensed something was wrong, “Mrs. Ashbourne, what’s happened?”
“Come downstairs and see for yourself.”
Aviana’s voice wasden with worry, “Your mother and your brother havee to the house.”