Chapter 526


    Chapter 526


    Thaddeus sat next to Evadne, cing a bowl of fruit on the table before her.


    “Gordon, it’s sweltering out there. Have some water and snacks before we dig into business,” Evadne


    said, sliding the bowl towards Gordon.


    “Thanks a bunch, Mrs. Abernathy! You’re always so good to me!” Gordon’s eyes gleamed with


    gratitude.


    What a charmer.


    Thaddeus shot him a cool nce. “Eat up, and let’s get down to brass tacks.”


    Gordon peeled an orange segment and slurped it down before delicately wiping his mouth with a


    handkerchief, then sat up straight and proper.


    “Last night, as per your instructions, I reported Jason’s arrest to Minister Prescott and prepared a


    detailed report. Just this morning, Chief Roderick got suspended for abuse of power and is now under


    investigation. He’s got a closet full of skeletons, so his downfall’s a sure bet, and the Chambers Group


    just lost another one of their loyal dogs!”


    “Mhm Thaddeus murmured with a nod.


    To Thaddeus, these corporate fixers were like ducks in a shooting gallery, easy to hit once you took


    alm.


    Evadne’s eyes widened with curiosity as she looked at him. “You did this? When?”


    Thaddeus’s knack for pulling off these seemingly magical maneuvers never ceased to amaze her,


    always catching the enemy off guard while she was none the wiser.


    “After midnight, when you were asleep.”


    Evadne’sshes fluttered as she wrapped her arm around his, her heart warming. “You could have


    done it after a good night’s rest, you know.”


    “When Matthew and Chief Roderick messed with Jason, it left you rattled. If I didn’t sort it out, I’d be too


    irked to sleep, Thaddeus said, gently sping her hand in his.


    Seeing the dark circles under his eyes, Evadne felt her heart twinge with concern. “You forget about


    your migraines? Getting enough sleep is essential for your health. Why do you insist on pushing


    yourself like this, just to worry me?”


    “When ites to you and those close to you, I want to do my utmost, without dy”


    As she still looked miffed, he softened his voice, asking for forgiveness. 1 was wrong next time, I’ll


    listen to you.”


    Gordon chimed in again, “Also, the Chambers Group has officially taken over the project after liaising


    with them. Talk about counting chickens before they hatch!


    “Ah. Matthew’s getting a free ride on this one.”


    Evadne clenched her fist in frustration. After the fiasco with Byron and Bertha, Avery had Matthew on


    the ropes, and Jeff had written him off. Now he’snded a major project, which is like giving him a


    second wind.”


    Thaddeus’s lips curled slightly. “Sometimes, manna from heaven isn’t a blessing. It could be a hot


    potato.”


    Evadne arched an eyebrow. “What do you mean?


    “President Ashbourne’s resort project in Country T had a major snag that Mr. Abernathy uncovered. Mr.


    Abernathy advised him to offload it quickly,” Gordon, the bbermouth, couldn’t wait to spill the beans.


    Evadne pressed for details. “My big brother’s no pushover CEO like Matthew. If there was a problem,


    he’d have spotted it early. How could he have missed it?”


    “Thend auction scene in Country T is a mess, nothing like the transparency we have here.”


    Thaddeus no longer concealed the truth, detailing it for her. “The resort’s location is prime, but there’s a


    serious ess issue. A tiny vige sits right on the only road to the resort, less than a kilometer away,


    with just over a dozen households. This vige will hinder any future expansion of the resort, even


    affecting main road construction. But all this wasn’t clearly marked on the initial nning maps. To


    attract foreign investment, the local government even concealed this fact from the start”


    Evadne–was incensed. “How can they do this? It’s fraud! Officially sanctioned fraud!”


    “Mrs. Abernathy, can you believe the absurdity of Country T’snd market?”


    Gordon eagerly seized the chance to praise his boss. “Thank goodness for Mr. Abernathy’s wisdom


    and foresight, alerting President Ashbourne just in time to avoid a bigger loss!”


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    08:53


    Chapter 526


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    “Are you implying my brothercks wisdom and foresight, Gordon?” Evadne crossed her arms, fixing


    him with a daunting stare.


    Gordon stiffened in fear. “No, Mrs. Abernathy, I meant no disrespect!”


    “Mind your words, Gordon”


    Thaddeus’s sharp gaze was more intimidating than any weapon. “Loose lips sink ships–and bonuses.”


    Gordon fell silent, the impact of Thaddeus’s words hitting home.


    Even the most astute businessmen get their feet wet sometimes, and Thaddeus’s acumen wasn’t


    innate. It was honed through years of managing the family empire and learning from countless


    mistakes.


    Il the diffe


    difference.


    He simply knew one crucial detail about Country T that Cassius didn’t, and that made all


    “Initially, I pointed out the issue so your brother could quickly find a buyer for the property. But he


    struggled to find a suitable one.” Thaddeus spoke calmly, not boasting about his actions.


    A suitable buyer? More like a perfect patsy.


    Little did he expect that Jason’s trouble would lead to a silver lining–an unwitting patsy stumbling right


    into theirp.


    “So, let me get this straight,” Evadne said, narrowing her keen eyes, “when Jason’s arrested, you


    cooked up that project as a peace offering. That’s why you had to call Cassius in the eleventh hour to


    rush over with the transfer papers?”


    Thaddeus’s fingers lovinglybed through the silken waterfall of her hair. “Can’t put anything past


    you.”


    Tsk. Thaddeus, if you weren’t ying it in the business world, you could give conning a go. You’d be


    the kingpin, no doubt


    Thaddeus’s lips curved in a self–indulgent smile. I’m not conning Matthew. At best, I’m just inviting the


    gentleman to the pot. The game’s set out there–to join or not is all his call. We’ve never forced his


    hand. He could easily have chosen brotherhood over making amends with President Ashbourne.”


    “Cut the crap. Your scheming mind could probably give people trypophobia.” Evadne poked his solid


    chest. “Your trap, if you think about it, is full of holes. That contract? Matthew could’ve dragged us out


    and sent someone to scout the field, to study it carefully. But in the end, it boils down to the fact that


    you’ve got his number. He’s desperate for a win in the Chambers Group, impulsive and greedy for


    quick sess. Faced with such a juicy carrot, it’s a no-brainer he’d leap before he looks. All that talk of


    brotherly love, please. The only thing on Matthew’s mind was turning his luck around. He’d shoved


    Byron, the poor mutt, way out of his mind.”


    Thaddeus gazed at her with unfeigned admiration, as if she were a rare jewel. “In warfare, the supreme


    art is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”


    “Huh, Mr. Chambers thinks he’s hit the jackpot. He’ll be crying rivers soon enough” Evadne’s face


    bloomed into a radiant smile


    But just as the tension began to ease, Aaron’s call plunged the room back into a chill


    “Evadne, we’ve got a situation. Promise me, don’t get your hackles up, stay cool, okay?”


    Aaron inhaled deeply, his voice heavy. “Just now, Byron’s been bailed out by Jeff and Matthew”