Chapter 539


    Chapter 539


    Emeric’s voice cut through the chatter, and suddenly everyone stood rooted to the spot and got


    enveloped in an unexpected hush. Evadne’s eyes went round as saucers, and her rosebud lips were


    parted in utter disbelief as she stared at her father.


    “What did you just say?”


    Thaddeus‘ chest heaved with barely contained emotion, and his eyes were a deep well of fervor as he


    gazed upon Emeric’s distinguished and handsome face. His breath hitched, and his heart were ticking


    down.


    “You’re going to be dragging yourself home at the crack of dawn at this hour. If you’ve got nothing on


    the agenda tomorrow morning, why don’t you just crash here tonight?” Emeric said, giving out a soft


    rumble before he coughed discreetly to clear his throat.


    This time, everyone heard him. Evadne heard him, and Thaddeus heard him.


    A tidal wave of relief crashed over Thaddeus; he felt his heartbeat skyrocketing, and his eyes


    shimmering with unshed tears of gratitude. He swallowed hard and then bowed deeply,to Emeric.


    “Thank you, Chairman Ashbourne, for taking me in.”


    The words ‘taking me in‘ humbled this towering man, a scion of the top consortium in Elmsworth, to the


    dust.


    Evadne felt a pang of sadness, hating to see him so diminished, and quickly stepped forward to help


    him back to his feet.


    “Come on, it’s just for one night. It’s no big deal.”


    “It is, Evadne.”


    Thaddeus‘ voice was thick with emotion, and a hint of tears glistened in his eyes. “I’m overwhelmed. All


    the aplishments of my lifebined don’t measure up to the happiness and contentment I feel at


    this moment.”


    To others, it might be a simple sleepover.


    To Thaddeus, it felt like a new lease on life.


    Emeric gave Thaddeus a meaningful look and then led the way into the vi.


    “Jason, Does this mean my dad’s forgiven Thaddeus? Has he finally epted him?!” Nydia, clutching


    Jason’s arm, whispered excitedly on tiptoes.


    “I hope so. This might be eptance.”


    Jason’s gaze softened as he looked down at and he tenderly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.


    “Any progress, even the slightest bit from yesterday, is a step in the right direction.”


    Moved, Evadne cupped his chiseled jaw and pressed her soft lips to his in a kiss as if there was no one


    around them.


    Initially, Thaddeus was stiff with shyness, but soon he wrapped his arms around her waist and returned


    her kisses with an urgency that spoke volumes.


    The elders of the Ashbourne family, embarrassed to witness such a disy, turned away with awkward


    chuckles.


    Jason tightened his grip around Nydia’s waist, with his Adam’s apple bobbing, before he hurriedly led


    his beloved inside.


    “Hey. Jason, slow down!” Nydia’s slender legs scurried to keep up beneath her flowing white dress.


    Jason’s jaw clenched, and his muscles were taut with desire.


    Slow down? Not a chance.


    He wanted her, fiercely so.


    That night, the air over Silveke Harbor was thick with the sweet scent of happiness, like honey


    drizzled over warm bread.


    N?velDrama.Org: text ? owner.


    Thaddeus had been swamped with work at the consortium, juggling the search for Eden with Jareth


    and staying on top of Elspeth’s case. He pushed himself to the limit, so as to free up as much time as


    possible to be with Evadne.


    Though often exhausted to the point of being unable to keep his eyes open, once in bed, he came


    alive,vishing love and satisfaction upon his woman.


    He was determined not to let her feel even a hint of weakness in him.


    She was twenty–five, and he had reached the prime of his life.


    His rivals, each and every one of them, might not match his wealth but were younger than him. He


    couldn’t afford to let Evadne sense even a hint of inadequacy.


    Although their marital union was a known fact, Thaddeus was as disciplined as a monk seeking shelter,


    meditating in his own room as if stepping beyond would plunge him into a world of temptation.


    And wasn’t that the truth? His sweet and fragrant wife was just a floor away, an irresistible lure.


    Tonight, Chairman Ashbourne had unexpectedly extended a hand of eptance toward him. If he


    didn’t behave and dared to overstep and climb into Evadne’s bed, he might never see tomorrow’s sun.


    Leaning against the headboard, Thaddeus worked on urgent business matters sent by Gordon on his


    laptop,


    Gradually, his eyelids drew heavy, and he dozed off, still seated.


    After an indeterminate time, a gentle breeze teased his senses; it felt like tickling and tantalizing.


    Though he was exhausted, his military instincts kept his vignce and sensitivity above average.


    The man’s eyes snapped open, cold light flickering within them, as if he was a lion roused from


    slumber.


    “Ah!”


    A delicate exmation echoed in the dark.


    The next moment, Evadne, who had reced theptop on his thighs, lost her bnce and toppled


    backward.


    Thaddeus, now fully awake, caught her with a swift move, supporting her slender waist effortlessly and


    pulling her soft body against his warm chest.


    “Darling, how did you get in here? When did you?”


    His mind was still foggy, but his hands, ustomed to caressing her, wandered to her sides and stroke


    gently up and down.


    Evadne clutched her chest, pouting, “You scared me to death. Do you realize how terrifying you looked


    just now? As if you were about to devour me.”


    “I’m sorry, Evadne. It’s a reflex from my military days, an uncontroble response,” he apologized.


    With her eyes filled withpassion, Evadne caressed his cheek.


    Feeling a twinge of guilt, Thaddeus kissed the palm of her hand, but his heart raced with anxiety. “Why


    did you sneak in here? What if someone found out.”


    “Sneak? This is my home. I walked in with my head held high,” Evadne countered with a mischievous


    squint, while yfully tapping his nose. “Hmm? Mr. Thaddeus seems a bit flustered, doesn’t he?”


    “This is my first time in your home, truly your home, Evadne. I want to make a good impression on your


    family,” Thaddeus confessed, his lips curving in a stunning smile, and his voice was deep with sincerity.


    “Pfft, so that’s what this is all about,” Evadne chuckled, her slender fingers yfully undoing the top two


    buttons of his shirt. “My family, they’re a tough bunch to deal with. The hardest there is. Otherwise,


    Snakey Avery, that sly fox, would’ve wormed his way into the inner circle by now, wouldn’t he?”


    “Evadne,” the man sighed with a weary smile.


    “They’re warming up to you, so there’s no need to be scared. Just be yourself.”


    As she spoke in gentle tones, Evadne had already undone his shirt to thest button. “You’ve been


    burning the midnight oil behind my back again. You’ll end up with a slipped disc if you sleep slouched


    over like this until morning. Get changed into your pajamas and lie down properly.”


    “Alright, fine,” Thaddeus agreed obediently. But as he changed, he stretched his back and felt a


    soreness that spoke to his age.


    “Evadne, you should go back to your room.


    Before he could finish, Evadne, swift as a nimble and adorable bunny, snuggled under his covers.


    “I want to sleep with you.”


    “Evadne, be good, once we get back to Elmsworth.”


    “No, I want it now!” Evadne clung to the hem of his shirt, refusing to let go.


    Thaddeus watched her bite her lower lip; her petnt yet enticing demeanor stirred desires within him


    that tightened in his belly. He was struggling to keep his hands to himself, and to resist pinning her


    down on the bed.


    In the end, hepromised andid down beside her.


    Evadne turned into his embrace, and he wrapped his arms around her, offering his arm as a pillow.


    In that moment, both found contentment in a shared sigh.


    “You shouldn’t let Emeric make you feel so small,” Evadne implored, hating to see his pride wounded.


    “He might have four wives, but he’s no emperor. You don’t have to bow your head in front of him.


    Always remember, you are Evadne’s man.”


    1 got too carried away, Thaddeus admitted with a hoarse chuckle. “I almost thanked ‘Chairman


    Ashbourne‘ as if I was saying ‘thank you, dad‘.”


    Evadne’s heart fluttered; blushed, she nted a kiss on his lips-


    Smooch- In the quiet of the night, the sound was as sweet as it was enchanting.


    Thaddeus smiled indulgently, his lips curving up in affection.


    The yearning in Evadne’s eyes shimmered enchantingly in the night, captivating and bewitching.


    Her hand, knowing exactly where to go, reached for his silk pajama bottoms and slowly began to pull


    them down.


    “Evadne, we’re at your family’s house,” Thaddeus said; his breathing was heavy as he held her hand.


    Even her soft gasp made him shiver with desire, “Isn’t it always at my ce?”


    His eyes reddened with restraint, his voice rough, “It’s not the same.”


    “In my eyes, it is the same.”


    Evadne kissed his Adam’s apple, and lifted her leg to hook around his waist, “Home is where you are.”


    And with a thud-


    Thest string of restraint in Thaddeus’s mind snapped.


    The next moment, he was breathing deeply and pressing Evadne beneath him, with his hands urgently


    peeling away her thin and gossamer nightgown….