Chapter 555


    Chapter 555


    In fact, the troubles were far from few and far between.


    Despite Ward having spilled his guts, without getting a hold of Eden, the linchpin, their n to drag


    Avery through the mud was dead in the water.


    After the guests had left, Alva swung by just in time to lend a hand with the kitchen and house chores,


    assisting Thaddeus and Evadne.


    “Thaddeus, could you maybe find a moment to chat with Jareth? I mean, every time he sees Aaron, he


    acts like he’s caught the green–eyed monster or something.”


    Evadne ced the dishes in the sink, ready to wash them, her pretty lips murmuring in dissatisfaction,


    “Why does he see every eligible, handsome bachelor as a threat? I have five brothers who are all


    single, and yet he hones in on Aaron like a homing missile. He and Mari aren’t even hitched yet, and


    he’s already acting all possessive and paranoid. If they do tie the knot, Mari’s gonna be on a very


    short leash, I bet. Dare to nce at another guy, and will Jareth go full–blown jailer mode? Is he gonna


    end up one of those husbands from hell?”


    “Evadne, Jareth’s not like that. He adores Mari. The guy’s head over heels for the first time in his life,


    sees her as more precious than anything. It’s natural he’s scared stiff of losing her.”


    Thaddeus strode over, hisrge hands effortlessly scooping her aside as he rolled up his crisp white


    shirt sleeves and dove into dishwashing, “Let me do it. Your hands are too soft and fair to be soaking in


    suds all day.”


    Jareth was head over heels for Mari.


    And Evadne was equally smitten with Thaddeus, so even his offhand remarks merited her careful


    consideration.


    After mulling it over, the sensitive Evadne bit her lip and asked.softly, “What about you,


    Thaddeus? Is this the first time you’ve really fallen for someone?”


    The moment the words left her lips, Evadne instantly regretted them.


    She knew the answer, knew all too well that Thaddeus was not one to lie, preferring brutal honesty over


    sweet nothings.


    Thaddeus paused, his emotions clogging his throat, his brow furrowed with thought.


    After drying his hands, he gently grasped her rounded shoulders, his eyes meeting her tearful gaze.


    “I’m sorry, Evadne.”


    “It’s not me, I know.”


    A surge of heart–wrenching pain flooded from her heart, spreading poisonously through her limbs,


    bringing tears to her eyes, yet she managed a strained smile, “I knew what you’d say, and I asked


    anyway. Silly me, right? Why even bother.”


    Thaddeus’s heart clenched in pain, his lips pressed into a thin line as he pulled her into his embrace,


    holding her so tightly it was as if he wanted to fuse her into his very bones. She cared deeply.


    How could she not? He had once shredded her affections and had made her, so distinguished, fall from


    grace.


    “Evadne, if you’re asking if it was love with Acacia, then no, it wasn’t,” Thaddeus’s voice was hoarse


    with remorse, “She was sent by Elspeth to charm me, manipte me. Her kindness was just a means


    to an end. Before I fell for you, I didn’t know what love was. I only knew to repay those who were good


    to me. And since she saved my life, she was a savior in my eyes, and I just wanted to repay her.”


    “But you gave her a one–of–a–kind jewel,” Evadne’s tear–stained face buried in his chest, her voice


    breaking with sobs.


    “She demanded it.”


    Thaddeus was full of regret, but there was no denying his past actions, “Back then, Acacia told me


    about a famous jeweler. She wanted his creations, so I had to find a way to get them. Looking back, I


    was just a soulless shell. I did whatever she asked, without a second thought. I know you won’t believe


    anything I say, and I don’t want to make excuses. Evadne, if you can’t get past this, then take all the


    knives in this kitchen and take your anger out on me, just don’t bottle it up.”


    “What if I get fed up with you, and I want you gone?”


    Evadne’s voice was soft but petnt, Thad’s shirt soaking with her tears.


    “That’s not an option.”


    Panic edged his breath, “I’ll cling to you, haunt you tirelessly. Even in death, I’ll refuse rebirth, just to


    stay by your side. Evadne, I can’t leave you, not even a little bit.”


    Evadne slowly lifted her gaze, eyes brimming with tears.


    Thaddeus hurried to dry them, his heart shattering at the sight of her crying.


    “So am I the first person you love??” she pressed.


    He tentatively probed, “You want the truth?”


    “Of course.”


    “No.”


    “Thaddeus! You jerk!”


    Evadne was furious, her fists pounding against his chest like a torrential downpour, “How did I not see


    sooner what kind of man you are? An absolute scoundrel. Get out. Take nothing with you, but leave


    Alva with me.”


    N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    Thad let her hit him, her punches making his voice wobble, but he stayed serious,


    “Evadne, you are the one I love, the one I want to marry, the one I want to protect for a lifetime.


    Because of that, I want toy my heart bare for you, to bepletely honest about everything, no


    secrets.”


    He took a deep breath, words measured, “Back in Zenithia, on the battlefield, when we were rescuing


    hostages from a terrorist group, there was this girl, dressed in a whiteb coat, wearing a thick mask,


    who left a deep impression on me.”


    Evadne gasped, her heart pounding, blood boiling as if even her dead pinkie finger quivered.


    “And then?”


    “I thought she was just another helpless Doctors Without Borders medic, but she could handle a gun,


    and her moves were sharp. It was supposed to be me saving her, but I ended up critically wounded and


    it was her desperate efforts that saved my life.”


    Thaddeus slumped onto the couch with a mix of guilt and resignation, a wry smile ying on his lips,


    “Back when I was at war, ? fancied myself a lone wolf. But after that, I stopped spouting such nonsense.


    Turns out, I’m nothing special, just flesh and bones. It was pure luck and a guardian angel that kept me


    alive.”


    Evadne’s eyes were locked onto his, her soul seemingly lost in the depths of his stormy gaze.


    “And then what happened?”


    “I got hit pretty bad,” Thad continued, his voice thick with emotion, “I was so close to checking out that I


    told the girl to leave me be. But she was as stubborn as you. She wrapped me up in a tarp and lugged


    me on her back with a rope, dragging my nearly unconscious self for miles.”


    As Thaddeus recounted the tale, a dull ache throbbed in his chest.


    The brutal memories of the battlefield, the girl’s defiant silhouette, and it was a memory that haunted


    him to this day, “It broke my heart, you know. And not just that, I didn’t even know what she looked like


    or her name, but I still felt something for her. Evadne, I can’t lie to you. That was the first time I felt that


    way. Maybe it was the adrenaline, the life–or– death closeness that did it, but I didn’t want to fool you.”


    Before he could finish, Evadne’s lips crashed onto his, silencing him with a passionate kiss that sent his


    thoughts scattering. The sweet, intoxicating tangle left his mind reeling and his heart pounding, utterly


    lost in the moment.


    Eventually, they parted, breathless and flushed.


    “Evadne.”


    She pressed a finger to his lips, her eyes sparkling like jewels, “I forgive you this once for the girl who


    saved your life. From now on, you’re only allowed to have those feelings for me.”


    Thaddeus exhaled with relief, his gaze on her as clear and sincere as the morning star,


    “More than feelings. I’d dly walk through fire for you, Evadne.”


    Evadne’s heart was still racing, but she feignedposure, “Did you ever try to find the girl?”


    “I never stopped looking, but I don’t even know her name, her likeness, and there’s nothing I can do


    about it.” Thaddeus confessed with a self–deprecatingugh, “I called her Paloma because that’s what


    she gave me. Hope.”


    A tear glistened in Evadne’s eye, but she quickly wiped it away. Whether he knew she was Paloma


    didn’t matter anymore.


    After cleaning up the kitchen and living room, they enjoyed a bath and slipped into matching pajamas,


    ready to go to bed.


    That was when Gordon returned.


    “Gordon, you back? Have you eaten? I can warm something up for you,” Evadne offered, sounding


    more like a caring big sister than his employer


    I''m not hungry Gordon replied, shaking his head, his eyes clouded with a rare sadness.


    Thaddeus caught Evadne’s eye, and without a word, they understood each other perfectly.


    “Hey Gordon, I’ve been having trouble sleeping, thinking of having some red wine to help.


    Care to join me? Thaddeus’s voice was casual, but the invitation was clear.


    “Of course, Mr. Abernathy, Gordon said, unable to refuse.


    Til pass or the drinks. That meal has done me in,” Evadne said with a feigned groan.


    Thaddeus’s gaze deepened as he wrapped an arm around her, “Which hurts more, this or our time in


    bed?”


    Thaddeus, having a healthy lifestyle,” Evadne teased, poking his chest and blushing,


    “Have your chat with Gordon. I’m off to get my beauty sleep.”


    Thaddeus opened a fine bottle of red wine, and the two men sat down.


    Gordon was touched when Thad poured wine for him, and he stood up, bowing deeply in gratitude.


    “Just sit down and drink, Gordon. It’s just us here, no need for pretense,” Thad said tly.


    After some silence, Thaddeus finally asked, “Have you been to see Ms. Higgins these past few days?”


    Gordon tensed up before nodding quietly.


    “So what’s on your mind, really?” Thaddeus was always direct.


    Gordon bit his lip, emotions swirling, his eyes beginning to redden, “Mr. Abernathy, do you think


    someone like me can fall for a girl in just a few days?”


    “I believe it.”


    Gordon was stunned.


    Thaddeus was known to be dense when it came to matters of the heart, skeptical of anyone’s emotions


    except for Evadne.


    “If Evadne could fall for a schmuck like me at first sight, why couldn’t you fall for someone as great as


    Ms. Higgins?” Thaddeus’s voice was tinged with a bittersweet smile.