Chapter 717


    Chapter 717


    Thaddeus gently cradled Evadne’s chin, his lips descending upon hers, dissolving the rouge that had


    ensnared his very soul.


    Their fervent kiss traced the contours of her lips, tasting an iparable sweetness. As passion


    threatened to surge uncontrobly, they parted by tacit agreement.


    Thaddeus gazed at Evadne’s flushed cheeks and dewy lips, a satisfied smile spreading across his


    face, “Now, your lips are more delicate than any blossom.”


    You’re just too much. Either kissing or making love. Give me a break sometimes, will ya?” Evadne


    nestled into his embrace, her fingertips yfully pressed against his chiseled chest – a gesture she


    found irresistibly flirtatious.


    Each poke, each touch, seemed to lift even the darkest of moods a little indulgence she couldn’t resist.


    “So, I want to kiss, I want to make love. Will you give it to me?” Thaddeus whispered into her ear, his


    voice husky with desire.


    Evadne’s shoulders tensed ever so slightly, her flushed cheeks providing the only answer he needed.


    The couple snuggled on the couch, admiring a vibrant bouquet of roses, savoring this cozy moment of


    bliss.


    “Thanks to you for uncovering Bevis‘ Achilles‘ heel – his tax evasion schemes – it forced him to cough


    up that five million he owed.” Evadne’s fingers teased his jawline, her eyes sparkling in admiration,


    “You’ve indeed lightened my load.”


    As she spoke, she looped her arms around his neck and nted a yful kiss on his cool, thin lips,


    “Tonight, you shall be handsomely rewarded.”


    “Thank you, my queen,” he murmured, his tone rich and velvety.


    Thaddeus, usually so stoic, was putty in Evadne’s hands. She was yful, and he was always there to


    join in the fun.


    “You’re quite the charmer, aren’t you?” Evadne traced his smiling lips, “Deviously charming, but I like


    it.”


    “Bevis has been exiled from the K Group and saddled with a debt of five million.”


    Thaddeus held her hand gently, “Is this where we stop, Evadne?”


    “Stop?” Evadne scoffed, her eyes alight with mischief, “You hit where it hurts the most. Do you think I’d


    let that scoundrel off so easily?”


    Pressing his lips, Thaddeus found her words amusing.


    “Publicly, yes, I’ve let him be. But in the shadows, I can strike him from behind.”


    She snuggled closer, finding afortable spot in his arms, “Bevis‘ two restaurants have been doing


    well these past years, and that Gabriel has a stake in them too. Such establishments can’t withstand


    close scrutiny a tax audit alone could reveal at least one or two millions in evasion.”


    “Do you want him to bleed more?” His eyes narrowed slightly, “It’s easily done.”


    “That way, Gabriel will have to think twice about where he stands in the K Group if he wants to stay


    safe.” She shook her slender fingers, “Mixing up with the likes of Bevis is a dead–end street.”


    Thaddeus‘ phone rang then, a call from Gordon.


    “Gordon, what’s up?”


    “Mr. Abernathy, today Jeff sentwyers and his secretary to the detention center to see Matthew!”


    Gordon’s voice carried the urgency of fresh intel, and a hint of concern, “Nothing’s going to go awry


    that lets the Chambers Group find a loophole to bail out that beast, right?!”


    “No, the evidence is irrefutable. Matthew is in a checkmate position; there’s no chance for a


    Thaddeus‘ gaze darkened, “Jeff’s visit is likely a final reckoning between father and son.”


    Evadne’s lips curled knowingly, “The power bnce within the Chambers Group is about to shift again.


    Some viper, squirming in its dark pit, must be in a panic by now.”


    At the city hospital, in a ward, Jeff’s face turned stormy as he reviewed the share transfer agreement


    Content property of N?velDra/ma.Org.


    signed by Matthew.


    “Mr. Jeff Chambers, are you truly not going to see Mr. Matthew Chambers onest time?” His secretary


    asked tentatively.


    “Did he leave anyst words?” Jeff’s tone was icy, as if the man behind bars was not his own son, but a


    total stranger.


    Blood in the Chambers family ran colder than a serpent’s. They experienced the gamut of human


    emotions, but after hate, after anger, they would quickly detach themselves from grief and re–immerse


    in the games of power, as if endless scheming was the only thing that could warm their veins


    The secretary flinched, “Exactly as he said?”


    Jeff snapped, “Spit it out!”


    “Mr. Matthew Chambers said bringing that bitch into the family was the most idiotic decision of your


    life.*


    “Fricking bullshit!”


    Jeff mmed his fist onto the bed, his eyes zing with fury, “I trusted him unconditionally, elevating


    him to the head of the Chambers Group. The real idiocy was not seeing him for who he really was!”


    In retrospect, everything felt like a fool’s game. Jeff thought of that night at the banquet, of how that


    beast had schemingly treated his wife, and had deceived him for years, leading to his current disgrace,


    the copse of the Chambers Group. He barely contained his impulse to charge in the cell and execute


    his son a hundred times over.


    “Mr. Matthew Chambers also mentioned that Mr. Avery Chambers’s sudden return from Helgen to


    Elmsworth wasn’t to aid you. He’s been lying low, ying the fool, all to avenge his mother and take


    over the entire Chambers Group.”


    Given the important of this matter, the secretary dared not alter such a message; he couldn’t only ry


    the words precisely, “It seems the downfall of Mr. Matthew Chambers and Ms. Bertha Chambers was


    orchestrated by the Ashbourne family ostensibly, but Mr. Avery Chambers was actually behind it all.


    Now that your three children have fallen, the next target is you!”


    Jeff’s body tensed, his face draining of color as if he had seen a ghost. At that moment, he started to


    recall, the Chambers Group was in turmoil, with one disaster after another pummeling it as if a curse


    had settled over the firm since Avery’s return.


    Back in the day, even though Camille had been outmaneuvered by his three children, Avery had been


    kept in the dark. Jeff had blindly believed the nderous lies and exile the mother and son to the bleak


    Helgen for fifteen long years without so much as a word.


    But that unforgivable blow had indeed been created by Avery! At the thought of it, chills ran down Jeff’s


    spine. The faint traces of guilt in his heart were rapidly overwhelmed by a rising tide of fear and anger.


    Suddenly, the door to the hospital room swung open. Avery’s delicate features were shadowed with a


    chilling darkness, his usually warm eyes now a swirling mix of sinister coldness.


    Jeff’s pupils contracted involuntarily, and he instinctively tried to hide the contract in his hands. But it


    was toote; Avery had seen it upon entering, and his gaze turned even more ruthless.


    “What brings you here?” Jeff attempted to soundposed as he hastily passed the contract to his


    secretary.


    “Dad, you know you’ve only got one son left now.” Avery chuckled, “You’re sick and in the hospital. If I


    don’t visit you, who will?”


    He casually took a seat on the couch, crossing his legs with an air of dominance.


    This kid, he didn’t have an ounce of respect for Jeff, the head of the family. It was as if he was pping


    Jeff in the face with his audacity!


    “I’m fine, just a minor ailment. You can go back now.”


    “There’s another matter I need to inform to live at the Chambers Estate.” you of, apart from visiting


    you.” Avery spoke deliberately, “Tomorrow, I’m bringing mom


    “That’s out of the question. I do not agree!”


    Jeff exploded with refusal, “Your mother and I are no longer husband and wife; it’s inappropriate to live


    under the same roof! Moreover, your mother is now mentally unwell; she belongs in a hospital where


    she can be cared for, not at home where she could have an episode at any moment!”


    “Ha, do you still not realize your own mistakes?”


    “That’s my line to you!”


    Maybe it was guilt, but Jeff’s anger betrayed a sense of shame, though his mind seemed clearer in this


    moment than it had in a long time, “What was the meaning of revealing all that at the Chambers family


    gathering? You’ve been plotting this for a while, haven’t you? You’re trying to drive the Chambers


    Group into a corner, then swoop in like some knight in shining armor, hold Matthew and Byron down,


    and gain my trust so I’ll hand over the CEO position to you on a silver tter! You little critter, you’ve


    been scheming since a child, still full of cunning and intrigue. I almost fell for it!”


    Averyughed off with contempt, “Dad, are you confused by illness or just old age? How does it benefit


    me to see the Chambers Group in trouble? Sounds like something Matthew would have someone


    whisper in your ear. These aren’t your own thoughts, are, they?”


    Jeff felt a painful twinge in his heart, “You!”


    “I suggest, given the circumstances, that you’d best go along with what I want Otherwise, you can find


    someone else to resolve this meas


    The threat was clear as day! Avery’s lips curled into a sharp, menacing smile, bing even more


    aggressive.


    Just let mom move back into the family home, and transfer Matthew’s shares to me. With that, not only


    can I solve the Chambers Group’s current problems, but I can also inject a significant amount of capital


    into thepany. The choice is yours.”