Chapter 757


    After ensuring everything was in order, the lovebirds set off for their return journey to Elmsworth.


    資式


    On the way, Thaddeus wrapped his arms around hisdy, his lips grazing against her earlobe, which


    was flushed as if stained with blood, and pecked at her plump, rosy lips.


    “Evadne, thank you. How can I ever repay you, huh?”


    “Why the formalities?” With her left arm encircling his neck, Evadne’s fingertips traced his straight nose,


    as gentle as a spring breeze, stirring his heart into ripples, “Then you can cook for me for a month.”


    “A month? Underestimating me?”


    His eyes wed with indulgence, “Being a lifetime chef for mydy is a delight I’d willingly embrace.”


    Evadne shook her head repeatedly, “That’s sweet, Thaddeus, but your sentiment is enough. A meal


    now and then is charming, but a lifetime is a burden.”


    “Actually, I feel quite guilty doing this to Aaron.”


    Evadne pursed her lips helplessly, “But putting pressure on the Bartley family to abandon the


    engagement seemed like the best win–win solution I coulde up with. Once they back off, it would


    buy Jareth more time to sort out his family affairs. That way, he and Mari could have a chance


    together.”


    “There are other ways I can deal with the Bartley family.”


    Evadne shook her head gently, “I know you’re prepared, but don’t stir up trouble with the Elmsworth


    political scene too lightly.”


    His lips tensed, “For Mari and Jareth, I’m not afraid of offending anyone.”


    “But you can’t afford to offend Frederic right now. You can’t hand him the ammunition to think you’re


    harming. or influencing the Group’s interests. Isn’t that just giving him a reason to blow up?”


    Sitting upright in his embrace, Evadne soothed him gently, “Don’t worry. Suri isn’t one to be trifled with.


    She’s been managing part of Emeric’s business and assets for years. With her stepping in, she’ll surely


    squelch the Bartley family’s ambitions to cling to power.”


    A smile crept uncontrobly across Thaddeus‘ lips, and just as he leaned in for a kiss, the phone rang.


    Seeing it was Jason calling, Evadne answered immediately, “Jason.”


    “Ms. Ashbourne, there’s an update on Glynnis.” Jason reported urgently, “Our people just sent word;


    Glynnis went to the hospital for a checkup, and she looks in bad shape.“.


    “That’s good.” Evadne’s voice was low, her eyes cold, “Keep a close watch on her. As soon as she


    leaves the hospital, get her blood sample by any means necessary.”


    “Understood, Ms. Ashbourne!”


    Across the ocean.


    For nearly a week, Glynnis suffered from an unrelenting fever that no medication could subdue.


    Reluctant to face the exorbitant medical costs by going to the hospital there, she bemoaned every


    penny of her meager living allowance, wishing she could split a dor three ways.


    She remembered a time when, as the daughter of the Abernathy family, even a pinprick on her finger


    would cause a flurry of concern. Now, her circumstances were starkly different, and the sorrow hit her


    hard.


    But recently, with the addition of weakness and persistent coughing, she dared not dy and rushed to


    the hospital overnight.


    After undergoing various tests, Glynnis, wrapped in her dingy sweater coat, slumped onto a bench in


    the hallway and drifted into a fitful sleep.


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    Chapter 757


    She was awakened by a nurse who summoned her to see the doctor for her test results. The doctor


    hesitated, looking at theb report, and then spoke softly, “Madam, I regret to inform you. The results


    indicate that you’ve been infected with the HIV virus.”


    “HIV?” Glynnis’s face turned ghostly pale, staring nkly at the doctor’s serious expression. She


    understood enough English to recognize the gravity of those three letters but was in utter disbelief,


    thinking she had misheard.


    ex EFFE


    The doctor, mistaking her shock for anguage barrier, repeated, “It’s AIDS.”


    This time, the diagnosis was spelled out, unmistakable and clear. With a tter, Glynnis crumpled to


    the floor, her body shaking uncontrobly, unable to stand even with the doctor’s assistance.


    At the moment, she was in shock, unable to process the doctor’s words, deaf to all but her own


    despair. Oh right, she was deaf in the first ce.


    Staggering and disoriented, Glynnis stumbled forward, reying in her mind how she could have


    contracted AIDS. Then, she remembered a night in a club’s bathroom with a male model, a night of


    reckless passion. He hadn’t used protection and had released the liquid of his sexual indulgence on her


    twice, one inside her, the other on her chest. Could he have been the one to infect her?


    She had been cooping herself up at home all the time, indulging just that once! If not him, who else


    could it be? “Ah!” In the dim, deserted alley, Glynnis tore herb report to shreds, curled up in a corner,


    clutching her head, and let out a harrowing scream.


    “Why has ite to this, why?!”


    Cast out of the Abernathy family, stripped of a life of luxury, deaf, and now stricken with this vile


    disease, she thought death might be a merciful escape.


    At the peak of her despair, a series of footsteps echoed down the alley, drawing closer until they halted


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