His Ex Wife Is A Billionaire

Chapter 36
Alva was secretly surprised. No way, no way! Couldn’t Mr. Thaddeus see through this woman pretending to be weak?
Didn’t that make him a dummy—
At this moment, Thaddeus had picked up a black umbrella and emotionlessly opened the door.
“Mr. Thaddeus!” Alva called out anxiously. But the man still walked out with his umbrella, making her so angry she wished she could knock some sense into him. She stomped her foot in frustration.
Outside, Acacia was slumped in the rain, on the verge of giving up. But the moment she saw that godlike figure approaching her, she became uncontrollably excited. So, she turned on her charm, sobbing pitifully.
Thaddeus frowned, walked quickly to her, holding the umbrella over her with one hand, and hoisted Acacia up from the ground with the other. He was firm, not allowing her any room for manipulation, even showing a bit of force.
“Thad.” Acacia spoke softly, throwing herself into his arms. Just moments before, she was at death’s door, but now, seeing the man, she perked up. Her arms wrapped around his waist like a snake, her wet face rubbing against his chest.
Thaddeus felt a bit annoyed, his voice low. “Your health is already weak. You’ll get sick if you stay in the rain.”
“Would you have come to see me if I didn’t do this. Thad? I just wanted to see you… Why won’t you see me?”
Tears streamed down Acacia’s face, her gaze frantic. “Thad… have you stopped loving me? You’ve been so cold to me recently… is it because of that suit incident? I know I was wrong. I’ll apologize to Ilana, I’ll beg for her forgiveness, okay?”
“No need, I’m not mad anymore.” Thaddeus said coldly, “You’ve seen me now, so you can be at ease. Acacia, go home and be with your family. Once things settle down, I’ll come to see you.”

‘Thad! Please… can you help my brother?!” Acacia turned desperate at his words, her face flushed. She couldn’t even keep up her ladylike facade. She clung tighter to Thaddeus’ muscular body, sliding down a little.
“My brother is about to be sentenced! All the lawyers in Elmsworth are afraid of the power of the Ashbourne group. No matter how much money we offer, no one dares to defend my brother! The Ashbourne group is too overbearing, they plan to force us into a corner! Thad… please help us… My family is about to go bankrupt. If my brother becomes a prisoner, my family will be finished! Please…”
Thaddeus’ expression was calm, his posture unwavering. If he was said to be heartless, his love for Acacia was indeed steadfast. A promise made in his youth, he kept till he was thirty. Despite hurting another woman who loved him deeply, despite others saying he disrespected his elders, he still wanted to marry her.
But if he was said to be softhearted, he was also fair and just. When the Stirlings committed a crime, he didn’t let it slide. His attitude was as chilling as Satan’s.
At this moment, Thaddeus recalled the harsh words he had said when dealing with the Stirling Group and Evadne. He remembered using the Stirling Group’s situation to mock Ilana. He was filled with regret, and his tone grew even harsher. “Evadne is innocent. Your brother brought this trouble on himself. I once suggested he turn himself in, to lessen the punishment, this is the right way. As for the Stirling Group, it really needs to do some internal restructuring. An incompetent leader will drag the entire team down even if I give you more money. If you don’t address the problem within, it will eventually be beyond redemption.”
Acacia’s lips trembled. She was stunned. She thought that if she cried and pleaded with Thaddeus, he would, like in the past, soften and meet all her demands. But this time, she was wrong. Thaddeus’ previous tolerance towards her was because she hadn’t crossed his line. But once that line was crossed, even if she was the one he deeply loved, he wouldn’t go easy.
In the end, Thaddeus personally pushed the crying Acacia into the car, ordering the driver to lock the door. Only when he saw her leave did his brows slightly ease.
He stood in the rain with his black umbrella for a long time. Thinking of Ilana’s disappointed eyes, a dull ache spread through his heart. This feeling was unavoidable.
With Ives arrested, the Stirling family mansion was eerily quiet.
Acacia’s parents saw their daughter return covered in mud, her face ashen like a ghost. They didn’t ask why she was in such a state but anxiously asked if Thaddeus would help. They even hoped he could find a good lawyer. But all Acacia did was shake her head sadly.
“Useless! Mr. Stirling coughed painfully, angrily pointing at her. “Since you got together with Thaddeus, have you ever helped the family?! You’ve been with him for so long but haven’t gained any of his a**ets. You’ve not even set foot in the Abernathy family’s door! I think Thaddeus doesn’t love you at all. What a waste of a daughter! What use are you?!”
Acacia’s eyes reddened. Mr. Stirling had always disliked his daughter. When he found out his wife was pregnant with a girl, he even pressured Una to have an abortion. The only reason Acacia was born was because the doctor warned that if she had an abortion, her chances of getting pregnant again would be almost zero. Una refused the abortion, hence Acacia was born. However, after giving birth to Acacia, her mother couldn’t conceive again, which deepened her father’s dislike for her.
She lived in her brother’s shadow since she was a child. To be noticed, she clung to her aunt, losing her childlike innocence, and learning to play power games, all to carve out a good path for herself. She hoped to make her father see her in a new light, to be a heroine among women.
Thaddeus was her first target when she was eight. She wasn’t initially all for this ba stard, favoring more the rightful heir, the oldest son of the Abernathy family. Her aunt advised Acacia to use Thaddeus as practice her skills. Even if she didn’t like Thaddeus, having a rich kid willingly be her sidekick was kind of cool.
And so, her aunt gave her the opportunity to not only be Thaddeus’ lifesaver but also a beacon of hope in his gloomy life, making him obsess over her. She had repeatedly helped the Stirling Group several times, but in the end, Mr. Stirling still saw her as a tool for wooing the influential. If she made a mistake, she’d be belittled. Acacia was so pis sed she wanted to swear a blue streak. She felt a chill in her heart and wanted to scoff. She didn’t want to help Ives at all. That worthless drunk could rot in jail for all she cared. Then the Stirling Group would be hers, even if it was just an empty shell!
“Enough, stop blaming her! If Thaddeus won’t help, what’s Acacía supposed to do?!”
Una quickly rushed to hug her daughter, glaring at Mr. Stirling. “It’s all your fault! If you hadn’t spoiled Ives, making him lawless, we wouldn’t be in this mess! The men in the Stirling family are all useless and only know how to bully women! You’re really something, huh!”
Mr. Stirling was seething. Considering his wife’s older sister was actually Frederic’s wife, he dared not blow his top.
“The priority now is to restore our image and secure Acacia and Thaddeus’ marriage ASAP.” Una thought about Thaddeus’ indifference towards her son, her eyes becoming fierce. “If there’s no other way, we’ll force them to marry. Then the Abernathy family can’t abandon our Acacia!”
“Mom! You, you forgot about me…” Acacia pointed at her belly in shock.
Una remembered the stretch marks on her daughter’s belly hadn’t completely faded and couldn’t help but feel annoyed.