Chapter 477
The crowd huddled closer, ears perked and eyes glued to Frederic’s enigmatic smile.
With a sly glint in his eye, Frederic smiled as he placed his gaze at Thaddeus, “Thaddeus, come here.”
Thaddeus felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest. His brow furrowed as he gazed at the petite woman beside him, his grip on her hand inadvertently tightening – he couldn’t bear the thought of parting from her.
“Go on. I’ll be right here watching you. I won’t go anywhere.”
Evadne met his gaze with tender eyes, gently withdrawing her hand, now reddened from his firm grasp.
Left with no good reason to refuse, Thaddeus made his way to Frederic under the watchful eyes of the gathering.
Frederic greeted him with a rare paternal smile, clapped a hand on his broad shoulder, then turned to face the crowd, laughing loudly.
“Tonight, as we celebrate the new venture between Chairman Ashbourne and Mr. William Morris, I’d like to announce a joyous occasion in our family. My son Thaddeus is engaged to Edith, granddaughter of the esteemed Mr. Barry of the Fairhaven Group. The engagement party will be later this month!”
The crowd was left agape. What?! Thaddeus and Edith engaged?!
Some glanced at Edith, the soon–to–be Mrs. Abernathy, anointed by Mr. Frederic Abernathy himself.
Edith trembled with excitement, her round eyes shining with ecstasy, on the verge of tears.
She had waited for this day for what felt like an eternity, her family pulling every string, playing every card to win Frederic’s favor, to have this moment of triumph over Evadne, to turn her into a laughingstock!
The slights she had suffered from that bitch would finally be avenged! Meanwhile, others looked at Evadne with stunned, complex expressions.
Evadne’s face drained of color, her slender shoulders quaking as if she were in the midst of an icy river of endless darkness. The warmth in her blood from Thaddeus now turned to ice.
The icicles, made from her own blood, were like cruel blades piercing her heart, her lungs. The pain left her mind a blank void.
Edith watched her with a wild, triumphant smile. She thought, “Oh, how lovely, Evadne, seeing you stripped of your claws, so lost and pathetic – it’s such a beautiful sight!”
“The Abernathy Group and the Fairhaven Group uniting? That’s huge news! How come there wasn’t any whisper of it before? It feels so out of the blue!”
under wraps until the divorce. Their
engaged to Edith, what was all
Thaddeus and Evadne. Elspeth got thrown under the bus because of Ms. Ashbourne’s schemes – the Abernathy family secrets
bad!”
like knives, each word stabbing at
by the engagement news, disbelief
!
reconciliation known to the world,
the Fairhaven family, an engagement between Thaddeus and Edith?! He couldn’t believe that Frederic genuinely wanted to unite with the Fairhaven Group; he was just using Evadne’s most cherished person, her own son to take revenge
Despicable, petty schemer!
aback, blinking in surprise, “Wow! That certainly is grand news! Congratulations, Mr. Frederic
joking, Mr.
bloodshot as if he were a beast caged and desperate to fight his way out, “Everyone knows, I love Evadne, and I
life, I
William and his son were dumbfounded by
initially sneered at Thaddeus, but seeing him defy his father so boldly in front of such distinguished guests, he couldn’t help but feel a flicker of respect. He muttered in awe, “Badass.”
say? Did I
son is
Mr. Frederic Abernathy, my blood pressure would skyrocket to 280 and I’d be out cold! Wasn’t Thaddeus saying, ‘To hell with your death, but no one can stop me from being with Evadne‘? Seems to me like my dear old dad’s life is worth less than the daughter of the
he were the only person in the world who could
the party exchanged surprised glances towards the
Thaddeus is clueless about this arranged marriage, like Mr. Frederic Abernathy just traded
a marriage like this, is it?”
of line. Knowing full well that Thaddeus is smitten with
were Edith, I couldn’t stand the embarrassment. Whose face is she
She has no shame, probably over the moon now that she
jibes, her face turning the color of liver.
as a grandfather bruised as well. He knew this marriage gambit was risky.
figured that with the engagement announced in such a grand setting, with all eyes watching, Thaddeus would have to keep his cool until
from the media, they could paint him as a fickle lover, forcing the Abernathy family to
love for Evadne.
not
spoke with barely contained rage, “Even if you don’t. want to marry Ms.
Evadne, I’ll marry no one.”
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!