Chapter 491

Thaddeus gazed at Evadne’s pallid, haggard face, his heart aching beyond words.

“I want to be with Evadne forever. But Jareth, I can’t be that selfish. Evadne’s family isn’t like mine. I would give up everything for her, but if she were to lose her family for me, do you think I could live with myself? Without the blessings and company of her family, can she truly be happy and content?”

Thaddeus shook his head in agony, his voice hoarse as he repeated, “I’ve already taken too much from her. I’ve almost ruined her. Jareth, I can’t hurt her anymore; I can’t let her lose anymore. I just can’t.”

“Is that what you think? But have you ever asked Evadne what she wants?”

Jareth, seeing the turmoil in his friend, furrowed his brows, “It’s a stormy night out there. Evadne must have suffered a lot to come and find you. Family is important, of course. But right now, Evadne cares more about you; she wants to be with you. If you force yourself to let her go for the sake of what you call happiness, then a danger greater than tonight’s might occur, and it could end in tragedy. Thaddeus, don’t come to regret it.”

Jareth’s words struck deep, piercing Thaddeus’s heart.

Thaddeus remembered Evadne mentioning their child, begging him to save their little one. Although she was delirious with fever, wasn’t that the wound she had suppressed in her heart, hidden beneath her hearty smiles, a pain so raw upon touch?

“How do you do it, Evadne?

How do you manage to smile at my detestable face every day, to be so, so kind to me?”

In front of his closest friend, Thaddeus could no longer hold back and burst into tears, slapping himself hard on the face!

“Thad! What the hell are you doing?!”

Jareth’s eyes widened in shock, hurriedly grabbing his hand, “Man up, Thad! Self–pity isn’t going to fix anything! If it did, I’d grab all the kitchen knives right now and let you stab yourself to your heart’s content!”

The doctor quickly arrived to treat Evadne.

Thaddeus sat by the bed, staring deeply at Evadne’s pale face, pressing her lukewarm hand to his burning lips, kissing it silently.

“She’s running a fever; it’s serious.”

The doctor administered a fever–reducing shot and started an IV, “Had it been any later, there could have been complications with her heart, making it more difficult to handle. However, Mr. Abernathy, I suggest you take Ms. Ashbourne to the hospital at dawn. My facilities here are limited, and I can’t provide her with the best care, only temporarily alleviate the fever. If it spikes again. tomorrow night, you must go to the hospital.”

Thaddeus’s trembling hand brushed Evadne’s sweaty forehead. It was still hot to the touch, hoping that by dawn, all would be well.

“By the way, Mr. Abernathy, did Ms. Ashbourne sustain any injuries to her hand? Has it been fractured?” The doctor suddenly asked, puzzled.

Thaddeus was taken aback, “Fractured? What do you mean?”

“Look at her left little finger; my experience tells me that it’s been fractured before, or severely torn ligaments. Even if it healed, it would probably leave some impairment.”

Thaddeus’s pupils shook, his heart pounding!

“Impossible! How could this happen?!” Jareth was utterly astonished.

“Looks like it’s an old injury, perhaps due to lack of proper care after the initial injury.”

Jareth became more perplexed, “Evadne is from the Ashbourne family, which would call an ambulance over a scratch on her hand. How could they ignore something as serious as a fracture!

the pinky isn’t used much, it’s

A disability?!

hitched, clutching Evadne’s delicate hand

remembered asking Evadne about her little finger before, but she had deflected the question, unwilling to answer him directly. What had happened that she

the doctor left, Lily brought clean pajamas, and

personally changed Evadne into her pajamas, then brought over a basin of water and knelt down to clean her

with a

them, now bore scars and dried grime. The

to bring you happiness, but look at what I’ve brought

his breath ragged, a deep, muffled sob escaping

his eyes, Thaddeus stood up and walked to

is fine, just worried sick about Ms. Ashbourne. He only went to bed late because of her. Mr. Thaddeus Abernathy, have you found Ms. Ashbourne? Mr. Hamilton Abernathy was asking before

he wakes up not

sure how long

Thaddeus Abernathy, I’m

had told you

tragedy is all by my own

fell silent, and then

he was on a business trip abroad, inspecting a project.

back home, it was daytime where he was,

you said Evadne called me, but I didn’t pick it up?”

tried to

the bridge now, and thank goodness Mr. Hamilton Abernathy is doing just fine. You shouldn’t beat yourself up over it. Back then, your place at the firm was shaky; you were always jetting off on business trips, so busy you hardly had time

as if struck by lightning, his shoulders shaking! It all came rushing back to him!

he was toiling away at the Abernathy Group’s regional office when Acacia Stirling barged in, hell–bent on dragging him to some shindig.

a meeting and turned Acacia down, which set her off. She threw one of her classic fits and dunked

come through? In an instant, a chasm of darkness opened before Thaddeus‘ eyes. “Mr. Thaddeus Abernathy? Mr.

concern.

bracing himself against the window sill, felt his towering frame begin to crumble inch by inch, his

the edge of

The next day.

broke, Thaddeus felt the weight on his heart lift ever so slightly.

into his arms, the two hearts

a

her tear–swollen face, pinching Thaddeus‘ gaunt cheeks until they turned red.

of pain, his eyes brimming with bliss as he fondly stroked her hair, “It’s no dream, Evadne. It’s me. If you don’t believe

goodness,

aloud. She pinched hard, and

his voice heavy with guilt, “Evadne. I’m sorry, so sorry. Once you’re well, you can hit me, punish me

would I do that? Everything’s fine, isn’t it?”

bright eyes blinked, “Have you got a mistress? Been letting your heart wander while

turned green, “Evadne.”

“Just kidding.”

thin he had become, “You’ve

the night before still marked Thaddeus‘ face, his fingers intertwined tightly with hers, yet he remained silent for

speak of it and instead covered her lips with his, giving

the rest of his life, he would repay her in kind,

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