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!

pinky isn’t used much, it’s still a disability, isn’t

A disability?!

breath hitched, clutching Evadne’s delicate

had deflected the question, unwilling to answer him directly. What had happened that

and then

a basin of water and knelt

a wet

exquisite he would never feel enough touching them,

wanted to bring you happiness, but

escaping from his throat. His phone vibrated, a call from Mr. Murray.

up and walked to the window to answer,

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 fell asleep,”

up not to worry. I’ll

not sure how long ‘always‘ would be.

Abernathy, I’m sorry.”

had told you sooner about Ms. Ashbourne’s miscarriage, none of this

fault. Today’s tragedy is all

then

was on a business trip abroad, inspecting a project.

difference, when the car accident happened back home, it was

but I didn’t pick it up?” Thaddeus tensed up

Ms. Ashbourne tried to reach you right

beat yourself up over it. Back then, your place at the firm was shaky; you were always jetting

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

he was toiling away at the Abernathy Group’s regional office when Acacia Stirling barged in, hell–bent

to a meeting and turned Acacia down, which set her off. She threw one of her classic fits and dunked his phone right into the fish tank.

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

concern.

sill, felt his towering

on the edge of collapse.

The next day.

fever finally broke, Thaddeus felt the weight on

saw the man she loved right before her, she dove into his arms, the two hearts beating in unison as they clung to each

a dream, is it?”

cheeks until they turned red. Most people pinched themselves, but this

stroked her hair, “It’s no dream, Evadne.

goodness, thank goodness!”

strong facade crumbling as she sobbed aloud. She pinched hard,

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

that? Everything’s

mistress? Been letting your

green, “Evadne.”

“Just kidding.”

at how thin he had become, “You’ve lost so much weight. Are you trying to make me worry on

his fingers intertwined tightly

instead covered her lips with his, giving her a sweet, lingering

her grievances and pain, and for the rest of his life, he would repay her in kind, even if it

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