Chapter 490

Thaddeus stared at the unfamiliar number flashing on his phone screen, momentarily immobilized. Not many people had his private number, and he never bothered with wrong numbers or cold calls. But this time, his heart inexplicably raced out of control.

Pressing the answer button, he brought the phone to his ear, “Hello?”

On the other end, the tumult of a storm mixed with static.

“Hello? Who is this?”

Usually, Thaddeus would’ve hung up by now. But today, he uncharacteristically waited for a reply.

“Thaddeus, it’s me.”

Evadne’s frail, soft voice came through in fits and starts, torn to shreds by the howling wind. Like a dagger, it pierced straight through the man’s heart.

“Evadne?!”

Thaddeus’s eyes sparkled with a mix of surprise and joy as he shot to his feet, his breathing laced with an intense tremor. It was almost unbelievable to him that he was receiving a call from her.

“Thaddeus. I want to see you. I’m so tired,” Evadne’s fading voice was nearly imperceptible.

“Evadne, where are you?! I’ll come to you right away!” Thaddeus’s eyes reddened, a nameless agony churning within.

“I don’t know where I am.”

The woman on the other end couldn’t hold back her tears any longer, “I’ve walked so far. I can’t go on. My head’s spinning. I just want to sleep.”

“Evadne! Don’t sleep, please, stay awake!”

Thaddeus’s heart clenched, spasming wildly, “Don’t hang up. I’m tracing your call right now! Stay with me!”

Hamilton, overhearing, tensed with concern.

“Granddad Hamilton, I’m sorry.”

“Thaddeus, you don’t need to explain.”

With an understanding wave of his hand, Granddad urged, “Go now! Nothing is more important than finding llana!”

Gripping his phone, Thaddeus dashed out of the hospital room.

“You’ve got to find llana! Keep her safe!” Hamilton cried after him, tears in his eyes.

Thaddeus nodded heavily, his steps heavy. He got into his car, taking Gordon with him as they sped off into the stormy night towards Skyrim.

gathered his men; a convoy of sleek black sedans raced behind Thaddeus’s lead, struggling to

a jet on the slippery roads with limited visibility. He was gambling with his

pale, clutched the handle above the car door as if

crucial, but you have to think about your own

in trouble at any second!” Thaddeus’s eyes bloodshot, tremendous terror caused his shoulders, which were hid under the suit, convulsed uncontrollably, “Any second late, and Evadne might

fell silent, his eyes shut tight, praying for their

you still pinpoint Mrs. Abernathy’s location?!” Thaddeus’s

can! About

screen. Gordon exclaimed in panic, “Damn it, Mr. Abernathy! We’ve

that Evadne’s

going to

they arrived at the last known location. His men fanned out with

rain, his shoes and pant legs caked in mud, but he didn’t care

the road!”

happened? Why was Mrs. Abernathy alone in this forsaken

She had taken one of their phones and pushed on through the rain. Fearing they might follow, she kept trekking forward instead of stopping for any short while, because

the end, Evadne’s spirit went completely numb, her legs still moving in their quivery state

step and collapsed in a dilapidated gazebo at the foot of a hill. Only then did she dare to call Thaddeus – her only fear

in her arms, drifting to sleep with the phone clutched tightly in her

her daze, she dreamed of the accident three years ago – the car accident, the dark

“Evadne!”

she thought she heard Thaddeus calling her, but

enveloped by a warm embrace, a broad

is that you?” Evadne murmured faintly, her eyes

chest, his voice rough and barely coherent, “It’s

ago, seeing her curled up so pitifully, he felt as though his heart had burst open, bloodied and shattered.

down his cheeks, sinking into the delicate hollow of her shoulder. If tears were blood, the rivers would have surely run crimson by

words slurred as she cried out, “Thaddeus,

as if an arrow had pierced his soul. Her words, sharp as knives, carved into his heart. His trembling

off his suit jacket to wrap her tightly

arms.

red, her words delirious, “Baby,

It doesn’t matter if we

burning forehead, “In my heart, you are my child. I will cherish you, love you, protect you.

night, Gordon’s face split with a wide, tearful

the woman tightly in a blanket from the hospital, clutching her

To the hospital,

“No.”

were half–closed/weakly gripping Thaddeus’s sweaty hand, “If we go to the hospital, my brothers will find me quickly. They’ll take me back. Thaddeus. I don’t want to go

with pain, “But you’re running a high fever;

just take

that, Evadne closed her eyes again,

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