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.

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

wasn’t driving a car; he was piloting a jet on the slippery roads with limited visibility. He was gambling with his

handle above the car door as if his life depended

Abernathy! Please, calm down! Finding Mrs. Abernathy is crucial, but you have

tremendous terror caused his shoulders, which were hid under the suit, convulsed uncontrollably, “Any

shut tight, praying

pinpoint Mrs. Abernathy’s location?!” Thaddeus’s voice

can! About two kilometers away!”

Gordon exclaimed in

felt a heavy sinking in his heart. All he could hope for now was that Evadne’s phone had simply

hold on. I’m going to find

at the last known location. His

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

of the road!” Gordon followed,

had happened? Why was Mrs. Abernathy alone in

taken one of their phones and pushed on through the rain. Fearing they might follow, she kept trekking

went completely numb, her legs still moving in their quivery

step and collapsed in a dilapidated gazebo at the foot of a hill. Only then did she

Evadne huddled into a ball, her face buried in her arms, drifting to sleep with the phone clutched tightly in her hand.

accident three years ago – the car accident, the

“Evadne!”

heard Thaddeus calling her,

cold, shivering body was enveloped by a warm embrace,

Evadne murmured faintly, her eyes shimmering with

his

seeing her curled up so pitifully, he felt as though his heart

the delicate hollow of her shoulder. If tears

haze, her words slurred as she cried out, “Thaddeus, our baby’s gone!

soul. Her words, sharp as knives, carved into his heart. His trembling hand rested on her forehead, the scorching heat sending shivers of

He stripped off his suit jacket to wrap her tightly

arms.

a feverish red, her words delirious, “Baby,

matter

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

of the stormy night, Gordon’s face split

Thaddeus discarded his soaked suit and wrapped the woman tightly in a blanket from the hospital, clutching her waist almost fiercely, his eyes

the hospital,

“No.”

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 back. I want to

running a high fever;

just take

closed her eyes

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