Chapter 627
Evadne listened, her eyes brimming with tears, as Suri recounted the tale with a heavy heart.
Battered and barely clinging to life.
What kind of harrowing ordeal must her mother have endured to have nearly perished so far from home?
Thaddeus gripped Evadne’s trembling hand tighter, his voice laced with confusion. “Mrs. Ashbourne has been all alone in this foreign land for so many years, raising children for Mr. Emeric. Didn’t she ever reach out to her family, or visit her homeland even once?”
Suri shook her head, her gaze lowered. “Never. Not once. Emeric even went so far as to change her citizenship, gave her a new identity, so she could cut ties with her past completely.”
The more they heard, the deeper their bewilderment grew.
What could have happened to make Mrs. Ashbourne abandon her old life so completely?
With each word, Evadne’s curiosity about her mother’s past intensified.
“Evadne, that’s all I know. And over father has reminded us, more than once, not to tell you anything about your mother.”
Suri’s eyes pleaded as she took Evadne’s hand. “I don’t know why, but you must trust your father. He truly loves you and your mother. Everything he does, he does for you without a second thought. So please, let’s pretend this conversation never happened. Don’t ask your father about it, okay?”
Evadne’s heart swelled with a deep, unspoken love for her mother. But she didn’t want to make Suri uncomfortable, so she could only nod through her tears.
After a recent ordeal, Emeric’s health, which had just started to improve, was once again on shaky ground.
Chasel arrived just in time to perform a thorough check-up and administer the necessary medication, stabilizing Emeric’s condition.
Back in his office, Chasel slumped into his chair, utterly spent, as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders. As the lead physician, the pressure was immense.
father
front of his future father-in-law, and the pressure was crushing. Who could
thoughts weighing on him, Chasel sprawled across his desk, his
to bring him back from the brink of death. Three sleep-deprived nights of standing until his legs. cramped up, both hungry and exhausted. And there was Cassius,
had taken a tumble for Cassius, tasting the bitterness of unrequited affection for the first time.
the glass atop his desk with a slap, his eyes shimmering with resentment. “This is the last time. I swear it’s the last
Knock, knock, knock-
sound of knocking
dabbed his eyes with a tissue, blew his nose,
greeted him. A gentle smile on his
“Chasel.”
his fingers
tenderness in his
have you?” Cassius lifted the bag he was holding, shaking it slightly. “I remember you told me once that you avoid carbs, but when you’re really stressed and worn out, you treat yourself to fried chicken. So here it is. I
mouth watered at the thought, and despite his best efforts,
warm look, sitting down with a cold expression, resisting the urge
would do my utmost to save
Cassius asked
Not me,” Chasel
the
he glanced inadvertently
reflection showed him biting his lip, his eyes red-rimmed, his nose tinged pink – the very
silently, opening the boxes of
and napkins with thoughtful
all the trouble these past few days,”
clenched, and he looked up into Cassius’ deep eyes.
down beside him. “But you know, with the whole family here and my father ill, as the eldest son, I have to take care of him,
took a big bite of the chicken to
apologize? It’s so
smile deepened as he watched him eat. “You need to eat more; you’ve
bring ketchup. My favorite’s always plain chicken
attire with a pleased curl of his lips. “Oh, you wore it, huh? Looks like you’re quite fond of
it,” Cassius
closer, his handsome face filling Cassius’ vision. “So, what do you like more, that suit, or me?”
his lashes, a charming vortex forming in his gaze,
he didn’t want to hear. So, in a fit of pique, he grabbed a drumstick and
Cassius. I truly mean
who owes you one, the
off with just a bucket of fried chicken, are you?” Chasel said with feigned annoyance,
not. Name your price, anything you want,” Cassius
than Chasel seized his jaw, pressing his fiery lips against
kiss tinged with resentment, clearly not willing to
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!