Chapter 649
After a few rings, the call connected.
“Thaddeus, I’m honestly surprised and delighted you’d call me,” Chad’s voice was as warm and kind as ever, though tinged with a hint of frailty.
“Chad, how have you been holding up?”
Thaddeus, by nature, wanted to cut straight to the chase, but desperate times called for some pleasantries first.
“Oh, same old. Popping pills like candy just to keep ticking, so much so I’m practically balding.”
Chad cracked a joke, “Tell me, Thaddeus, next time we meet, do you reckon I’ll look like I’m sporting a monk’s tonsure?” “Chad, I’m actually in this country,” Thaddeus replied seriously, not in the mood for banter.
“Oh? Really? When did you get in?”
“Night before last.”
Thaddeus took a deep breath and spoke in a low tone, “Chad, I’ve got something serious to discuss. Can we meet?”
That evening, Thaddeus and Gordon drove to the address Chad had provided. All the way there, Thaddeus‘ jaw was set in a firm line.
Though they were brothers by blood and had got on well in their youth, and despite not sharing the same mother, his older brother had taken care of him a lot.
more than a decade apart, with only holiday greetings exchanged, Chad didn’t feel all that close to him anymore. Respect
we’re
snapped out of his reverie and slowly lifted his
an astonishing mansion, its seclusion striking
the grandeur of Mrs. Abernathy’s Silverlake
Chad Abernathy’s been living it
“Nonsense.”
his competitive streak flaring up, “It’s nothing compared
and scratched his head
Abernathy was totally smitten with Mrs. Abernathy, treasuring even a strand of her hair. In his eyes, everything about Mrs. Abernathy was
have a calming effect, easing some of the tension he
greeting you at a greater distance,” a cool and soothing female voice approached
a woman in a white gown, her figure slender and elegant, approaching them with
extended her hand politely to Thaddeus, “I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Thaddeus Abernathy.”
familiar, yet
meet
respect for his brother, he quickly touched her hand, as if any longer and he might spontaneously
been waiting
“Sure.”
a cold tone. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Chad Abernathy’s estate is off–limits to anyone but
filled with concern
car, Gordon, Thaddeus
smile in her eyes iced over to
away by that woman, Gordon stared at her retreating figure, feeling an
Thaddeus‘ cool gaze remained on Alexia, his suspicions growing. As she moved, her
is it?” Thaddeus, ever the blunt businessman, surprisingly took an interest in a woman’s
a light smile, her eyes like tempting hooks, “Would a busy
used to be, but now that I have
curled up, unable to hide his joy, “Could you tell me the brand? I’d like to get it for her as
a shadow crossing her features, “I’m afraid 141 have to disappoint you, Mr. Abernathy. It’s not a perfume, but a rare incense made from local botanicals, nearly impossible to buy.”
see, Thaddeus‘ expression flickered,
her that because he suddenly remembered where he had smelled that fragrance
faintly detected this orchid
it wasn’t perfume but a rare incense she could obtain probably due
did Avery get it? Did they know each other? Or was it merely a coincidence?
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