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.
holiday greetings exchanged, Chad didn’t feel all that close
Abernathy, we’re
reverie and slowly
its seclusion striking an impressive contrast to the outside
rivals the grandeur
Chad Abernathy’s been living it up abroad. This
“Nonsense.”
lips thinned, his competitive streak flaring up, “It’s
his gaffe and scratched his
smitten with Mrs. Abernathy, treasuring even a strand of her hair. In his eyes, everything about Mrs. Abernathy was
Thaddeus. As he stepped out, buttoning up his
calming effect,
at a greater distance,” a cool
figure slender and elegant, approaching them with grace. “I’m
she extended her hand politely to Thaddeus, “I’m pleased to meet
kept his composure, his sharp gaze fixed on her. This woman seemed familiar, yet after sifting
meet you.”
hand, as if
been waiting for you. Please, follow me.”
“Sure.”
Abernathy’s estate is off–limits to anyone but family
his eyes filled with concern
Gordon, Thaddeus said
away, the smile in her eyes iced over to a chilling
led away by that woman, Gordon stared at her retreating
remained on Alexia, his suspicions growing. As she
it?” Thaddeus, ever the blunt businessman,
smile, her eyes like tempting hooks, “Would a busy man like Mr.
be, but now that I have a significant other,
tell me the brand? I’d like to
have to disappoint you, Mr. Abernathy. It’s not a perfume, but a rare incense made from local botanicals, nearly
I see, Thaddeus‘ expression flickered, and he
asked her that because he suddenly remembered where he had smelled that
detected this orchid scent clinging to Avery, the same as Alexia’s.
she could obtain probably due to his brother’s favor.
Did they know each other? Or was it merely a coincidence?
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