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.
greetings exchanged, Chad didn’t feel all that close to him anymore. Respect was
we’re
snapped out of his reverie and slowly
its seclusion striking
rivals the grandeur of
Chad Abernathy’s been living it up abroad.
“Nonsense.”
lips thinned, his competitive streak flaring up, “It’s
and scratched his head awkwardly.
with Mrs. Abernathy, treasuring even a strand of her hair. In his eyes, everything
the car door for Thaddeus. As he stepped out, buttoning up his suit jacket, a delicate
to have a calming effect, easing some of the tension he
you at a greater distance,” a
eyes and saw a woman in a white gown, her figure slender and elegant, approaching them with grace. “I’m Alexia, Mr. Chad Abernathy’s personal
curved up in a smile as she extended her hand politely to Thaddeus, “I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Thaddeus
seemed familiar, yet after sifting through his
meet you.”
of respect for his brother, he quickly touched her hand, as if any longer
been waiting for you. Please,
“Sure.”
Abernathy’s estate is off–limits
eyes filled with concern for Thaddeus.
Gordon, Thaddeus
away, the smile in her eyes iced over to a
that woman, Gordon
the other along the winding corridor. Thaddeus‘ cool gaze remained on Alexia, his suspicions growing. As she moved, her clothes fluttered, and the orchid–like scent lingered around him.
smells quite nice. What brand is it?” Thaddeus, ever the
with a light smile, her eyes like tempting hooks, “Would a busy man like Mr. Abernathy be interested in a woman’s vanity?”
to be, but now that I have a
to hide his joy, “Could you tell me the brand? I’d like to get it for her as a gift
her face away, a shadow crossing her features, “I’m afraid 141 have to disappoint you, Mr. Abernathy. It’s not
I see, Thaddeus‘ expression flickered,
her that because he suddenly remembered where he had smelled that
every encounter, he had faintly detected this orchid scent clinging
said it wasn’t perfume but a rare incense she
get it? Did they know each
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!