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.
a decade apart, with only holiday greetings exchanged, Chad didn’t feel
we’re
reverie and slowly
astonishing mansion, its seclusion striking an impressive contrast to the outside
rivals the grandeur of Mrs. Abernathy’s
living it up abroad. This place must’ve cost hundreds of millions,
“Nonsense.”
up, “It’s nothing
realized his gaffe and scratched his head awkwardly.
with Mrs. Abernathy, treasuring even a strand of her
buttoning up his suit jacket, a delicate fragrance wafted towards him, reminiscent of the subtle
to have a calming effect, easing some of the tension
Abernathy, my apologies for not greeting you at a
slender and elegant, approaching them with grace. “I’m Alexia, Mr. Chad Abernathy’s personal
eyes curved up in a smile as she extended her hand politely to Thaddeus, “I’m pleased
fixed on her. This woman seemed familiar, yet after sifting
meet you.”
he quickly touched her hand,
been waiting for
“Sure.”
Abernathy’s
looked deflated, his eyes filled with
in the car, Gordon, Thaddeus said
smile in her eyes
led away by that woman, Gordon stared
two walked one after the other along the winding corridor. Thaddeus‘ cool gaze remained on Alexia, his suspicions growing. As she moved,
quite nice. What brand is it?” Thaddeus, ever the blunt businessman,
“Would a busy man like Mr. Abernathy
but now that I have a significant other, it’s different.”
unable to hide his joy, “Could you tell me the brand? I’d like to get it for her as a gift when
her face away, a shadow crossing her features, “I’m afraid 141 have to disappoint you, Mr. Abernathy. It’s not a perfume,
flickered,
her that because he suddenly remembered
detected this orchid scent clinging to Avery, the same as Alexia’s.
perfume but a rare incense she could
Did they know each other? Or was it merely a
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