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.
with only holiday greetings exchanged, Chad didn’t feel all that close to him anymore. Respect was the
we’re
out of his reverie and slowly lifted his
stood an astonishing mansion, its seclusion striking an impressive contrast
grandeur of Mrs. Abernathy’s Silverlake Harbor!”
Mr. Chad Abernathy’s been living it up
“Nonsense.”
lips thinned, his competitive streak flaring up, “It’s nothing
his gaffe and scratched his head awkwardly.
Abernathy was totally smitten with Mrs. Abernathy, treasuring even a strand of her hair. In his eyes, everything about Mrs. Abernathy was the
stepped out first, respectfully opening the car door for Thaddeus. As he stepped out, buttoning up his suit jacket, a delicate fragrance
the fragrance seemed to have a calming effect, easing
greeting you at a greater distance,” a
slender and elegant, approaching them with
in a smile as she extended her hand politely to Thaddeus, “I’m pleased to meet
seemed familiar, yet after sifting through his memory, he couldn’t recall
to meet you.”
her hand, as
Abernathy has been waiting
“Sure.”
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Chad Abernathy’s estate is off–limits to anyone but family and invited guests. Your secretary will have
filled with concern for Thaddeus.
the car, Gordon, Thaddeus
the smile in her eyes iced over to
led away by that woman, Gordon stared at her retreating figure,
on Alexia, his suspicions growing. As she moved,
quite nice. What brand is it?” Thaddeus, ever the blunt
her eyes like tempting hooks, “Would a busy
now that I
to hide his joy, “Could you tell me the brand? I’d like to get it for her as
turned her face away, 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
I see, Thaddeus‘ expression flickered, and he dropped
that because he suddenly remembered where he had smelled that fragrance
encounter, he had faintly detected this orchid
incense she could obtain probably due to his brother’s favor.
how did Avery get it? Did they know each other? Or
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