Chapter 489

Thaddeus stood stoically outside the gates of Silverlake Harbor, where he had been for more than a full day and night. He was stubborn as such, determined not to rest until he saw the woman he loved or got the answers he was after.

Last night, he had spied the Chambers father and son making a beeline for the harbor, clearly on the warpath about something involving Byron. Thaddeus had watched from the shadows, not out of fear, but to avoid causing a scene that might upset Jeff and bring trouble down on Chairman Ashbourne’s head.

It was one thing to deal with the aftermath for the Ashbourne family in private, but making a public spectacle of himself would be

unwise.

The evening was dark and stormy, fierce winds howling through the air, hitting him with a force that rivaled the punches he’d taken the night before.

Thaddeus’s deep–set eyes, shadowed and brooding, were framed by a chiseled jaw now rough with stubble. He looked every the rugged soldier he once was.

bit

Suddenly, his phone buzzed inside his car, pulling him momentarily from his pain. He opened the door and picked up the phone. It was Gordon.

“Gordon, what’s up?” His voice was hoarse, as if every ounce of energy had been drained from him.

“Mr. Thaddeus Abernathy! I finally got through to you!”

Gordon sounded like he was on the brink of tears, “Mr. Hamilton Abernathy has taken ill and been rushed to the hospital! You’ve got to come back!“.

A sharp pang shot through Thaddeus’s chest, and cold sweat soaked his already damp suit.

Meanwhile, in the wine cellar of Silverlake Harbor.

Evadne’s brothers were gathered, their usual banter replaced by somber silence and the dull glug of spirits being poured. Bennett, in particular, was knocking back whiskey like water, much to Arnold’s distress.

“Bennett, you can’t keep this up. It’s killing you,” Cassius took the glass from his hand.

“Seriously, man, you haven’t even tied the knot yet. Don’t drink yourself into an early grave,” Arnold added.

Bennett clenched his fist, slamming it on the table.

“You were too hard on Evadne today, too damn forceful.” Cassius patted Bennett’s shoulder with a gentle sigh, “You know how she is. She doesn’t respond well to pressure. The more you push, the more she’ll resist. You care her to bits, and you don’t want her to resent you, do you?”

“Cassius’s right. You haven’t had any row ever since you were young; this time it’s too much.”

“Then what do you suggest I do, just let her keep entangled with that jerk?” Bennett rubbed his face with both hands, his voice thick with emotion, “I’d take all the pain for her; I won’t grimace at any cut. Just can’t bear to see her suffer. That’s miscarriage! She could’ve been a mother, experienced that joy. But now,”

The thought of their unborn niece or nephew silenced them all, hearts twisted in grief.

“It’s all Thaddeus’s fault, all his fault!” Bennett, a usually composed soldier, was on the verge of tears.

“Let’s never bring this up in front of Evadne again.” Cassius’s voice rough with emotion. He handed Bennett a tissue, “Maybe it’s for the best. Pregnancy is tough; kids are a handful, and it’s one more worry. Let’s just let Evadne live carefree like a child. We’li protect her, and she’ll get through this.”

Suddenly, the door banged open.

have a problem!”

burst in, panic–stricken, “Ms.

brothers jumped to their feet in disbelief,

Jumped out the

find the window wide open, the curtains flapping wildly in the storm. Their sister was no where to be

into thin air?!” Arnold covered his head with both hands, his heart racing.

room, her clothes

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to the ground below. “Cassius. She’s lost her

That crazy girl! She’s quietly courting

he pictured the worst, his heart pounding, head throbbing, “If any

can’t take it. My heart isn’t working well!” Arnold pressed a hand to his chest, feeling faint.

beside himself with worry, “Ms. Evadne Ashbourne, you have to be

dad know about this?” Cassius asked

Nydia Ashbourne; I didn’t dare add to

now. Dad’s health

his fists against his racing heart, “Don’t alarm anyone else. We’ll organize a search team right

Ms. Ashbourne without a phone or money, what

my fault! I should have stayed right outside her

have gone far. We should be able to catch up with her.” Cassius peered

been

it! That rat Thaddeus picked the worst time to split! Little

moment, he deeply regretted how harsh he’d been with his little sister. Everything

Thaddeus, she’s headed towards Elmsworth for sure. We’ll find her if we search along the

“Call

nodded vigorously, “Yeah, yeah! That wild card Elvis, he’s always got a

forks of lightning tore across the sky, followed by the

the cold wind lashing against

chattering.

chaos of her escape. Her delicate feet were caked in mud and scratched by stones, a sight of pitiable disarray.

break free, nor could it slow

sought.

wanted was to love someone properly. Why, even now, was it

fled, and her brothers, with their capabilities, would surely commence a sweeping search, turning the world upside down to

the main roads or visit bustling places, opting instead for the secluded, less–traveled

in the cold rain for too long, Evadne was feeling dizzy and alternately hot and cold,

eyes caught sight of two dim lights in the distance. With renewed vigor, she ran towards the light, only to discover a repair shop that hadn’t closed for the night.

a second thought, she pushed the door

cursing over a game of

her entrance, their eyes turned towards the door. One glance at Evadne and their

be! In the midst of thunder and rain, a beauty had come knocking? This was a feast landing right in their laps!

there, pretty girl, what brings you to us?” One of the men leered at her. To their eyes, Evadne was a

feast for the

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