Chapter 491

Thaddeus gazed at Evadne’s pallid, haggard face, his heart aching beyond words.

“I want to be with Evadne forever. But Jareth, I can’t be that selfish. Evadne’s family isn’t like mine. I would give up everything for her, but if she were to lose her family for me, do you think I could live with myself? Without the blessings and company of her family, can she truly be happy and content?”

Thaddeus shook his head in agony, his voice hoarse as he repeated, “I’ve already taken too much from her. I’ve almost ruined her. Jareth, I can’t hurt her anymore; I can’t let her lose anymore. I just can’t.”

“Is that what you think? But have you ever asked Evadne what she wants?”

Jareth, seeing the turmoil in his friend, furrowed his brows, “It’s a stormy night out there. Evadne must have suffered a lot to come and find you. Family is important, of course. But right now, Evadne cares more about you; she wants to be with you. If you force yourself to let her go for the sake of what you call happiness, then a danger greater than tonight’s might occur, and it could end in tragedy. Thaddeus, don’t come to regret it.”

Jareth’s words struck deep, piercing Thaddeus’s heart.

Thaddeus remembered Evadne mentioning their child, begging him to save their little one. Although she was delirious with fever, wasn’t that the wound she had suppressed in her heart, hidden beneath her hearty smiles, a pain so raw upon touch?

“How do you do it, Evadne?

How do you manage to smile at my detestable face every day, to be so, so kind to me?”

In front of his closest friend, Thaddeus could no longer hold back and burst into tears, slapping himself hard on the face!

“Thad! What the hell are you doing?!”

Jareth’s eyes widened in shock, hurriedly grabbing his hand, “Man up, Thad! Self–pity isn’t going to fix anything! If it did, I’d grab all the kitchen knives right now and let you stab yourself to your heart’s content!”

The doctor quickly arrived to treat Evadne.

Thaddeus sat by the bed, staring deeply at Evadne’s pale face, pressing her lukewarm hand to his burning lips, kissing it silently.

“She’s running a fever; it’s serious.”

The doctor administered a fever–reducing shot and started an IV, “Had it been any later, there could have been complications with her heart, making it more difficult to handle. However, Mr. Abernathy, I suggest you take Ms. Ashbourne to the hospital at dawn. My facilities here are limited, and I can’t provide her with the best care, only temporarily alleviate the fever. If it spikes again. tomorrow night, you must go to the hospital.”

Thaddeus’s trembling hand brushed Evadne’s sweaty forehead. It was still hot to the touch, hoping that by dawn, all would be well.

“By the way, Mr. Abernathy, did Ms. Ashbourne sustain any injuries to her hand? Has it been fractured?” The doctor suddenly asked, puzzled.

Thaddeus was taken aback, “Fractured? What do you mean?”

“Look at her left little finger; my experience tells me that it’s been fractured before, or severely torn ligaments. Even if it healed, it would probably leave some impairment.”

Thaddeus’s pupils shook, his heart pounding!

“Impossible! How could this happen?!” Jareth was utterly astonished.

“Looks like it’s an old injury, perhaps due to lack of proper care after the initial injury.”

Jareth became more perplexed, “Evadne is from the Ashbourne family, which would call an ambulance over a scratch on her hand. How could they ignore something as serious as a fracture!

Even if the pinky isn’t used much, it’s still a disability, isn’t it?”

A disability?!

Evadne’s delicate

remembered asking Evadne about her little finger before, but she had deflected the question, unwilling to answer him directly. What had happened that she avoided

Lily brought clean pajamas, and then she and Jareth left the room.

personally changed Evadne into her pajamas, then brought over a basin of water and knelt down to

a

enough touching them, now bore scars and dried grime. The sight tore

to bring you happiness, but look at what I’ve brought you

closed his eyes, his breath ragged, a deep, muffled sob escaping from his throat. His phone

walked to the window to answer, “Murray, how’s Grandpa

to bed late because of her. Mr. Thaddeus Abernathy, have you found Ms. Ashbourne? Mr. Hamilton Abernathy was asking before he fell asleep,” Mr. Murray’s voice was filled with

Tell Grandpa when he wakes up not to worry. I’ll stay with

sure how long ‘always‘ would be.

Abernathy, I’m sorry.”

my fault. If I had told you sooner about Ms. Ashbourne’s miscarriage, none of this would have happened.”

Today’s tragedy is all

then suddenly remembered

day, he was

it was daytime where he was,

but I didn’t pick

tried to reach you

let out a sigh, “It’s all water under the bridge now, and thank goodness Mr. Hamilton Abernathy is doing just fine. You shouldn’t beat yourself up over it. Back then, your place at the firm was shaky; you were always jetting off on business trips, so busy you hardly had time for a sandwich. When the

lightning, his shoulders shaking! It all came

away at the Abernathy Group’s regional office when Acacia Stirling

to a meeting and turned Acacia down, which set her off. She threw one of her classic

when Evadne’s life–saving call had come through? In an instant, a chasm of darkness opened before Thaddeus‘ eyes. “Mr. Thaddeus Abernathy? Mr. Thaddeus Abernathy? You’ve gone quiet; are you all right?”

concern.

bracing himself against the window sill, felt his towering frame begin

on the edge of

The next day.

weight on his heart lift ever

into his arms, the two hearts beating in

a dream, is it?”

until they turned red. Most people pinched themselves, but this

feel a twinge of pain, his eyes brimming with bliss as he fondly stroked her

goodness, thank

in his embrace once more, her strong facade crumbling as she sobbed aloud. She pinched hard, and she cried loud. The little lady must be on the

heavy with guilt, “Evadne. I’m

would I do that?

you got a mistress? Been letting your heart wander while I

green, “Evadne.”

“Just kidding.”

thin he had become, “You’ve lost so much weight. Are you trying

night before still marked Thaddeus‘ face, his fingers intertwined tightly with hers, yet

deliberation, he decided not to speak of it and instead covered her lips

rest of his life, he would repay

and see Evadne, but Jareth wrapped his arms around her from behind, “Sweetheart, let’s give

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