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 hand

she had deflected the question, unwilling to answer

Lily brought clean pajamas, and then she and

then brought over a basin of water

feet with a wet towel.

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

bring you happiness, but look at

his breath ragged, a deep, muffled sob escaping from his throat. His phone vibrated, a call from

walked to the window to answer, “Murray,

bed late because of her. Mr. Thaddeus Abernathy, have you found Ms. Ashbourne?

been found. Tell Grandpa when he wakes up not to

long

Thaddeus Abernathy, I’m sorry.”

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

tragedy is all by my own

and then suddenly remembered

day, he was on a business trip abroad, inspecting

when the car accident happened back home, it was daytime where he was, it was impossible not to receive a

didn’t

Ashbourne tried to

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 call came through, it wasn’t like you ignored

if struck by lightning, his shoulders

Group’s regional office when Acacia Stirling barged in, hell–bent on dragging him to some shindig.

She threw one of her classic fits and dunked his phone right

that 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?” Mr.

concern.

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

on the edge

The next day.

the weight on

and saw the man she loved right before her, she dove into his arms, the two hearts beating in unison as they clung to each

a dream,

with her tear–swollen face, pinching Thaddeus‘ gaunt cheeks until they turned red. Most people pinched themselves, but this missy

as he fondly stroked her hair, “It’s no dream, Evadne. It’s me.

thank goodness, thank

she sobbed aloud. She pinched hard, and she cried loud. The little lady

voice heavy with guilt, “Evadne.

would I do that? Everything’s fine, isn’t it?”

blinked, “Have you got a mistress? Been letting your heart wander

green, “Evadne.”

“Just kidding.”

heart aching at how thin he had become, “You’ve lost so much weight.

Thaddeus‘ face, his fingers intertwined tightly with hers, yet he remained silent for a long

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

pain, and for the rest of his life, he would repay her in kind, even if it

that Thaddeus and Evadne had come to visit, her pretty, fresh face lit up with excitement. She wanted to go and see Evadne, but Jareth wrapped his arms around her from

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