NovelEnglish
Chapter 558
“It couldn’t have been Matthew.”
Thad, with a decisive tone that cut through Evadne’s confusion like a knight’s advisor to
his queen, said, “Now that he already got what he wanted, there was no point for him to
overplay his hand. Sneaking into a jail to kill someone is a huge risk. He’s already been
burnt by acting on impulse once; he won’t be that foolish again.”
“Yeah, I agree,” Evadne nodded, feeling convinced.
“Although we have no proof, I can’t shake the feeling that this has Avery’s fingerprints all
over it. Given his clout in Helgen and the network he’s been quietly building in Elmsworth,
bribing someone to take out Byron wouldn’t be a tough job for him,” Thad continued with
a grave look in his eyes.
“Sounds plausible. When in doubt, blame Avery!” Evadne’s lips tightened, fully on board
with his line of thinking.
Thad’s rough fingertips gently lifted her chin, his gaze indulgent yet proud.
“You know, now that you mention it, I’m starting to suspect him too. I checked Byron’s
visitation logs this morning, and the last person to see him was indeed Avery!” Aaron
chimed in with this crucial piece of information, which immediately lightened up the
couple’s eyes.
“Mr. Ashbourne, isn’t there surveillance in the visitation room? Can we review the
footage?” Thad asked eagerly.
“We can, but due to privacy regulations, there’s no audio, just video.”
“Then let’s get a lip–reading expert to decipher what Avery and Byron were talking about,”
Evadne immediately suggested.
“I was thinking the same. Unfortunately, Avery’s face isn’t visible, and only Byron’s is
recognizable, but we should still be able to get some useful information from it. You’ll hear
from me as soon as I have something,” Aaron promised before ending the call. Evadne’s
long lashes lowered as she fell into silence.
“Evadne, what’s the matter? You seem down,” Thad asked, while wrapping his arm around
her waist and pulling her onto his lap, snuggling her against him and soothingly stroking
her back. “We were hoping for a death sentence for Byron, thinking it would take some
doing. Now, he’s gone in a way far worse than a firing squad. No matter how you slice it,
that’s not bad news.”
“It’s not bad, it’s just…”
Evadne sighed, brows knit in frustration, “What I really wanted was for Byron to stand trial,
in the full glare of the public, and to answer to the law. That would have been true closure
for Beverly, Nydia, and all the other girls he hurt. This just seems too easy for him.”
Thad looked down at her with deep and affectionate eyes and kissed her earlobe.
“Evadne, you always set the bar high for yourself and everything else. Any slight
deviation, and you feel let down. But life is full of imperfections. You just have to do the
best you can and let go of.”
“Let nature take its course?” Evadne mumbled gloomily.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt“No, leave it to me,” Thad’s voice was low and gentle, a comforting echo in her ear, “or
don’t do anything at all. With me here, you can rest easy knowing I’ve got everything
under control.”
–
A warm glow filled Evadne’s chest, and she nuzzled into him, “I know I can rely on you, but
you know me – I’m a worrier by nature. I can’t stand not being hands–on with things; it’s
just who I am.”
“I get it. I’m the same way. That’s why I’ve personally overseen everything at Abernathy
Group over the years. I can’t trust anyone else to handle it,” Thad sighed in
understanding.
“Your dad, though, really goes too far. You’re such a capable and responsible CEO, one
he’d be hard–pressed to find anyone better, and yet he’s always on your case, poking
holes in everything you do!” Evadne blurted out her inner thoughts, and then quickly
covered her mouth, realizing her slip.
Thad chuckled softly and gently removed her hands from her mouth, kissing her lightly,
“You’re right, so why the panic?”
“But he’s still your father. It’s one thing for you to say it, not for me.”
“Evadne, I’ve told you before that my relationship with Frederic is strictly professional now.
The father–son bond is long gone. As for Abernathy Group, the only person I care about is
my grandfather.”
“And what about your half–brother, the one who saved your life?” Evadne asked softly.
Thad’s gaze faltered for a moment, as childhood memories of terror flashed before his
eyes.
“Despite being half–brothers, he did save my life, and I owe him a debt I can never repay,”
he admitted.
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07:37
is burder
“If your brother came back to fight for control of Abernathy Group, would you step aside
for him?”
Thad laughed gently, “Are you that worried I’ll end up working for your family?”
“I’ve been thinking about it a lot.”
Evadne said earnestly, wrapping her arms around his neck, “I’m pretty materialistic, you
know. I’m all about ambition and success. I can’t be content just being a supportive
spouse. I want to dominate the business world and be a shining queen.
Since I’m involved in your life, I have to take responsibility for you. I need to know what
you’re thinking so I can help you as much as I can.”
A surge of emotion filled Thad.
She was a phoenix meant to soar to great heights, yet for him, she had clipped her wings
to be the unnamed woman behind him for three long years.
All he felt was indebtedness.
“Looking at the moves your brother has made, he doesn’t strike me as someone
indifferent to power and wealth. It’s just his health that’s kept him out of the picture. But
what if he recovers? As the eldest son of Abernathy Group, he is competent, and has
connections with both the government and William and his son. He’s cast a wide net, laid
a lot of groundwork; there’s no way he won’t fight for it. I don’t buy it.”
Thad frowned, “My brother’s health is critical; he’s in a wheelchair most of the time.”
“Did the kidnapping leave him paralyzed?”
Thad shook his head and took a deep breath, “We were young, and he spent too long in a
cramped shipping container. The lack of oxygen caused organ failure and damage. His
health is hanging by a thread, you know? He’s popping pills like candy and toting around
an oxygen tank; he’s also got this wheelchair because he can’t stand up for too long.”
“Sounds like he’s more delicate than a Victorian lady with the vapors.”
Evadne’s face lit up with sudden understanding, but she exhaled a sigh of relief. “These
organ issues are the real deal. Looks like he’s out of the running for the family business,
huh?”
“You’re still thinking about that?” Thaddeus frowned, with a bittersweet smile on his lips.
“Ah, let it go.”
Evadne squinted her eyes playfully and gave Thaddeus’s chiseled cheek a reassuring pat,
“What can you do, right? Grandpa’s got your back, and I’m rooting for you all the way.
After all, you’ve got the mighty Ashbourne family tree to lean on. Your best days are yet to
come.”
Thaddeus’s lips curved into a pleased smile, and he suddenly leaned in, pinning her down
on the sofa, his breath warm and eyes filled with a teasing spark.
“My queen, take me under your wing, won’t you?”
As evening approached, the sleek Rolls–Royce Phantom, a true chariot for the goddess of
crystal, pulled up near the Police Station.
Before long, Aaron hurried out the front door and hopped into Evadne’s car.
Inside, Thaddeus and Gordon were also present, all eyes fixed on Aaron, waiting for the
news he brought with him.
“Take a look at this video first,” Aaron said, pulling out his iPad and playing the complete
footage of Avery visiting Byron.
Evadne leaned in to get a closer look and asked with a frown, “What did that snake Avery
make Byron sign?”
“I had the tech guys analyze it. It’s a share transfer agreement,” Aaron replied with a
grave tone.
The trio was stunned!
“How is that even possible?”
Gordon couldn’t help but speak up first, “Shares represent their weight and status in the
Chambers Group. That’s a big deal! Even if Byron spends his life behind bars, he hates
Avery to the bone. He wouldn’t give him the time of day, let alone his shares!”
“I hired a lip–reading expert too. He translated what Byron said. Basically, Avery must
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmhave convinced him that his downfall was all thanks to Matthew. If he transferred his
shares to Avery, he could find a way to spring him. That’s the gist of it.”
Evadne and Thaddeus exclaimed in unison, “Fool!”
טופ
07:27 –
Chapter 558
“I think so. Just when he managed to remove a big thorn in his side, why would he let him
out? Byron really should use his head for once,” Aaron shook his head.
Gordon added scornfully, “Pfft! An imbecile like that deserves to bite the dust. He’s just
wasting good air living!”
“Since Avery’s got Byron’s shares now, he should be satisfied. Why go to such lengths?”
Thaddeus asked, looking at Evadne’s pensive face and feeling a bit perplexed himself.
“To a normal person, that would be enough. But for someone as ruthless and cold–blooded
as Avery, getting the shares is just the beginning.”
Evadne clenched her fists tightly, “What he really wants is let Byron die. If the lips are
gone, the teeth will feel cold. His next target will definitely be Matthew,”
“But even so, he’s acting too hastily.”
Thaddeus’s instincts were sharp; he always sensed something off, “It’s as if he had to
move now, or Byron would be released.”
Aaron glanced at the man, raising an eyebrow slightly, “Avery did give Byron some so–
called evidence, claiming it could overturn his testimony. That’s why Byron signed the
agreement. After all, his top priority is to clear his name. Without that, all the money in the
world is just paper to him.”
He inwardly admired Thad with such sharpness. The guy would make a great detective!
Ah, but he couldn’t praise him too much. Wouldn’t want him getting cocky!
Gordon had a moment of clarity, “So Avery had to act fast, both for revenge and to make
sure Byron never gets out!”
Evadne pressed, “And what about the stuff Avery gave him?”
“It’s gone, we were a step too late,” Aaron sighed regretfully.
Just then, as the atmosphere grew heavy, Evadne’s phone rang.
The caller was none other than Aviana Ashbourne!
“Aviana, what’s up?”
“Evadne! Are you in Elmsworth?!” Aviana’s voice was laced with urgency.
“Yeah, what’s wrong?”
“Is Thaddeus there? That boy, is he with you?!”
“Not only is Thaddeus here, but Aaron’s here too.”
Evadne’s confusion grew, “Aviana, did something happen at home? What’s going on,
you’re scaring me,”
Thaddeus didn’t know what was going on, but he immediately tightened his hold around
her waist, ready for whatever was coming.
“That guy you told me about before, Eden, he’s shown up!”
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