Chapter 421

His gaze was terrifying.

It held a bone-chilling malice, a predatory hunger that reminded her of creatures lurking in the darkest abyss, never meant to see daylight.

"You don’t need to look at me like that!" Eden snapped, jaw clenched. "If you weren’t so cunning and unpredictable, I wouldn’t have had to resort to this, old friend!"

Avery’s lips curled into a cold smirk.

"After all these years, I’ve learned one thing about you," Eden continued, voice tight. "You never leave survivors. So I had to find my own way out."

Avery’s eyes narrowed. "Do you really have the recording?" His voice was icy, barely above a whisper.

Eden grinned. "Scared now, aren’t you?"

He leaned back, smug. "Did you think I’d be stupid enough to carry it on me? It’s hidden. If anything happens to me, the whole world hears it by tomorrow."

Avery exhaled sharply. "Name your terms."

When it came to deals, Mr. Chambers didn’t waste time.

"I want a private jet for me and my men," Eden demanded. "And money. A lot of it. I’ve cleaned up two of your messes. You owe me."

"How much?"

"One hundred million. Offshore account. Once it’s transferred, you get the recording, and I disappear."

Eden smirked, arrogance dripping from every word. "We’ve been partners for years. This is nothing for you. Consider it a parting gift."

Harvey, standing nearby, gaped.

Avery didn’t hesitate. "Deal. You’ll have it in three days."

Eden’s eyes flickered—regret. Maybe he should’ve asked for more.

"Stay in Elmsworth until then," Avery warned, swirling his wine. "The Abernathy and Fairhaven groups are hunting you."

"That’s not your concern. Just get me the money."

Harvey escorted Eden out.

The moment the door closed, Avery’s expression darkened. He tilted his glass, letting red wine spill onto the pristine carpet.

"To old friends," he murmured. "And their final journey."

Harvey returned, furious. "You’re really giving that bastard a hundred million?"

Avery’s smile was cold. "Of course. If Evadne finds out, how do I explain?"

He set his glass down. "But dead men don’t spend money."

Harvey’s eyes widened. "You’re going to kill him?"

Avery adjusted his glasses. "He threatened me with Evadne. Did you think I’d let him live?"

"Then why pay him?"

"Because once he leaves Elmsworth," Avery said softly, "he’s mine."

His gaze turned lethal. "Watch him. And the Abernathy and Fairhaven groups. He dies by my hand—not theirs."

Harvey nodded. "Understood."

Thaddeus was finally out of the ICU.

A week had passed since the rescue. Evadne hadn’t left his side, as if he were her lifeline. She barely ate, barely slept.

She was fading.

Tonight, with Cassius and Elvis’s help, she bathed him.

She remembered how particular he was about cleanliness. Even the smallest speck of dust made him discard a suit.

Now, she carefully wiped his body, leaving only his underwear.

Elvis stared at Thaddeus’s unconscious form, then at the obvious bulge. His face twisted with jealousy.

"Damn, is he faking?" Elvis muttered. "I’ve seen unconscious men. None of them were... like that."

He reached out to pinch Thaddeus’s thigh.

Evadne caught his wrist. "What are you doing?"

"Testing him," Elvis said, grinning.

"You don’t need to," Evadne blurted. "He’s always like that."

Silence.

Cassius and Elvis exchanged glances.

Evadne’s face burned. She scrubbed Thaddeus’s arm harder, as if polishing a car.

Cassius cleared his throat. "They were married. This is normal."

Elvis smirked. "Right, right. As long as he’s big, Evadne’s happy—OW!"

Cassius elbowed him sharply.

Evadne finished washing Thaddeus’s front. "Turn him over."

The brothers helped.

Outside, Elvis rubbed his ribs. "You broke me."

Cassius ignored him.

Elvis pouted. "We share the same mother. How could you?"

"You talk too much," Cassius said flatly.

Elvis huffed, then glanced back at the room. "She hasn’t left his side for days. Doesn’t she get bored?"

Cassius sighed. "When you love someone, you’re never bored."

Elvis frowned. "I don’t get it."

"You will," Cassius said softly. "One day."

Just then, Chasel approached, hands in his white coat pockets. His smile was like sunlight piercing through Cassius’s darkness.

Cassius’s breath caught.

In the room, Evadne whispered to Thaddeus.

Chasel had said familiar stories might wake him.

She wouldn’t give up.

"Wake up," she begged, tears welling. "I’ll tell you a secret. I’ll tell you anything."

She took his hand and wrote three words on his palm.

Her tears fell.

Then—his fingers twitched.

Her heart leaped. "Thaddeus?"

His voice was weak but clear. "Evadne."

She gasped. "I’m here!"

Slowly, he opened his eyes and intertwined their fingers.

"What did you write?" he whispered.

Evadne’s face burned.

"Say it," he urged.

She leaned close, voice trembling. "I love you."

Tears filled his eyes.

He pulled her into his arms, holding her tight. "I thought I’d never hear that again."

She curled against him. "You had it once and threw it away."

"All my fault," he choked out.

She smiled softly. "I forgive you."

Unnoticed, his tears fell.