Chapter 482

Frederic had lived his entire life in luxury and privilege, never once experiencing such brutal humiliation. And to have it happen in front of his own son? His pride was shattered beyond repair. The disgrace was unbearable.

"You ungrateful brat! I'll beat some sense into you!"

Hamilton raised the porcelain cup again, ready to hurl it, but Mr. Murray intervened just in time. "Mr. Hamilton Abernathy! Please, calm down!"

Frederic clutched his bleeding forehead, teeth gritted in fury. "You choose Emeric's daughter over your own flesh and blood? You've betrayed your family! That woman and her father have been nothing but trouble for the Abernathy Group. They stole the Equestrian Hotel project right from under us at the banquet! If not for them, it would've been ours!"

His rage wasn't satisfied yet. He turned sharply, jabbing a finger at Thaddeus. "And you! Instead of supporting your own family, you helped the Ashbournes strike a deal with William and his son! Your brother, sick and abroad, still does more for this family than you! For the sake of a woman, you'd hand over our interests on a silver platter? As CEO, this is gross negligence! You will take full responsibility for this failure!"

Thaddeus's eyes darkened like extinguished stars, his voice rough. "Is that all I'm responsible for?"

Frederic stiffened. "What?"

"I publicly opposed your plan to ally with the Fairhaven Group through marriage. Or have you forgotten in just one night?"

His icy gaze was terrifying. "Didn't you say if I refused to marry Edith, I should leave the Abernathy Group? Now that the Fairhaven Group is in chaos, and Edith's schemes are exposed—revealing Evadne's miscarriage to the world, showing her true colors—you're suddenly silent about the alliance? Afraid of the backlash?"

Mr. Murray trembled, his back drenched in cold sweat.

How was this possible? Evadne's miscarriage had been a closely guarded secret. How did Edith know?

"Thaddeus!" Frederic was livid, his son's words pushing him toward a stroke.

"An alliance? With that vile Fairhaven girl?"

Hamilton's grip on the cup tightened, his entire body shaking with rage. "Frederic! Have you lost your mind? You'd discard a loyal woman like Evadne for that scheming brat? She revealed the miscarriage to drive them apart! And you want Thaddeus to marry her? Why don't you marry her yourself!"

"Dad!"

"Your judgment is clouded, and that's your disgrace. But don't drag my grandson down with you!"

The old man's eyes burned with fury, sharp despite his age. "And don't you dare blame the loss of that project on Thaddeus or slander Evadne! I wasn't at the race, but I know exactly what happened. The Ashbournes' horse was sabotaged by the Fairhavens, yet Evadne still won first place! She earned that opportunity through her own skill, not something you can tarnish with lies!"

"Grandpa." Thaddeus's voice cracked, tears welling in his eyes.

His grandfather still trusted and supported Evadne, just as he had three years ago.

But what had he done?

His grandfather had always urged him to cherish Evadne, told him repeatedly she was rare, not to let her slip away. And what had he done?

He'd ruined everything.

"The only woman I'll accept as Thaddeus's wife is Evadne. No one else!" Hamilton declared, unwavering. "Thaddeus owes her. The Abernathy family owes her. When I'm gone, I can't control what happens. But as long as I live, Frederic, you will not pair him with some unsuitable woman!"

Humiliated and enraged, Frederic roared, his forehead swollen grotesquely. "Chad's health is fragile, on medication year-round. The doctors say he can't father children! And you want Thaddeus to marry Evadne, who can't conceive? Do you want the Abernathy line to end? Our company to have no heir?"

Hamilton paled. "What?"

"Evadne can't have children after that miscarriage! Is that the woman you want for Thaddeus? He's our only hope to continue the Abernathy legacy, and you'd have him marry her? Who will inherit our fortune then? Glynnis? Mari? Are they even capable?"

Thaddeus felt his heart being torn apart again.

"How could this be?" Hamilton was stunned, his heart bleeding.

"Her problem shouldn't doom our entire family! It's her bad luck, her fate!"

"That's not true!"

Suddenly, Mr. Murray, drenched in sweat, stepped forward, shouting hoarsely. "It's not like that!"

The three Abernathy men froze.

Mr. Murray had served the family for over thirty years, known for his calm and meticulous nature. This outburst was unheard of.

"Murray, do you know something?" Thaddeus's sharp intuition kicked in, his eyes reddening. "You know something, don't you?"

Mr. Murray shut his eyes, guilt-ridden tears streaming down. Then, to everyone's shock, he dropped to his knees.

"Murray!"

"Mr. Murray!"

Hamilton, alarmed, slapped his thigh. "Get up! If you have something to say, say it! What's this nonsense?"

Thaddeus moved to help him up, but Mr. Murray refused.

"It's all my fault. I should've spoken sooner. If I had, Ms. Ashbourne and Mr. Thaddeus wouldn't be in this mess."

His voice broke. "I was there when Ms. Ashbourne lost the child."

Thaddeus's pupils shook violently. "What?"

"Mr. Murray! What happened? How were you there?" Hamilton demanded, voice burning with urgency.

"The accident. It was because of the accident."

"Mrs. Abernathy, I'm sorry. I can't keep this secret for you any longer."

"The accident?" Thaddeus's mind raced.

Nearly three years ago, when he'd returned from abroad, his grandfather had been hospitalized after an accident. Evadne hadn't been by his side, claiming family matters. She'd disappeared for a while.

"Christmas. Was it that Christmas?" Hamilton realized instantly.

Mr. Murray nodded heavily. "Three years ago, on Christmas, you were all away from Elmsworth. Only Ms. Ashbourne braved the snowstorm to keep you company."

Thaddeus's chest tightened, the air thinning around him.

"You wanted to visit Mrs. Fiona Abernathy's grave, so she drove you. Later, you went to the beach where you and Mrs. Fiona used to go. On the way back, there was an accident."

Mr. Murray lowered his head, tears falling. "Ms. Ashbourne was injured too. After getting you to the hospital, she started having severe abdominal pain. Then... I saw blood under her skirt."

"My poor Evadne! Why were you so foolish?" Hamilton lamented, shaking his head, tears in his eyes.

Thaddeus gripped his shirt, feeling a dull knife grinding his heart to pulp.

Even Frederic, usually cold, furrowed his brow slightly.

"Ms. Ashbourne begged me to keep it secret, afraid of worrying you and Mr. Thaddeus. I thought of your injuries and didn't want to shock you. And I feared how her infertility would affect her standing in the Abernathy family. It would ruin her life."

"And you listened to her? You weren't thinking straight! She was just a girl—what did she know?" Hamilton reproached, heartbroken.

"It's all my fault. Punish me however you see fit."

Before he could finish, Thaddeus, consumed by cold fury, stormed out of the mansion.

"Mr. Thaddeus!"

Mr. Murray tried to follow, but Hamilton stopped him. "Let him go! This is his debt to repay. My old bones can't make it right. Let him spend his life atoning."

Outside, torrential rain poured as camera flashes bombarded Edith's pale, horrified face, brighter than lightning.

"Ms. Fairhaven! Exposing Ms. Ashbourne's infertility is a gross violation of privacy! Have you no shame?"

"Did you bribe a doctor for that medical report, or was it given to you?"

"Are you trying to sabotage their relationship to secure a marriage for yourself?"

Reporters swarmed the police station entrance, descending on Edith like vultures.

Soaked and disheveled, handcuffs hidden under white cloth, she looked utterly pitiful. Just hours ago, she'd been a proud heiress. Now, she was a prisoner.

Her dreams of becoming a CEO's wife were over.

Jareth had ordered no PR help or legal counsel, abandoning her completely.

Her grandfather had tried to control the narrative online, but how were there still so many reporters? Why?

"That fool probably can't comprehend how this happened."

Harvey stood beside Avery, both watching the news of Edith's arrest on a large screen. With a mocking smirk, Harvey said, "From the moment you invited her into the game, it was checkmate. But she's useless. Couldn't handle Thaddeus at the hotel event, and now she's tangled in her own mess. Jareth's cut her loose, leaving only Barry to clean up. But even he can't outsmart you. Sending those reporters was the final push into the abyss."

Avery swirled his wine glass, a satisfied smile playing on his lips. His golden-rimmed glasses hid predatory eyes, gleaming with cruel amusement.

"Useless pawns should be discarded like trash. And trash belongs in the dustbin."

He took a sip, his smile widening as Edith was dragged away like a stray dog. "But she wasn't entirely worthless. Without her, this wouldn't have blown up so spectacularly. Better than I expected."

"You were wise to stay low tonight. With all that chaos, it was the right move."

"But now, it's time to step out."

Avery rose gracefully, Harvey straightening his jacket and tie. "Now that the eyesore is gone, it's time for the real lead to take the stage."