Chapter 484

Cassius's face twisted with fury as he lunged forward, disarming Bet with a single, fluid motion.

Colonel Bet was renowned for his combat skills—disarming him was considered impossible.

But Cassius had covered the gun's muzzle with his own hand. Bet feared an accidental shot that might harm his brother and had no choice but to relent.

"Cassius, if you truly cared about our sister, you wouldn't stop me!" Bet's eyes burned with rage, his glare sharp enough to cut through Thaddeus like a blade.

The accusation stung, especially coming from the usually composed Mr. Waverley. Yet Cassius felt no resentment.

If this rage could be vented now, perhaps it was for the best. Better than his brothers doing something irreversible.

"Bet, I care about Evadne. But I care about you too. And Arnold. And Elvis. We grew up together—do you think I don't care for any of you? I just don’t want you throwing your lives away over scum like him. You might feel justified, but have you thought about Evadne? About our parents?"

At the mention of their mother, the brothers' eyes glistened with sorrow.

"You finally came home after so long. We all missed you. Evadne was overjoyed to see you."

Cassius closed his eyes, swallowing the ache in his chest. "Let it go. Evadne has moved on. The person involved doesn’t want to dwell on it. Why force her to relive the pain?"

The pain of losing her child.

Thaddeus gasped for breath, tears welling in his bloodshot eyes, washed away by the cold rain.

His and Evadne’s child—had he lived, he would be three years old now.

What had he done?

What had he done?

"The rain won't stop, and you're already exhausted from traveling. You'll get sick. Go home." Cassius grabbed Bet's stiff arm and pulled him toward the door.

"President Ashbourne."

Thaddeus's voice was ragged, his broad shoulders slumped. "Please. Let me see Evadne one more time."

"In your dreams!"

Bet erupted, fighting against Cassius's grip. "Thaddeus! Get the hell out of here! Don’t you dare step foot near the Ashbourne estate again! If I see you one more time, I swear I’ll kill you!"

"President Ashbourne. I need to see her."

Thaddeus stood firm, agony in his eyes but resolve unshaken. "The past. Our child. So many things—I need to hear it from her. Face to face."

"Thaddeus, Evadne said it’s over. It’s in the past."

Cassius's voice was rough, his gaze dark. "All of you—stop clinging to old wounds. Move forward. Go home. Don’t come back."

As the brothers turned to leave, they froze.

"Dad?"

Emeric stepped forward, pale-faced, moving through the downpour toward Thaddeus.

The air thickened, the chill from the Ashbourne patriarch so intense it could freeze the rain mid-fall.

Thaddeus watched him approach, lips parting—but no words came.

Then—

A sharp crack echoed as Emeric's fist connected with Thaddeus's face.

"Dad?!"

"Dad!"

The Ashbourne brothers were stunned.

In thirty years, they had never seen their father strike anyone outside the family. Proud, untouchable—Emeric Ashbourne never dirtied his own hands.

But today, he was beyond furious.

Not satisfied with one blow, Emeric struck again. And again.

Thaddeus's face swelled, blood dripping from his lips—but he felt nothing. Only the numb, crushing weight of guilt.

"Dad! Your health! You can't—"

Cassius and Arnold tried to restrain him, but Emeric shoved them aside, gripping Thaddeus's collar.

"Do you understand? The woman you trampled on—the one you hurt over and over—she is my life. The last piece of the woman I loved most in this world. She is everything to me!"

"Chairman Ashbourne, I'm sorry."

Thaddeus's voice was hollow. "Give me another chance. Let me make it right."

"If you couldn’t commit, why marry her? And if you married her, why break her?"

Emeric shoved him back, his own strength faltering. "Go back to Elmsworth. Back to your wretched family. From this moment, K Group is Abernathy Group’s sworn enemy. If you have any pride left, defend what’s yours. Otherwise, I will tear it down myself. Get out!"

The Ashbourne men left, the door slamming shut behind them.

Thaddeus stood in the rain, hollow.

An uncrossable chasm now lay between him and the Ashbournes.

Slowly, his knees buckled.

He collapsed into the puddle, shoulders shaking with silent sobs.

Footsteps approached.

A polished shoe stopped beside him.

"Need an umbrella, Mr. Thaddeus Abernathy?"

Avery’s mocking voice dripped with disdain as he looked down at Thaddeus like a stray dog.

Thaddeus's fingers curled into fists, veins bulging.

"Looks like you don’t."

Avery smirked. "Given the unforgivable sin you committed against Evadne, do you really think groveling will change anything? Pathetic."

Harvey, holding Avery’s umbrella, chuckled. "Honestly, if you hadn’t said it, I wouldn’t have recognized this as Mr. Abernathy’s grand display of remorse. More like a loyal hound begging for scraps."

Thaddeus had no fight left.

Perhaps this torment was his penance.

Only by destroying himself could he bear the guilt.

"It’s late, Mr. Abernathy. Aren’t you going home? If not, I’ll be heading inside."

Avery’s smile was ice. "I know it’s hard being the man everyone kicks when he’s down. But you brought this on yourself. Had you treated Evadne better, you wouldn’t be here. Kneel as long as you like. Savor the pain."

As they turned toward the gates, Thaddeus spoke, voice raw.

"Was it you?"

Avery paused.

"Did you use Edith to expose Evadne’s past? To tear us apart? To get revenge on me?" Thaddeus's eyes burned. "You call this love? Reopening her wounds just to hurt me?"

Avery’s laugh was cold. "What nonsense are you spouting? You ruined Evadne. Not me. Maybe the rain’s addled your brain. Stop clinging to her. Let her go."

The storm had passed.

Elvis stood on the rooftop, trench coat billowing in the wind. A pack of cigarettes lay empty beside him, but his nerves still thrummed.

"Elvis, are you in Skyrim yet?" Bet’s worried voice crackled through the phone. "Flying alone—any trouble?"

"No, Bet." Elvis tightened his grip on the phone.

A pause. Then, quietly: "Elvis… don’t do anything reckless. If anyone’s going to be the villain, let it be me."

Elvis exhaled smoke, his smirk bitter. "Bet, if I wanted to do something reckless, you couldn’t stop me."

His dark eyes flickered. "Take care of Evadne. I’ll see her later."

Elvis hadn’t returned to Skyrim for two reasons.

First—he couldn’t face Evadne, not after what he’d learned.

Second—before the banquet ended, she’d sent him a message:

[Find the woman who looks like me. She’s the key to exposing the mastermind. For me. For Thaddeus. For all of us.]

Alone in the lounge, Elvis stared at his phone wallpaper—a photo of him and Evadne.

Above him, unnoticed, a camera swiveled.

At Velvet Haven, deep underground, Avery’s surveillance hub hummed with activity. Hundreds of screens tracked Elmsworth’s elite.

"Ms. Archer! Your target has appeared!"

Elsie’s pulse spiked as she turned to the screen.

There—Elvis, staring at his phone.

At her face.

No.

At Evadne’s face.

The beloved Ashbourne heiress.

Elsie’s gaze turned glacial, a slow, dangerous smile curling her lips.

"Keep watching him. I’m on my way."