Chapter 106
Evadne's voice, soft yet razor-sharp, sent shockwaves through the room.
Hamilton and Frederic stood frozen, mouths agape.
Acacia felt ice crawl down her spine, her face ghostly pale. Elspeth and Glynnis were no better—stunned into silence.
Who would’ve thought? This woman they’d dismissed as insignificant was actually Emeric’s daughter, the hidden heiress of the Ashbourne empire!
Glynnis tugged at Elspeth’s sleeve, frantic. “Is this real?”
Elspeth shoved her off, hissing, “Shut up!”
Thaddeus reeled, his mind spinning. How could this be? The woman who’d cared for his grandfather as a nurse, who’d endured his indifference as his wife—she was Evadne Ashbourne?
He stepped forward, forcing his bloodshot eyes to focus on her face—familiar yet suddenly foreign.
Evadne turned away, avoiding his gaze. Whether from guilt or irritation, she wanted nothing to do with him.
“So it’s really you?” His voice was rough, uncertain.
“Yes.” Her reply was cold, unwavering.
“You’re the one who retaliated against Stirling Group. You made me climb ten floors.”
“Don’t bother asking. It was all me.” She cut him off, her tone glacial. “I’m the GM of K World Hotel. I’m Emeric’s daughter, Evadne. But don’t flatter yourself. Everything I did was for the hotel’s interests, not against you. As for that night, I sent a stand-in to avoid complications. I hid my identity so we could end things cleanly.”
She paused, lowering her head. “I lied to you. I’m sorry.”
The deception was worse this time. Yet, Thaddeus wasn’t as furious as he expected. He needed to know—why?
Why give up wealth to be a nurse? Why marry him knowing he didn’t love her?
“And Cassius? Arnold Ashbourne?”
“My brothers. Same parents.”
With that, she walked away, leaving Thaddeus standing there, his chest tight.
Jason rushed over, piecing things together at a glance. “Chairman Emeric, Ms. Evadne.”
“Help Cassius,” Emeric ordered, jaw clenched. “He’s too drunk for Evadne to handle alone.”
Jason moved to assist. Thaddeus reached out, but Evadne’s icy glare stopped him.
“We don’t need your help.”
His hand dropped, awkward and rejected.
Evadne turned to Jason. “Call the Ashbourne family doctor. Cassius needs his stomach pumped.”
“Pumped? He’s just drunk—”
“He was drugged.” Her gaze sliced through the Abernathy family. “His reaction isn’t from alcohol.”
Shock rippled through the room.
The Abernathy women paled—especially Glynnis, her legs trembling.
Emeric’s expression darkened. He’d known something was off. Cassius never lost control like this.
Jason helped Cassius out.
Hamilton, livid, demanded, “Evadne, explain!”
Even now, he called her by her old name.
Frederic, pride wounded, snapped, “This is absurd! Our estate is secure. No outsider could’ve done this!”
“Believe what you want.” Evadne’s chin lifted, regal and unyielding. “But if your security’s tight, then the culprit is one of yours.”
Frederic’s face twisted, but he had no rebuttal.
Acacia shrank back, panic-stricken.
Glynnis’s heart hammered. This wasn’t the plan! Cassius was supposed to be fine, and Evadne was supposed to be ruined!
She shot Acacia a venomous glare. Useless coward.
Elspeth, sweating, interjected, “Ms. Evadne, surely you’re mistaken. Why would we harm Cassius?”
“Enough!” Hamilton roared.
Elspeth flinched, seething.
Evadne remained calm. “Cassius wasn’t the target. I was.”
Thaddeus’s eyes narrowed. The pieces clicked—Elspeth’s sudden exposure, Cassius’s condition, Evadne’s identity reveal. Too convenient.
“After I sang, a maid said Cassius was unwell. I went to check on him.” Her fists clenched. “He protected me. Hurt himself to stay conscious. They didn’t know I was an Ashbourne. They thought they could destroy me.”
Emeric’s voice was steel. “Frederic, you owe me answers. Or I’ll tear your reputation apart myself.”
Frederic sputtered, “This is a misunderstanding!”
“I don’t care whose fault it is. It happened under your roof. Fix it.”
“You’re being unreasonable!”
Emeric smirked. “Or are you too scared to investigate?”
Frederic’s face purpled with rage.
Evadne’s eyes warmed. For all his flaws, Emeric defended his family fiercely.
Acacia’s dress clung to her, drenched in sweat. Glynnis edged toward the door—until Jareth’s voice froze her.
“Going somewhere, Glynnis?”
She whirled, terror spiking.
Jareth stood there, icy-eyed, cradling a sleeping girl in his arms.
Mari Abernathy.
Glynnis’s hatred burned. The girl in his arms—the one he protected—was her stepsister.