Chapter 16
"Who's that guy with the gorgeous girl? Don't tell me it's Cassian, the CEO of the K Group from Skyrim."
Jareth arched a brow. "I always heard Cassian was too high-class for parties like this. Didn't expect him to show up tonight."
No surprise Thaddeus and Jareth got it wrong.
Evadne had four brothers—all quadruplets. Cassian and Arnold, in particular, looked so alike they could be mistaken for each other at a glance.
"I'm green with envy. A bombshell like that should be mine. What's the point of being with Cassian? He's nowhere near as fun as I am!" Jareth was getting carried away.
Downstairs, Evadne flashed a honeyed smile at the man beside her.
Thaddeus felt a sharp pang in his chest.
That smile used to belong to him.
What pissed him off more? None of the scandals seemed to faze her. She was still out here, living her best life.
Meanwhile, he was drowning in stress, either putting out fires or figuring out how to explain himself to her.
"Maybe tonight's the night I sweep her off her feet. Don't care if she's Cassian's woman." Jareth licked his lips eagerly.
"Cut it out. She's my wife."
Jareth's eyes nearly popped out. "What?!"
"Ex-wife," Thaddeus corrected, the words like shards of glass in his throat.
"You're joking! That's your ice-queen ex? Are you blind or just stupid? She's a knockout—way hotter than your precious Acacia!"
Thaddeus shot him a glare sharp enough to silence a room. Jareth instantly clammed up. "I only said that because I saw her. You never let me meet her before—thought she'd be some dragon lady. Didn’t expect—hey, where are you going?!"
Before he could finish, Thaddeus stormed out.
On the other side of the room, Evadne and Arnold had already downed three drinks. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes glazed.
"Evadne, you okay?" Arnold asked, eyeing her swaying form.
"Another round! Let's play dice!" Her tolerance was decent, but annoyance had sped up the buzz.
Just then, Arnold's phone rang—an urgent call he couldn't ignore. "Wait here. I'll be right back."
Evadne waved him off. "Sure, sure."
The second he left, the vultures circled.
She lazily scanned them—too short, too scrawny, crooked nose, beady eyes.
None of them held a candle to her ex.
Pity the pretty face came with a hollow heart.
Then she spotted a group of rich brats in the corner. One of them—Acacia's sleazy brother, Ives—was pouring drinks for a girl.
Her sharp eyes caught the moment one of them slipped something into a glass and passed it to Ives.
Rage ignited. She marched over.
"Whoa! Look who's here!" The guys leered.
Ives immediately lost interest in the girl in his arms.
"Having fun? Mind if I join?" Evadne's voice dripped honey, her gaze smoldering.
"Sweetheart, I'll play whatever game you want." Ives licked his lips.
Evadne picked up the spiked drink. "Simple. Drink this."
Silence. Ives' greasy face darkened.
Everyone knew what was in that glass. Only an idiot would drink it.
"Not thirsty? Let me help you."
With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the entire drink in his face.
Gasps erupted. The girl beside him shrieked and scrambled back.
"You bitch! Do you know who I am?" Ives roared, wiping his face.
"Don't care. Your mouth reeks, you roofie girls, and you're lower than dirt." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her stare icy.
Ives saw red. This woman had the nerve to insult him?
If not for the crowd, he'd have dragged her out by her hair.
He shot a look at his two bodyguards. "Take her."
He'd teach her a lesson—after he had his fun.
The guards lunged. Evadne, tipsy but nimble, dodged, sending them crashing into each other.
"Too slow." She yawned.
"Grab her!" Ives bellowed.
One guard reached for her shoulder—
A tall figure stepped between them, seized the guard's arm, and flipped him onto the floor like a ragdoll.
"Nice move!" Evadne hiccuped, then stumbled backward.
A strong hand caught her waist. Warm breath brushed her cheek.
"Mmm... hands off!" She squirmed.
"Evadne. Look at me."
That voice—cold, magnetic, unforgettable.
Her pulse spiked as she tilted her head up. Thaddeus' piercing gaze locked onto hers, dark and unreadable.
His eyes dropped to her lips, red and tempting. If not for her dazed innocence, he'd hardly believe this was the same woman he'd married.
"Getting bold, aren't you? Think Cassian's backing means you can cause trouble anywhere?"
"Got a problem with that?" She smirked, her tone teasing. "Every time I see a Stirling, I itch to slap them. Your opinion means nothing to me."
His grip on her waist tightened—a silent warning.
"Ow—let go!" She wriggled, her voice soft, slurred.
Thaddeus' jaw clenched.
"Ives, watch your mouth. Acacia and I aren't married yet." Thaddeus' tone was lethal.
Ives choked.
Evadne's stomach turned at the mention of Acacia.
Three years of marriage, and he'd never once called her sweetly.
The thought made her shove him away, swaying on her heels.
"Apologize to her." Thaddeus' command was absolute.
His words were for Ives, but his eyes stayed on Evadne.
"She attacked me! She should apologize!" Ives spat.
Thaddeus' gaze turned glacial. "Show some respect. She's my ex-wife."