Chapter 245

The news reached Thaddeus despite Cedric's efforts to suppress it through Frederic's connections.

"Why was Glynnis freed? Weren't you monitoring Caroline? Did you let Cedric near her?" Thaddeus's expression turned glacial, his fist slamming against the car window in frustration.

"Mr. Thaddeus, Caroline wasn't the issue. It was Kevin!"

Gordon's eyes burned with fury. "Our source confirmed Cedric visited Kevin at the detention center disguised as a proxy lawyer, with Frederic's backing. Whatever he said terrified Kevin into taking full blame, clearing Glynnis!"

"What else could he do but exploit Kevin's weakness—threatening his family? A top-tier lawyer resorting to such vile tactics!" Thaddeus's hazel eyes darkened like a brewing storm, his fists trembling with restrained rage. "The Justice family's honor is tarnished by their eldest son!"

"Mr. Thaddeus, with Kevin as the scapegoat, what about Caroline's—"

Gordon's phone interrupted him.

"What now?"

After listening, Gordon's face paled. "Mr. Thaddeus! Emergency! The police just arrested her for defamation and perjury!"

An expected outcome.

Though Caroline deserved it.

Yet Thaddeus's fury erupted, his eyes blazing crimson!

Meanwhile, Glynnis returned to Windermere Estate in hysterics, as if resurrected. She and her mother staged a tearful reunion before Frederic and Hamilton, their melodramatic display worthy of an Oscar. Glynnis, once a mediocre actress, had perfected her craft.

"Mom! Dad! You must avenge me! Evadne and Edith set me up—those vicious witches!"

Spotting her grandfather, Glynnis seized the chance to slander Evadne. She knelt by Hamilton's wheelchair, sobbing. "Grandpa! Evadne wants me dead! She's cunning and cruel! Thank heavens for Cedric, or you'd never see me again!"

Hamilton wavered, torn between disbelief in Evadne's malice and the police evidence implicating her in Glynnis's arrest.

The old man relived the agony of favoritism—twenty years prior, during Abernathy Group's expansion, his sons Frederic and Felix were embroiled in bribery scandals. Hamilton's bias spared Frederic, leaving Felix to face prison, where he died of a heart attack six months in. The loss devastated Hamilton and his wife, hastening her decline.

"Grandpa! I warned you Evadne has ulterior motives. Marrying into the Abernathy family was her scheme!"

Glynnis wept on his shoulder. "Her kindness was a ruse—she's after the company shares!"

"Exactly, Dad!" Elspeth joined the smear campaign. "Evadne hid her identity as Emeric's daughter to manipulate you! She even married Thaddeus—a calculated plot! Thankfully he saw through her and divorced her. Imagine if she'd controlled him and infiltrated the company!"

"Enough. Evadne isn't that kind of girl." Hamilton waved dismissively, though gloom settled over him. "Emeric, despite his playboy reputation, is honorable. He wouldn't raise a deceitful daughter."

"Dad!"

"Grandpa!"

"Besides, the Ashbourne Group rivals ours in wealth. Would Evadne ruin her happiness for a fraction of Abernathy shares? More likely a Stirling would stoop so low. Evadne is heaven's darling—she'd never degrade herself!" Hamilton's defense of Evadne only infuriated Elspeth further.

She seethed, itching to overturn his wheelchair.

"Dad, regardless, Evadne has been hostile toward us!" Frederic grumbled, deflecting his parenting failures. "Even if we have internal issues, it's not her place to interfere! She's used Ashbourne's influence to target us repeatedly—first Elspeth, now Glynnis over a minor incident! Her aggression proves she's severed ties with us. She'd choose her interests over you in a heartbeat!"

Hamilton gripped his armrests, chest heaving.

"Mr. Murray, summon Evadne. I'll hear her side."

Outside Windermere Estate, Thaddeus's Maybach idled at the gates as Gordon opened his door.

The moment Thaddeus stepped out, a black Maserati pulled up beside them.

Cedric emerged, impeccably suited, meeting Thaddeus's icy glare.

"What a coincidence, Mr. Thaddeus."

"Hardly. Did Frederic hire you for more dirty work?" Thaddeus's smirk was razor-sharp.

Cedric remained unruffled. "Frederic retained me as Glynnis's lawyer. Professional integrity demands I see it through. Your disdain only reveals your ignorance of the legal profession. To each their own."

Thaddeus advanced, his aura menacing.

Cedric instinctively retreated half a step—a silent concession.

"The law is a murky realm. Some lawyers champion justice for the oppressed. Others, like you, serve the wealthy, prioritizing profit over principle."

Cedric's smile stiffened.

"I won't interfere with your pursuits. But heed this warning." Thaddeus's gaze turned lethal. "Scheme all you want. But Evadne is off-limits. Harm her, even slightly, and you'll regret it."