Chapter 366
Chasel's fox-like eyes, red-rimmed and glistening, widened in shock.
What the hell was this man saying?
If not for his striking features, Chasel would've sworn he was facing a demon.
"Are you one of them? Some kind of kidnapper?!" Chasel's voice shook with fury.
"Mr. Bright, welcome to Elmsworth."
Cassius tilted his head slightly, extending a hand with effortless grace. "Cassius Ashbourne, CEO of K Group. A pleasure."
"K Group?" Chasel froze. "Wait—my aunt—are you—?"
"Exactly what you're thinking."
Cassius flexed his fingers, an awkward chuckle escaping him. "Let's shake hands once Elvis unties you."
"Cassius!"
Elvis stormed back, muttering curses. "That damn bathroom was miles away. Nearly pissed myself. What’s the point of a house this big?" Cassius arched a brow, torn between amusement and exasperation.
No matter how grand the Ashbourne estate was, to Elvis, it was just a gilded cage. Both he and Evadne were wild spirits, chafing under restraint.
The thought made Cassius’ chest tighten. Evadne’s three-year marriage to Thaddeus must have felt like a life sentence.
Chasel’s face twisted in disgust at the sight of Elvis.
At least the bastard was easy on the eyes. Otherwise, he’d be downright terrifying.
Elvis leaned against the car door, smirking. "Remember what I said, kid. Me touching you and letting you ride shotgun? That wasn’t free. Everything comes with a price."
Cassius blinked, processing that statement with growing alarm.
"Ugh."
Chasel recoiled. "You’re disgusting! Using your looks to manipulate me? Pathetic."
Elvis scowled. "You think I enjoyed it? I’m straight. You traumatized me, you little menace."
Chasel’s face burned crimson. "I’m not a kid. I’m a grown man. You’re the one who looks like he hasn’t hit puberty yet!"
Elvis’s eyebrow shot up. "Excuse me?"
"You’re clearly impotent." Chasel’s gaze dropped pointedly.
Elvis lunged, but Cassius blocked him. "Elvis, Mr. Bright is Suri’s nephew and Evadne’s guest. Control yourself."
"Damn it. If it weren’t for Evadne, I’d wreck him!" Elvis growled.
Cassius sighed, finally understanding why Elvis had gagged Chasel earlier.
He stepped forward, untying Chasel’s restraints himself.
Chasel’s skin was porcelain-pale, the ropes leaving angry red marks. Something protective stirred in Cassius.
"Ouch, that hurts." Chasel rubbed his wrists, wincing.
Elvis rolled his eyes. "Drama queen."
Cassius eyed Chasel’s swollen ankles. "Can you stand?"
Chasel bit his lip, attempting to rise.
His legs, numb from hours of confinement, buckled instantly.
He pitched forward—straight into Cassius’s arms.
Cassius reacted instinctively, one arm locking around Chasel’s waist to steady him.
Two grown men, tangled like some cheesy romance scene. Elvis gaped.
"Sorry." Chasel’s cheeks flushed.
Normally, he’d be seething. But wrapped in this man’s embrace, his anger dissolved.
"Don’t apologize. We’re the ones who should."
Without hesitation, Cassius swept Chasel into his arms.
Chasel’s heart hammered.
He wasn’t a saint. He’d indulged in plenty of reckless flings, especially when drunk. That’s how he’d fallen into Elvis’s trap.
But this? This felt different.
Before he could think, his arms looped around Cassius’s neck.
"What the hell is this?"
Evadne, Arnold, and Jason arrived, jaws dropping.
"Is that a man or a woman in President Ashbourne’s arms?" Jason squinted.
Arnold’s eyes lit up. "Wait—is that our future brother-in-law?"
Evadne stared. "That’s clearly a man!"
Arnold and Jason leaned in. "A man?!"
Sure enough, a slender, fox-eyed man nestled in Cassius’s hold.
Arnold sighed. "Damn. I thought one of you Ashbourne men might finally settle down."
Jason smirked. "Why’s he so eager to carry another dude?"
"Mr. Bright, you must be exhausted." Evadne stepped forward, all poise. "Apologies for my brother’s behavior."
"You’re the Evadne my aunt raves about?" Chasel sniffed, still cradled like royalty.
"I am."
Evadne’s smile didn’t waver. "You’re probably starving. How about dinner and a hot bath before we talk?"
"Ms. Ashbourne, this is kidnapping. I could sue you." Chasel’s glare could melt steel.
"I know. We’ve been terrible hosts." Evadne’s eyes sparkled. "To make it up to you, how about K Group’s CEO joins you for dinner?"
She tilted her head. "And if you’d like, he can even help with your bath."
Chasel’s breath hitched.
The room erupted in shock.
The Ashbourne princess was pimping out her own brother without blinking.
In the living room, Evadne curled into Elvis’s side. To an outsider, they might’ve looked like newlyweds.
"Elvis, you outdid yourself this time." She smiled sweetly.
"Just bringing home a stray. No big deal." He ruffled her hair, gaze soft. "If it makes you happy, I’d kill for you."
Jason paled. Arnold nearly spat out his tea.
Cassius descended the stairs.
"He’s asleep."
"Poor thing. Let him rest." Evadne sighed. "I pushed too hard. If he refuses to help now—"
"Evadne, relax." Cassius draped an arm around her. "We’ll handle what you can’t."
"Yeah," Arnold chimed in. "Let us be useful for once."
Evadne’s eyes welled up.
She never took their love for granted.
"Hey, listen to this." Elvis grinned. "When I was abroad, I saw a woman who looked just like you. I tapped her shoulder—turned around and screamed at me. First person besides you to ever yell at me."
Arnold snorted. "Wow, she can’t even yell at you now? You’re something else." He sipped his tea. "And Evadne’s one of a kind. No way there’s a doppelgänger."
"You asking for another ass-kicking?" Elvis glowered.
"Elvis, did she really look like me?" Evadne asked, curious.
"Identical. I never mistake faces." Elvis rubbed his chin. "You think Dad had another kid?"
Evadne and Arnold groaned.
Cassius shook his head. "The world’s big. Doppelgängers exist. Stop reading horror stories."
Suddenly, Evadne stiffened.
That snowy night flashed in her mind—Thaddeus gripping her arms, desperate.
He’d sworn he was innocent.
That he’d followed her to the hotel because he saw her double with a stranger. That’s how he got caught in that scandal.
Her pulse spiked.
What if he’d been telling the truth?
What if that woman really existed?
But then—why was Edith there? And why did he enter her room?