Chapter 458

Avery's spirit, worn down and defeated, suddenly sparked to life at the words: "I'm listening."

"Check your phone. There's something you need to see."

His fingers twitched toward the screen, and sure enough, a new email notification glowed back at him.

Elsie watched the rigid line of his shoulders, her curiosity burning. Who could possibly shake the unshakable Avery like this?

His lips pressed into a thin line as he opened the email—a hospital report. His eyes scanned the document, then froze. His pupils shrank to pinpricks, his grip on the phone nearly failing as shock clamped around his heart like a vise.

"What's wrong? Scared?" The voice on the other end dripped with amusement.

"This can't be real."

Avery's hands trembled as he read the diagnosis again and again, his body turning to ice. "Evadne was pregnant with Thaddeus's child? How? When?"

"Does it matter?" The voice turned cold, mocking. "Be grateful the child didn't survive. At least you won't have to play stepfather to Thaddeus's heir. That would've been... awkward."

Avery's chest ached, his vision blurring with unshed tears.

"Thaddeus still doesn't know. Neither does Chairman Ashbourne. None of them do." The voice continued, merciless. "Imagine if the Ashbourne men found out Evadne lost their grandchild—their only chance at an heir. Do you think they'd ever let her near Thaddeus again?"

Avery's grip on the phone turned bone-white.

He was right. This was Evadne's deepest pain—and the perfect weapon to tear her away from Thaddeus forever.

He would use it. Without hesitation.

"Thank you," Avery said, his voice low and dangerous. "If this works, I owe you everything."

"You already do," the voice replied smoothly. "Just remember—don't be the one to spread this. Let someone else do the dirty work."

"Don't worry." Avery adjusted his glasses, a cruel smile curling at the edges of his lips. "I already have the perfect pawn."

Meanwhile, the Abernathy and Fairhaven Groups were drowning in scandal.

Elspeth's disgrace at the races had gone viral. No amount of PR could scrub the internet clean—the filth had spread too far, too fast.

[Who's got the video? Send it to me!]

[Sharing is caring!]

[I need to see this train wreck!]

[Same here!]

[Trust me, it's worth it. DM me.]

[Seriously? Y'all are into this? Fine, send it my way too.]

The Abernathy Group's reputation was in tatters, but the Fairhaven Group had it worse.

The poisoning of a racehorse—owned by the powerful K Group—had made national headlines. Their stock plummeted overnight, wiping out millions. Business partners fled, terrified of becoming the next target.

Gary Fairhaven scrambled to contain the damage, but his own reckless behavior at the races had turned him into a laughingstock. No one took him seriously anymore.

Barry Fairhaven, the family patriarch, lay in a hospital bed, his face red with fury. "Useless! All of you!" He slammed a fist against the mattress. "If we don't fix this, I'm cutting you all off! Every last cent!"

Edith paled. The inheritance was everything.

Barry's voice cracked with grief. "God took my only worthy son from me. Look at what's left of this family!"

Mrs. Fairhaven sobbed quietly.

Gary clenched his jaw. "Father, give me time. I can fix this."

"No." Barry's glare was final. "From now on, Jareth handles everything. You stay out of sight before you make things worse."

Gary's face darkened. Years of work, undone in a single night.

Edith, sensing an opening, leaned in. "Grandfather... there is one way to save us."

"What?"

"The alliance with the Abernathys. The one you mentioned at the races."

Mrs. Fairhaven gasped. "Edith! Not now!"

Gary scoffed. "With your scandal still trending? No one would dare touch you."

Barry's eyes sharpened. "No. The proposal must happen."

Edith's heart raced.

"An alliance with the Abernathys would stabilize our stocks, silence our critics," Barry said. "And the Abernathys need us just as much. With J Corporation's backing, this scandal will be forgotten."

"But Thaddeus—" Gary argued.

"Is obsessed with Evadne," Barry finished grimly. "Unless she disappears, he'll never look at another woman."

Just then, Edith's phone buzzed. She slipped out to answer it—and returned minutes later, eyes gleaming.

"Grandfather," she whispered, taking his hand. "I have a plan. One that will destroy Thaddeus and Evadne for good... and force the Abernathys to accept me."