NovelFastChapter 1083
They were almost at the door when, suddenly, it swung open-
Chad, seated in his wheelchair, rolled slowly out of the room.
Thaddeus froze mid-step. His breath caught in his chest, rising and falling just enough to betray his tension.
The hallway between them wasn't long-a stretch of empty, sterile space-but the silence that settled as the two
brothers faced each other was heavy with everything left unsaid.
Thaddeus stood bathed in the harsh white glare of the hospital lights, every angle of his face chiseled and still,
as if he were stimeless statue. Chad lingered in the shadows beyond, silent, nearly blending into the gloom.
If not for the sickly pallor of his handsfeatures, you might not even notice he was there at all.
He looked like a serpent. Or the shadow of something much darker.
For a long moment, neither moved. Finally, Thaddeus broke first, forcing himself forward with measured,
deliberate strides.
A faint, unspoken longing twisted in his chest-the urge to see Evadne.
He was almost at the door when Chad's lips curled into a smile. Chad extended his right arm, barring Thaddeus's
way.
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"Thaddeus, what brings you here so late?" The words were gentle, but the smile didn't reach his eyes.
Thaddeus swallowed hard, his voice rough. "Ms. Evadne was in an accident today. Is she alright?"
"She'll be fine. Her old injury flared up-doctor says she needs rest."
"| just want to check on her," Thaddeus murmured.
Chad's eyes glinted, cold and fathomless. "She's already asleep."
Evadne...
That name, spoken so intimately, used to belong to Thaddeus alone. Hearing Chad say it now left him dizzy, as
though the ground beneath him had dropped away.
A tight ache welled up behind his eyes and threatened to spill over.
"| just want to see her for a moment. | won't stay."
He pressed his lips together and tried to move past, but Chad caught his arm in a sudden, iron grip.
"Thaddeus."
He stopped, glancing down at the hand clamped around his sleeve. The pressure of those pale fingers only grew.
His tone dropped, low and steely. "What are you doing?"
"I'm stopping you. Isn't that obvious?"
Thaddeus's brow furrowed. "Why?"
Chad's smile lingered, but his eyes were dark, bottomless. "Because | don't think
you should be anywhere near Evadne right now.
When she needed someone
most-after the accident-it waswho stayed by her side. | was the one who pulled her out of danger today.
Every moment she needed you, you were nowhere to be found. And now you show up, what for? To soothe your
own conscience? To remind her you exist?" s
Thaddeus flinched. His lips thinned, drained of color.
even once.
He couldn't remember a twhen Chad had ever spoken to him so harshly—not
And all because of Evadne.
"Ever since you joined the Abernathy
family, you've had everything
handed to you on a silver platter.
toy
ver
Grandpa's affection, Dad's trust, your seat at the head of the
company-Lever once tried to take
any of that from you. /ed to take
you for it. s
fought
But Evadne—she's different. | mean it, Thaddeus. | won't let you steal my thunder this time."
Chad's words were blunt, sharp as
glass, laced with a mocking edge. Yet his smile stayed warm, alm pleasant as if he bore, no ill will. "Besides,
she's not yours anymore. If you're going to cut ties, do ito completely. s
Otherwise, this time, | really will be angry with you."
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