His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 363

The spacious hallway suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

Thaddeus watched as Avery cradled Evadne, her frail form nestled against him like a bird seeking refuge, a sight that sank a dagger into his heart and brought an unexpected sting to his eyes.

In his absence, they seemed to have grown remarkably close.

The more Thaddeus thought about it, the more bitterness seeped into his heart. He lowered his gaze, refusing to look at Evadne. The blue veins on his hands, gripping the armrest of his grandfather's wheelchair, stood out starkly.

"Evadne, you just completed a highly demanding surgery. You're drained and you need to rest immediately."

Avery was aware that the Abernathy family were right there, but he didn't flinch. All his attention was on Evadne, his gaze soft and tender, "I'll take you home."

"Grandpa Hamilton?"

However, Evadne ignored Avery's tender advances, her concern solely for Hamilton. She moved to kneel in front of him, taking his weathered hands into her own, "Grandpa Hamilton, why are you in the hospital? Are you feeling unwell?"

Thaddeus pressed his lips together, a bitter taste spreading across his tongue.

She was acting as if he, a grown man, was invisible, selectively turning a blind eye.

Apparently, only Avery existed in her world now.

"Kid, I'm fine. Just an old health issue acting up, a discomfort in my heart. Thaddeus insisted we come in for a check." Hamilton still wore a fond expression when he looked at Evadne.

"Grandpa Hamilton, you must not be negligent. You need to listen to me and get regular check-ups," Evadne said, her concern evident.

"Ilana, is this gentleman?" Hamilton's gaze traveled to Avery with a speculative look.

"Mr. Abernathy, my name is Avery Chambers." Avery stepped forward, bowing politely.

"Oh, I remember now, from Myra's birthday party. Mr. Chambers' youngest son." Hamilton complimented, "A fine young man."

Despite his words, he couldn't help but feel a pang of discomfort at the sight of Avery and Evadne's closeness.

The atmosphere between the former couple was exceptionally tense, even more awkward than when they had first divorced.

What was he to do?

Just as Hamilton was about to pull Evadne aside for a heart-to-heart, a shrill voice broke the silence.

"Grandpa Hamilton, how are you feeling?!"

Evadne looked up coldly to see Edith, clad in her nightgown, rushing towards them. Two bodyguards trailed behind her, careful not to get too close.

Upon seeing Edith, Hamilton's lips pressed into a thin line as he shot Thaddeus an accusing glance.

Thaddeus' expression hardened, his gaze icy as it landed on Edith, "What are you doing here?"

"I heard grandpa Hamilton was sick. I couldn't sleep, so I sneaked out without telling mom to see him."

Edith's delicate face was flushed, her curly hair a little disheveled. Her nightgown and slippers clearly indicated her haste and concern for Hamilton's health.

"You must be Jareth's sister, right?" Hamilton asked, an ambiguous feeling exuding from his eyes.

"Yes, I'm Edith." Edith's hands nervously intertwined, her cheeks turning a deeper shade of red.

Knowing this was her first formal meeting with Hamilton, and that she would soon be a part of the Abernathy family, her current attire felt inappropriate.

"Ms. Fairhaven."

"Just call me Edith."

Edith bent forward slightly, appearing earnest, "Tonight, Thad and I will stay by your side. If you're hospitalized, I'll stay with you, for as many days as needed!"

Thaddeus' frown deepened, his expression darkening noticeably.

Evadne caught sight of his face. Unlike other CEOs, Thaddeus was the type to wear his displeasure openly. His business success was attributed to his ruthless strategies rather than his emotional intelligence.

Back when she had first married Thaddeus, he used to wear the same sour expression around her.

So, was he unhappy with Edith?

Evadne averted her gaze, refusing to give him another glance.

After all, despite his current displeasure, he must have been delighted when he knocked on Edith's hotel room door that night.

"Ms. Fairhaven, I've already been checked. It's a minor issue, and I can be discharged now."

Hamilton called Jareth affectionately as 'Jareth', but addressed Edith formally as 'Ms. Fairhaven'. His lack of warmth was evident, "Ms. Fairhaven, if you stay in the hospital with me, it's as if you're hoping I won't be able to leave."

His words were half in jest.

But to Edith, they were like a slap in the face.

A long time ago, she'd heard Glynnis complain about Hamilton; how he couldn't distinguish between friends and foes. He showered Evadne with affection, ignoring his own granddaughter, Glynnis. He not just disagreed Evadne and Thaddeus’s divorce, but also gave Evadne the family heirloom jade bracelet when they divorced!

Luckily, Acacia had smashed the bracelet in a fit of anger before she left.

At least she had done one good thing.

"No, grandpa Hamilton, that's not what I meant." Anxious, Edith quickly turned to Thaddeus with a pleading look.

But Thaddeus barely glanced at her, blocking out all signals that Edith was trying to send him.

"Ms. Fairhaven, I appreciate your concern, but Thaddeus and Ms. Ashbourne are with me. That's enough. It's late, and it's not safe for you to be out. I see your bodyguards are here. Let them take you home." Hamilton's tone was mild, not wanting to make a big fuss about it with a young girl.

However, Edith's face turned ashen in embarrassment.

She was not welcomed by this old man, and there was no hint of Thaddeus escorting her back. It was a clear message: she should leave the way she came!

How could they!

When she finally became part of the Abernathy family, when that old man landed in the nursing home for dementia, she'll surely bribe the nursing staff to torment him, denying him meals and making him drink bath water!

"Ilana! Ilana, come here!" Hamilton's expression swiftly shifted, beckoning Evadne with a grin and ignoring Edith.

"Yes, Grandpa Hamilton."

Evadne resisted Thaddeus internally, yet she didn't wish to upset Hamilton. She promptly and obediently walked towards Hamilton.

Seeing this thunderous, almost Amazonian woman taking tiny, timid steps before her grandfather, presenting a vulnerable and endearing facade, Thaddeus' thoughts were yanked back to three years ago, when she first became his wife.

Deep inside, a tender part of him was silently stirred.

In truth, he liked her in any form, but back then he couldn't understand his own feelings, nor did he know how to express them.

But what of it?