His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 450

On the other side of the racetrack, in the rest lounge No. 2.

The horse racing event had just concluded when Elspeth, barely containing her excitement, rushed to meet Victor.

"Victor. Victor. I'm here!"

Sometimes, Elspeth felt that ever since she met Victor, not only had she undergone a personal renaissance, but she also became more daring and fearless.

For over two decades, she had feigned the part of the dutiful wife within the Abernathy family, concealing her true self while tirelessly pandering to Frederic, living a life so exhaustingly pretentious.

Day in and day out, placating a man whose very presence she had grown to loathe to her core, she had had enough.

Victor's arrival was like a torrential downpour on parched soil, an intoxicating deluge that soaked her to the bone, from which she could not, and would not extract herself.

With a heart pounding with anticipation, and hands trembling with need, Elspeth knocked on the door of the rest lounge. But when no one answered, her impatience got the better of her. She pushed the door open and swiftly locked it behind her. To her surprise, the room was empty.

"How can this be? Where is he?"

Puzzled, her gaze landed on a lone table where a syringe lay. She knew all too well what it was - her lifeline, her elixir!

Breathless with delight, she rushed to grab it, but her phone rang at that precise moment. It was as if Victor had eyes on her, the timing of his call couldn't have been more exact.

"Victor! Where are you?!" Elspeth's voice was laden with a desperate hunger.

"Mrs. Abernathy, the track is crowded and eyes are everywhere. If we were caught together, I fear even a silver-tongued devil couldn't talk his way out." Victor's voice carried both care and consideration, "I can handle the gossip, but to see your reputation tarnished would be a sorrow too great."

Tears of emotion welled in her eyes, "Victor! You are the only one who truly cares for me. I have only you!"

"I know you've been without your medicine, struggling through these days. So, I've left it as a gift for you. I hope it brings you some comfort."

After a brief exchange of tender words, they ended the call. Elspeth couldn't wait any longer. She uncapped the needle, her bloodshot eyes wide with craving, and injected every last drop of the substance into her veins.

"Ah."

Her gaze became hazy as she melted to the floor, a mess of tears and snot - a grotesque, twisted sight. In that moment, she was no aristocratic lady of wealth, but a slave to her addiction.

Once she had her fill, Elspeth slowly made her way to the mirror to compose herself. Indeed, with the drug coursing through her, she looked radiant, her skin seemingly more refined. However, something felt off this time, and she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

An unexpected rapping at the door sent a jolt through Elspeth, her hand clutched to her chest as she glared towards the door like a thief caught in the act.

"Mrs. Abernathy, are you in there?"

It was Dennis's emotionless voice that made her heart race! She was grateful that Victor had the foresight not to meet her; otherwise, how would she conceal such a scandal?

After a moment, she took a deep breath and with feigned composure, opened the door.

"What is it?"

"Mrs. Abernathy, why are you here? Mr. Abernathy has been looking everywhere for you," Dennis spoke, but his eyes wandered suspiciously into the room.

"I needed rest, found a spot. What are you looking at? Do you suspect I'm hiding someone?" Elspeth crossed her arms defensively, leaning against the door with a mocking sneer, "You have such a filthy mind, suspecting everyone. Go on then, sniff around with your hound's nose, look around with your hound's eyes! If you don't dig up some philanderer, I won't let you off the hook!"

"Mrs. Abernathy, you misunderstand. I meant no offense."

Dennis didn't linger on the subject; he simply smiled humbly and gestured politely, "Mr. Abernathy requests your presence immediately. Everyone was there but you, and Mr. Abernathy fears the gossip of other families. If you would please."

It was a sea of undercurrents and whispers at the grandstand.

Edith stood frozen behind the towering figure of Barry, her face as pale as death. From her earliest memories, Duke had always been at her grandfather's side, involved in countless shady dealings, always emerging unscathed. How had Thaddeus caught him so quickly? It was inconceivable!

The other Fairhavens were equally stunned, minds reeling.

"Duke, how could it be you?!" Barry's large frame stumbled, and Gary rushed to support him.

Duke was his protege, plucked from an orphanage and groomed with great care. Officially an assistant, but to Barry, he was like an adopted son, such was their bond!

"Mr. Barry, Ah!"

Before Duke could finish, a sharp pain in his waist sent him tumbling to the ground, courtesy of Gordon's furious kick.

The crowd gasped in shock. Evadne tensed, her eyes narrowing. She hadn't expected Gordon, usually the silent, unassuming figure behind Thaddeus, to exhibit such unbridled passion - all to avenge her.

"I didn't say that."

"Because that man sabotaged Evadne's horse, causing her to fall while it was galloping, nearly costing her life. Do you think that shouldn't be addressed? Should I not seek vengeance?"

Thaddeus's eyes boiled with intense, bone-deep hatred, his voice trembling as he enunciated the final words, almost gnashing his teeth, his heart painfully constricted, "No matter who the perpetrator is, I'll make sure they die a miserable death. Don't think for a second that I care about reputation or face. The only thing I care about,"

The man slowly turned, his gaze filled with deep affection, unwaveringly fixed on Evadne, "is her."

Evadne's eyes suddenly reddened, her vision blurred as she locked eyes with him. In that moment, it felt as if even her heart was soaked by the surging emotions.

"Damn, the guy's on fire!" Jareth cursed under his breath, feeling both admiration and envy.

"Thad really loves his wife," Marilla nestled her head against Jareth's chest, breathing a sigh of relief.

She knew their mother despised Evadne and had been quite worried. But with Thad by her side, Evadne would surely be protected.

"I love you too, babe," Jareth whispered, his warm lips grazing her cheek.

"I know, you tell me every day," Marilla's tone was tender and playful.

"Marilla, trust me, just like Thad, I'd turn the world upside down and face universal desertion to protect you. I will always be there for you," Jareth promised, his eyes shining with sincerity.

Marilla's eyes lowered, her rosy lips pressed in silence. She wished to be more than just a flower nurtured in a greenhouse. She hoped to be of help to him. Even if she was naive and clumsy, she didn't want to be a burden to the man she loved the most.

While some celebrated, others felt a deep chill in their hearts. Thaddeus was known for his decisive and ruthless actions; everyone there was well aware of it, and none could stop him.

Edith, overcome with hatred, coughed quietly, her lungs nearly exploding with rage. Evadne had everything she had ever dreamed of, yet despite all her scheming, she had only pushed Thaddeus further away!

"Mr. Abernathy, you insist it was Duke's doing. Do you have any evidence?" Barry demanded coldly.

Thaddeus merely curled his lip coldly, biding his time before responding.

Duke's eyes darted around, betting that Thaddeus had no concrete proof, that he was merely grasping at straws or had been tipped off by someone before he apprehended Duke for interrogation.

Clamping his jaws tight, he managed a wry laugh, "I've done nothing. I did swing by the stables, but only to check on the Fairhaven Group's own steed. Never laid a finger on the Ashbourne family's horse! Mr. Abernathy, you nabbed me without cause, and let your goons rough me up. What in the world do you have against the Fairhaven Group? Or is it you're just stooping to these underhanded tactics for some sort of personal vendetta?"