His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 470

Engaged?

Evadne's heart skipped a beat, her eyes widened as she locked gaze with Emeric's dashing profile.

Thaddeus's eyes were filled with a tumult of tension and worry, his body taut as a drawn bow, seemingly on the verge of dashing over to grab Evadne's hand and whisk her away without a second thought.

Others, like Frederic and the members of the Fairhaven clan, also had their colors drained from their faces.

Particularly Edith, whose heart hammered away like a runaway train within her chest, stared at Evadne with a mix of anxiety and spite, though her words dripped with disdain, "Well, well, well, Ms. Evadne has a fiancé now? I wonder which lucky gentleman has the pleasure of joining fortunes with the Ashbournes?"

Frederic clenched his teeth fiercely, "No matter who the Ashbournes ally with, it will surely not be the Abernathy Group!"

Edith's lips curled up in triumph, her hanging heart settling back into place.

Ford's expression darkened visibly; he suspected Emeric was concocting a story to extricate his daughter, a mere excuse to brush off his advances.

At the derby, he had noticed Evadne's closeness to Thaddeus, but such flirtations were dime a dozen in high society; it was nothing but a dalliance. If there had been a fiancé, Emeric would have announced it there and then, not wait until now to drop the bombshell.

William, on the other hand, appeared unfazed, smiling as he said, "So the young Miss already has a betrothed? Congratulations indeed. May I ask which fortunate family the young man hails from?"

Curiosity was piqued all around.

Emeric's smile was gentle and unforced as he glanced fleetingly towards Thaddeus.

Ford followed his line of sight and grimaced, knowing full well whom Emeric was observing.

"Oh my! Thad! Am I seeing things? Is Chairman Emeric looking at you?" Jareth exclaimed with a high-pitched voice, shaking the man's arm like a hyperactive groundhog.

Thaddeus's breathing was ragged, his forehead beading with sweat, but his voice remained deep, "Don't overthink it. Chairman Emeric is probably just using it as a pretext to fend off Ford."

"And why would Chairman Emeric bother looking this way? Couldn't he just tell a white lie and be done with it?"

Jareth was still visibly excited, ever the optimist, "It's just us two here, and Chairman Emeric is definitely looking at you. He can't possibly be checking me out!"

Thaddeus felt a tremor in his chest, struggling to control his breath.

His intense gaze was fixed on Evadne.

"The Ashbourne family has always conducted its affairs with discretion, including my daughter, who isn't one to parade her private life for public consumption. Mr. William, tonight you meticulously planned this business dinner, and it would not do for our family matters to overshadow his event. Evadne and I agree that now is not the right time to announce an engagement. When the time is ripe, we will make it known."

Emeric's gaze left Thaddeus as he continued, "When that time comes, Mr. William, if you'd be so kind, I will personally send an invitation for you to join us in Skyrim. How does that sound?"

"I've never been to Skyrim, heard it's a place with crystal-clear waters and pristine beaches. You'll have to let me know!" William said, keeping up appearances beautifully.

Evadne's heart raced with disorder, grateful that Emeric had deftly steered the conversation away, allowing her to breathe a silent sigh of relief.

Lately, Emeric had been unpredictable, at times almost unrecognizable, and then suddenly quite on point, as though he were two different people.

The gossip-hungry crowd was left wanting more, murmuring amongst themselves.

"Who exactly is Evadne's fiancé? I saw Mr. Avery had been quite close to Chairman Emeric, and Mr. Jeff and the Chairman were like brothers. Maybe it's Mr. Avery?"

"Would he not show up tonight if that were the case? I suspect it's Mr. Thaddeus. Wasn't it obvious enough at the derby? Who was by Miss Evadne's side when she was injured? If Mr. Avery was the fiancé, wouldn't he have shown up? That would be downright cold!"

Nydia watched Evadne, her cheeks flushed with emotion, envy shimmering in her eyes.

Her father's intentions were clear; her sister's betrothed could only be Mr. Thaddeus.

How wonderful to have her parents' blessing, to be with the one she loved.

Even now, Nydia bore no resentment towards her sister or parents.

The Dempsey family's eldest son had played the villain, aiding the enemies of her sister and brother-in-law. The Dempseys' status was of no help.

Lost in thought, Nydia's eyes began to redden as she held back a world of pain.

She was the least capable child in the family; if her own marriage could contribute to their cause.

She was prepared to make any sacrifice.

As the minor drama concluded, the dinner continued.

William and his son's failure to secure an alliance with the Ashbourne family bolstered the confidence of the Abernathy Group and the Fairhaven Group, even stirring Matthew into action.

Ford, rejected by Evadne, wore a face as sour and elongated as a used bandage. Though William didn't show it, his son's loss of face surely churned his insides.

So, it seemed the Ashbournes were out of the running for the derby hotel project partnership.

The music shifted, signaling the start of the ball.

Young nobles and debutantes paired off and took to the dance floor, twirling in a vibrant and joyous display.

"Would you rather be dancing with that wolf?" Thaddeus whispered hotly in her ear.

Evadne bit her lip, a flush creeping up her cheeks. "Isn't this dancing with a wolf too?"

"Yes, but I'm the kind of wolf who might just devour you," Thaddeus replied, his jaw lifting proudly as he spun her around effortlessly. "Focus, Evadne. Your eyes should only be on me."

The pair became the envy of the hall, their exceptional dance stealing the spotlight.

Except for Edith, every woman conceded that only Evadne was a match for Thaddeus, and vice versa.

Edith was seething, her hair nearly ablaze with rage, her eyes bloodshot with anger, yet powerless to intervene.

Meanwhile, Ford, having been upstaged, felt his own anger boil over.

Just then, William's butler approached discreetly, "Sir, if you're seeking a dance partner, you might consider Miss Fairhaven. She's properly matched in status and, though not as radiant as Miss Evadne, she won't tarnish your reputation."

"Her? Dressed like a Thanksgiving turkey? I'd rather sit this one out!" Ford huffed, uninterested in Edith, and stormed off.

Evadne’s sudden departure left Nydia alone and uncertain.

The men, sensing an opportunity, were ready to pounce, but a limping figure approached Nydia first.

"Hey, isn't that Byron?" someone exclaimed.

"It is! He hasn't been seen in ages. I thought he."

"Rumors say he survived a horrible car accident. The Chambers had to call in the renowned Dr. Eve to treat him. Pity. He's crippled now."

"Byron used to be so high and mighty. This must be quite a blow to his pride."

Byron had spent the past week in intense physical training, dressed to the nines in an expensive tuxedo, his hair perfectly parted, all to make a lasting impression on Nydia.

Standing before Nydia, he realized he could no longer dance.

With a rueful smile, he said, "Miss Nydia, you seem bored here alone. May I keep you company, perhaps share a conversation?"

Nydia tensed, hesitating before her phone vibrated.

She glanced down to see Jason's name on the screen, a sharp pang of longing and pain gripping her heart.