His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 493

Witnessing the tender embrace shared by the two lovers, Elvis felt a wave of emotions but ultimately found peace in their happiness.

As their protective older brother, wasn't his life's mission to ensure Evadne's joy?

And that happiness shouldn't be measured by anyone else but her. It was her right to choose, her decision to make.

After weathering many storms, she had chosen Thaddeus without a second thought. To strip her of this love would be the real cruelty, the true destruction of her bliss.

"Avery's been pulling strings from the shadows, manipulating Edith. We cornered her at that dinner party, pressured her for answers, but even then, she wouldn't rat out Avery."

Thaddeus's gaze was dark and troubled, "I think it's not so much her loyalty to Avery, as it is her genuine ignorance of who's been feeding her lines, using her as a pawn."

Evadne nodded in agreement.

Jareth's eyes blazed with fury, his hands trembling with rage as they clenched on his knees, "I'm so sorry, Thad, Evadne. 'Spare the rod and spoil the child,' they say. It's my fault, and mom's, for spoiling her rotten!"

"Jareth, don't be so hard on yourself. This isn't your doing," Thaddeus said with comforting warmth.

"A fine person she could've been, instead, she chose to be Avery's lapdog!"

With a wrathful punch, Jareth shattered the ceramic teacup on the coffee table, "She's so eager to follow that Avery guy, I ought to kick her over to him, let her grovel to her heart's content!"

Evadne pressed her lips together, unsure of how to console him.

Indeed, having such a deceitful sister was a family tragedy.

"Look, I don't mean to be crude, but just by looking at Miss Elsie's looks, you can tell Avery's a man of taste," Elvis said, arms crossed as he leaned back on the couch. "With your sister's looks, she won't even get close enough to carry his shoes."

The room fell silent, a pause hanging in the air as everyone processed Elvis's crude joke.

"I reckon that Elsie is a sharp tool Avery keeps handy. After all, 'a woman's beauty is a sharp sword,'" Evadne said, studying the face in the photo that so closely resembled her own. "This woman must have been by Avery's side for a while now. That face is probably his masterpiece. It shows just how deep their relationship goes. Elsie must know plenty of Avery's secrets."

Jareth was flabbergasted, his standards once again lowered, "Damn. Avery can't have Evadne, so he keeps a lookalike by his side to satisfy his vile desires? Does that make her Evadne's substitute."

Substitute.

Thaddeus was shocked and enraged at the thought of Avery keeping that woman as a substitute for Evadne, indulging his frustrated desires in the dark!

Feeling a cold rage, he pulled Evadne closer.

"Ugh." Evadne gagged at the thought, "He's truly vile. But even as a substitute, he doesn't deserve her!"

Elvis continued, "I followed them to the mountainside, watched them enter a secluded private club. It's password-protected and strictly members-only. I didn't follow them in, didn't want to spook them."

"Mountainside? A club?"

Thaddeus was not a man acquainted with such places, and Evadne, not being from Elmsworth, was even less so.

They both turned to Jareth.

"Are you talking about The Velvet Haven?" Jareth asked tentatively.

"Bingo! Leave it to Jareth, the professional playboy," Elvis teased with a snap of his fingers.

Jareth's expression soured. No matter the context, those words never felt like a compliment.

"I've checked through the Sky System, and that The Velvet Haven is owned by none other than Avery," Elvis's expression hardened. "He's been spotted there countless times and is closely connected with many of Elmsworth's elite. On the surface, it's a club, but underneath, it's a den of vice and corruption. Avery's nothing but a glorified pimp."

"The Sky System? You're kidding, right? You used your agency's network for this?" Evadne's eyes widened. "That's like using a cannon to kill a mosquito! Elvis, don't risk your career over this, it's not worth it!"

"Evadne, what's not worth doing for you?" Elvis's deep-set eyes narrowed as he reached out, gently taking her hand, "Don't worry, an occasional use won't raise alarms. Besides, I'm tired of wasting time on that sneaky Avery. I want to help you guys get rid of this nuisance quickly."

Not just him, but us.

Thaddeus was deeply moved, unable to speak.

Evadne's eyes moistened, her fingers curling in Elvis's palm, "Elvis, thank you, really."

"I know how badly you want the family to see that Thaddeus was framed by Avery, and to clear his name with Emeric. Otherwise, forget marrying in— he might not even enter our house." Elvis said with a scoff, glancing at Thaddeus.

Evadne frowned, "Elvis!"

"Ah, come on! Our Thad's got a heart of steel for Ms. Ashbourne!" Jareth laughed, slapping Thaddeus on the back.

The room fell silent again, as if a crow had flown by.

Evadne lowered her eyelids, "Jareth, you do liven up the mood. But maybe keep it to yourself next time."

Jareth went as silent as a church mouse.

"Since this lady is an important figure by Avery's side, let's not touch her for now. It'd be best to keep a discreet watch on her every move," Thad suggested with a grave tone.

"Watching her is hardly enough."

"Elsie, please endure, I must follow Mr. Chambers' order."

Elsie gasped weakly, lifting her heavy eyelids, "Don't spare me, beat me to death, it'd be better, just kill me. After all, it's just a worthless life."

Her words reached Avery's ears and he erupted in rage!

Striding over, he furiously shoved Harvey aside and viciously grabbed Elsie by the neck!

"It seems you've got feelings for Elvis."

Avery glared, his gaze wild with fury, his fingers tightening and tightening, "Are you resisting me in this passive way, huh? The old you, who would do anything to survive, now you don't want to live? Elsie, your life was given to you by me, only I can decide whether you live or die. Even you don't have the right to choose!"

Elsie's breath was faint, her eyes moist and half-closed, her once blooming beauty now fading, turning from red to purple.

In the past, she would've explained to Avery—

She loved no one, from the moment she caught a glimpse of him at fifteen, her heart had room only for this man who wanted her dead, Avery.

But now, she found defending herself to be a pitiful joke.

Even if she could explain about the night she shared a room with Elvis, and the box of antacids Elvis gave her, which Avery burned to ashes.

She couldn't justify the tender, romantic kiss she shared with that man.

Harvey, terrified out of his wits, cried out, "Mr. Chambers! Please, calm down! You're going to kill Elsie!"

"She dared to betray me and get cozy with Elvis, doesn't she deserve to die?" Avery roared in fury.

"Elsie has used her charms to get you out of so many jams over the years, this time is just more of the same!"

Harvey, having worked with Elsie for years, tried to defend her, "And that Elvis, he's the toughest nut to crack among those Ashbourne boys! Now that Elsie has made a good impression on him, if she can get close to him, we'll have our chance to take him out!"

That seemed to snap Avery out of it.

His furious eyes darkened, and the grip on her neck loosened slightly.

"Elsie! Stop being stubborn, apologize to Mr. Chambers!" Harvey urged.

"I'm sorry."

Elsie let out a bloodied chuckle, shattered and desolate, "But Ave, what am I sorry for? I've done everything you asked. You never cared for me and I accepted that. What else do I owe you an apology for, tell me, tell me!"