His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 555

In fact, the troubles were far from few and far between.

Despite Ward having spilled his guts, without getting a hold of Eden, the linchpin, their plan to drag Avery through the mud was dead in the water.

After the guests had left, Alva swung by just in time to lend a hand with the kitchen and house chores, assisting Thaddeus and Evadne.

"Thaddeus, could you maybe find a moment to chat with Jareth? I mean, every time he sees Aaron, he acts like he's caught the green-eyed monster or something."

Evadne placed the dishes in the sink, ready to wash them, her pretty lips murmuring in dissatisfaction, "Why does he see every eligible, handsome bachelor as a threat? I have five brothers who are all single, and yet he hones in on Aaron like a homing missile. He and Marilla aren't even hitched yet, and he's already acting all possessive and paranoid. If they do tie the knot, Marilla's gonna be on a very short leash, I bet. Dare to glance at another guy, and will Jareth go full-blown jailer mode? Is he gonna end up one of those husbands from hell?"

"Evadne, Jareth's not like that. He adores Marilla. The guy's head over heels for the first time in his life, sees her as more precious than anything. It's natural he's scared stiff of losing her."

Thaddeus strode over, his large hands effortlessly scooping her aside as he rolled up his crisp white shirt sleeves and dove into dishwashing, "Let me do it. Your hands are too soft and fair to be soaking in suds all day."

Jareth was head over heels for Marilla.

And Evadne was equally smitten with Thaddeus, so even his offhand remarks merited her careful consideration.

After mulling it over, the sensitive Evadne bit her lip and asked softly, "What about you, Thaddeus? Is this the first time you've really fallen for someone?"

The moment the words left her lips, Evadne instantly regretted them.

She knew the answer, knew all too well that Thaddeus was not one to lie, preferring brutal honesty over sweet nothings.

Thaddeus paused, his emotions clogging his throat, his brow furrowed with thought.

After drying his hands, he gently grasped her rounded shoulders, his eyes meeting her tearful gaze.

"I'm sorry, Evadne."

"It's not me, I know."

A surge of heart-wrenching pain flooded from her heart, spreading poisonously through her limbs, bringing tears to her eyes, yet she managed a strained smile, "I knew what you'd say, and I asked anyway. Silly me, right? Why even bother."

Thaddeus's heart clenched in pain, his lips pressed into a thin line as he pulled her into his embrace, holding her so tightly it was as if he wanted to fuse her into his very bones.

She cared deeply.

How could she not? He had once shredded her affections and had made her, so distinguished, fall from grace.

"Evadne, if you're asking if it was love with Acacia, then no, it wasn't," Thaddeus's voice was hoarse with remorse, "She was sent by Elspeth to charm me, manipulate me. Her kindness was just a means to an end. Before I fell for you, I didn't know what love was. I only knew to repay those who were good to me. And since she saved my life, she was a savior in my eyes, and I just wanted to repay her."

"But you gave her a one-of-a-kind jewel," Evadne's tear-stained face buried in his chest, her voice breaking with sobs.

"She demanded it."

Thaddeus was full of regret, but there was no denying his past actions, "Back then, Acacia told me about a famous jeweler. She wanted his creations, so I had to find a way to get them. Looking back, I was just a soulless shell. I did whatever she asked, without a second thought. I know you won't believe anything I say, and I don't want to make excuses. Evadne, if you can't get past this, then take all the knives in this kitchen and take your anger out on me, just don't bottle it up."

"What if I get fed up with you, and I want you gone?"

Evadne's voice was soft but petulant, Thad's shirt soaking with her tears.

"That's not an option."

Panic edged his breath, "I'll cling to you, haunt you tirelessly. Even in death, I'll refuse rebirth, just to stay by your side. Evadne, I can't leave you, not even a little bit."

Evadne slowly lifted her gaze, eyes brimming with tears.

Thaddeus hurried to dry them, his heart shattering at the sight of her crying.

"So am I the first person you love??" she pressed.

He tentatively probed, "You want the truth?"

"Of course."

"No."

"Thaddeus! You jerk!"

Evadne was furious, her fists pounding against his chest like a torrential downpour, "How did I not see sooner what kind of man you are? An absolute scoundrel. Get out. Take nothing with you, but leave Alva with me."

Thad let her hit him, her punches making his voice wobble, but he stayed serious, "Evadne, you are the one I love, the one I want to marry, the one I want to protect for a lifetime. Because of that, I want to lay my heart bare for you, to be completely honest about everything, no secrets."

He took a deep breath, words measured, "Back in Zenithia, on the battlefield, when we were rescuing hostages from a terrorist group, there was this girl, dressed in a white lab coat, wearing a thick mask, who left a deep impression on me."