His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 601

"Ms. Archer, it's been ages. You're still a sight for sore eyes," the man said, his gaze lingering on Elsie's face, which was as calm as a winter's moon. His smile was light as a feather.

"Thank you for the compliment, sir," Elsie replied, her eyes modestly lowered, her tone neither servile nor overbearing.

"Truly a testament to Mr. Chambers' years of careful guidance. Gentle and poised, elegant and dignified. Sometimes I even feel like you are the spitting image of Ms. Evadne. Ms. Archer, you are the most perfect substitute I've ever encountered."

Elsie's expression remained unchanged, but her eyes darkened with the weight of his words.

The term "substitute" turned all his preceding praise into biting sarcasm.

Avery didn't pick up on the awkward moment but instead opened a case to reveal an antique vase. "This is an ancient piece, a latticework revolving vase I secured for you at the Aetheria auction. A small token, I hope you find it acceptable."

Alexia raised an eyebrow.

She had been tracking this vase for the gentleman as well, which had sold for a fortune to an anonymous domestic buyer. She hadn't expected that buyer to be Avery.

Avery was indeed a consummate pleaser, a loyal hound to the end.

The man nodded slightly. "Mr. Chambers, you are thoughtful as always. I'll be counting on you to take extra care with the dad0044 project."

Avery bowed deeply. "Rest assured, I will spare no effort."

After the two men left, the room, filled with the scent of incense, sank into silence.

"Sir, do you find the face you gave me beautiful, or is Elsie's, which resembles Evadne's to a striking degree, more stunning?" Alexia's hands gently rested on the man's shoulders as she leaned in to whisper seductively in his ear.

The man's eyes curved into a smile, and he patted his knee twice.

Alexia, understanding her cue, knelt before him, her radiant face lifted to his, her eyes rippling with tender waves.

"Elsie may resemble Evadne, but she will never be her. She's just a low-grade substitute created to satiate Avery's desires."

The man leaned forward, his fingertips tracing her jawline, tilting her face up. "But you, you are my meticulously crafted masterpiece. How could a mere imitation compare to the object by my side?"

A flicker of darkness flashed through Alexia's eyes.

This man was like a deity gazing down upon the mortal realm, and in his eyes, all beings were merely his possessions. Thus, being referred to as an "object" didn't bother her.

"Sir, if I may be so bold," Alexia said, kneeling beside him, her hands skillfully massaging his legs. "I think there's no better time than now for you to make your move. As Avery said, the best way to manipulate a man is to exploit his pity. I worry that Frederic, out of guilt, might hand over corporate control to Thaddeus."

The man chuckled lightly. "He won't."

"And now that Elspeth has been utterly toppled, Glynnis has no significance in the Abernathy family any longer."

Alexia spoke softly, "Why not leak the secrets you hold and ensnare them both in one fell swoop? Useless pawns are nothing but eyesores on the board."

"Not until the end will you know if they are truly useless."

Alexia was taken aback.

"My grandfather always told me not to be wasteful; that thrift is a virtue."

The man reclined comfortably, "So I intend to use each pawn to its fullest potential, lest I fail to honor my grandfather's teachings."

Alexia couldn't help but sneer, "Your 'full potential' includes Avery, doesn't it?"

The man cleared his throat and elegantly lifted his teacup to sip, "I expect him to deliver a satisfactory report on the medical trials. Otherwise, our relationship will come to an inevitable end."

On the day of judgment, Elspeth filed an appeal in court.

Ten days later, the second trial confirmed the verdict—death sentence upheld!

From that moment, Elspeth felt as though she had gone blind. She spent her days curled in the darkest corner of her cell, vacantly staring at the iron bars from dawn till dusk, and then into the pitch-blackness, shrouded in murky fog.

She reflected on her life, undeniably once glorious. But with each step up the social ladder, someone had to be her stepping stone, someone had to pay for her vanity.