Chapter 269
Chapter 269
Upon entering, Evadne had heard from Gordon that Thaddeus had coughed up blood again, and quite a bit at that. A wave of trepidation washed over her.
If Thaddeus didn’t pull through this time, or if he contracted a chronic illness that couldn’t be cured, she would be forever indebted to him. She would live with guilt every day.
So, with a stern face, she walked over to his bedside, grabbed his wrist without a hint of kindness, and checked his pulse.
Thaddeus watched her, his eyes slightly widened. The seriousness with which she was going about this was almost comical. She looked like an old, experienced doctor diagnosing his
allments.
“Your current state is pretty critical and you need to take your medicine immediately. If you wait till tomorrow, it might be too late!” Evadne said, irritation seeping into her tone. Just as she was about to let go of his hand, Thaddeus swiftly caught her cool, petite hand in his large warm palm.
Evadne gasped, her breath hitching in surprise.
“Your hands are so cold. Is it chilly outside?” Thaddeus asked, his rough fingers gently caressing the back of her hand. Seeing the scars still present on her hand, he felt a pang of guilt and regret. “I’m sorry for making you come here so late because of me.”
“You should be sorry! And if you are, then take your damn medicine. Stop being so stubborn!” Evadne scolded, trying to regain control of her emotions. She yanked her hand away from his increasingly warm palm, “Are you still a baby? Can’t you take your medicine by yourself? Do you need me to spoon–feed you?”
“No,” Thaddeus replied, his voice soft. “I just didn’t know any other way to make you come see me. I just wanted to see you, Evadne.”
“Fine, you’ve seen me. Will you take your medicine now?” Evadhe retorted, unimpressed by his submissive demeanor.
Frustrated and agitated by Bennett and Jason’s words, she checked her watch Impatiently, “Quickly take it. After that, I need to go back to Skyrim. It’s rare for Bennett to be home and spend time with us. I don’t have time to waste here with you!”
Thaddeus winced at her harsh words. His fingers slowly clenched into a fist.
His ex–wife, who used to be full of love and patience for him, barely had any tolerance left now.
But he couldn’t blame anyone but himself. It was too late for regrets now.
The journey to win her back seemed long and arduous, but he was willing to try until he no longer had the strength to love her.
“Evadne, you can’t deny that I’m in this state because of you,” Thaddeus said, resorting to a last–ditch attempt to extend their time together. “I almost lost my life for you. You can’t just leave me here, can you?”
“What exactly do you want?” Evadne asked, her eyes glinting with anger.
“Take care of me, until I’m discharged from the hospital, Thaddeus answered, his gaze fixed on her beautiful face.
Evadne laughed bitterly at his request, “I’ve never met someone as shameless as you!”
Indeed, Thaddeus was disgusted with himself.
But he had seen how Jareth had pursued women before. No woman could escape a man’s relentless pursuit.
Thaddeus didn’t know how to be passionate, but he could certainly be persistent.
“Listen, Thaddeus, I’m not your wife, nor am I a servant of the Abernathy family. I have no obligation to take care of you,” Evadne said, her eyes cold and aloof. “Remember how you disregarded my care before? You found it annoying, didn’t you? Now you’re begging me to stay. What’s got into you?”
“I love you, Evadne!” Thaddeus blurted out, his gaze burning with sincerity. “I don’t care how you feel about me now, whether it’s disdain or hatred. I love you, Evadne. I’ve fallen for you,” Taken aback, Evadne instinctively stepped back..
His confession of his feelings brought a mix of emotions she couldn’t put into words.
The room fell into silence, the only sound being their heavy heartbeats.
“Thaddeus, if you had confessed your feelings to me three years ago, I would’ve accepted without hesitation. But it’s too late now. As I’ve told you’before, our love has expired,” Evadne said, her gaze distant and indifferent. “I no longer love you.”
“I’m sorry, I know it’s too late. But I’ve made up my mind, and I won’t give up,” Thaddeus said, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He wanted to be closer to her, but he was afraid shed run away. “You don’t love me, that’s okay. This time, let me do the giving. Let me,”
Love you.
He had never said the word “love” to Acacia before, but now he couldn’t help but want to confess his love to Evadne.
“Enough! I don’t need someone I don’t love to love me! How many times do I have to say it for you to understand?” Evadne said, resorting to a threat to make him shut up. “If you dare say those words again, I’ll leave right now!” Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.
Thaddeus fell silent, obediently closing his mouth..
After a while, when Evadne’s face softened slightly, he tentatively asked, “So if I don’t mention it again, will you stay with me tonight?”
“Stop dreaming,” Evadne scoffed.
“You once said that since I saved you, you’d grant me a request as long as it’s reasonable,” Thaddeus said, his eyes sparkling with hope.
“Yesterday, didn’t you?” Eyadne trailed off, remembering how Thaddeus had kissed her passionately in this very room just a day before.
Her cheeks flushed at the memory, and heat spread throughout her body.
“Did you say I kissed you? That didn’t count.” Thaddeus hooked his thin lips, his voice low and soft.
Seeing her rare shy and bashful expression, he chuckled with delight.
“It didn’t count?” Evadne exclaimed, feeling that this thirty–year–old divorced man was a real sly fox!
“I did force’a kiss on you, but you fought back.”
Thaddeus pointed to his already scabbed lips, “This is the evidence.”
“Serves you right! For dealing with a ruffian like you, it wouldn’t be excessive if I bit your lips into three pieces!” Evadne was more and more angry, with her small face blushing.
“Alright, come on.” Thaddeus leaned back, extending her a sincere invitation.
Evadne gritted her pearly white teeth.
Looking at this man’s smug face, she really wanted to flip his bed!
Seeing Thaddeus forcing her to stay with the excuse of gratitude, Evadne didn’t bother to argue with him and decided to stay with him tonight.
Evadne had left in such a hurry that she didn’t bring anything. She had to let Jason go back to her mansion in Elmsworth to get her pajamas and tolletries.
In the hospital corridor, Jason returned with a serious expression, holding a small suitcase.
Thanks, Jason. You go home and rest tonight, come back and pick me up early tomorrow.”
Evadne wanted to take the suitcase, but Jason, his eyes red, wouldn’t let go, “Miss Evadne, please come home with me.”
“Jason, since Thaddeus has made this request, and it’s not too much, it’s only fair that I’return the favor.” Evadne said calmly.
“But you’re sharing a room with him! What if he, he has ill intentions and…”
“We’ve been married for three years. If he really wanted to do something, would he wait until now?”
“But.”
Evadne waved her hand dismissively, “Don’t worry, even the worst men know the law. If he dares to force himself on me, I’ll break him, believe it or not?”