Chapter 17
Ives nearly broke his jaw in shock. So she was Mr. Thaddeus’ secret ex-wife!
To be honest, she was way more attractive than his sister.
If it wasn’t for the fact they were childhood sweethearts, his sister would be totally overshadowed by this woman.
“Mr. Thaddeus, just because she’s your ex-wife doesn’t mean I have to apologize to her!” Ives had his pride, and was not about to back down. “If she apologizes to me first, then I’ll let it slide!”
“If I had been any later, your men might have done something inappropriate to her.” Thaddeus’ face was stony. “Just because it didn’t happen doesn’t mean you’re not in the wrong. Apologize to her.”
Ives was terrified, but outwardly trying to keep calm. Evadne’s face was flushed, the alcohol taking effect. All she heard were words like “ex-wife” and “apologize”… and she thought, this guy wants her to bow her head?! She’d be kind not to kick his a ss!
“Apologizing is too much trouble, I think we should just follow our rules here. Either we call the cops on him, or we beat him up a little.” Jareth walked over, a playful smile on his face, looking every bit the mob boss.
“Why are you going to beat me up? Is there no law anymore?!” Ives practically shrieked when he saw Mr. Jareth.
Jareth just gestured, and the girl that had been getting drunk earlier hid behind him in fear.
“First off, the girls here only serve drinks and dance, we do not provide any… extra services. You guys getting her drunk, that’s against our rules. Second, we don’t allow illegal drugs here, and I hate it when people break that rule. Whoever does, I punish them. I think you should be thanking Ms. Ilana. If she hadn’t stopped you from drugging her, you’d probably be getting dragged out by now.”
Thaddeus was shocked. So that’s what happened!
“Haha! What a man!” Evadne squinted at Jareth, giving him a thumbs up.
“Thanks for the compliment.” Jareth gave her a small smile.
Seeing them flirting, Thaddeus felt a pang of jealousy.
“Thaddeus, do you think my solution is acceptable?” Jareth asked.
“Yes.” Thaddeus replied curtly.
“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Mr. Thaddeus, I didn’t know she was your ex-wife, I’m… blind. I apologize to Ms. Ilana, really, I’m sorry…” Ives gritted his teeth as he apologized to Evadne, seething inside.
Thaddeus felt that wasn’t enough, but then he realized. Ilana was gone!
“Looking for her? Look, over there.” Jareth whistled and pointed towards the stage.
Thaddeus’ pupils contracted and his heart fluttered. Under the spotlight, Ilana was dancing a se xy and playful dance, laughing freely like a mischievous sprite. The light shone on her, outshining everything else.
Evadne was totally intoxicated, absolutely ecstatic! She didn’t even know what she was doing, she felt like she was flying, like she was an indefinable gust of wind. Suddenly, she leaned back.
With a gasp from the crowd, she fell into a sturdy but warm embrace. When she managed to see Thaddeus’ angry face, all she could do was giggle, “I want to throw up.”
Thaddeus dragged Evadne into the men’s restroom. She was retching into the toilet until her head was spinning. Even the most beautiful people look ugly when they’re throwing up.
At first, Thaddeus just stood in the doorway, watching her coldly. But seeing her in pain, he went over and patted her shaking back again and again.
After Evadne was done throwing up, she stumbled over to the sink and started rinsing her mouth. “Ugh… I feel awful…”
“You still drank, serves you right.” Thaddeus stood by, frowning coldly.
“Because… I’m sad… so sad…”
Evadne was still drunk, and for a moment she even thought the man beside her was her brother, so she started crying. “Why doesn’t Thaddeus like me… why…”
Thaddeus’ heart rate increased as he listened to her sobbing.
“I tried so hard… I really did… but the harder I try, the more he hates me… why… tell me why!”
Suddenly, Evadne turned and hugged Thaddeus, burying her face in his chest, her tears and sn ot staining his clean shirt. Thaddeus just stood there, stiff, feeling every tear burn into his heart. After a while, he asked quietly, “Do you really… like Thaddeus that much?”
Evadne lifted her tear-stained face, her lips slightly parted. Thaddeus swallowed hard, fighting the temptation. He even… regretted asking the
11.01 F –
question. Whether she liked him or not, what did it matter.
They were divorced, and his one and only love, was Acacia.
The restroom door was kicked open.
“Thaddeus! You are so shameless! Not satisfied with what you have?” Arnold was so angry, his eyes were red. He immediately pulled Evadne into his arms, protecting her.
Thaddeus scowled. Seeing how much Ms. Evadne, a normally elegant woman, cared for his ex-wife was proof enough of how much he cared for her. His breath hitched.
“Cas sius, she can’t hold her liquor, she just threw up quite a bit. If you really cared about her, you wouldn’t have brought her to a place like this.”
Arnold was ready to reprimand Thaddeus, but hearing him call him Cas sius, he decided to go along with it and pretend to be Cas sius. “Whatever my woman wants to do, she does. If she wants to party, I party with her. Mr. Thaddeus, since you and Ilana are divorced, you should stop interfering in her life. Go back and take care of your Ms. Acacia!”
After saying that, Amold helped Evadne out of the restroom, but Thaddeus blocked their way. “What do you want to do?”
“Do you really love her?” Thaddeus asked quietly.
“Nonsense.”
“Can you marry her?”
Amold was stumped by this question, thinking. “he’s my own sister for Go d’s sake, how can we commit incest?!”
“Mind your own business, back off!” Arnold said.
“Ilana doesn’t have a powerful background, she can’t withstand such complicated emotional entanglements. If you can’t marry her and only treat her as a lover, don’t drag her into this, let her return to a normal life.” A spark of passion flickered in Thaddeus’ eyes.
“Hahaha… Thaddeus, I’ve never seen such a shameless person like you. Did you consider Ilana’s feelings when you pursued Acacia for a divorce? Because of you, she became a divorcee at such a young age, don’t you think you’re dragging her down? If you knew the divorce was inevitable, why did you marry her three years ago? Wasn’t it just to use her as a stepping stone, then marry the one you love! You’re disgusting!”
A pang of pain shot through Thaddeus’ heart, his sturdy body slightly trembling.
Arnold pushed him away harshly, “Get lost! Ba stard!”
Thaddeus didn’t even know how he got back to his private room, his mind was filled with those words – “use her as a stepping stone”. “Where did your ex-wife go? She left?” Jareth leaned on the railing, drinking his wine while eyeing Thaddeus’ distraught look.
“Yeah.” Thaddeus responded in a low voice, grabbed the glass and downed the whiskey in it, feeling a burning sensation in his throat.
“Tonight, if it weren’t for you, I would definitely have beaten up Ives. Not only did he drug her, but he also wanted to lay his hands on my beloved, he’s asking for trouble.”
“You can do what you want in the future. Acacia and her brother are two individuals.” Suddenly, Thaddeus had a realization, his eyebrows furrowed, “Beloved? What do you mean?”
“I think good things should be kept to oneself, since you don’t want her anymore, I’ll pursue her.” Jareth raised an eyebrow, laughing wickedly, “Just that her title will have to change from wife to sister, not sure if you can accept that.”
‘I haven’t even got the divorce certificate with her yet, and you’re already so eager to show your true colors?” Thaddeus’ eyes were deep, his
mouth curved into a smile.
“Ah, the divorce agreement has been signed, how far can the divorce certificate be?”
“I don’t know about other things.” Thaddeus clenched his fist, a trace of indifference flashed across his handsome face, “But your death, is definitely not far off.”
Evadne woke up the next day, only to start puking again.
