His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 1020

Evadne's brows furrowed as she caught a whiff of a scent that unsettled her for reasons she couldn't quite place. It was faint yet familiar, slipping away before she could pin down where she'd encountered it before.

"Ms. Evadne, you seem to have something on your mind," Chad Abernathy drawled, turning his chiseled face towards her, his voice curling softly into her ears.

"Mr. Chad, you've been living in the States for quite some time. In your quest for health, you've had extensive dealings with pharmaceutical companies and medical institutions, haven't you?" she asked, her voice steady.

Chad nodded, "Yes, I've had some dealings. When your father had his stroke, Thaddeus flew out to the States to consult me about medication."

"You must have heard of RC, then. It's a big name in the pharmaceutical industry over there."

Chad's eyes darkened, his pupils glinting like polished onyx in the dim light of the car. "I've heard of it."

"Then I need your help."

Evadne pulled out Thaddeus's blood test report and handed it over. "Thaddeus is in a coma because the medication he took affected his brain. The drugs contain several banned substances, none of which match anything available domestically. I suspect it's an illegal import, possibly from RC. Avery mentioned RC more than once, and their base is in the States. I have reason to believe the drugs originated from there."

Chad gazed at her, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "Thaddeus and I, we grew up together. Of course, I want him to recover. Not just for him, but for you too."

His words sent a shiver down Evadne's spine, prompting her to avert her gaze from his intense eyes.

"If Thaddeus never wakes up, his beloved 'Rose' might wither away, don't you think?"

"I'm not a 'Rose,' and I won't wither," Evadne shot back, meeting his gaze with newfound resolve. "If Thaddeus wakes, we'll fight together. If not, I'll fight in his stead. I'll protect everything that's his, and no one will take it away."

This was the real reason she wanted to talk to Chad alone.

Chad's eyebrows lifted in mild surprise, a lazy, teasing smile playing on his lips. "Ms. Evadne, you're right. What's Thaddeus's is untouchable."

But Evadne sensed there was more to his words. Her eyes narrowed slightly.

"There's no need. My brother will wake up soon," Chad said, closing his eyes and crumpling the report into a ball. "I underestimated Ms. Evadne. I thought she'd be too overwhelmed to act rationally after such a shock. But here she is, regrouped and already suspicious of me. It's impressive, really."

Alexia's worry deepened, "She's suspicious of you already? You've only been back in Elmsworth for two days!"

"The timing is suspicious. It's only natural," Chad shrugged nonchalantly. "We'll just have to be more careful from now on."

As the car entered a dim tunnel, shadows flickered across Chad's enigmatic face.

"When you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."

The shifting light played over Chad's features, his reflection in the window cold, enigmatic, and as if he were looking at someone else entirely.

"But unfortunately for them, I am the abyss."