His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 280

Chapter 280 

Those simple words were enough to send Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy into a fit of apoplectic rage, their tongues practically spewing fire! 

Elspeth glared at Thaddeus with a venomous stare, hiding behind Frederic like a vengeful spirit, her eyes as piercing as needles jabbed into a voodoo doll! “Thaddeus! Have you forgotten who you are?” Frederic’s anger was palpable, his b*dy shaking with fury. 

“No need for your concern, reminding me again and again that I’m an Abernathy and your son.” 

Thaddeus‘ cold l*ps curved into a smirk, “If not for your reminders, I might have forgotten.” 

“Ungrateful brat! Scoundrel!” 

Frederic’s eyes were bloodshot, his anger making him dizzy. He pointed at Thaddeus‘ face, “I’m asking you one last time, are you determined to accept the Ashbourne family’s invitation this weekend?” 

“Thaddeus, my boy, why are you being so reckless?” 

Elspeth felt it was time to step in, she put on an air of a caring mother worrying about the bigger picture, “Whether I celebrate my birthday or not is not important. But you know very well your father and Emeric have a feud, and Evadne has been causing us trouble time and again. How can you, at this critical time, boost their morale while undermining your own? As the CEO, wouldn’t your absence be a slap in your father’s face?” 

“Mrs. Elspeth.” 

Thaddeus‘ eyes were dark, his tone icy, “If your birthday isn’t that important, then perhaps you shouldn’t celebrate it at all. You, your daughter, and your relatives, you’ve all been exploiting your positions, causing multiple scandals that have pushed the company to the brink of disaster, affecting its interests. In Elmsworth, your reputation is notorious. If you don’t keep a low profile now but instead want to celebrate your birthday ostentatiously, are you treating the public as fools or assuming the internet has no memory?” 

Elspeth’s eyes were bright red, her fists trembling as if she was having a Parkinson’s episode. 

Hearing this, Frederic’s partiality towards Elspeth wavered. 

Then, unfortunately, Thaddeus added, “If Mr. Frederic wishes to play the loving husband, perhaps you shouldn’t expect everyone in this house to cater to your vanity, to swallow the distasteful food you serve.” 

Ah! 

Elspeth was so angry her head was buzzing, she was about to faint! 

“What did you just say? Are you insulting your own father?” 

Frederic was so overwhelmed by his son’s words that he forgot about Elspeth. He felt like he was being ridiculed by his own son, his chest felt tight! “Where is the butler?” 

Frederic always maintained a cultured image in public, rarely showing his anger to this extent. 

But this time, Thaddeus was blatantly defying him, siding with Emeric’s little witch, and even challenging his authority, implying that he was an accomplice to Elspeth’s wrongdoings! 

This was too much! 

“Mr. Frederic! I’m here!” The butler hurried in, trembling with fear. 

Unfazed, Thaddeus looked at him with a hint of disdain.. 

This only fueled Frederic’s rage! 

“Bring the family punishment tool, now!” 

“What?” The butler was stunned! 

It had been almost twenty years since Thaddeus was last punished! 

When Thaddeus was young, he had an intense argument with Frederic over his mother’s death. Thaddeus, filled with anger and hatred, was about to physically confront his own father. 

In the end, Frederic beat Thaddeus severely with a leather whip. 

Despite Mr. Hamilton’s timely intervention, Thaddeus still ended up in the hospital, unconscious. 

This time, was history about to repeat itself? 

“What are you waiting for? Go get it!” Frederic shouted, glaring at the emotionless Thaddeus. 

He felt like his authority as the head of the family was being challenged by his own son! 

“Yes, Mr. Frederic!” 

Seeing Thaddeus about to be punished, Elspeth, who had been fuming with rage, felt a sense of relief. 

Let him be beaten, even if it’s just to vent her anger, it would be worth it! 

In the main hall of the mansion, almost all the servants of the Windermere Estate were called to stand in several rows. 

When Glynnis heard that Thaddeus was about to be punished, she was overjoyed, she even went to find her almost forgotten sister, Marilla. 

“Hey! Little dimwit!” 

Glynnis kicked open the door, Marilla was painting, she was startled and dropped her pencil. 

“Glynnis, what happened?” 

“Hurry down to watch the show! Thaddeus is about to get beaten up!” Glynnis laughed wildly, filled with schadenfreude. 

“Thaddeus? Why?” Marilla’s heart tightened. 

“Why? Because he’s audacious, daring to be disrespectful to our father!” 

Glynnis laughed gleefully, “Hmph, he really doesn’t know how lucky he is. Does he think he’s great just because he’s the CEO? Doesn’t he realize that if it weren’t for Chad’s poor health, he wouldn’t have gotten this position? If it weren’t for our father’s sympathy for his mother’s early death, he would have been sent to the company’s branch. He really doesn’t know how to appreciate what he has!” 

Marilla, who was often called a dimwit, was not really foolish. She clearly understood Glynnis’s contempt and mockery of Thaddeus. 

She felt a surge of resentment, and plucked up the courage to retort, “Thaddeus isn’t like what you said. It must have been you and mom teaming up to bully him.” “You little idiot! What the hell did you just say?” 

Seeing Glynnis charging like a mad bull, Marilla instinctively shut her eyes tightly, arms shielding her head in reflex. 

“Miss Manila,” 

Just then, a maid assigned to Marilla hurriedly entered the room, her voice filled with anxiety. “Mr. Frederic has requested that you and Miss Glynnis join him downstairs, immediately!” 

Hearing this, Glynnis lowered her raised hand, her fury melting away for a moment. “Fine!” She huffed, spinning around and striding out of the room, leaving a trail of seething anger behind her. 

“Miss Marilla! Are you okay?” The maid, Linda, rushed over, her forehead shiny with sweat. Seeing the pallor of Marilla’s face, she felt a pang in her heart. “I’m fine, Linda, thank you. If you hadn’t come in when you did.” Marilla’s voice trailed off as her clear doe–like eyes started to fill with tears. 

“Miss Marilla!” Linda reached out to hold Marilla’s cold hands, rolling up her sleeve to reveal the bruised and battered skin beneath. The sight nearly brought tears to Linda’s eyes. “This can’t go on! You should tell Mr. Frederic about this. Even if Mrs. Frederic doesn’t care, he’s your father! He won’t stand by and do nothing!” Marilla quickly withdrew her hand and after a moment of silence, she whispered, “Could you leave me alone for a bit? I need to get ready to go downstairs.” With a heavy sigh, Linda reluctantly left the room. 

Once the door was closed, Marilla immediately pulled out her phone and expertly dialed Evadne’s number. Hesitating for a moment, she finally gathered the courage to call her sister–in–law. 

The call was picked up quickly, Evadne’s soft and gentle voice coming through. “Marilla, darling, what can I do for you today?” 

Hearing Evadne’s familiar voice, Marilla felt her throat tighten, and tears began to stream down her face. 

“Marilla? What’s wrong? Why aren’t you saying anything?” Evadne’s voice was filled with concern. 

“Evadne. Thaddeus‘ in trouble.” 

Evadne was taken aback, thinking that Marilla was overreacting. “Thaddeus? Who would dare to bully him? He didn’t twist their heads off?” “Mom and Dad are ganging up on Thaddeus! Dad’s about to give him a whipping, to punish him!” Marilla was frantic, pacing around the room. “A whipping?” Evadne was stunned. 

“Evadne! Please, you have to help Thaddeus! Dad’s about to start, and if he really hurts Thaddeus, what are we going to do?” 

Frederic had summoned everyone in the house. 

They all gathered around Thaddeus, transforming him into a solitary island amidst a sea of onlookers. 

Frederic was aiming to crush Thaddeus‘ pride, to humiliate him in front of everyone. However, Thaddeus‘ mere presence was already more than enough to command the room. 

Frederic, seeing his son’s unwavering resolve, angrily cracked his whip on the ground, the sound echoing throughout the room. 

“Kneel!” 

Thaddeus shot Frederic a defiant look, smirking coldly. “Kneel? Do you really think I would?”