His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 1052

“Evadne!”

The door burst open, and in strode Emeric Ashbourne—Evadne’s father—followed by the three Ashbourne ladies and her eldest brother, Arnold.

Back at home, Nydia Ashbourne, heavily pregnant, had insisted on coming too, but everyone put their foot down and left her in Jason’s care.

Inside the hospital room, a stunned silence fell. Evadne, cradled in Mr. Thaddeus’s arms, was the picture of surprise and embarrassment. Her wide, tear-filled eyes darted to her father as she struggled to sit up against Chad’s solid chest, but she was too weak to move and blushed furiously. They looked for all the world like a bashful young couple caught in an intimate moment.

Unfazed, Chad offered a small, gentle smile. He stood up from his wheelchair—unhurried, steady—placed Evadne carefully on the bed, and tucked the blanket around her with surprising tenderness.

The family stood frozen, exchanging bewildered glances.

The Ashbournes were among the elite of Skyrim, and nothing that happened in Elmsworth’s upper crust escaped their notice. The infamous kidnapping two decades ago had shaken the entire city—and everyone knew that Mr. Thaddeus had been gravely injured in that ordeal, left to spend the rest of his days in a wheelchair.

Yet here he was, standing tall, moving as if nothing had ever happened.

At that moment, Alexia rushed in, just in time to see Chad tending to Evadne. The sight stopped her dead in her tracks. Her hand clenched around the crumpled medical report. She’d followed Sir for years—his cool composure, his self-restraint and refinement, always so distant, almost untouchable, as if he belonged to another world entirely.

But now, this aloof, unreachable man was showing Evadne a kind of tenderness and care she’d never seen before.

She knew she shouldn’t be jealous.

But jealousy was only human, and no matter how hard Alexia tried to bury it, she couldn’t ignore its sting.

“Good afternoon, Chairman Emeric. Ladies.”

Chad’s posture was as graceful as a willow. He offered a polite bow, every inch the gentleman. “Chad Abernathy, eldest son of the Abernathy family. An honor to meet you all.”

Emeric’s expression was complicated, but he nodded in acknowledgment.

“Chad!” Alexia seized her chance and hurried to his side, accidentally bumping shoulders with Arnold as she passed.

The Ashbourne men were all built like athletes. Arnold’s shoulder was as solid as granite—Alexia’s own bones ached from the collision, and she shot him an irritable glance.

But Evadne saw it all, and guilt twisted inside her, raw and unforgiving.

“I’m sorry, Dad… I’m so sorry for worrying you, and my aunts, and my brothers…”

Her voice broke; tears streamed down her face, mingling shame and helplessness.

Some of those tears were for herself, too.

The person who once stood by her side through thick and thin was gone. From now on, she would have to face every trial alone—no more steady presence, no more gentle voice whispering, “Don’t be afraid, Evadne. I’m here.”

“You stubborn girl… You’re twenty-six already—will you ever let me stop worrying?” Emeric’s usually commanding voice was rough and hoarse, and even he was blinking back tears.

“Arnold,” he said, turning to his eldest, “Evadne’s always been a careful driver. How could this have happened?”

Arnold’s voice was tight with concern as he glanced at the ashen-faced Cassius. “They said it happened on the way to the airport. The weather’s been awful these past few nights—why was she going to the airport alone?”