“Grandpa.”
Thaddeus was breathing heavily, his midnight-dark eyes shadowed with worry.
But the drugs had damaged his amygdala, leaving his strongest emotions trapped inside, beating against the walls with nowhere to escape. On the surface, his striking features looked impassive, almost as if he had no heart at all.
Hamilton and Evadne exchanged a knowing glance. The old man quickly wiped away his tears and forced a gentle smile.
“Thaddeus, you’re here… Thanks to Ilana’s help, I’m alright. There’s no need to worry about me!”
Evadne remembered her grandfather’s earlier words, her long lashes fluttering as she drifted into thought.
She didn’t snap back to reality until a cold, masculine presence swept past her. Looking up in confusion, she found herself staring straight into Thaddeus’s intense gaze.
His lips pressed into a thin line as he glanced down at her.
Evadne’s heart seemed to freeze mid-beat. Color crept into her pale cheeks as she quickly looked away, flustered and embarrassed.
Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.
But no matter how many times she tried to convince herself otherwise, she still loved him—again and again. Whether his eyes shone with the brilliance of stars or dulled with shadows, she always found herself falling under his spell…
“You just going to stand there like an idiot? Aren’t you going to thank Ilana?” Hamilton scolded, pretending to be angry. “If it weren’t for her, you wouldn’t have a grandfather anymore!”
Thaddeus had just opened his mouth when Evadne stood up briskly, not sparing him a glance. She gave her grandfather a soft, sweet smile.
“I’m glad you’re alright, Grandpa. That’s all I needed to know. I have work to get back to, so I’ll visit again soon.”
“Ilana, wait—”
Hamilton tried to stop her, but she was already halfway out the door, practically fleeing the hospital room.
Thaddeus stared at the now-empty doorway, his eyes dark and unreadable.
“You blockhead, what are you standing there for? Go after her!” Hamilton mustered all his strength, shakily lifting his leg to give Thaddeus a not-so-gentle kick.
…
Evadne pressed her burning cheeks with both hands as she hurried toward the parking lot.
“Oof—!”
Her mind was a mess, and she didn’t see Thaddeus standing just ahead until she ran face-first into his chest. His broad, solid frame left her nose tingling and red.
He glanced down at the top of her head, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His voice was low and steady.
“Ms. Evadne, charging around like that. Do you ever pay attention to where you’re going?”
Rubbing her nose, Evadne blinked back tears of pain and snapped, “If you didn’t suddenly show up like a roadblock, this wouldn’t have happened!”
She huffed and moved to the left. Thaddeus, with his stormy eyes half-lidded, stepped to block her way.
Thaddeus looked at her, his voice calm. “Name it.”
“I haven’t decided yet. I’ll let you know when I do.” She lifted her chin. “But when I ask, you have to agree. That’ll be your way of repaying me. Deal?”
“You’re not going to ask to get back together, are you?” A flicker of suspicion passed through his eyes.
Evadne’s heart skipped a beat. “Don’t flatter yourself! We’re divorced. We’ve split up for good. You think I’m desperate to get back with you? There are plenty of good men out there—I’m not about to hang myself on your tree, am I?”
Good men? Like Chad?
The name flashed through Thaddeus’s mind, and his grip on her wrist unconsciously tightened.
“Ow…” Evadne flinched, her voice soft and trembling.
“Alright. I promise.” Thaddeus’s gaze was steady, his words firm. “No matter what you ask, I’ll do it.”
Evadne felt a wave of sadness, but she laughed lightly. “What if I ask you to rob a bank or set something on fire?”
“I’d still agree,” he replied without hesitation. “But the Evadne I know would never ask for something like that.”
Her eyes crinkled as she grinned, holding up her left hand. “Shake on it? It’s a deal!”
“It’s a deal.” Thaddeus swallowed and pressed his palm to hers.

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