His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 1102

Evadne Ashbourne’s brows furrowed as she took the bag and examined the pills closely.

“This stuff is incredibly potent,” Aaron explained, his gaze fixed on the suspects in the car, his anger palpable. “It’s addictive after a single dose. The body has very little initial rejection, and it sends users into a state of extreme euphoria. They can go for days without sleep and feel no fatigue.” He swore under his breath. “Damn it! We finally managed to eradicate that last poison, and now this ‘Crystal Ice’ crap pops up! Fucking hell, it’s like trying to stamp out a wildfire!”

“Aaron, did Crystal Ice originate in Elmsworth? Are other cities seeing it?”

“We haven’t heard reports from anywhere else yet. It only started appearing here in the last month. We’re working hard to trace the source, but so far, we’ve only caught a few small fry. No real breakthroughs.”

Evadne thought for a moment, then lowered her voice. “Aaron, can you give me one of those pills? I have a use for it.”

Aaron looked startled, so she quickly added, “Don’t worry, I’m not going to hurt anyone, and I’m definitely not going to hurt myself. I just want to have its chemical composition analyzed.”

“Our forensics lab has already done that. It’s a narcotic, no doubt about it.”

“I have another purpose for it. Please, Aaron, just this once.”

Aaron pressed his lips together, then, when his colleagues weren’t looking, he discreetly poured a single blue pill into Jason Dempsey’s palm.

…

After Aaron left, Mr. Murray, his original plans disrupted by the encounter with Evadne, quietly drove away.

Through a grimy window, Evadne and Jason could see Nora Jones’s mother kneeling on her bed, facing the wall. Disheveled and filthy, she brandished a large kitchen knife and screamed obscenities at nothing.

The scene was a heartbreaking tableau of madness and despair.

“Ms. Ashbourne, should we… still go in?” Jason asked, his voice filled with concern.

Evadne shook her head, her eyes dim. “Let’s not disturb her for now.”

“But don’t you need her testimony?”

“Her mental state is too fragile. Nothing she says now would be admissible in court. We need a different approach, a long-term plan.” Evadne turned away. “Jason, arrange for someone to discreetly watch over Mrs. Cooper. And find a subtle way to provide her with some financial support.”

The day before Thaddeus’s birthday arrived. After tomorrow, he would be thirty-three.

Originally, Hamilton Abernathy had wanted to throw a grand celebration for his younger grandson. The situation at the Abernathy Group was unstable; Chad’s sudden return, though he hadn’t yet involved himself in the business, was a looming threat. His health was improving, and he knew exactly how to charm Frederic. At this rate, it was entirely possible he would soon secure a position in the company’s core leadership.

Hamilton wanted to use what time he had left to help Thaddeus solidify his position as the rightful heir, to put him in the spotlight and build his reputation.

Unfortunately, Thaddeus was proving difficult. No matter how much his grandfather pleaded, he showed no interest in a birthday party. He finally agreed to a compromise: a formal dinner hosted in the Abernathy family’s name at the Abernathy Hotel the night before his birthday.

Tonight, the ballroom was buzzing with activity, a glittering assembly of the city’s elite. Many heiresses, having heard that Thaddeus himself would be present, had come dressed to the nines, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man, even though they knew he was spoken for. If you couldn’t have him, you could at least look, couldn’t you?

What the public didn’t know, however, was that the world’s most envied power couple had already broken up.

“Thaddeus, many distinguished young women are here tonight, all of them for you. They all hold you in the highest regard.”

The Abernathy men stood side-by-side on the second-floor balcony, looking down at the opulent ballroom. Frederic clapped a hand on Thaddeus’s shoulder. “If any of them catch your eye, just tell me. No matter whose daughter she is, I can make the match happen.”