His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire? novel Chapter 23

When Thaddeus came back to Windermere Estate, he was wet, looking like he'd just been fished out of the sea.

Alva rushed over to help him dry off, but he simply pushed away the towel in her hand, looking like a bear with a sore head, and headed upstairs.

"What happened to Mr. Thaddeus? Did someone tick him off?" Alva asked Gordon, worry etched on her face.

"If you've got time, Alva, give Mr. Thaddeus a bit of TLC. He's been taken for a ride."

"What? Someone managed to pull one over on Mr. Thaddeus? Have we called the cops yet? We need to call the cops!" Alva was freaking out.

Gordon shook his head, "Nah, it's too complicated for the police. Sometimes, the bad people are pretty cunning."

"I always told Mr. Thaddeus to be careful, but he wouldn't listen. Being overconfident can be a real Achilles' heel."

Gordon gave a rueful smile. This time, Thaddeus had met his match.

If it was just about money, it wouldn't be so bad. The real kicker was that Thaddeus' pride had taken a hit!

Thaddeus climbed upstairs, looking as white as a sheet and completely drained.

"Mr. Thaddeus, Ms. Acacia is here, Mr. Frederic is asking for you in the study." A servant came to deliver the message.

With his lips pressed tightly together, Thaddeus walked into Frederic's study.

"Thad! You're finally back!" Acacia was over him like a rash, running over to hug him.

Thaddeus didn't respond with his usual immediacy, leaving Acacia hanging.

Facing Acacia tonight, he felt a bit on edge.

"Thaddeus, how did everything go? Did you meet with President Ashbourne today?" Frederic asked, all business.

As the chairman of the Abernathy group, he had his fingers in many pies and shouldn't have to be asking about such minor details.

But Elspeth kept going on and on about it, so he had to step in and put a bit of pressure on Thaddeus.

"I trust Thaddeus. He'll do everything he can to protect Acacia's family. After all, Thaddeus dotes on Acacia. If he talks to Ms. Evadne, how could the Ashbourne family possibly refuse him? The Abernathy group is no small fry. If the Ashbourne family cross us, they won't have an easy time in Elmsworth." Elspeth said smugly, arm in arm with her husband.

This was her tried-and-true tactic. She would praise Thaddeus first, raising everyone's expectations, and then any shortcomings would piss Frederic off, creating a rift between father and son.

"Dad, Elspeth, let's drop the matter about the Stirling group." Thaddeus said, his eyes devoid of emotion.

"Thaddeus, what do you mean by that?" Frederic asked, his brow furrowed.

"From now on, I won't be helping the Stirling group. That's it."

With that, Thaddeus turned and left.

Frederic, Elspeth, and Acacia stood there in shock, their faces a picture of astonishment.

"Frederic, Thaddeus is joking, right?" Elspeth's smile froze on her face as unease crept into her heart.

Frederic's face darkened but he didn't say anything.

Thaddeus returned to his bedroom, drenched and in no mood to change or take a shower. His mind was filled with how Evadne had played him.

Why didn't Evadne want to meet him in person? Was she feeling guilty, or did she think Thaddeus wasn't worth it?

"Thad! Why won't you help us?" Acacia followed him, clutching his arm tightly. "All our orders have been cancelled, our merchandise is piling up in the warehouse, getting mouldy, we can't even pay our workers. If this continues, the Stirling group will go bankrupt!"

She was only thinking about the Stirling group's business, completely losing her usual caring and gentle side.

Thaddeus sounded exhausted, "It's late, I'll have Gordon take you home."

"Thad! What happened that made you change your mind? Can you tell me? Speak up!"

Thaddeus was too tired to explain. And how could he tell her the real reason? Was he supposed to say that his own actions had led to this, that he had ended up with nothing?

Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat.

The box that held his suit, which had been neatly placed by his bed, was gone!

Thaddeus pulled away from Acacia, searched the entire room, then called out sternly,

"Alva!"

"Yes, Mr. Thaddeus?" Alva rushed in.