His Ex-Wife Is A Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus) novel Chapter 504

That evening, in the cozy suburban home.

Two couples snuggled up in the living room, their eyes glued to the TV screen, tuned into the evening news channel.

Minutes later, the broadcast began. Tonight's headline was the talk of the town—

Bertha had been arrested!

During the report, they replayed the comical footage of Bertha being carted off by the police, a scene so funny it could still make one laugh until they hit the jackpot.

“Huh? That dashing cop looks so familiar. Where have I seen him before?”

Marilla's slender fingers tapped her chin thoughtfully, then her eyes sparkled with recognition. “Oh, I remember now! He was sitting next to me at Myra's birthday party. He even chatted with me. Umm!”

Before she could finish, Jareth's gaze darkened, and he couldn't resist capturing her chin, enveloping her soft lips in a passionate kiss that was fiercely jealous.

Evadne and Thaddeus were engrossed in the news when they heard the unmistakable sounds of affection, both pausing in surprise.

Thaddeus shifted his sturdy frame, shielding the steamy live scene from view, and leaned in to plant a deep kiss on Evadne's lips.

“What’s the matter? Too R-rated for me to see?”

Evadne pouted petulantly. “I’ve seen all sorts of things in my life. It’s just a kiss, after all.”

“It’s not that. I just didn’t want you to feel awkward.” Thaddeus pinched her cute nose, a resigned smile on his face.

“Hmph, I’m not the one who gets embarrassed. It’s always someone else.”

Jareth pulled away from Marilla, his eyes still flushed with emotion. Marilla was left breathless, her eyes misty from his kiss.

“Babe, are you trying to make me jealous by mentioning another guy?”

His fingers traced her moist lips, his voice husky. “Handsome cop? Is he handsomer than your husband, huh?”

“Umm, you’re both handsome,” Marilla blushed like a ripe peach.

“Yeah? Who’s more handsome?” Jareth teased, tickling her.

“You are, Jareth! You’re the handsomest!” Marilla giggled uncontrollably, huddling in his arms.

Evadne crossed her arms and rested her head on Thaddeus's broad shoulder, casting a sidelong glance at Jareth. “If it weren’t for love being blind, it’d be hard to say who’s more handsome.”

Jareth's heart pounded like a drum!

Anyone with eyes could see Evadne’s adoration for Marilla. If he hadn't made his move first, who knows if Evadne might have set Marilla up with one of her brothers to become the Ashbourne family's darling?

With that thought, he clutched Marilla's hand as if someone was trying to steal her away.

Meanwhile, the news mentioned that Jeff had been rushed to the hospital overnight, the reason undisclosed.

No guessing needed—it must have been stress!

And there was Matthew, the CEO of the Chambers Group, standing at the hospital entrance, bombarded by the media, looking as grim as if he’d lost his own father.

Indeed, even someone as mentally tough as him was probably on the verge of a breakdown with troubles inside and out.

“Awesome! This beats any holiday TV special, doesn’t it?” Jareth exclaimed, his strong arm around Marilla, slapping his thigh in delight.

Marilla leaned into him, licking a strawberry-flavored popsicle, then offering it to his lips after a few licks.

He took a bite where she had licked, his large hand gently stroking her hair, his eyes filled with adoration.

“Now, with Bertha and her husband locked up—one for forcing women into prostitution and the other for threesome—they really do match. Like attracts like, as they say.”

Evadne watched Matthew's pale face on the screen with disdain. “The Chambers family is in hot water now. It won’t be long before the prosecutors summon them. Jeff suddenly being hospitalized is probably just a ploy to avoid attention.”

Thaddeus nodded in agreement. “Once the prosecutors start their investigation and call Jeff in, he’ll likely claim illness to dodge the interview.”

“Damn, the cunning old fox!” Jareth cursed through gritted teeth.

“Jareth, what does ‘threesome’ mean?” Marilla asked with innocent, curious eyes.

Leave it to the girl to focus on the important things.

That question silenced them all.

Jareth awkwardly cleared his throat and pinched Marilla’s cheek. “Ahem. When we go back to the room and close the door, I’ll explain it to you.”

The news broadcast ended.

The Chambers family's scandal had taken up a good deal of airtime, feeding their penchant for ostentation.

“It's just so vile to force those girls into such things!”

Marilla's eyes reddened with anger after watching the report. “The police need to lock them up and get justice for the victims!”

“They've been caught, sweetheart. Don’t worry,” Jareth sighed, holding her close.

On the fourth day, Emeric was cornered by the media at a meeting and inevitably asked for his opinion on the Chambers Group's predicament.

"Mr. Ashbourne, given your close personal relationship with Mr. Chambers, what's your take on the misfortune that has befallen the Chambers family?"

Emeric's expression was cool as he replied, "Mr. Chambers and I were simply business associates in the past, and I hope you won't be misled by gossip media. As for my opinion, all I can say is that if you make a mistake, you've got to own up to it and take your lumps. Let's hope the Chambers Group learns from this and doesn't disappoint the nation again."

Jeff, watching the interview from his hospital bed, was so infuriated he smashed the TV to pieces with a chair.

Day by day passed, and Evadne and Thaddeus made no further moves.

Sure enough, as predicted by Evadne, the typically shrewd Avery couldn't keep his cool.

Originally, he wanted to use someone else to do his dirty work, but seeing the storm almost over, he had to act or lose his chance.

That night, following Harvey's trail and cloaked in darkness, Avery made his way to the detention center to meet Bertha.

The once pampered and privileged lady had become a mere prisoner, disheveled and unrecognizable.

Moreover, her face was a patchwork of bruises – it seemed even the female inmates couldn't tolerate her kind's transgressions.

"Dear sister, it's been a while. How are you faring?"

Separated by a glass partition, Avery leaned back, a grin playing on his lips as he looked at her.

"Hah. You cur, drop that nauseating act!" Bertha spat venomously, her eyes bloodshot and wild like a caged she-wolf ready to pounce and tear out his throat, "Don't get too smug! Dad and Matthew will get me out of here! When I'm free, I'll wring your neck! Just you wait!"

"Dear sister, even now, do you still pin your hopes on the men of the Chambers family? How naive."

Avery laughed mockingly, "If they wanted to save you, they would have done it by now. Why would they remain silent while you're on the verge of being sentenced? Not only have they not tried to rescue you, but they haven’t even bothered to visit or arrange for someone to look after you in here. They won't even lift a finger for you anymore?"

He leaned back comfortably, adjusting his glasses with a cold smirk, "In the end, it's me who still cares about you."

A chill ran down Bertha's spine as a storm of emotions contorted her features.

That's right!

With her father and brother's influence, why couldn't they make things easier for her?

Their silence these past days. Did it mean they were sacrificing her, abandoning her completely? Why?

"Ah, damn it all! They're all beasts!" Bertha screamed, her outburst prompting the guards to pin her down.

Avery's joy was hidden behind a mask of concern, "Since nothing can be changed right now, why don't I take some revenge on your behalf? How about that?"