His Ex-Wife: The Billionaire (Evadne and Thaddeus)

Chapter 882

Evadne felt a shiver run through her as she activated her skill-eavesdropping. Pressing her ear against the door,

the conversation inside becclearer.

"Dad, what's going on? You've been on our case for years to find girlfriends, and now that I've fallen for Stella

and want to see where it goes, why are you so against it?"

Bennett, the most gentle and compliant of all the Ashbourne siblings, even in the face of disagreement with their

father, patiently sought an explanation. "Debby really likes Stella too; they often hang out in Helgen and get

along great. Stella is the sole princess of Helgen, a match far above my station, Dad. Why aren't you pleased?"

"She could be a princess from any country, a fairy from the skies, or mud from the earth, and | wouldn't care!"

Emeric took a deep breath, his eyes reddening, a strong resonance vibrating in his voice, "But she cannot be

from the Helgen royal family. | will never agree to it!"

"Dad! Why?" Bennett's voice crackled, utterly baffled.

From her eavesdropping spot, Evadne was equally puzzled.

If their father's displeasure was merely due to Princess Stella being from Helgen, perhaps reminiscent of their

mother, that could be understandable. But his opposition to Bennett dating Stella seemed unnecessarily harsh.

It was as if his son was intending to marry the daughter of an enemy.

This only fueled the flames of Evadne's already burning curiosity.

"There's no reason."

Emeric, trembling all over, closed his eyes and rubbed his feverish forehead. "The Helgen royal family is

notoriously scandalous, a cesspit of darkness! | don't want my son muddying his boots in their waters, nor do |

want you tainted by their foul environment. You've strove so hard in the military, enduring much to achieve your

current rank. Would you throw all that away for a girl?"

Bennett, ever so insightful, his gaze heavy, "Dad, you're not tellingeverything."

Emeric's heart tightened, instinctively avoiding his son's piercing gaze.

"Through all these years, you've never demanded anything specific from us brothers, letting us make our own

choices, without interference."

Bennett's voice was hoarse, his breathing ragged, "Even when our eldest brother and Dr. Bright got together,

you were their strongest supporter, fully backing them. So why can't you acceptand Stella? Please, tell me,

is there ssort of feud or complication between you and the Helgen royal family?"

Outside, Evadne's lips were pressed tightly, her hands, pressed against the door, trembled with tension,

revealing the blue veins beneath her pale skin.

"This has nothing to do with you kids. Stop asking," Emeric dismissed with a wave, keeping his lips sealed.

Yet, Bennett persisted, "Mom was from Helgen, and later beca citizen here with your help. Your aversion,

even fear, of the royal family-does it have something to do with Mom and the royal family?!"

Evadne's heart pounded against her ribs.

She remembered discussing her mother's origins with Suri, and Thaddeus’ theory that her mother might have

cfrom the direction of Helgen.

All signs pointed to one possibility-

Their mother was connected to the Helgen royal family!

But information on the Helgen royal family was easily accessible online, listing only one son and one daughter

born to the king and queen. The prince, despite his frail health, was the sole heir due to the patriarchal line of

succession.

The puzzle was, there was no mention of their mother among the royals.

If their mother truly had ties to the Helgen royal family, what role did she play there?

And how did she end up in exile in Skyrim?

"No, it's nothing."

Emeric, his once sharp gaze now dim, felt an overwhelming fatigue, slumping into the couch, his body weary,

"Your mother has nothing to do with the royal family. Let it be."

Evadne's jaw clenched!

A double denial often means confirmation.

Bennett, though gentle, could be incredibly stubborn, "Dad, if that's the case, | can't possibly cut ties with Stella

now! She's a member of the royal family, my only link to the Helgen royals. Only by getting close to her can |

uncover the truth about my mother's past and what exactly happened to her!"

"Nonsense!"

Emeric's vision blurred with anger, his body shaking uncontrollably, his speech slurred, "You think royal affairs

are yours to probe into? And if you truly care for that girl, you wouldn't approach her with ulterior motives! She's

gone to great lengths to be with you, showing her genuine feelings. If you're using her, is that fair to her? If you

play games with a princess, do you think the royal family will let you off? Do you think Helgen's agents are for

show?!"

Bennett's heart ached, his hands trembling.

He understood his father's logic; he wasn't heartless.

But without uncovering his mother's past, how could he openly pursue a future with Stella?

"Sort things out with that princess. You two cannot be together."

"Dad, you always praisedfor being the most obedient child."

Bennett fought the bitter taste in his throat, blinking back the sting in his eyes, "I've never defied you, but this

time, I'm asking for a chance to be with Stella, please?"

"Nol"

Emeric exploded with rage, his body trembling uncontrollably, his words barely coherent, "She or me!"

Then, his eyes went dark, his limbs stiffening!

"Dad!"

Bennett, pale as a ghost, rushed to his father's side in panic.

"Dad!"

Outside, Evadne, who had been eavesdropping, burst into the room, frantically dialing Chasel's number while

trying to administer first aid to her father with a calm efficiency that belied her racing heart.

"Dad, | didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry!" Bennett, a towering figure of a man, was reduced to a kneeling

mess beside his father, tears clinging to his lashes.

When Emeric suddenly fell ill, Evadne and Cassius decided against alarming the rest of the Ashbourne family,

enlisting only Thaddeus and Chasel for help. After all, Jareth and his bride's wedding was just around the corner,

and nobody wanted to cast a shadow over the couple's joyous occasion.

Fortunately, after taking his medicine and receiving sbasic treatment from Chasel, Emeric's condition

stabilized, and he drifted off into a fitful sleep.

"What in the world happened for him to suddenly fall like this?" Chasel, standing shoulder to shoulder with

Cassius, couldn't help but express his concern.

"It's all my fault. I'm to blame! It's because of me, my failure, that dad..." Bennett's head hung low, overwhelmed

with guilt, feeling as though thorns were tightening around his heart with every beat.

Thaddeus wrapped his arm around Evadne's waist, sensing her gloom and intuitively knowing something

unpleasant had transpired.

"If it were someone else, | might believe it. But blaming yourself, Bennett? That's something | can't accept,"

Cassius said, shaking his head in confusion and disbelief.

"Cassius, Chasel, Thaddeus."

Evadne took a deep breath and softly spoke, "Could you please give us a moment alone? | need to talk to

Bennett privately."

The three men, each with a different expression, respectfully left the room.

"Evadne, are you okay?" Thaddeus asked, his concern evident as he looked down at her.

"I'm fine. Just wait outside for me," Evadne reassured him, gently squeezing his hand with a tender smile that

soothed his worries.

Soon, only Bennett and his sister were left by their father's bedside.

"Evadne."

"Bennett, | want to talk to you about mom."

At the mention of their mother, Evadne, who had been trying to keep her emotions

in check, felt a tear escape her eye. "From dad's reaction tonight, combined with

my own research and deductions, it's clear that mom was from Helgen. She ended up in Skyrim after facing

shard times, and that's indisputable. But there's something else I'm almost certain of now. Mom had a

significant connection to the Helgen royal family. This connection is something both mom and dad spent their

lives avoiding, a secret they never wanted us to uncover."