Chapter 788
The room exploded into an uproar; the chatter boiled over like an unwatched pot ready to spill its contents and lift the roof right off!
“Paternity test results for Frederic and Glynnis? Glynnis isn’t really his daughter? Am I watching some soap opera? This twist hit me like a truck!”
“Wasn’t Frederic just all fatherly a second ago, going on about ‘my daughter this, my daughter that“? And now suddenly she’s not his daughter? Talk about a plot twist!”
“Just look at that pained expression on his face–it’s like he’s chewing on a wasp. He must have just found out that Glynnis isn’t his.”
“To think about it, Frederic has been raising a daughter that’s not his own for over two decades. Man, if I were him, I’d be hitting my head against a wall!”
“Elspeth didn’t know he killed his favorite gal, nor did he know he, raised a cuckoo in the nest for years. Does the man have sawdust for brains?”
“That’s what you call a hopeless romantic! To think Mr. Frederic could nurture such a deceitful woman for years, I can only say he’s got the patience of a saint, he’s a real character!”
Mockery, sarcasm, and laughter sliced through the air like a boomerang; each biting comment stroke Frederic’s psyche with the precision of a sniper.
His eyes were glued to the paternity report on the big screen, and his pupils were shrinking and dilating in rapid succession; his face, normally proud and imperious, turned as pale and bloodless as a ghost!
He rubbed his eyes hard, hoping to dispel the nightmare.
But the words “Frederic is excluded from being Glynnis‘ biological father” clung to him like a curse; they echoed over and over in his mind, taunting him relentlessly.
“Mr. Frederic!”
Dennis came running up in panic. “I tried to shut down the screen but it’s no use–it must have been sabotaged! We need to shut this press conference down now. The media have swarmed the front and back doors of the hotel. I’ve sent security to hold them off, but you need to leave, now!”
“Glynnis isn’t my daughter? Is this paternity test real?!” Frederic had his bloodshot eyes fixed on the screen.
No matter how Dennis tugged at him, Frederic felt as if his feet were filled with lead; they were numb from the shock.
“No matter whether this paternity test is real or fake, you can’t admit in public that Glynnis isn’t your daughter. If you do, everything you’ve said will become an indelible stain on your life. Better to swallow this bitter pill than become the spineless butt of jokes for a lifetime!”
Dennis‘ advice seemed the only viable option at the moment.
So, Frederic turned around to face the crowd; feigning calm and indignation, he spoke:
“This is the work of someone with malicious intent; these lies were spread on purpose to tarnish the Abernathy name! The paternity test is a fake; do not be so easily deceived!”
“Is that so?”
Thaddeus‘ eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “Mr. Frederic, even now, do you continue to protect Glynnis, a woman who has no relation to you or the Abernathy family? Are you truly so magnanimous that you can
overlook the fact that Elspeth has made a fool of you for over two decades?”
With that, he lifted the paternity report in his hand, and brazenly displayed it for everyone to see.
“This screen might show lies, but the DNA report I hold is the undeniable truth. Glynnis is indeed not your biological daughter, and not of the Abernathy bloodline!”
The next second, with a debonair flick of his wrist, Thaddeus tossed the report at Frederic’s ashen face!
At that moment, Thaddeus metaphorically stripped Frederic bare for all to see; it was like peeling away not just his clothing but his very skin, leaving him the laughingstock of the world.
Frederic, who
had prided himself on his elite education and sharp intellect, had been played for a fool by Elspeth, an actress from the slums, for all these years!
But what could he do now?
As Elspeth was ash now, what recourse did he have against her?
Under the relentless barrage of the press, the shell–shocked Frederic was whisked away from the conference by Dennis and the bodyguards.
He had intended to stand tall as the head of the Abernathy group and turn the tide. Instead, he had adding yet another dark chapter to the already tarnished reputation of the Abernathy family.
He had become the clown.
capsized,
Frederic was shoved into the car, with his suit wrinkled, and his impeccable hair now a mess; his dignity in tatters.
Once in the car, the reporters pressed their cameras against the windows, snapping away at his pallid face and hurling piercing questions about Glynnis‘ origins.
“What are you waiting for? Drive!” Frederic kicked the driver’s seat, teetering on the edge of a breakdown.
The driver, terrified, floored the accelerator, and the luxury car sped away from the hotel car park.
As Dennis frantically scrolled through Twitter, the trending topic #GlynnisNotFrederic’s Daughter soared to the top and even eclipsed Edith’s previous scandal. He was anxious but dared not share this with Frederic, fearing he might completely lose his composure.
“Why is this happening? Why is this happening to me?!”
“Mr. Frederic, I’ve reviewed the paternity test report that Mr. Thaddeus provided.”
Dennis took a deep breath and broke the unsettling news, “It’s not a fake. It’s authentic.”
“Elspeth, how dare you deceive me, how dare you!” Frederic pounded on the car window; his eyes blazing with rage as he roared in disbelief.
eves were
“Mr. Frederic, getting worked up like this can only hurt you. You know, if you look at it from another angle, this might be a blessing in disguise.”
Dennis spoke in a hushed tone, trying to calm him, “At the end of the day, losing face is the least of your worries. Sure, it’s embarrassing now, but it’s better than being played for a fool by Elspeth and her daughter for the rest of your life. You know better than anyone how much trouble her daughter, the so– called ‘little princess‘, has caused you over the years. For countless time you had to clear up for her messes. You have taken on significant risks to help her out of paternal love, and that goes without saying.
But now, the truth has come to light, she’s not your flesh and blood. This can finally set you free. You don’t have to care about what happens to her anymore.”
Frederic clenched his eyes shut, and his face turned crimson with fury, as if he was struggling to contain his
anger.
“It’s better this way than wait for her to cause a bigger disaster down the line, one that could drag you under and leave you unable to recover.”
That last statement hit home for Frederic.
He slowly opened his eyes, and his body still trembled uncontrollably, “To think she dared to play me! Find that doctor who performed the paternity test for Glynnis back then, I want him dug up, no matter what it takes!”
Having achieved their goal, Thaddeus and Gordon returned to the hospital.
The first thing Thaddeus thought to do was share the sensational news with his beloved. But upon hearing. that Evadne was in the dean’s office, discussing ways to address Marilla’s medical condition,
he didn’t call her out. Instead, he sat quietly in the adjacent waiting room, biding his time.
After what felt like an eternity, Evadne finally entered with a graceful stride.
“Thaddeus!”
The man’s lips curled into a tender smile; he was about to stand, when she knelt between his parted legs, cupped his face, and kissed him deeply.
Their lips fervently intertwined as if she wanted to consume him whole.
Thaddeus‘ breathing grew heavy, and his eyes reddened as he wrapped his arms around her; his tongue dominated the sweet and moist haven of her mouth.
It wasn’t until she gasped for air and uttered soft moans that he released her. Panting, he had his hand roam over her shapely butt:
“Honey, something’s up with you.”
“What do you mean?” Evadne lifted his chiseled jaw, her eyes brimming with emotion.
“You’re being unusually forward. I can’t help feeling like you’re trying to butter me up.” Thaddeus‘ hand traced gentle circles on her softness.
If it were anyone else’s hands, such a move might seem crude.
But when Thaddeus does so, his devastatingly handsome features made it a tantalizing gesture that could make one’s heart skip a beat.
“I’m not buttering you up; consider it a reward.”
Evadne straightened his slightly loosened tie, with her cheeks flushed, “I saw your performance at the press conference today. You did well, and the impact was superb. You should’ve thrown that paternity report right in Frederic’s face, and made his cheeks sting.” © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
“It’s just a shame that this overshadowed Edith’s trending moment.” Thaddeus‘ gaze darkened slightly, feeling that it was not enough.
Evadne’s lips curled into a cold smile, “There are a thousand ways to punish Edith, but the best way to deal with Glynnis and Frederic is precisely this one.”
“Actually, this wasn’t my doing, it was yours.”
Thaddeus tilted his head to look her in the eyes, and said in a voice thick with emotion, “Evadne, had you not displayed that paternity report on the public screen in time, the effect would never have been as profound as
it is now.”
Evadne’s brow furrowed in confusion, “Me? Public screen? Thaddeus, what are you talking about? I didn’t put 3/4
that paternity report up there.”
The confusion in Thaddeus‘ eyes mirrored hers, “It wasn’t you?”
“It wasn’t you who put it up there?”
“Not me.”
Their eyes locked.
The room, once filled with an intoxicating romance, slowly cooled.
Though the outcome was what they desired, yet someone was lurking in the shadows, revealing everything on their behalf.
“Is he a friend or foe?” Evadne whispered, while touching her nose with his.
Thaddeus‘ eyes darkened as he lightly caressed her waist, “Let me investigate. We should have our answer soon enough.”