Chapter 24 da
During this period, Thorne managed all the necessary arrangements, instructing his mother to stay by Thalia’s side and ensure she didn’t leave the house.
Once everything was settled, he headed to Montmery, fully prepared for what was to come. To throw his enemies off track, he arranged for someone to impersonate him by driving his car. As expected, an ambush occurred along the route.
However, the plan unfolded seamlessly. With the police lying in wait, Thorne swiftly apprehended all the assailants. The investigation soon revealed that the Moreau Family had orchestrated the plot to have him killed.
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45 Points
When Cassian and his father were publicly exposed and taken into custody, Thorne faced them with a cool and composed demeanor. His voice carried a quiet derision as he remarked, “I’m surprised, Cassian. I didn’t expect someone like you to unravel so easily. What a disappointment.”
Cassian shot to his feet, his face contorted with rage and disbelief. His voice edged with fury as he shouted, “Thorne, was this all part of your plan? Did you set this up deliberately?”
Smirking faintly, Thorne met his gaze with a detached calmness. “Deliberately? Let’s not twist the narrative, shall we? You wanted me dead–I simply protected myself. If anything, you’re reaping the consequences of own choices.”
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Cassian’s fierce glare was filled with venom,
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his hatred palpable. If sheer rage could kill, Thorne would have met his end a thousand times over on the spot. Yet, Thorne remained unfazed, standing as unshakable as ever in the face of Cassian’s wrath.
Interrupting the charged moment, Thorne added with a hint of nonchalance, “Incidentally, I heard your company’s been involved in a range of legal violations. Word is, a full–blown investigation is coming your way.”
The color drained from Cassian’s father’s face as panic took hold. Lowering his head in a desperate attempt at humility, he stammered, “Mr. Everleigh, please. Name your terms. Whatever it is you want–it’s yours. I’ll do anything.”
But Cassian, unable to restrain himself, exploded in anger. “Dad! Why are you
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begging him?”
Lucian, his voice trembling with fury and frustration, shouted back, “Shut your mouth! If it weren’t for your recklessness, our family wouldn’t be in this mess!”
Thorne’s cold smile deepened, his voice cutting but even. “Mercy, Mr. Moreau? That’s rich coming from you when you showed none while scheming to destroy me.”
Lucian’s expression twisted between shame and fury. Though he yelled something in protest, Thorne, disinterested, no longer paid him any attention.
Ultimately, the Moreau family’s downfall left them no choice but to succumb to their reality. Blinded by anger and humiliation, Cassian arranged for someone to relay a message to Thalia, coaxing her to meet with
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him. But his actions backfired spectacularly, as the move inadvertently revealed Thorne’s carefully laid plan to her.
Thalia discovered the truth days later, and when she did, her resentment was palpable. For several days, she refused to speak to Thorne, avoiding him entirely. Each time he approached her, she would turn on her heel and walk away without so much as a glance.
Desperate to make amends, Thorne rushed forward one evening and enveloped her in his arms. “Thalia, wait. Please give me a moment to explain,” he pleaded, his voice tinged with guilt.
When Thalia finally lifted her tear–streaked eyes to meet his, Thorne’s heart ached with regret. “I’m sorry, honey,” he said softly, stroking her back in gentle reassurance. “I didn’t mean to keep things from you. I just
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didn’t want you to get upset. I was afraid you might stress yourself and hurt the baby. They’re not worth that.”
Thalia’s scoff cut through his explanation like a blade, her tone sharp and icy. “And yet you still think you did nothing wrong?”
Caught off guard, Thorne stared at her, momentarily speechless. Thalia, both exasperated and amused by his cluelessness, shook her head and turned to leave again. But this time, Thorne was quicker, grabbing her arm and gently pulling her back.
“Wait–Thalia, please,” Thorne’s voice softened, his eyes warm with sincerity. “I know you’re mad, but… in a strange way, it makes me happy. Happy that you care enough to be this upset. That’s how much you love me.”
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Thalia inhaled sharply, her irritation clearly not abating. “Anything could’ve happened, Thorne. You could’ve gotten hurt or worse. Do you understand that no one would’ve been able to protect you?”
Pausing, Thorne let her words sink in, a bittersweet smile forming on his lips. “You’re right,” he admitted quietly. “I realize now that I scared you. I told my parents because I knew they could help, but I should’ve told you too. I kept it from you because I didn’t want you to worry, but that doesn’t excuse what I did.”
Lowering himself to one knee before her, Thorne took her hand gently and rested it against his cheek, his voice brimming with remorse. “Thalia, I messed up. I was reckless, and I hurt you. I promise, from now on, I’ll never hide anything from you again.
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Please, forgive me.”
After a tense silence, Thalia relented, though her forgiveness came with a lingering air of annoyance. It wasn’t long afterward that preparations began for her hospital admission, scheduled for the day before her delivery.
When the time came, Thalia went into labor, the ordeal far more intense than either had expected. The pain wracked her body, leaving her drenched in sweat and utterly drained despite her diligent prenatal care. Outside the operating room, Thorne paced restlessly, his eyes red–rimmed as her agonized screams tore through the cold, sterile air.
His heart clenched painfully in his chest. Thalia’s frail figure was the center of his world; how could she endure such suffering?
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