If they couldn''t avoid seeing each other, a polite nod would suffice. But then she found out the clothes cost over three hundred million. She was a famous actress, but she''d only just made it big and didn''t have that much cash. Three hundred million was already a struggle, and now a priceless artifact was added to the bill... She couldn''t pay it back. She really couldn''t. Even if she spent three lifetimes working off the debt, she''d never be able to pay him back.


    In other words, her dream of cutting ties with him was impossible. She had no right to even suggest it. He was her creditor.


    "Don''t worry about the money," Elysia said. "I have some, and my dad and Tarquin do too. Just say the word, and I''ll transfer it to you anytime. But... why do you want to cut ties with Keaton? I thought you two were friends."


    Winona stammered, "He and I... we... Ugh, my head hurts. Elysia, can we talk about this in person when I see you next?"


    Elysia knew not to push. "Okay," she said. "If anything is bothering you, just tell me and Blossom. Don''t keep it all bottled up."


    "You''re the best, love you. I''ve got to go now."


    "Okay, bye."


    After hanging up, Elysia immediately turned to Tarquin. "You were right! Something is definitely going on between them! Winona wants to cut ties with Keatonpletely!"


    Tarquin, who had been lost in thought about the situation in the mountains, wasn''t surprised. "Why does she want to cut ties?"


    "I don''t know, Winona didn''t say, and I didn''t dare ask too much." Even with the closest of friends, you had to respect boundaries. If Winona didn''t say it outright, it meant she didn''t want to talk about it yet, and it would be rude to press her.


    "When you get a chance, you should talk to Keaton," Elysia said. "And let me make this clear: no matter what happened between them or how he ns to handle it, he is not to make Winona upset."


    Tarquin nodded. "Alright. I''ll talk to him when he''s feeling a bit better."


    "What''s wrong with him?"


    "He hasn''t been feeling welltely. He''s always nauseous and throwing up. He pukes up anything he eats, and he dry-heaves on an empty stomach."


    "...Has he seen a doctor?"


    "Benjamin checked him out. He said there''s nothing seriously wrong."


    "It''s probably his lifestyle then. Staying up all night and drinking is terrible for your body. Tell him to take better care of himself."


    "I will. And don''t you worry about Winona and Keaton. Knowing Keaton''s personality,


    no matter what happened, he would never let Winona suffer. You can rx."


    Elysia let out a long sigh. Her


    attention was nowpletely


    diverted, and she thought her earlier anxiety must have been because of Winona. Her nervousness had eased, but her chest still felt tight, her breath was short, and her heart ached with sharp, stabbing pains It''s been two weeks. Elliot should be contacting you soon. When he does, please ask him if everything is okay in the mountains."


    "I will. Let''s have Heath arrange dinner. I''l take you upstairs to rest for a bit. Elysia looked terrible, her face pale and sickly. Unsettled Tarquin helped her up to their bedroom to lie down.


    In the mountains.


    Evan didn''t stop crying until it waspletely dark and he had no tears left. He asked Elliot, his voice choked with sobs, Elliot, tell me the truth. Was Bernard murdered? The blood he coughed up... it wasn''t normal. And his lips were purple, like he was poisoned."


    Elliot frowned and looked at the scarred man beside them. The man''s eyes were


    red, his brow deeply furrowed. "He was poisoned..."