Chapter <b>535 </b>


    As the evening lights flickered to life, the mood in Elmsworth was far from serene.


    Evadne and Thaddeus had hastily convened with Jason, and together they raced back to their hometown Jason, in a state of near panic, had been calling Nydia incessantly, only to be met with her voicemail and finally, the stark silence of a powered–down phone


    –


    “Nydia, why aren’t you answering my calls. Nydial Jason muttered to himself, his voice tinged with desperation


    “Jason, try to stay calm, Thaddeus said, catching his friend’s bloodshot eyes in the rearview mirror. His voice was a soothing balm. Tve sent Gordon and a team to Nydia’s school. We’re just half an hour from Elmsworth. We’ll head straight to Elmsworth Film <b>Academy</b>”


    Evadne’s hands clenched her dress, her smooth forehead beaded with sweat. “Thaddeus, I regret it. I shouldn’t have <b>lost </b>my


    temper with Nydia<b>” </b>


    “Evadne, don’t me yourself, Thaddeusforted, pulling her into his embrace. “Nydia’s not the type to hold a grudge. She knows how much you care about her”


    “But Thaddeus. I’m still so scared”


    “Don’t be, I’m here for you. We’ll find her together, Thaddeus reassured her, but his own emotions were a whirlwind of concern for Nydia and a strange sense of pleasure from Evadne’s dependence on him.


    Even though he knew that the indomitable daughter of the Ashbourne family was far more powerful than men, he still expected her to rely on him asionally.


    He was willing to be the man behind Evadne silently.


    He didn’t care about how othersughed at him. He only hoped that he could be used by her and reflect his value as a man to the greatest extent.


    Upon reaching the Elmsworth Film Academy, they parked discreetly at the back. Gordon, drenched in sweat, approached them with dire news. Mr. Abernathy, Mrs. Abernathy! We’ve turned the school upside down and even had the dorm supervisor check Nydia’s room. There’s no sign of her!”


    Their hearts sank.


    “And I’ve checked the nearby CCTV footage. There’s no trace of Nydia


    Meaning, Nydia had lied. She never went back to school.


    “Miss Evadne, we should call the police Jason urged, his voice quivering


    “But they require a forty–eight–hour waiting period before filing a missing persons report! Gordon added, clearly distressed.


    Evadne, without hesitation, dialed Aaron’s number. “Aaron! Nydia’s gone off the grid this isn’t like her at all. Can you help?”


    –


    “Missing? I just saw her two hours ago at the precinct, Aaron joked, unaware of the gravity of the situation. He then revealed that Nydia hade to file an assault charge against Byron.


    “You’ve seen Nydia?”


    <b>“</b><b>Yes</b>, Nydia came to the police station to look for me.”


    Aaron paused, but still decided to tell them, “Evadne, <b>today </b>Nydia came to me to report and testify against Byron for attempted


    rape.


    “What? Why didn’t you say so earlier!” Evadne was simply at the level of ckness in her eyes


    Thaddeus and Jason also heard it clearly.


    The revtion hit them like a ton of bricks, especially Jason, whose fists clenched <b>as </b>if grasping at his racing heartbeat


    <b>“</b><b>Evadne</b>, calm down.”


    “How can I calm down? How can you allow her to report the case? What if this gets out? What if those media specte wildly or say something evil?” Evadne <b>was </b>so angry that her mouth was fuming


    Aaron tried to soothe her. “I handled her case personally. We spoke briefly, and I let her leave after taking her statement. As for her being out of touch her phone might just be out of battery”


    <b>“</b>Aaron, you are so inconsiderate!“.


    Evadne, frustrated, pressed her hand to her forehead, while Thaddeus’s <b>jaw </b>tightened.


    As they deliberated on their next move, a group of gossiping students emerged from the back of the school, their voices carrying the shocking news that <b>Nydia </b><b>was </b>live–streaming an usation against Byron for attempted assault.


    Jason staggered backward, his face drained of color.


    The students‘ scornful words filled the air, painting Nydia as a fame–seeker using scandal to gain attention and potential entry into the entertainment industry. One particrly spiteful girl withrge waves in her hair sneered. “She’s trying to gain notoriety by implicating the Chambers Group’s Byron! It’s all for the sake of trending.”


    The scornfulmentary cut deep- Nydia’s reputation and their family’s good name were <b>at </b>stake. Thaddeus, Evadne, and Jason, now united by amon fear, understood the urgency of the moment. They needed to find Nydia and unravel the truth behind her distressing broadcast before it was toote.


    “Yeah, seriously, Nydia must be out of her mind craving the spotlight like that! Doesn’t she know how important a girl’s reputation is? Has she no shame?”


    The girl sneered with a wave of her perfectly styled hair, Infamy is still fame, and it’s the fastest track to the top. But why on earth did she have to mess with Byron? Going live and spilling those beans is like waving a red g at the Chambers family. The Chambers Group won’t let her off easy. She’s ying a dangerous game!”


    Another girl snickered gleefully, “Even if she did hook up with Byron, you can bet she was the one throwing herself at him. Probably didn’t get the payday she was hoping for, and now she’s airing her grievances online. Hrious!”


    The taunts and insults were unbearable, vicious to the core.


    “Damn it! These gossiping hens, how dare they talk about Ms. Nydia like that! Gordon fumed, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles cracked


    Thaddeus’s brow furrowed, his eyes churning with a storm of anger.


    Jason’s gaze was bloodshot with rage, not caring that they were women on the other side, his restraint wearing thin His muscles bulged under his suit<b>, </b>veins on his hands standing out like they were about to burst.


    Just as the men were about to react, a figure with the force of a thunderp moved faster than them both. The sharp click of high heels echoed with fury as she strode toward those giggling girls


    The chatter ceased as they looked up to see Evadne standing before them, her presence somanding it silenced them instantly


    “You–you are?


    Smack!


    Evadne’s slim arm whipped through the air, her hand striking the face of the girl who had insulted her sister One, two ps rang


    out, fueled by righteous fury


    The girl stood dumbfounded for a second before bursting into tears.


    The rest were stunned, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events.


    But the girl with curl hair, quick on her feet, took a couple of steps back, ready to bolt.


    Evadne’s reflexes were lightning fast. She grabbed the girl’s hair<b>, </b>yanking her back like a ragdoll


    “Ow, <b>ow</b>! Let go. let gor


    the girl felt as if her scalp would split, her face still stinging from the ps as Evadne pulled her around


    The other girls huddled together, trembling. They had never seen such swift and terrifying ps.


    While it was just a p, to them, it felt as if the stunningly beautiful woman was beating someone to the brink


    Evadne’s eyes were cold as she released her grip


    <b>The </b>girl crashed against the metal door, crumbling to the ground in a heap.


    “Is that Evadne?”


    “It looks like her.”


    “How could it be her, why would she be here?”


    With an elegant motion, Evadne brushed off her hands, which were now reddened from the ps, and looked down at the girl with the foul mouth. Her l*ps carved into a slight, chilling smile, “Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Evadne, the so–called ‘delusional tramp‘ <b>Nydia’s </b>elder sister”