Elvis'' pupils dted in shock, but his battle-hardenedposure snapped back in an instant.


    It was Gordon, the driver, who was scared out of his wits, yelping,


    "Oh My God!"


    Thaddeus'' eyes turned icy in a sh, holding Evadne close while hisrge hand cradled the back of her head, pressing her face into his chest,


    "Evadne, don''t look."


    Though it was just a fever, it was a high one, and the patient was least able to handle a shock-it could only worsen her condition.


    However, the man didn''t know that Evadne herself was unfazed by ghouls, having witnessed the most brutal scenes on the battlefield. Nothing could scare her.


    At that moment, not only did she not find the situation horrifying, but she was also as curious as a child, gazing intently at the scene.


    "Holy smokes, are the con artists really going all out these days? Even got themselves up like the living dead, that''s damn terrifying."


    This actually got Elvis excited. His eyes sparkled with intrigue as he flung open the car door, "Let me go see what''s going on. He better be hurt, ''cause if he isn''t, I''ll make sure he is!"


    But before he could step out, the man leapt off the hood, iling and running off like a madman!


    They weren''t in a bustling area, quite secluded, in fact, but the man''s bizarre behavior still drew the attention of the few passersby, who kept a safe distance, not daring to approach.


    "Ha ha ha. HAHAHA!"


    With a string of maniacalughter, the man who hadn''t run far suddenly started convulsing, then stiffened as if struck by lightning, falling back stiff as a board.


    There was a thud as the man''s head hit the sharp edge of the curb, blood gushing out, staining the asphalt red.


    A few braver souls approached, their faces a mix of fear and confusion, debating whether to call an ambnce.


    At that moment, Evadne, though delirious with fever, saw someone in need and her doctor instincts kicked in. Without the men noticing, she slipped out of the car.


    "Evadne!" Thaddeus'' heart clenched as he quickly followed her.


    Wrapped in a nket, Evadne pushed her way to the front of the crowd and knelt down to expertly assess the man''s condition.


    Beads of sweat fell from her forehead, but she paid them no mind.


    Thaddeus and Elvis fought through the crowd to stand by her side.


    Just then, Thaddeus noticed a phoenix pin on the man''s suitpel, his expression darkening.


    "We need to call an ambnce, quick!" a passerby shouted nervously.


    "No need, call the cops," Evadne said gravely, taking a deep breath. "He''s already dead."


    The onlookers gasped and stepped back.


    Within minutes, the police arrived, cordoned off the scene, and carried away the body, now as stiff as dried anchovies, covering it with a white sheet.


    Back in the car, Evadne''s sweat nearly soaked through the nket, but herplexion seemed slightly better.


    "Evadne, how do you feel? Are you okay?" Thaddeus asked, concern wrapping his voice as he held her shoulder.


    "Much better, actually I even feel a bit hot," Evadne said, shifting ufortably, clearly deep in thought.


    "Keep wrapped up, be good. If you catch a draft, you''ll feel even worse,"


    Thaddeus tightened his embrace, afraid she''d throw off the nket.


    "Evadne''s like a valkyrie reincarnated, gets all fired up at the sight of death," Elvis couldn''t help but tease.


    "That guy just died? Just hit his head on the curb and that''s it?" Gordon still shuddered at the memory of the man''s ghastly appearance.


    Although Evadne had only touched the man''s body for a few minutes, she felt his death wasn''t so straightforward,


    "Not necessarily. Before he copsed, he showed signs of a seizure, his muscles contracted rhythmically, and he wasn''t lucid. The cause of death might be epilepsy. We''ll need an autopsy to know for sure."


    "Epilepsy? You wouldn''t know, you''d think he''d just hit his head too hard."


    Elvis tapped his cheek thoughtfully, still seemingly fascinated by the recent brush with horror, "When I was abroad, I encountered some junkies. When they got high or had a fit, they''d be just like that guy, like something out of a zombie flick."


    Evadne leaned into Thaddeus'' embrace, breathing lightly as he looked down and wiped the sweat from her nose,


    "Evadne, that man was from the S-Star Group."


    "S-Star Group?" Evadne was taken aback, "How do you know?"


    That was the stronghold of Aviana''s family.


    "I noticed the phoenix pin on the man''spel earlier; it''s the S-Star Group''s emblem."


    Elvis scoffed dismissively, "Oh, underworld types. Then it really could be he got high and did himself in, overdosing in broad daylight."


    "It''s not like that. Aviana once told me that the S-Star Group strictly prohibits drugs, and none of their members are allowed to touch them or else the consequences are dire," Evadne stated with certainty.


    "That was then. Now Mark''s on hisst legs, his influence waning, can''t keep his underlings in line. If they want to dabble in some dirty business behind his back, I doubt he could stop them," Elvis sneered with a cynical smile.


    "Elvis, don''t talk like that. That''s Aviana''s father. Even if you don''t like him, you should show some respect."


    "Mark, a mobster, not enough, the daughter ends up as someone''s mistress. Forgive my conservative mind, but I can''t respect either of them one bit," Elvis turned to the window, his hard, brooding profile reflected in the ss.


    Thaddeus realized Elvis was still struggling with Chairman Emeric''s multiple marriages. Whenever it came up, it was met with Elvis'' scathing sarcasm.


    "Aviana has been kind to Emeric and us."


    Evadne''s voice was weak, her eyshes lowered, "And she''s had her uterus removed. She''ll never have children with Emeric."


    Thaddeus'' eyes widened in shock, this revtion clearly beyond his awareness.


    Even Gordon, driving, was stunned by the secret depths of high society, ncing repeatedly in the rearview mirror.


    "Evadne, you have a soft heart and a merciful soul. But me, I''m born without sympathy, cold in face and heart. I will never ept a woman whopetes with


    my mother for a man. Aviana, Suri, Myra, they''re all the same to me."


    Elvis crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes, activating what he called his "standby mode."


    It was his non-verbal cue that the conversation was over.


    Evadne and Thaddeus exchanged a resigned look, their collective sigh tinged with frustration and a hint of sorrow.


    They arrived at the upscale private clinic where the service was prompt and the waiting lines non-existent.


    Evadne was seen to immediately; after a series of tests and bloodwork, she was resting in a private room, an IV drip slowly feeding fluids into her system.


    It wasn''t until she drifted off into a groggy sleep that Thaddeus quietly left the room.


    He slipped past Elvis and Gordon, making his way silently to the first floor. Once there, he discreetly booked an appointment with a urologist.