The news of Jareth and Mari''s courthouse wedding set the town of Elmsworth abuzz, racing through the nation like wildfire.


    The heartfelt vows and the envy-inducing fireworks disy, meant for Mari alone, immortalized their epic romance in the hearts and memories of countless onlookers.


    Even after the buzz had died down, and time had marched on, a simple search for "wedding" would still bring up that image, and the romance of that day woulde flooding back.


    Under the starlit sky, Elsie stood wrapped in her ck trench coat, gazing up at the fireworks painting the night.


    Her eyes sparkled, the crisp night air tossing her seaweed hair, as a joyful smile graced her crimson lips.


    How wonderful.


    Mari, the girl she knew, had finally found her forever with the one she loved, a happy ending atst.


    Elsie was a poppy bloomed from the soil of darkness and sin; her life was not one meant for such pure love, nor was she meant to walk in the light.


    At midnight, as the fireworks ended, the world fell silent and empty.


    Feeling a hollow ache, Elsie turned to head back to her room when her phone vibrated.


    Tom: [Picture]


    She tapped the message open, zooming in until her eyes narrowed.


    The photo was taken at night, showing Harvey emerging from a vi,ughing


    and chatting with a familiar middle-aged man.


    Elsie: [One of them is Harvey, the other Wayne?]


    Tom: [Yep, the current Chief of the Elmsworth Police Department!]


    A tightness clenched in her chest.


    Elsie: [He''s never been to the Velvet Haven, yet he''s a VIP for Avery?]


    Tom: [If I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn''t believe that Wayne, paragon of virtue in public, is under Mr. Chambers''mand! I managed to snap this after tailing Harvey for weeks. He never brings us when he meets Wayne, which means they''re discussing secrets that can''t see the light of day! Ms. Archer, this is a big lead! If we dig deep into Wayne, we can expose the fatal w in Avery''s operation!]


    Excitement surged through Elsie, but it was quickly followed by a chilling realization.


    Avery had been ying the game of favor and corruption since his days in Helgen, with half of the city''s officials in his pocket, either bribed or ckmailed into obedience.


    Now, he had shifted battlegrounds, spreading his influence across Elmsworth like a virus.


    Given time, his pawns would dominate the Elmsworth chessboard, and even Thaddeus and Jareth working together might not be able to uproot him entirely.


    Elsie: [Tom, end your surveince on Harvey now before he notices. Back off! And don''t even think about investigating Wayne. Someone who''s made it to Chief of Police is no simple character. Listen to me, don''t do anything rash, got it?]


    Tom: [But we''re so close to a big fish.]


    Elsie: [Tom, in my life, there are only two people who matter to me. You''re one of them. I can''t have you getting hurt! Leave the rest of the investigation to me. Don''t act on your own, hear me?]


    After a pause.


    Tom: [Alright, I''ve got it. But, Ms. Archer, may I ask who the other person is that''s important to you?]


    Elsie''s slender, boneless fingers clutched her trench coat, her eyes slowly closing.


    She could almost feel that man, hugging her from behind, his warm breath and soft chuckle close to her ear, banishing all the cold.


    Meanwhile.


    Outside the Velvet Haven, in the shadowy woods, Elvis had been silently standing there since the fireworks began.


    The night sky burned bright, and all of Elmsworth knew.


    She must have seen them too.


    In Elvis'' life, always skirting danger, there was no time for real romance, no


    inclination for such grand gestures.


    Tonight, the fireworks were beautiful.


    He was basking in Jareth''s limelight.


    But without someone to share it with, even the most spectacr disy loses its luster.


    So, uncontrobly, he thought of her. Risking it all, he found himself here.


    "You must have seen them too," Elvis murmured, looking up at the brightly lit the Velvet Haven. "Does it feel lonely, watching alone? I feel lonely."


    The news was all over the headlines, and Hamilton couldn''t be more pleased, scrolling through his phone. That evening, he indulged in an extra two bowls of his favorite dish, loosening his belt with a satisfied sigh.


    Though he knew Mari was still recovering and the timing wasn''t perfect, as a doting grandfather, he naturally wanted his darling to have a grand entrance into the Fairhaven family as Jareth''s wife.


    It was, after all, a matter of prestige for the influential family.


    Thaddeus and Evadne joined Grandpa for dinner, and afterward, they indulged


    his lively chat, dreaming of Jareth and Mari''s future bliss.


    "Ah! Murray! Bring out that thing I''ve prepared!" Hamilton beamed, rubbing his hands in anticipation.


    Soon after, Murray approached with a document in hand, a smile on his lips, and handed it to Hamilton.


    Hamilton ced the document before the young couple.


    "Would you do an old man the honor, Mr. Thaddeus and President Ashbourne, of reviewing what I''ve put together for Mari''s wedding?"


    Thaddeus picked up the document and started to peruse it, with Evadne leaning over in curiosity, their headsing close together as they reviewed Hamilton''s generous offering.


    The list wasid out clear as day: Hamilton had left Mari the family mansion, acres of primend, a string of boutiques, a fleet of luxury cars, and even a private jet.


    And among these treasures, a small yet significant share in the Abernathy Group!


    The shares were the crown jewel of the inheritance. With the Abernathy Group''s unstoppable business momentum, Mari could live off the dividends alone— which were nothing short of substantial—even if she didn''t lift a finger all year! "Wow, Mari''s gonna be a heiress!"


    Evadne licked her lips with envy, "If I ever hit rock bottom, I''ll just crash at hervish digs!"


    "You think I''d let you go broke?"


    Thaddeus said with a doting smile, nting a kiss on her smooth forehead, "Even if I had to panhandle on the streets, I wouldn''t let you suffer."


    His words were silly, Evadne thought, but they still made her cheeks flush with a rosy warmth. She nestled against his shoulder, bashfully tucking her chin down,


    "Who said anything about panhandling? You make it sound like I''m some kind of spendthrift."


    Watching the young couple so sweetly entwined, Hamilton couldn''t help but beam, "Ha! Even if my grandson ended up begging on the streets, he''d end up the king of vagabonds, and na, you''d be the queen by his side, second to none in splendor!"


    Thaddeus chuckled with a furrowed brow, "Grandpa, you really think highly of me."


    "Ha! And na, you''ve got no reason to envy Mari. If you saw the gifts I''ve prepared for Thaddeus, every woman in Elmsworth would be green with envy!" Hamilton winked, nudging Thaddeus with meaningful nces. Thaddeus straightened up, his heartbeat quickening as a faint blush tinged his handsome face.


    "Grandpa."


    As Evadne''s heart fluttered, her face flushed with anticipation and at a loss for words, her phone rang.


    It was Aaron.


    "Grandpa, I need to take this call."


    She excused herself from the living room and walked into the quiet hallway,


    "Aaron, what''s up?"


    "Evadne, I''m at the police station. I''ve just seen Gordon. What in the world is going on?" Aaron''s voice wasced with urgency.


    "The police station? What happened?" Evadne''s eyes widened in confusion. "He''s been arrested on the spot for drug trafficking by our officers!"