Evadne felt a shiver run through her.


    Ave?


    A name from a distant past, almost forgotten, now once again echoing in her ears.


    The image of a young man with a gentle smile and pale, fragile appearance, whom she had once known, resurfaced in her mind.


    Unfortunately, the harshness of the world had turned this once innocent youth into a demon causing sufferings and chaos.


    With no other choice, for her family, for the people, and for those under his control and harmed by him, she had to take up the sword and fight against this evil.


    Seeing Evadne lost in thought, Avery thought she was swayed by his words.


    Driven by intense emotions, his breath grew heavy. He couldn''t help but lean in to kiss the lips he had longed for.


    Click-


    A sharp, crisp sound pierced the darkness.


    In the next moment, Avery''s tall and slender body stiffened.


    There was a chilling sensation on his neck. Squinting, his pale lips curved into a faint smile, "Evadne, your skills haven''t declined at all. Can''t Thaddeus not give you a sense of security? Do you still feel the need to push yourself this hard, to protect yourself so vigntly?"


    Evadne''s eyes were as cold as des, and the butterfly knife in her hand was steady against the man''s pulsating throat, "Thaddeus and I are partners, in marriage and in battle. The sense of security he gives me is irreceable, but I''ve never been the type to seek protection from men. I can protect myself, and if necessary, I can protect Thaddeus at all costs as well."


    Avery''s dark eyes, filled with a bloody tide, seemed ready to engulf Evadnepletely.


    He had crawled through thorns and darkness to reach where he was, and although he had been supported by his mentor, he was still covered in countless scars and wounds.


    No one had ever protected him; even as a frail child, he had to care for his sick mother.


    Now, the woman he loved the most was standing before him, dering vehemently to protect the person he loathed to his core.


    Undoubtedly, she was cruelly tearing his heart into pieces, then ruthlessly trampling on them!


    "Avery, do you not find it ridiculous to use yourself as a bargaining chip?" Evadne''s lips curled into a sneer, and the angle of the butterfly knife shifted slightly. "Your sins are countless, what worth does your humanity hold now? Are you worthy to negotiate with me? Are you worthy of making me abandon Thaddeus? I will never choose you in this life or the next.


    And if there''s a shred of conscience left in you, stop your wicked deeds. Otherwise, I will stop at nothing, no matter the cost, even at the risk of my own life, to destroy you and whoever stands behind you!"


    With those words, Evadne''s fingers moved deftly, slicing a thin line across Avery''s expensive zer cor before pushing him away and leaving decisively.


    With a loud bang, the door of the stairwell was mmed shut.


    The sensor light above his head lit up, Avery clenched his lips tightly, slowly raised his hand, and touched his painful neck.


    Lowering his head, he saw his fingertips stained with conspicuous blood; he broke into a madugh, the sinister light in his eyes undiminished.


    Outside, Harvey''s voice came, "Mr. Chambers, are you there?"


    "Come in."


    Harvey entered, gently closing the door behind him, and faced Avery''s somber figure, "Mr. Chambers, Chairman Emeric and his people are preparing to leave. Would you like to see them off?"


    "Whether I see them off or not makes no difference. No matter how I try to please Emeric, his attitude towards me will not change."


    Avery continued to stare at the bloodstains on his fingertips, unable to shake off the image of Evadne''s luscious lips, and his heart fluttered, "Thaddeus is his son- inw now. Thaddeus can grovel at Emeric''s feet, but I, Avery, cannot. Evadne is all that matters to me."


    "Heh, what else can Thaddeus do besides grovel? And yet, Ms. Evadne and Chairman Emeric seem to buy into his act!" Harvey''s face was full of disdain and indignation, "Just goes to the facts that, the fiercest women can fall for the most persistent men!"


    "Evadne''s found out about my dealings with Warner."


    Avery''s gaze turned icy, his fists clenching, "She even discovered that I''ve been instructing Warner to sell the so-called drugs, and using members of the S-Star Group for drug experiments."


    Harvey looked shocked, "How did she find out so quickly?!"


    Ms. Ashbourne was no ordinary woman!


    Though she is female, she was a formidable opponent to be feared!


    "Chasel is now half a member of their Ashbourne family, Lionel is the head of the S-Star Group, and he has close ties with her. Plus, there''s Aaron, who is currently a police captain. If Evadne wants to find out something, it''s only a matter of time."


    Even at this stage, Avery still looked upon Evadne with admiration.


    "Did Ms. Evadne only find out about Warner? What about Director-General Wayne?" Harvey couldn''t help but worry.


    "Probably not yet, or else, with Evadne''s cunning nature, if she had such important evidence, she would have reported me to the police already."


    Avery adjusted his gold-rimmed sses and smirked, "However, Evadne has indeed reminded me this time. We need to be more careful now. I know what Evadne and Thaddeus are capable of. Since they have found out about Warner, he became a ticking time bomb now. So, we need to deal with him before they do."


    "Now the drugs have spread through half of Elmsworth through the underground market. Warner''s no longer of much use to us." Harvey''s expression was sinister, "Keeping him around is just a liability."


    "I like to make the most out of things; his sacrifice should have value."


    Avery stared at his reflection in the fire hydrant''s ss, a ghostly silhouette against the urban night.


    Part human, part demon.


    "People say a dapper man is a sight to behold, but the darkness I wear needs the Brights and their entire crew tounder it clean."


    "Don''t worry, they''ll definitely take the me. Wasn''t that the arrangement you and the master agreed on from the start?"


    Harvey bowed slightly. "I''ll inform Director-General Wayne to prepare in theing days."


    "It''s time for the Star Group to take action as well," Avery said coldly as he brushed past Harvey.