Jason tried to push aside his longing for his darling wife and got back to work:


    "Ever since we hit up Boston, Wayne hasn''t even been home. He''s essentially living at the office. Sends his guys out for groceries and everything. It''s like he''s cut off from the world."


    Evadne''s eyes darkened thoughtfully, "He hasn''t even visited his wife?"


    "Not once."


    Jason frowned in disbelief, "The more I think about it, the weirder it gets."


    Evadne twirled her pen, her gaze unreadable, "Not weird at all. Wayne''s sharp. He knows he''s in dangerous waters. Any wrong move could be fatal."


    Jason gasped, "President Ashbourne, you mean?"


    "Snakey Avery might beying a trap for him as we speak."


    Evadne''s grip on her pen tightened, whitening her knuckles, "Perhaps he already tried once, but Wayne dodged it. That''s why he''s on high alert, staying behind closed doors.


    And there''s no safer ce than the police station. Even Avery, with all his cunning, wouldn''t dare strike there. That''d be walking right into a lion''s den."


    Jason''s heart clenched, "President Ashbourne, we can''t let anything happen to Wayne. He''s our key to taking down Avery! It sounds like Avery''s out for blood."


    "But if he just hides out, Avery can''t touch him, and we can''t get to Avery either."


    Evadne inteced her fingers, resting her chin thoughtfully on them, her gaze deepening, "So, we need Wayne to step out from behind those police station doors."


    Jason scratched his head, confused, "But President Ashbourne, wouldn''t that just give Snakey Avery his chance?"


    "I''m on the same ying field as he is. If he sees an opportunity, so do I."


    Evadne''s eyes warmed, a smile ying at the corners, "Besides, I trust Thaddeus. Even the slightest chance, he''ll seize it firmly."


    Right on cue, Thaddeus called.


    "Thaddeus, how''s it going? Made it to Azeroth City?" Evadne''s voice was tender, like a gentle breeze.


    "Evadne, I''m here, heading to the meeting now."


    Thaddeus sounded rushed, "Murray called, said Grandpa''s been off since returning from Boston. Hasn''t eaten all day. Can you take him to the hospital?" "Thaddeus, what''s with that tone!"


    Evadne''s eyes widened in mock outrage, "He''s your grandpa, doesn''t that make him mine too? Taking care of him is only natural. Why the formality?"


    "Evadne, you''ve been running on fumes for days, and with you holding down the fort at KS Group, I just didn''t want to overburden you." Thaddeus chuckled helplessly, always soft when it came to his wife.


    "I''m not tired. For family, I''ve got endless energy."


    Evadne sighed softly, her voice smooth as silk, "Alright, I''ll take Grandpa to the hospital right away. Focus on your work; leave home to me."


    Jason quickly arranged the car, and they sped off to Elmsworth.


    Picking up Grandpa and Mr. Murray from Havenbrook, they headed to the hospital.


    In the VIP ward,


    Hamilton, looking pale with an IV drip, rested against the bed as Evadene sat beside him, helping him drink water.


    "na. I can''t thank you enough foring from Skyrim to be here." Hamilton''s eyes were teary, deeply moved.


    "Grandpa, it''s no trouble at all. I was nning to visit anyway."


    Evadne''s eyes shone with a clear softness, gentlyforting, "I talked to the doctor. You''re just a bit under the weather from the travel and not being used to the food here. It''s nothing serious, don''t worry."


    "Ah, I''m just an old man now, not much use."


    Hamilton grumbled, the very picture of a cherished elder, "Just went to attend my darling granddaughter''s wedding and ended up like this. Quite embarrassing."


    "Not at all, Grandpa. You''re strong, and I know you''ll be around for many more years." Evadne squeezed his hand, guilt edging her voice.


    She knew the toll of age and didn''t want him to overexert himself.


    "If it wasn''t for Mari''s wedding, I wouldn''t have wanted you to travel."


    "na, over this past year, I''ve felt myself slowing down. Sometimes, I go to sleep wondering if I''ll wake up in the morning."


    Hamilton''s eyes held a fervent hope, his voice thick, "All I wish for in my remaining years is to see you and Thaddeus get married."


    "Grandpa." Evadne''s voice wavered with emotion.


    "Back in the day, I decided you two should be together, and you didn''t even have a proper wedding. I want to make it up to you, ensure you have no regrets." "Grandpa, there will be a wedding."


    Evadne''s eyes softened, reassuring him, "Things are just a bit chaotic on our end right now. I''ve just taken over as CEO of KS Group, and my dad''s still sick.


    Once we get through this patch, we''ll start nning the wedding."


    "Is it because that blockhead Thaddeus hasn''t proposed yet?!" Hamilton''s frustration was palpable, "That boy''s always had more brawn than brains! When he gets back, I''m going to give him a piece of my mind!"


    "Grandpa, he''s already proposed." Evadne, hoping to calm him, spun a sweet lie. "Really? When did this happen?!" Hamilton''s eyes sparkled with excitement.


    "Just while we were in Boston."


    "All this and not a peep."


    "Ha, why make such a fuss? We can''t overshadow Jareth and Mari''s big day," Evadne chuckled, trying to lighten the mood.


    "Ah, your big brother sure knows how to make an entrance, more creative than my granddaughter''s wedding," Grandpa mused, smacking his lips thoughtfully. Evadne nearly burst intoughter.


    After Grandpa fell asleep, Evadne quietly left the hospital room, letting Mr. Murray take over.


    Feeling hungry, she was about to head down to the cafeteria when Jason approached her with a serious look.


    "President Ashbourne, guess who I just saw?"


    "Who? It can''t be Snakey Avery, can it? We can''t be that unlucky," Evadne said casually, chugging her bottled water.


    Jason''s expression darkened, "It actually is."


    Evadne spat out her water in shock, her face turning beet red.


    Jason wished he could pat her on the back forfort, but he had to maintain hisposure, so he handed her a tissue instead:


    "But I didn''t see Avery himself, just bumped into his secretary heading towards the VIP wards."


    "Harvey?" Evadne dabbed her lips, her gaze turning sharp.


    "Yeah, that little weasel."


    Jason clenched his teeth in anger, "He''s always with Avery, like they''re joined at the hip. If he''s here, Avery can''t be far.


    I sneaked a peek and wondered if Snakey Avery caught something like HIV or syphilis and doesn''t want anyone to know. The Chambers Group''s security has locked down the south wing so tight, not even a fly could get in."


    Evadne listened, then thrust the water bottle into his arms, her eyes shing with a cold determination:


    "Is that so? Well then, it''s time for an old ''friend'' to pay a visit to the patient."