The master and his loyal aide''s faces changed instantly!


    "What are the cops doing here? Whatever it takes, stop them!" Harvey''s eyes zed with fury as he barked orders.


    The bodyguard, drenched in sweat, stammered, "But, but they''re already..."


    "Who''s leading the team? What''s his name?" Avery Chambers asked with a chilling calm, his eyes hooded and dark.


    "Name''s... Ashbourne."


    Harvey''s pupils dted in shock as he nervously nced towards Avery, who remained stoic.


    Just then, the door to the room was forcefully kicked open, and in strode Detective Aaron Ashbourne, exuding an aura so cold it could freeze over hell, directly into Avery''s icy gaze.


    "Mr. Chambers, I presume introductions are unnecessary?" Aaron quipped, a mocking smile ying on his lips, though he still formally shed his badge.


    "Aaron, long time no see." Avery''s smile was disarmingly charming, devoid of any malice.


    "Don''t give me that, Mr. Chambers. ''Aaron'' out of Thaddeus''s mouth is music to my ears. From you? It''s like sitting on pins and needles."


    A hint of venom shed in Avery''s eyes, barely noticeable.


    The Ashbournes always knew how to push his buttons.


    "Aaron, whatever you''re here for, we can talk. But I''m ill, and your barging in isn''t helping my condition," Harvey spat, unable to contain his anger at the disrespect shown to his boss.


    "Captain Ashbourne, I''m willing to cooperate with your investigation, but at least let me take my medicine," Avery said, the weakness in his voice belying his usual strength.


    "Wait a minute!"


    Aaron''s voice was firm, and with a gesture, two officers quickly moved to restrain Harvey, snatching away the syringe he was holding.


    "What do you think you''re doing?!" Harvey struggled, shouting.


    "Keep it down, or we''re adding assaulting an officer to your charges!" one of the cops snapped.


    Avery''s gaze darkened, "What''s the meaning of this, Captain Ashbourne?"


    "We''ve receivedints, suspecting you of drug possession and usage. You''re under arrest," Aaron stated, unblinking, as he handcuffed Avery.


    "Mr. Chambers!" Harvey fought back in vain, "You need evidence for an arrest! Without it, we''ll sue for defamation!"


    Avery''s eyes were a storm of rage, though his face remained impassive.


    "If we didn''t have solid evidence, we wouldn''t be here. The evidence against you is conclusive."


    Aaron looked down on the man before him with a mix of anger and disdain, "Mr. Chambers, you''reing with us."


    ...


    Following Avery''s arrest, Harvey, as his closest confidant, was also taken in for questioning.


    Despite his loyalty, he denied any knowledge of Avery''s supposed drug use, keeping his story tight.


    In the early hours of the next morning, a haggard Harvey left the police station, running into Lawyer Lee, who had been won over by Avery''s charms.


    "Harvey, the news of Mr. Chambers'' arrest has spread like wildfire! The stock market''s going to crash at opening tomorrow!" Lee was visibly worried.


    "What does it matter now? We need to get Mr. Chambers out!" Harvey was frantic, his voice hoarse with anxiety.


    "What was the cops'' attitude?!"


    "The substance you were going to inject Mr. Chambers with wasn''t medicinal but


    a banned experimental drug with severe side effects!" Lee was nearly out of breath.


    Harvey was stunned, gasping for air, "What are you talking about?!"


    "That drug caused a scandal in Elmsworth, the police have ssified it as a new type of narcotic. They have every reason to believe Mr. Chambers has been using it during his hospital stay."


    "Now, the charges of drug possession and usage might stick!"


    "That''s nonsense! Mr. Chambers has only been taking his medication..."


    Harvey caught himself mid-sentence, his skin going cold, "It was supposed to be medicine, how did it be a narcotic? There''s a conspiracy here!"


    "It''s no use arguing now! They caught us red-handed. If the drug testes back positive, it''s all over."


    "But if there''s a test, then good! Because Mr. Chambers has never touched that stuff!" Harvey was adamant.


    He was Avery''s most trusted man; no one else could make such a guarantee, but he could.


    Then doubt crept in.


    How did Avery''s medication get switched with narcotics?


    He had personally checked the meds every day, except today...


    Harvey''s face went pale as if struck by lightning. He shakily pulled out his phone, dialing his subordinate, his voice filled with rage:


    "Get me Verna, the nurse who''s been administering Mr. Chambers'' injections these past few days, NOW!"


    "Harvey, I was just about to report on that," the subordinate said, trembling.


    "Verna disappeared from the hospital right after Mr. Chambers was taken, nowhere to be found!"


    Hearing this, Harvey felt a chill run down his spine.


    He realized then, they had been yed.


    After the incident, Verna was swiftly escorted away from the hospital, a ce now riddled with controversy, by Thaddeus Abernathy and Gordon, ensuring her immediate safety.


    Despite Snakey Avery''s notorious track record, swapping out medication in secret serious offense - tampering with evidence — and it was only a matter of time before the Chambers Group traced it back to her!


    was


    Evadne Ashbourne was determined not to let Erica''s tragedy happen again. So, she hid Verna away in her own home in Silveke Harbor. Not even the highest powers or the fiercest demons couldy a finger on her there!


    "Is Verna safe now?" Evadne, staying back in Elmsworth with Jason Dempsey, called to check in with Thaddeus.


    "Don''t worry, she''s better than ever. Found out Avery got caught and she''s been buzzing with excitement all the way," Thaddeus replied with a helpless chuckle.


    "Keep her safe, we can''t let anyone hurt her!"


    "I''m on it, you just rx."


    Thaddeus''s voice was deep and soothing, "Evadne, being all alone in Elmsworth, I''m really worried about you."


    "Ha, thest thing you should worry about is me."


    Evadne leaned back in her car, stretching her long, slender legs, a smile ying


    on her lips, "Avery wouldn''t dare touch me.


    You forget, I''m the woman of his dreams-"


    "Evadne, don''t tease me."


    The man''s breathing grew heavier, his toneced with a hint of irritation, "You know I can''t stand hearing that."


    Evadne''s cheeks flushed, but her eyes remained cool and shadowed, "Let him dream. After all, dreams have everything."


    Just then, Aaron''s call came through.


    "Thaddeus, Aaron''s on the line, gotta go!"


    She hung up and quickly answered Aaron:


    "Aaron, what''s the situation?"


    "Evadne, did Avery really do drugs? I''m betting my whole career in the police


    force on this gamble with you!"


    Evadne bit her lip.


    "If the drug testes back negative, we can only hold him for twenty-four hours before we have to release him. And then, I''ll be under fire, feeling the heat!"


    "I don''t know if he did drugs. I''m gambling too."


    Aaron sounded utterly defeated, "Evadne... you''re really putting me in a tight spot here!"


    "Don''t be like that. It''s a gamble, but I think the odds are in our favor."


    Evadne''s eyes gleamed with determination, "I''m betting on the fact that a dealer can''t possibly stay clean. If he chose to fall, he''s likely gone all the way down!"