Evadne stared at Avery in disbelief, her heart pounding heavily against her ribs.


    Her n had been wless. She had not only sessfully captured this snake, clearing her own name in the process but also ensured the safety of everyone involved, leaving them unharmed. Yet, she had missed a crucial detail.


    She never imagined that Avery was genuinely ill, actually medicating to mask his condition!


    "You may have been released on bail, but you''ll need to wear an ankle monitor and report your whereabouts to us 24/7," the police officer said as he unlocked the cell. Avery walked out with unwavering poise, his face betraying no emotion.


    As he brushed past Evadne, he paused briefly, his voice soft yet filled with a hidden warmth: "Evadne, thank you foring to see me. This has been the most memorable birthday I''ve had in years."


    With that, the Chambers Group entourage departed, leaving Evadne standing there, her face pale, her slender fingers clenched into fists.


    ...


    Avery''s release was a sess. Moreover, with a haggard look on his face, he stood at the police station''s entrance, openly addressing the reporters:


    "Due to my condition, I''ve had to take medication for years, which caused side effects, leading to a positive drug test result. I''ve caused the police trouble and used up too many public resources. I sincerely apologize to everyone for worrying you."


    He then bowed deeply towards the camera, a gesture of humility from someone of his stature, admitting to a mistake that wasn''t strictly his own.


    His demeanor, his attitude, his magnanimity! Who wouldn''t be moved by such a disy?


    Especiallying from Avery, whose handsome and refined appearance was the perfect disguise. His exceptional acting skills portrayed him as an innocent victim of nder and maniption to perfection.


    "Mr. Chambers! There were reports that the new banned substance, which wreaked havoc in Elmsworth, was found in your hospital room. How do you exin that?" a reporter asked.


    Harvey immediately spoke on his behalf, visibly outraged: "This is a deliberate frame-up against Mr. Chambers, an attack on the Chambers Group! We''ve reported this to the police, and an investigation has beenunched to bring the real culprit to light and clear Mr. Chambers'' name!"


    The media, initially eager to witness Avery''s downfall, quickly changed their tune, expressing sympathy for him.


    The public opinion shifted overnight!


    Lawyer Lee stayed behind to handle the aftermath, while Avery, escorted by Harvey, got into a luxury Bentley.


    "Mr. Chambers, where would you like to go?" Harvey asked with concern.


    "To The Velvet Haven, for a night''s rest." Avery leaned back, exhausted, removing his sses and massaging his temples. His face, once youthful and handsome, now bore signs of weariness, adding a rugged charm. "Tomorrow morning, I''ll go to the Chambers Group for an emergency board meeting. Thepany''s been in chaos these past few days; I need to stabilize the situation."


    "Ah, Mr. Chambers, you''re overworking yourself! You haven''t fully recovered, and this could make things worse," Harveymented, deeply concerned.


    "It can''t be helped; the mess Evadne''s made, I have to clean it up myself." Avery smiled gently, bearing no grudge, even seeming somewhat fond of the ordeal.


    "Mr. Chambers, even at the risk of being scolded, I must say, Ms. Evadne''s scheming... it''s too much!" Harvey was indignant, "If this isn''t handled properly, you could be facing serious charges. What then for the Chambers Group without its leader? How would you exin it to the elder?"


    At the mention of the elder, Avery''s lips pressed into a thin line, a sharp glint passing through his eyes.


    "Let''s leave it. Evadne''s mischief, I don''t want to pursue it further." The man closed his eyes to rest once more.


    Harvey was dumbfounded. Evadne had caused such a colossal mess, nearly toppling the Chambers Group and tarnishing Mr. Chambers'' reputation. And Mr. Chambers was letting it go with a mere "mischief, willfulness"? The epitome of being head over heels in love!


    "Not wanting to involve Evadne is one thing. But if the police dig deeper, it could spell trouble for us," Harvey breathed a sigh of relief. This was the cold, calcting Mr. Chambers he knew, where interests always came first.


    "However, we need to act fast. Otherwise, Evadne and Thaddeus might soon uncover the connection between him and me," Avery''s fleeting warmth disappeared, his gaze turning cold and fierce, "Then, we won''t be as lucky as today."


    "Understood," Harvey replied cautiously.


    "By the way, Mr. Chambers, today''s your birthday, isn''t it? Ms. Archer had carefully selected a birthday gift for you a few days ago. It''s waiting at The Velvet Haven, hoping to present it to you personally."


    Avery''s eyebrows lifted slightly, his voice chilling, "Did you let her go?"


    "Rest assured! I''ve been watching her closely, making sure she went straight back to The Velvet Haven after buying the gift, with no detours!" Harvey hurriedly assured.


    "If she''s trulye to her senses, then she''s wise." Avery''s tone was nonchnt.


    ...


    Meanwhile, the Abernathy family and Aaron were fraught with worry.


    "It''s always a step ahead with him. Barely two days out, and he''s already strutting around freely, infuriating!" Evadne''s eyes zed with fury, her fist raised to strike the coffee table before Thaddeus''s warm,rge hand enveloped her delicate fist, holding it tightly against his chest:


    "Evadne, it''s okay to be angry, but don''t hurt yourself. If you really need to let out some steam, hit me instead."


    "And then what? I''d feel guilty and even angrier. That would just make things worse!" Evadne hurled herself into Thaddeus''s embrace, her head nuzzling aggressively against his solid chest, like a feisty little kitten wing at his shirt.


    Thaddeus''s eyes were filled with affection as he wrapped his arms around her slender waist, indulging her tantrum.


    "Enough with the lovey-dovey act! Let''s focus on what to do next!" Aaron shook his head, unable to bear watching them. He really wasn''t in the mood for their disy of affection!


    "It looks like we can''t touch Avery for now." Thaddeus''s hand massaged the back of Evadne''s neck, his voice deep, "We need to find another angle."


    "Alerting the enemy without striking a decisive blow, Snakey Avery will surelyy low now, not making a move anytime soon. Ah, it''s a shame we couldn''t hit him harder this time!" Aaronmented.


    "True, we''ve alerted him, but that doesn''t mean he won''t make a move!" Evadne clenched her teeth, a fierce desire to win burning in her eyes, "This incident has sounded the rm for Avery. If he continues to y it safe, he''s just waiting for his downfall. He''ll definitely make a move to eliminate the threat once and for all!"