Avery felt like he was being roasted over an open me, every inch of his body searing with pain.


    "Sorry, but please, rest assured, sir. I''ll handle all the troubles in Elmsworth," he insisted.


    "Sounds better than a Broadway show," Alexia mocked with coldughter. "Since you''ve been appointed as the CEO of Chambers Group, you haven''t solved a single issue. Instead, you''ve been outyed by Thaddeus and Evadne at every turn."


    Avery closed his reddened eyes, filled with a mix of hatred and frustration, biting his gums until they hurt.


    "Mr. Chambers, don''t say I didn''t warn you. You better handle the Wayne situation properly. This is yourst chance from him," the woman''s voice was as cold as ice. "Another failure, and you know the consequences."


    Avery barely got a word out before the call was brutally cut off.


    Staring at the dark screen, he felt a chilling abyss surrounding him.


    Then, a knock on the door.


    Shaking off his daze, Avery answered, and Harvey, beaming in a brand new suit, stepped in.


    "Mr. Chambers, I''ve proposed to Ellie, and she said yes!" Harvey barely contained his joy.


    Avery''s pallid face barely showed any emotion. "Really? Congrattions."


    Harvey respectfully ced the wedding invitation on his desk: "I''ve set the date and ce. I sincerely hope you can join us."


    Avery nced at the invite, his voice cool: "Harvey, I''m afraid I can''t make it to your wedding."


    Harvey tensed, sensing something was wrong, "Mr. Chambers, is there something going on? If there''s a problem, I can cancel the wedding. We''ve got to get you through this."


    "I appreciate it. You''ve been with me for a decade. I might not trust others, but I trust you," Avery said, a rare warmth in his eyes. "But with all that''s happening, especially with Wayne, I''m in no mood for celebrations."


    Harvey''s expression darkened, "Just give the word, Mr. Chambers, what do you need?"


    "Have Lawyer Lee meet with Wayne sometime this week," Avery said, standing by the window, casting a shadow, "Once we have his wife as our leverage, Wayne will take all his secrets to the grave."


    Harvey nodded, understanding the dark logic. After all, taking someone''s family hostage was an age-old, effective strategy.


    "Wayne''s got blood on his hands, and the cops are closing in. He''s a dead man walking."


    After a pause, Harvey lowered his voice, "But Mr. Chambers, once Wayne''s gone, what about his wife? You promised to keep her safe, no matter what..."


    "Since when have I ever kept my promises?" Avery scoffed, a sinister light in his eyes. "Besides, he dared to contact Thaddeus behind my back. Loyalty? He''s dreaming if he thinks I''d care for his widow."


    "Fair point," Harvey agreed.


    Avery pulled out a sleek stainless steel box from his pocket.


    Inside was a syringe filled with something ominous.


    "This," Avery said, "wille in handy at the right moment."


    Evadne had just stepped out of the interrogation room when Thaddeus and Aaron rushed to her side.


    "How did it go?" Aaron asked eagerly.


    Thaddeus simply wrapped his arm around her stiff shoulders, offering silent support.


    Evadne bit her lip, "Wayne didn''t crack, but I can tell he''s close. He just needs a nudge."


    Thaddeus''s gaze was intense, "What''s our next move?"


    "We wait," was all Evadne said.


    "Wait for what?" Aaron was confused.


    "For Avery to make a mistake. To trap himself," Evadne exuded amanding presence.


    "But Avery''s always been steps ahead. How could he slip this time?" Aaron was still worried.


    "This time, it''s different," Evadne said, intertwining her fingers with Thaddeus''s, "We hold the upper hand as long as we keep Wayne safe. Even divine intervention won''t help him."


    "I see your point," Thaddeus said, his eyes burning with resolve. "In this world, you can predict anything but human nature."