Aaron''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Holy smokes! Can we be best buds or what?!"


    "In this life, we''re brothers; next life, let''s aim for friends," Cassius yed along with his brother''s sudden shift in mood, lightening the overly tense atmosphere a bit. "Though, I doubt we''ll need that money. Elvis would never let that guy walk out of here alive."


    "But Harvey''s taken Ms. Archer hostage, and he''s armed! If he loses it and does something drastic, even if Elvis takes him down on the spot, Ms. Archer could still be in danger!"


    Aaron watched the standoff unfold, his heart lodged in his throat. "This is the first time I''ve ever seen Elvis lose his cool. When hasn''t he been fearless, always one step ahead, cocky as all get-out? Clearly, he''s head over heels for Ms. Archer..."


    "Indeed."


    Cassius, having someone he loved deeply, could empathize. "Intense love and steady emotions can never coexist. The deeper the love, the greater the fear of loss, leaving one bewildered."


    "So, what do we do now?" Aaron asked, his eyes filled with anxiety.


    Cassius looked towards the church''s rooftop, squinting slightly. "I believe in divine justice, and I have faith that he''ll pull through this mission sessfully."


    ...


    After picking flowers, the Ashbourne sisters walked hand in hand back to the living room to arrange them in a vase.


    "Evadne, what''s wrong? You seem troubled," Debby noticed her sister''s paleplexion and became worried.


    "Maybe it''s just the heat from standing under the sun for too long."


    Evadne smiled weakly, fanning herself. "It really is scorching in Helgen, I''ve started to sweat just from that little while."


    "I''ll have the kitchen whip up a bowl of mint lemonade for you."


    Debby gently wiped the sweat from her sister''s forehead, smiling ruefully. "That''s the climate here for you, eternal summer. It took me a while to adjust too."


    Little did she know, the sweat on Evadne''s forehead was not from the heat, but from nervousness!


    "Sis, I''d love for you to make the mint lemonade for me."


    Evadne clung to Debby''s arm, yfully cajoling. "Once I leave, it''ll be hard to taste your homemade treats again. Please, make it for me!"


    "Just for a bowl of mint lemonade, you''re putting on quite the act, my little drama queen."


    Debby, ever the indulgent sister, pinched Evadne''s nose affectionately. "I''ll make it for you. Just wait here, and when I get back, we can arrange the flowers together to brighten up Darcy''s study. He loves fresh flowers; it''ll cheer him up to see them."


    "Okay! I''ll wait! Hurry back!"


    Debby left, smiling brightly, unaware of her sister''s act.


    The moment she turned, Evadne''s smile froze, her fingers tensing in secret.


    Half an hourter, Debby returned with a bowl of freshly made mint lemonade, hoping to satisfy her sister''s cravings.


    However, the living room was empty, save for a basket of flowers sitting lonely on the coffee table.


    "Evadne? Evadne?"


    After a lengthy search inside and out, and questioning the servants who hadn''t seen her, Debby felt a wave of panic. She quickly summoned the head of security: "Where''s my sister?!"


    "Ma''am, didn''t you know?" The security head looked bewildered. "She drove off half an hour ago."


    "What are you talking about?!"


    Debby, usually calm and gentle, couldn''t contain her frustration. "What did I tell you? To ensure my sister''s safety! Is this how you follow instructions?!"


    "Madam, please calm down!"


    The head of security, sensing the gravity of the situation, broke out in a cold sweat. "The president instructed us to ensure both your safeties during his absence, but he didn''t say to keep Miss under house arrest or forbid her from leaving! And she mentioned she had your approval..."


    "Idiotic!"


    Debby, fuming with anger and her forehead throbbing, felt her eyes well up. "Start


    a search immediately! Check the license tes, the surveince cameras! Locate


    my sister now! If you can''t find her, it''s on you!"


    "Yes, ma''am!" The head of security then hesitated. "Should we inform the president..."


    Debby paced back and forth, her thoughts in turmoil.


    Her husband was at an important event, and her brother and Thaddeus were


    dealing with a dire situation; she couldn''t afford to distract them.


    "Don''t rm anyone yet. Just find my sister''s whereabouts! Activate the Sky System!"


    "To activate the Sky Eye requires the president''s signature..."


    "I''m the First Lady; I have the authority to authorize its use!"


    Debby''s gaze was fierce, brooking no argument. "I''ll take full responsibility. Just do as I say!"