Avery''s case had been officially submitted for review by the Supreme Court where Arnold Ashbourne presided. Within two months, a verdict would be delivered.


    It seemed inevitable; the death penalty was all but certain.


    Today, the sky was overcast, with a fine drizzle falling from the heavens.


    A woman in a whiteb coat and white high heels, carrying a ck umbre, strolled casually to the entrance of the prison.


    "Doctor, thank you foring out here in the rain. We really appreciate it," the warden greeted her with a warm smile.


    The umbre lifted to reveal Alexia''s elegant and poised face. She returned the smile with a gentle one of her own.


    "Even prisoners have rights. I''m a doctor. It''s my duty to heal, regardless of who they are," she replied.


    The warden nodded in agreement, "You''re absolutely right, Doctor."


    Alexia''s eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief as she quipped, "Organizing a free medical check-up for the inmates, Warden, you''re quite the saint."


    Since meeting Evadne, Avery had surprisingly been sleeping well for several nights in a row.


    His gold-rimmed sses had been broken in a scuffle and he tossed them aside without a second thought.


    After all, he was no longer Mr. Avery or Mr. Chambers. He was simply a soon-to- be condemned man awaiting judgment.


    There was no longer any need for the fa?ade.


    His cellmates were gradually taken for the medical check-up. Time passed slowly until finally, his number was called.


    Avery was handcuffed and led out of his cell, winding through corridors until he


    was ushered into a dim, enclosed room by the guards.


    With a creak, the heavy iron door shut behind him.


    In the shadowy room, only a single deskmp cast its cold, pale light.


    Avery squinted slightly.


    "Mr. Chambers, long time no see."


    Alexia rose from her seat at the desk, turning to face him with a wry smile.


    "Alexia?" Avery''s spine stiffened, and his heart sank heavily.


    Alexia let out a small chuckle, "Why the long face? After dealing with so many repulsive, vile criminals, I went out of my way to see you. Aren''t you at all moved?"


    Avery''s parched lips quivered slightly, his voice rasping, "Did Sir send you to get me out?"


    Alexia blinked, pausing for a moment before bursting intoughter.


    Her wild, piercingughter echoed off the walls of the gloomy room, making it feel even more like a descent into hell.


    "Avery, are you still dreaming of a life beyond these walls? Have a few days in a cell addled your brains?"


    Crossing her arms, she ceased her


    disdainful


    as if she were looking at


    an insect. "Even if Sir could get you out, you''re a broken man now. The Chambers Group has crumbled. You''re a spent force. What use could you possibly be to Sir?"


    "Sir gave you plenty of chances, but you failed to deliver."


    Avery lowered his eyes, a faint smile ying on his lips.


    Maybe it was the looming certainty of his fate, but he found himself oddly clinging to life.


    "But Sir did send me with a message for you."


    Alexia''s eyes were cold and dead as she ryed, "Sir thanks you for your contributions to his work over the years. He will never forget your efforts."


    With that, she ced a syringe filled with a clear liquid in front of Avery.


    He stared at it, his voice thick with bitterness, "So Sir sent you to silence me?"


    "This isn''t silencing. It''s crisis


    management," Alexia replied with a


    nonchnt shrug. "No one


    associated with Sir can fall into the


    hands of the authorities. That''s the rule."


    Avery''s shoulders trembled, his entire being on the verge of copse.


    "I won''t live much longer. Can''t Sir even let me have my final days?"


    "Avery, you should be grateful."


    Alexia shook her head, "If Sir hadn''t rescued you and your mother back then, you''d both have been long gone in Helgen, without a trace.


    Would you have had these p


    years of glory and sess otherwise?


    Your life was a gift from Sir. Now Sir wants it back, and you shouldn''t have anyints.


    This drug, once injected, will remain dormant in your system for 48 hours. You''ll pass away in your sleep, painlessly. It''s far kinder than execution or dying from illness."


    Minutester.


    Avery knelt on the ground, his face ashen, having undergone the injection with a numb, detached eptance akin to a severe punishment.


    Putting away the syringe, Alexia stuffed her hands into her coat pockets, not sparing the broken man another nce as she headed for the iron door.


    "Acacia Stirling!" Avery suddenly called out, using another name.


    Alexia halted sharply but didn''t turn around, her voice low and menacing, "Who are you calling? You''ve got the wrong person."


    "Following Sir around like a mindless killing machine, doing all his dirty work. Do you really think you''ll get what you want?"


    Avery''s body shook with mockingughter, "Even if you change a hundred faces, even if you try a thousand times, a million times...


    Thaddeus only has eyes for Evadne. He''ll never spare you a second nce, let alone fall in love with you!"


    "Really? We''ll see about that."


    Alexiaughed too, her eyes gleaming like a sharp de, "Besides, how do you know I haven''t already gotten what I want?


    Being by Sir''s side is all I desire. I, Alexia, always move forward, never looking back."