In an instant, tears streamed down Evadne''s cheeks-hot, joyful drops rolling freely, overflowing with relief and happiness.


    She knew it. She just knew!


    The very first time she saw Hans, she had recognized him-he was Hubery. Even when he''d been so distant and cold, shutting her out, that deep sense of familiarity and kinship had never wavered. She couldn''t have been wrong.


    "Mrs. Abernathy... Are you are you alright?" Alva fumbled for a handkerchief, anxiously dabbing at Evadne''s tears.


    Struggling to steady her racing heart, Evadne''s voice came out low and husky. "Aaron, have you told anyone else about this?"


    Aaron, who''d spent years as a detective, was perfectlyposed. "This is no small matter. I''ve only told you-neither Dad nor my mother knows."<fn2224> Content originallyes from fι?dnοvel</fn2224>


    "Good. For now, this stays between us. You mustn''t tell your father or Suri." Evadne''s gaze was sharp, her nerves stretched taut as piano wire. "If word gets out, we could spook whoever''s pulling the strings behind Hubery—and I''m terrified that if his identity is exposed, they''ll hurt him."


    Aaron nodded, his tone grave. "Don''t worry, I thought of that too. When I get home, I won''t tell Mom. If she finds out, she''ll turn the whole country upside down searching for Hubery-God knows what chaos that would bring."


    Then confusion clouded his face, and he pressed urgently, "But if Hubery''s alive, who saved him after he fell into the sea? What happened to him? And why has he changed so much?"


    "He must have lost his memorypletely-he doesn''t remember any of us." Evadne couldn''t erase the image of that terrible scar on Hubery''s body; her heart twisted painfully. "I saw his wounds. There''s no way he could have survived on his own. Someone must have found him, treated him, and then..."


    "And then turned him into this cold, ruthless person? When I faced him, it was like fighting a machine-someone who kills without hesitation." Aaron''s voice shook with barely-concealed grief. "Who could have done this to him?"


    Jason and Alva watched Evadne with worry etched on their faces.


    Exhausted, Evadne leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes tight, forcing herself to focus. Every time Hubery appeared, it was tied to one of Avery''s schemes. But Avery was dead now, yet Hubery kepting back, working against her That could only mean one thing- s


    Whoever had been controlling Avery was now controlling Hubery, too.


    That "Sir" had turned Hubery into this.


    "Could it be...drugs?" Evadne''s eyes fluttered open, her voice barely above a whisper.


    Aaron leaned in, desperate. "What did you say? What kind of drugs?"


    “Thaddeus he changed after taking something ''Sir'' gave him while he was with Avery. That drug stripped him of his entotions made him at machine. Hubery''s state is eerily simr."  s


    "Are you saying Hubery was drugged too?" Aaron pressed.


    "I think so. Chasel once said it was a drug that irreversibly damages the brain''s nerves."


    Aaron''s hands clenched. "So even if we find Hubery, what then? He''s been brainwashed-will he even want toe home?"


    Home.


    The word stung. Evadne swallowed hard, forcing herself to breathe. "Aaron don''t care what it costs. I will bring Hübery back. ll wake him up, no matter what it takes. I will bring him home."  s