Evadne spent only two brief days recovering in the hospital before returning to KS Group to take the reins once more.


    Her father, Emeric, had retreated from the public eye due to health issues. Now, aside from quietly offering guidance on major decisions, he left almost everything else to his daughter, rarely interfering.


    Two weeks passed. The temperature kept dropping, snow falling in wave after


    wave.


    But during all this time, Evadne heard nothing from Thaddeus.


    She''d thought that kiss might be a new beginning. Now, looking back, it felt more like a farewell.


    That afternoon, after wrapping up a high-level strategic meeting, Evadne returned to her office and sat down to review the proposal documents for the Elmsworth A5 real estate project.


    The A5 project was the most highly anticipated government-backed development of the next five years-its potential value was incalcble. Handled well, it could catapult a business leader straight into the political spotlight, granting influence and power beyond imagination.


    Since the project was based in Elmsworth, the Abernathy Group was certain to be involved. Although KS Group was headquartered in Skyrim, it was also among the nation''s top conglomerates and was determined to win the bid for A5.


    Usually, Evadne could slip easily into her work. Lately, though, her thoughts kept drifting; she just couldn''t focus.<fn156d> ?????? ???? f?ndnovel</fn156d>


    Atst, unable to suppress her anxiety any longer, she reached for her phone and dialed Chasel.


    The line rang for a long time before someone finally picked up. A hoarse, exhausted voice came through:


    "Evadne."


    "Chasel!" She hadn''t truly expected him to answer, and the sound of his familiar voice sent a rush of relief through her, making her voice tremble. "Are you... are you okay?"


    “I''m fine,” he replied, cool and distant.


    But Evadne could tell he was anything but fine. He was just forcing himself to sound that way.


    "Chasel... We all miss you. And so does Cassius..."


    "Evadne, what do you want?"


    He cut her off, his tone cold, his dislike for Cassius in as day. "I''m fine. You


    don''t need to worry. If there''s nothing else, I have things to do."


    A sharp pang shot through Evadne''s chest. She blurted, "Wait! There is something."


    "Go on."


    "It''s about Thaddeus''s headaches... I wanted to talk to you."


    Without holding anything back, Evadne shared all of Zachary''s suspicions with him.


    There was a long silence on the other end before Chasel finally answered, quietly:


    "If Thaddeus really has been using high-concentration drugs, the consequences could be severe. After the initial euphoria, his brain could be plunged into agony. start to experience intense withdrawal-his nerves, his body, everything will spiral out of control. It''s only going to get worse."


    лой


    Evadne''s voice was urgent. "Is there any way to help him?"


    Chasel''s reply was low and somber. "He could take more drugs. That would bring immediate relief."


    "Chasel, are you serious? Thaddeus is one of the most principled, strong-willed people I know—you want him to... to turn to drugs?" Evadne stared, stunned, unable to believe what she was hearing.


    "If I don''t tell him, do you really think he won''t find them himself?"


    Chasel''s words were rational, even cold. "If he''s suffering from withdrawal, the only way for him to get through it right now is to use again.


    The alternative is to quit, but that kind of pain muscle cramps, the feeling of being eaten alive-do you really think Thaddeus can endure it? Even the could, he''d have to disappear for who knows how long, acting out of character. Don''t you think people would start to Rumors would swirl, and if anyone with an agenda decided to use it


    against him... what do you think


    would happen?”


    Evadne slumped back in her leather chair, her entire body trembling. Her eyes


    burned, and pain stabbed through her chest.


    If the world ever found out that the


    president of the Abernathy Group-a man with such a carefully crafted reputation-had be a


    desperate addict, the consequences would be


    for the


    catastrophic. Their stock would


    plummet, their image would


    crumble, and morale would copse.


    Thaddeus would lose everything he''d worked so hard to build-his career, his


    legacy, his name.