Evadne Ashbourne''s brows furrowed as she took the bag and examined the pills closely.


    "This stuff is incredibly potent," Aaron exined, his gaze fixed on the suspects in the car, his anger palpable. "It''s addictive after a single dose. The body has very little initial rejection, and it sends users into a state of extreme euphoria. They can go for days without sleep and feel no fatigue." He swore under his breath. "Damn it! We finally managed to eradicate thatst poison, and now this ''Crystal Ice'' crap pops up! Fucking hell, it''s like trying to stamp out a wildfire!"


    "Aaron, did Crystal Ice originate in Elmsworth? Are other cities seeing it?"


    "We haven''t heard reports from anywhere else yet. It only started appearing here in thest month. We''re working hard to trace the source, but so far, we''ve only caught a few small fry. No real breakthroughs."


    Evadne thought for a moment, then lowered her voice. "Aaron, can you give me one of those pills? I have a use for it."


    Aaron looked startled, so she quickly added, "Don''t worry, I''m not going to hurt anyone, and I''m definitely not going to hurt myself. I just want to have its chemicalposition analyzed."


    "Our forensicsb has already done that. It''s a narcotic, no doubt about it."


    "I have another purpose for it. Please, Aaron, just this once."<fn9caa> Original content can be found at ?ovelFind</fn9caa>


    Aaron pressed his lips together, then, when his colleagues weren''t looking, he discreetly poured a single blue pill into Jason Dempsey''s palm.


    After Aaron left, Mr. Murray, his original ns disrupted by the encounter with Evadne, quietly drove away.


    Through a grimy window, Evadne and Jason could see Nora Jones''s mother kneeling on her bed, facing the wall. Disheveled and filthy, she brandished arge kitchen knife and screamed obscenities at nothing.


    The scene was a heartbreaking tableau of madness and despair.


    "Ms. Ashbourne, should we... still go in?" Jason asked, his voice filled with concern.


    Evadne shook her head, her eyes dim. "Let''s not disturb her for now."


    "But don''t you need her testimony?"


    "Her mental state is too fragile. Nothing she says now would be admissible in court. We need a different approach, a long-term n." Evadne turned away. "Jason, arrange for someone to discreetly watch over Mrs. Cooper. And find a subtle way to provide her with some financial support."


    "Yes, Ms. Ashbourne."


    Jason asked worriedly, "Do you think Mrs. Cooper will ever press charges against Chad Abernathy? Will she expose the Abernathy Group''s dark secrets?"


    "Whether she does or not, we need to protect her." Evadne''s nose tingled with unshed tears. “This has nothing to do with schemes or self-interest. It''s just... a small act of kindness."


    Just then, an rm chimed from her phone.


    Evadne pulled it out, her thickshes lowering. A familiar, suffocating pain constricted her chest. It was a calendar reminder: Thaddeus Abernathy''s birthday was one week away.


    Of course, she remembered such an important date. But she was always meticulous, terrified of missing the chance to prepare a gift, so every year she set a reminder well in advance.


    But now...


    What was the point? Even if she wanted to celebrate with him, he likely wouldn''t give her the time of day.


    *


    The day before Thaddeus''s birthday arrived. After tomorrow, he would be thirty- three.


    Originally, Hamilton Abernathy had wanted to throw a grand celebration for his younger grandson. The situation at the Abernathy Group was unstable; Chad''s sudden return, though he hadn''t yet involved


    himself in the business, was a


    looming threat. his hearth was improving, and he knew exactly how


    to charm Frederic. At this rate, it was


    entirely possible he would soon secure a position in thepany''s core leadership.


    Hamilton wanted to use what time he had left to help Thaddeus solidify his position as the rightful heir, to put him in the spotlight and build his reputation.


    Unfortunately, Thaddeus was proving difficult. No matter how much his grandfather pleaded, he showed no interest in a birthday party fe finally agreed topromise: a formal dinnerhosted in the Abernathy family''s name at the Abernathy Hotel the night before his birthday.


    Tonight, the ballroom was buzzing with activity, a glittering assembly of the city''s elite. Many heiresses, having heard that Thaddeus himself would be present, hade dressed to the rings, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man, even though they knew he was spoken for. If you couldn''t have him, you could at least look, couldn''t you?


    What the public didn''t know, however, was that the world''s most envied power couple had already broken up.


    "Thaddeus, many distinguished young women are here tonight, all of them for you. They all hold you in the highest regard."


    The Abernathy men stood side-by-side on the second-floor balcony, looking down at the opulent ballroom. Frederic pped a hand on Thaddeus''s shoulder. "If any of them catch your eye, just tell me. No matter whose daughter she is, I can make the match happen."