Though every day with Elvis had been happy, the moment Emeric gave his blessing and fully epted her, Elsie felt she had reached the pinnacle of happiness. She had always felt unworthy, too humble to deserve Elvis''s love. She had prepared herself for the possibility that if Chairman Emeric disapproved, she would step away without a fight to avoid causing conflict between father and son. She loved Elvis purely, wanting nothing in return.


    But the reality was that no one in the Ashbourne family had ever treated her like an outsider. No one looked down on her past; instead, they sympathized with what she had been through. It was a kindness she felt she could never repay.


    "Mr. Emeric... thank you, thank you..." Elsie''s tear-filled eyes shimmered like two dark, lustrous crystals. They had witnessed evil and darkness, yet they remained pure and clear.


    "You won''t be calling me Mr. Emeric for much longer," Emeric said with a contented smile, looking at her as if she were a long-lost daughter. "When Elvis gets back, you''ll have to start calling me ''Dad''."


    A blush spread across Elsie''s face, and she lowered her softshes.


    Emeric took a deep breath. The memory of Evadne''s mother sent a dull ache through his heart. He was trying his best to do right by everyone. He had promised her that he would make sure each of their children found the happiness they deserved. But Evadne, after enduring so much to finally be with Thaddeus, was now cruelly separated from him again... When would his precious daughter find peace? *My love, if you can hear me, please help Evadne.*


    Late that night, Silveke Harbor was quiet, its residents asleep.


    Elsie changed into a ck athletic outfit and retrieved the ck sports car Elvis had given her from the underground garage. She drove slowly toward the back gate of the Ashbourne estate.


    As she approached, she was stopped by the security guard on duty.


    "Ms. Archer, are you heading out thiste?" the guard asked respectfully.


    "I have insomnia. I can''t sleep, so I thought I''d go for a drive," Elsie replied with a faint smile.


    "It''s dangerous for a young woman to be out alone sote. I can have two men apany you."


    "That''s not necessary. I can handle myself; most men can''t beat me in a fight. Besides, I''ll be in the car. Nothing will happen. Don''t disturb the others."


    With that, Elsie pressed the elerator and sped away from the estate.


    The drive was heavy with a silent


    pressure. On the highway to Elmsworth, the endless darkness seemed to bring back a flood of tragicmemories, crashing down on her from all sides. She gripped the steering wheel, her jaw tight as she raced toward her destination.


    Around midnight, the sports car drifted to a perfect stop in front of the abandoned and sealed Velvet Haven. The once-glittering den of sin, which had brought so much wealth and ruin, had finally met its end along with Avery''s wretched life.


    Elsie stood alone at the entrance, her eyes red and her body trembling. She thought she had moved on, but returning to this ce triggered a powerful, traumatic response.


    The front and back entrances were


    sealed by the police. What they didn''t know was that The Velvet Haven had a secret underground passage designed by Avery himself. It was his escape route for high-profile clients during police raíds.


    Using a shlight to see, Elsie made her way around to the mountain behind the building. Hidden under arge tree was a small, concrete structure-the exit of the secret tunnel.


    Holding the shlight in her mouth, she used the lock-picking tools she had brought to open the door. A cloud of dust billowed out, choking her and making her eyes water.