One of the ck-d men stepped forward and tore open Elsie''s blood-soaked shirt to search her thoroughly. Alexiaughed at the sight of the woman being treated like a piece of meat. It was a sweet release for the anger that had been simmering in her chest. It was just a shame Elsie wasn''t wearing Evadne''s face. That would have been even more satisfying.


    "Ms. Alexia, we''ve searched her. There''s nothing."


    Alexia frowned in frustration. "How is that possible?! What about her phone?"


    "We couldn''t find it."


    Forgetting about the blood and filth, Alexia lunged forward, grabbed a handful of Elsie''s hair, and yanked her head up. "You bitch, you came to The Velvet Haven in the middle of the night for a reason. What were you looking for? Give it to me, and I''ll let you live."


    Elsie spat a mouthful of bloody saliva directly into her face.


    "Damn you! You worthless slut!" Alexia''s eyes bulged with fury. She pped Elsie hard across the face, twice, but it wasn''t enough to quell her rage. "Get her out of here!" she roared.


    Two men dragged Elsie''s limp body away.


    Alexia wiped the spit from her cheek, her eyes zing. "Search everywhere!" she screamed. "Retrace her steps! I want this entire area torn apart!"


    Thaddeus drove himself, speeding through the night to meet Evadne. She was standing outside their former home, a solitary figure in the biting wind. Alva stood behind her, holding an umbre to shield her from the falling snow.


    Her Mrs. Abernathy looked as if she had the world at her feet, yet she often seemed so terribly alone. *My dear young master,* Alva thought, *when will you finally wake up? How can you bear to let such a wonderful woman slip away?*


    A ck Maybach screeched to a halt in front of the vi, sending a wave of white snow into the air. Thaddeus emerged, his handsome face a mask of cold indifference, and strode toward Evadne. Gordon stumbled out of the car after him and promptly bent over, vomiting onto the pristine snow. A testament to how fast Thaddeus had been driving.


    "Young Master! You''re finally here!" Alva''s voice was choked with emotion, her gaze filled with reproach.


    Evadne exhaled a cloud of white mist. She looked into his deep, dark eyes, her lips trembling, but no words came out. Before, she could have made demands, thrown tantrums, acted childishly with him. Now, it felt as if she had lost that right. She couldn''t bring herself to ask.


    "It''s freezing. Why are you waiting outside?" Thaddeus asked, his voice low as he stared into her reddened eyes.


    "To greet you," she whispered, her voice hoarse.


    A muscle tightened in his jaw. "Let''s go inside."


    “There''s no time. We have to find Elsie right now... I think she''s in danger!" The memory of what sounded like a gunshot made her lose herposure. Tears welled in her eyes. "I think I heard a gunshot... I''m sure of it can''t teach her on her


    What if she was shot? What


    if something has already happened


    to her?!"


    "Evadne, you''ve always been an optimist. Don''t torture yourself like this," Thaddeus said, his back stiff as he fought against some primal urge.


    "If something happens to Elsie... Elvis will be destroyed!" The thought of her friend, who had finally found a sliver of happiness, made Evadne''s resolve crumble. Tears streamed down her face, and she sobbed without any regard for her appearance. "Nothing can happen to her... Nothing!"


    As she spoke, the world spun. Her body felt weightless, and she began to fall. She was exhausted. She had been working day and night, managing the KS Group, trying to find a way to help Thaddeus and battling a severe case of insomnia. She hadn''t slept in three days. Her mind and body had finally given out.


    Alva gasped in panic, but Thaddeus reacted in an instant. His arm shot out, catching Evadne around the waist and pulling her into his embrace. He opened his coat, wrapping it around her to shield her from the wind and snow.


    The gesture was instinctive, ingrained in his very bones. Even if he had swallowed all the poison in the world, he couldn''t erase the habit of caring for her. "What''s wrong?" he asked urgently.


    The small woman in his arms just cried, silent sobs wracking her body. "Evadne, stop crying," he said, his voice gruff, though his arms held her tight. "If you don''t stop, I''m leaving right now. I won''t get involved."


    But his threat only made her cry harder, her tears soaking the front of his crisp shirt.


    Thaddeus''s brow furrowed in a deep line. He let out a resigned sigh and ced arge, rough hand on her trembling back. The truth was, he couldn''t stand to see her cry. It caused a dull, aching pain somewhere deep inside his chest.