Evadne Ashbourne''s crystal-goddess Rolls-Royce sped toward Skyrim.


    Sitting in the passenger seat, Jason Dempsey kept ncing between the rearview mirror and Evadne, deeply concerned about her condition.


    She looked terrible. Herplexion was as pale as a fragile bloom trembling in the biting winter wind.


    There was a deste air about her, as if she mightpletely wither away at any second.


    "Ms. Evadne, are you... holding up okay?" he asked cautiously.


    Evadne leaned her head against the freezing car window, watching the trees blur past. Her thoughts were entirely consumed by the memory of Thaddeus Abernathy''s heavily bandaged hand.


    She let out a heavy, shuddering breath. Her chest felt incredibly tight, the suffocating ache gripping her heart growing more unbearable by the second.


    Was he badly hurt?


    Was he in a lot of pain?


    Would this affect his daily life?


    He had already endured so much for her. A bullet to the shoulder, an arrow in the back, and those dangerous neuro-suppressants that had wreaked havoc on his central nervous system. Could his body really handle adding fresh, severe injuries on top of all that?


    Her eyes reddened. Suddenly, she leaned forward, burying her face in her hands, utterly overwhelmed by a wave of crushing guilt.


    It seemed she had never brought Thaddeus anything but trouble. Ever since they met and fell in love, all she ever gave him was danger and suffering.


    How could she be so useless?


    "Thaddeus... I''m so sorry. I''m so sorry..."


    Tears seeped through her fingers, falling drop by drop. "Someday, you''ll understand why I''m doing this. And even if you don''t, that''s okay.


    Just let it go. Slowly... just forget about me."


    By the time an exhausted Evadne finally arrived at the hospital, her family had already gathered. Cassius, Arnold, Elvis, and even Bet, who had managed to get away from the military base, were there. Myra Barlow Ashbourne and Aviana Ashbourne were present, and even Nydia Ashbourne, who was still recovering postpartum, had brought her chubby baby boy along.


    Aaron Ashbourne was the only brother absent; he was stationed at the police precinct, interrogating the man who had attacked Evadne and Chad Abernathy.


    But someone else was missing, too.


    Suri was nowhere to be seen.


    "Evadne!"


    Seeing her, the Ashbournes immediately swarmed around her. They touched her face and checked her arms, their expressions etched with deep worry. "We heard you were attacked at the Abernathy Hotel! Are you hurt?"


    "Who was the attacker? Why would they do this?"


    "Guys, I''m fine. I''m perfectly fine."


    Evadne forced a bright smile, though her chest felt like a steamroller was repeatedly crushing her ribs. "The guy was probably a victim''s family member going after Chad Abernathy. Since I''m working so closely with Chad right now, I''m bound to get caught in the crossfire. But I''m prepared for that."


    "Damn it! It''s that toxic bastard again!"


    Arnold cursed in a fiery rage. "Chad Abernathy is practically a walking gue.


    Anyone who gets near him gets cursed!"


    The family fell into a momentary, exasperated silence.


    Even though Evadne had broken up with Thaddeus, and Emeric was still in aa, the Ashbourne family''s innate resilience and dark humor always found a way to shine through the hardest of times.


    "Evadne, I''ve requested a long leave of absence from the organization. I''m going to be your personal


    b from now on," Elvis said.


    His voice was incredibly hoarse, and he looked entirely drained as he walked up to his little sister.


    Ever since Elsie Archer vanished, he had been suffering from severe insomnia. He


    went out searching for clues every single day, only to return empty-handed.


    Evadne looked at Elvis with deep worry.


    Her fourth brother was alive, but he seemed like a hollow shell of the confident, wildly untamed man he used to be.


    "Elvis, don''t worry about me. I can protect myself. And even if I couldn''t, Chad will risk his miserable life to keep me safe right now," Evadne said with a convincing, cheerfulugh.


    She absolutely couldn''t let Elvis


    shadow her. First, she was terrified he might lose his temper and just assassinate Chad in broad daylight, ruining everything. Second, she had worked painstakingly hard to earn that toxic man''s trust. If Elvis interfered, all her efforts would go down the drain.


    She was so exhausted.


    No matter how badly she hurt inside, she had to stay perfectly calm and rational at


    all times.


    It was just so exhausting.


    "Evadne, what exactly is the deal with that attacker?" Cassius asked with a heavy frown.


    "I''ll tell you all about itter, Cassius. How is Dad doing?"


    Cassius''s perpetually somber face finally lit up with a hint of joy. "Mr. Larry said Dad


    is showing signs of waking up. If not today, then tomorrow. He might actually pull through. That''s why I called everyone here to wait."