My mentor once told me, after decades on the force and catching all kinds of


    violent, ruthless criminals, "That Austin guy? He was twisted beyond twisted. The worst of the worst."


    "Yeah," Cassius muttered, "that was Elspeth''s brother. Hard to believe, but true."


    He let out a long, weary sigh, like just talking about it made him ill. "After Chairman Austinnded himself in prison, the Austin Group was left headless. Their rivals swooped in, picked the bones clean, and the whole empire just crumbled. That was the end of that story."


    Hearing this, Evadne felt a cold wave of disgust ripple through her chest. She gritted her teeth, her voice trembling with anger. "That''s just... inhuman."


    Out in the hallway, Jason hurried over, clutching a takeout box-maybe some chicken noodle soup and a grilled cheese, the kind offort food you bring a friend in the hospital. He nearly dropped it when he saw Thaddeus standing frozen at the doorway, as still as a statue.


    "Mr. Thaddeus?" Jason blurted out, wide-eyed.


    Thaddeus seemed to snap back to reality, turning his gaze slowly, his voice hoarse and raw, as if he hadn''t spoken-or even had a sip of water-in days. "How is Ms. Evadne?"


    Jason stared at him, suddenly overwhelmed by a tangle of emotions. His throat tightened, his eyes stinging. "Ms. Evadne... she''s really sick. Like, seriously sick. You should go in. I know she''ll be happy to see you. It might even help her get better."


    He quickly stepped aside, pushing the door open.


    Thaddeus pressed his lips together, flexing his fingers for a moment before stepping quietly into the room.


    Seeing him, Cassius and Aaron both tensed up, but they managed to keep their expressions neutral. They exchanged a nce, then made some excuse to slip out, leaving the two alone.


    So now it was just Thaddeus and Evadne.


    Once upon a time, they''d been the picture-perfect Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy- sweet, inseparable, happy. But now, staring at one another, the words just dried up. The silence between them was heavy: lonely, cold, and aching.


    "I heard you coughed up blood," Thaddeus said atst, standing at the foot of the bed like a guest who didn''t quite know where he belonged. He didn''t even sit down. "I remember you had stomach problems before, but it''s been a while. What happened this time?"


    Evadne felt her nose prickle, but she forced herself to smile, though it came out crooked and sad.


    Yeah, her stomach had always been


    a mess. It used to re up all the time-until they''d moved in together. He''d looked after her so carefully back then. He''d learned how to make the ndest most soothing chicken soup, oatmeal, and mashed potatoes-anything easy on her stomach. He''d nagged her like a helicopter parent, making sure she didn''t sneak any ice cream or cold sodas. That''s why her stomach had been fine for so long.


    But after he left, she just... fell apart.


    He''d spoiled her, honestly.


    She''d regressed, lost all her independence, turning back into a helpless little girl who couldn''t take care of herself.


    But she knew-nobody gets to be a child forever. She had to grow up. She had to learn to stand on her own two feet again.


    "How did you find out I was sick?" she asked quietly, her longshes trembling.


    He didn''t sugarcoat it. "Dr. Bright called me."


    "Chasel, huh?" She tried tough it off. "I''m fine. Really. Feeling way better now." "That''s good."


    Silence crashed down again.


    "Mr. Thaddeus-"


    "Ms. Evadne "


    They both spoke at once, then paused. Evadne cracked a real smile for a moment, embarrassed. "You first."


    "Ms. Evadne," he began, choosing his words carefully, "if this is just a random stomach re up then hope you take care of yourself and get healthy again. Really. You need to took after yourself."


    He paused, his blue eyes cool and just a little stormy. "But if this is


    because of me if you let yourself get this sick over us then


    Want


    you to stop. Stop doing this to


    yourself. It''s senseless, and it''s... it''s


    almost self-destructive."


    He drew a shaky breath. "Hurting yourself won''t change anything between us. Even if you''re trying to get my attention, making yourself sick like this will only push me further away."