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Chapter 559
Chapter 559
Chapter 559
Chapter 559
Days turned into weeks, and Eden couldn’t resist the urge to surface once again!
But Evadne was blindsided when the messenger turned out to be Aviana, not Cassius or Jareth!
Thaddeus realized that Aviana’s abrupt questioning wasn’t without purpose. She knew Evadne too well.
If Evadne caught wind of Eden’s reappearance, she’d bolt after him without a second thought, and no one could stand in her way But someone had to be there to watch her back, right?
“Aviana! How did you find out?! Who told you that?!” Evadne’s heart was pounding with a mixture of excitement and shock.
“It was Lionel Griffith, that old man’s adopted son!”
Thaddeus furrowed his brow in confusion, murmuring, “Lionel is?”
Evadne’s eyes sparkled as she enthusiastically filled him in, “He’s the one who fed Cedric the golden feed. Technically, I should call him ‘Uncle.“”
Understanding flashed across Thaddeus’s face. “A man of talent, indeed.”
“I had him rally all his guys to spread Eden’s photo across Elmsworth’s turf, so as to search for him in the shadows.”
Aviana’s voice shook with emotion, “I just thought I’d try my luck, but it was out of expectation that we’d actually find him!”
Back home, she had discussed this with Suri. She paid extra attention to it and even asked for Eden’s photograph.
Evadne had thought it was mere curiosity, but Aviana had taken bold action, deploying her resources to find him–and she made it!
“Aviana, where did they spot Eden? And where is he now? They haven’t lost him, have they?” Evadne was frantic, gripping Thaddeus’s hand tightly.
“Eden and his boys hit up Elmsworth’s underground market, picking up hot watches and chains and stuff. Lionel didn’t have time to get the details.”
Elmsworth, underground market?
Evadne might’ve been a wild child among the rich and powerful, but even she hadn’t heard of such a place- and neither had Thaddeus, as a local of Elmsworth.
“Of course, now that Eden is a wanted international criminal, the Abernathy group, the Fairhaven group, and the cops are all on his tail. Like a rat that shuns the light, he’s got nowhere to go but places like that.”
Aaron couldn’t help but remark, “The S–Star Group really is the top dog around here–an underground intelligence network!”
Thaddeus’s lips twitched with a mix of admiration and guilt.
He and Jareth had been on the hunt for days, and despite a close call, Eden had slipped through their fingers. And there were heavy losses no less!
In the end, it was Evadne’s family who had come through for her.
She was formidable on her own, but with a billionaire father, brothers with unique talents, a sister married to the president, and the status of the S–Star Group heiress–she was unstoppable..
He thought, ‘She doesn’t leave any room for me, does she?‘
“Eden’s risk–taking at the black market to convert his cash into valuable assets means he’s likely planning to flee soon!”
Evadne’s voice was tense with urgency, “Aviana, you need to tell Uncle Lionel-”
“Uncle Lionel? He’s not worthy of being your uncle. Just call him by his first name!” Aviana was protective of Evadne, treating her like royalty, and didn’t think Lionel deserved any familial terms.
Evadne, pragmatic as ever, focused on strategizing, “Tell him not to spook Eden, and especially not to go in guns blazing just because he’s got the manpower. Eden’s crew are mercenaries who don’t bat an eyelid at murder, and they’re armed to the teeth. The Fairhaven guys already learned that the hard way. Don’t let your family walk into a death trap!”
“Got it, got it! Lionel’s not reckless; he knows his limits!”
Aviana promptly agreed, “I’ll have him track Eden closely! I’ll contact you with any updates! And you– keep your head cool and let Thad and the others handle it. Don’t you dare get involved personally! We’re not young anymore, and your dad’s already had a stroke. If you don’t want to come home to our funerals, stay put!”
Then she shouted, “You hear me, Thaddeus?”
Thaddeus straightened up, “Yes, I’m here!”
“Don’t let Evadne run wild. Keep her in check!”
Though Aviana was still tough on him, her words were laced with concern, “If anything happens to Evadne, we’ll never forgive you.”
Evadne could only facepalm at the sheer dominance of the heiress.
Aaron chuckled and shook his head, while Thaddeus reassured her by putting his arm firmly around Evadne and providing her with a strong sense of security.
“Don’t worry, mom. I’d lay down my life to protect Evadne. You have my word.”
The air in the car turned still.
Mom?
Even Evadne usually just called her “Aviana,” and here was this guy jumping straight to “mom“? Cheeky much!
The phone line went silent before Aviana barked back, “Who’s your mom, you rascal? Get lost!”
That very night, Eden had resolved to leave Elmsworth. Before his departure, it was only natural for him to convert his cash into gold–money would be useless once he crossed the border, but gold was universally accepted
Just as he was leaving the market, satisfied with his haul and ready to head to the pickup spot for the cash, his phone rang it was Avery.
“Stop. Don’t go there. I’ve moved the money.”
“Damn it, Avery! Are you playing me for a fool? Do you actually have the money ready or not?!” Eden’s patience had evaporated, and he exploded in a tirade of curses.
“Play you? Please,” Avery chuckled with a chilling laugh that sent shivers down the spine. “The amount of money you’re fussing about wouldn’t even cover my expenses for a trip overseas. Do you really think I’d stoop so low to deceive you? After all these years, you’ve skimmed enough off the top while working with me. It’s far more than this petty cash”
Grinding his teeth in frustration, Eden demanded, “Then why the hell are we switching locations?!”
“You’ve been tailed, buddy.”
“What?! That’s impossible!”
“You were marked the minute you set foot in the black market. You thought you could blend in with the riff–raff, but that place is crawling with gang members. Evadne’s family has ties with the big–shot heiress of the S–Star Group in Elmsworth. Her people spotted you. Do you really think you can stay under the radar?”
Eden, as a foreigner, had no idea about the extent of this organization’s reach in the Elmsworth underworld.
It was omnipresent and permeating everywhere!
“Son of a bitch. I don’t give a damn about any gang, not even the Fairhaven group. If they want a piece of me, let them come and get it!” Eden snarled, his face twisted in fury.
“If that’s your attitude, then you’re really not planning on getting out alive,” Avery said, his tone as cold and sharp as a blade pressed against Eden’s throat. “You’re a wanted man on an international level. I’m sure the cops have your whereabouts by now. If you don’t follow my instructions, you might strut around now, but you’ll be regretting it for the rest of your life.”
Eden was sick and tired of this kid bossing him around.
But as a stranger in a foreign land, he needed Avery to get him out of the country. Still, he couldn’t help but retort, “Hmph! Don’t try to pull any tricks on me! If I get caught, I swear I’ll spill every dirty secret you’ve ever had over the years, so Evadne would see what kind of monster her childhood sweetheart really is!”
Avery’s lips curled in a frosty and silent mockery.
Go ahead, try to expose me.
If you ever get the chance.
“So how do you plan to get the money to me?” Eden’s focus was entirely on his escape fund.
“Follow the route I gave you. I’ll have someone cover for you, to ensure you leave safely. The money will be on the plane. Once you’ve broken free, board quickly, and as soon as the plane takes off, you’ll be out of Elmsworth.”
Aviana, following instructions from Evadne, repeatedly warned Lionel not to act rashly and engage Eden in a fight. If he didn’t listen, she threatened to cut him off completely!
To the reckless Lionel, her words were a devastating blow.
Upon receiving the news, Evadne and Thaddeus immediately contacted Jareth and Cassius, while the police dispatched their forces to chase down Eden and his accomplices following the route provided by Lionel!
However, as they were closing in on Eden’s escape route, they received a call from Jareth-
The target was lost!
“Lost?! How is that possible?!”
Evadne’s eyes went wide with fury, and she punched the car window hard. The thumping sound of the punch made Thaddeus wince, fearing she might have hurt herself.
‘Jareth, what the hell happened?”
Thaddeus’s warm hand enveloped her trembling fist, and his brows were deeply furrowed. “We had a joint operation going–almost a foolproof net. How could he possibly slip through?”
Jareth’s voice was parched and cracking with urgency, “We were right on his tail! But as we went through an underground tunnel, our car got blocked at the entrance by some other cars!”
Evadne and Thaddeus exchanged knowing glances. It had to be Avery–he must have caught wind and have sent reinforcements! “That sneaky bastard Avery really has his fingers in every pie!” Evadne spat out, her eyes blazing with anger.
She despised Avery for playing both sides and fraternizing with the villains.
And she hated even more how he always managed to disrupt their plans at the last second. And each time he made it getting away with it!
For someone as proud as the heiress, defeat was not an option.
This wasn’t just a fight between good and evil; it was a personal showdown between her and Avery!
Evadne vowed to capture Avery alive, to expose his crimes, shred his facade, and have him judged by justice!
“We finally broke through the blockade and followed him through the tunnel. But when we intercepted the car, Eden wasn’t inside!”
“It means someone in the tunnel switched places with Eden. He got into another car and took off!”
Evadne’s gaze was icy, her presence commanding like a general in a war room, “Get Aaron on the line, and pull the tunnel’s surveillance footage! Track every single car that left the tunnel during that time frame!”
“Evadne, Eden might have slipped away for now, but with Elmsworth being locked down tight by us, he’s got only one option: to leave tonight, and as fast as he can!” Thaddeus’s eyes gleamed, his voice chilling.
“Right! He’s heading for the airport!”
Evadne’s grip on Thaddeus’s hand turned white–knuckled, her heart pounding against her chest, “Notify the police to blockade the airport immediately! And track down every vehicle leaving the tunnel and heading in that direction. Eden has to be in one of them!”
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