Chapter 1020:

Left alone in the stairwell, Fiona sighed in relief, feeling as though a burden had been lifted. Yet, a profound emptiness swelled within her. She lingered in a daze until her phone rang abruptly.

It was Kaelyn. Fiona answered, exasperated. “Why did you take so long to pick up? Didn’t you say Elyse was confined? Why was she still freely performing on stage today?”

“What? Elyse was performing?” Kaelyn sounded genuinely surprised. “Are you certain it was Elyse and not someone else?”

“I’m not blind. It was definitely her. She’s up there, acting all superior,” Fiona responded irritably.

Kaelyn’s tone became cautious. “I’ll check with Mabel. For now, hold off on any moves. Just do as I say.”

“Fine.” Fiona ended the call, feeling thoroughly relieved. She realized the mishap was Mabel’s fault, not hers. She exited the stairwell, ready to head back to the hotel.

Meanwhile, Kaelyn wasted no time contacting Mabel to inquire about the mix-up. She dialed Mabel’s number repeatedly, but there was no answer. After several attempts, Mabel finally picked up.

“What’s going on?” Kaelyn snapped. “Didn’t you assure me that you had Elyse under control? How could you let her slip away?”

Mabel’s silence fueled Kaelyn’s fury. “Have you developed a soft spot for Elyse?” Kaelyn asked disdainfully. “Do you want her to realize her dreams before she dies?”

Mabel was silent before replying, “Elyse hurt me. I’m stuck at home and can’t move.”

Kaelyn’s frustration boiled over. “You were injured? Why didn’t you inform me? The black market dealers are expecting to pick up Elyse tonight. Since you let her escape, how am I supposed to handle this?”

“I’m prepared to pay for my mistake with my life,” Mabel’s voice was resigned.

“And what use would that be? Elyse is still out there,” Kaelyn retorted sharply.

Mabel fell silent again. After a moment, Kaelyn’s tone softened. “How severe are your injuries? Should I send someone to take you to the hospital?”

“No, I can manage. It’s not too bad. But I’ve botched the mission,” Mabel admitted.

Kaelyn sighed. “It’s okay. You’ve done well until now. Are you able to move? I still need you tonight to draw Elyse out as bait.”

“I can manage that,” Mabel responded. . . .