Meanwhile, back in Riverdale.The evidence against Chantal's father, Vincent, was irrefutable, and the prosecution was preparing to file charges. Yarden Henson, knowing full well what his son had done, accepted that Vincent's fate was sealed. The impending imprisonment of his son, the flight of his daughter-in-law with the family fortune, and the imminent collapse of his company was too much for the old man. The shock triggered a cerebral hemorrhage, and he was rushed to the hospital. Despite the doctors' best efforts, Yarden passed away in the middle of the night. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ fındnovel.netAt the hospital, Chantal's grief was a raw, ragged thing, her sobs echoing in the sterile hallways. Garland Sheppard came to pay his final respects to the old man who had once helped him.Chantal was now an orphan. Feeling indebted to Yarden, Garland brought her back to live with the Sheppard family.Ellis Sheppard had been spiraling for days. He locked himself in his room, drinking until he was numb. The curtains were drawn tight, blocking out any hint of light. He sat on the floor, leaning against the bed, surrounded by a mess of cigarette butts and empty bottles. In the smoke-filled darkness, he was unshaven, with dark circles under his eyes, looking like a man who had lost all hope.A loud banging rattled the door."Ellis, get the hell out here!" Garland's furious voice boomed from the hallway.Ellis didn't move, as if he hadn't heard a thing."If· you don't come out, I'm kicking this door down!" Garland roared.Still, Ellis remained motionless, clutching an empty bottle, tears streaming down his face as he whispered her name over and over. "Ondine... Ondine..."He had tried every possible way to find her, but she had simply vanished. His initial sadness and regret had curdled into a bleak despair that had consumed him for over a month. The first few days after she cut contact, he had been anxious but still functional. But after going to her house and learning about Yvaine's cancer, the guilt of his deception had become unbearable. He had slapped himself until his face was swollen, his self-loathing a physical thing.noveldramaSince then, he had shut himself away, refusing to eat or leave his room, tormenting himself with memories of their time together. Each memory was a fresh wave of agony that he tried to drown with alcohol and nicotine.Garland had initially left him to his self-destruction, but Shania, his mother, had been heartbroken, pleading with him to snap out of it. But he wouldn't listen.Now, with the Henson familydestroyed and Chantal left alone etGarland had decided that Ellis would marry her. It was, in his mind the only way to repay his debt to Yarden. When Ellis still refused to open the door, Garland kicked it in with a violent crash.On the fifth day of the New Year, Seth and Zaria prepared to return to Riverdale.Before leaving, Seth made sure all of Yvaine's arrangements were in order and instructed the butler and housekeeper to take good care of Ondine.Ondine drove them to the airport.Outside the security checkpoint, Zaria gave her a tight hug. "Ondine, I'll be backto see you in a few days. Call me anytime you're feeling bored, okay?"Ondine managed a small smile. "Okay."Her gaze drifted to the man standing a short distance away. Seth was tall and imposing, the smoke-gray overcoat looking even better on him than it would on a runway model. He still radiated that same cool,O unapproachable aura, but Ondine knew better now. She knew he was a good person, not nearly as cold as he seemed. He was on the phone, his body angled away from them. As if sensing her gaze,he turned his head slightly, and their eyes met across the bustling terminal.Ondine quickly looked away, a flush rising in her cheeks. Ever since he had told her he'd taken on theHenson and defferson family her sake, her heart had startedbeating uncontrollably fastwhenever she saw him. She didn't know why, and she was afraid to think too deeply about it.