Chapter 501

Ethan Valentine was stunned. "You... you... you... So you are Alexander Vance?!"

The air in the Vance family banquet hall seemed to freeze solid.

All the guests stared wide-eyed, their gazes fixed intently on Alexander Vance. Those who had just been whispering, calling him Evelyn Ross's kept boy toy, now had mouths agape enough to fit an egg, feeling as if their entire worldview had been overturned.

Penelope Valentine let out a sharp, involuntary scream. "Impossible! You were clearly Sterling Ge's driver, her boy toy! How could you possibly be..."

Alexander Vance gave her a cool glance, his voice calm and even. "I admire Miss Sterling. I have been pursuing my fiancée. Is there a problem?"

Penelope was instantly rendered speechless.

The surrounding guests quickly caught on, immediately changing their tune.

"So it was all a huge misunderstanding! Miss Ross wasn't misbehaving at all!"

"Exactly! Calling him a boy toy, the rumors outside were just too vicious! Miss Ross and Mr. Vance have been engaged for a long time. It's perfectly normal for them to be close!"

"And they said it was just a marriage alliance... turns out, they're genuinely in love!"

"The funniest part is the Vance family side. Don't you think it's strange? Mr. Vance and Miss Ross are so affectionate. He surely hasn't expressed any dissatisfaction with the Ross family. Why didn't the Vances come out to greet them? Something's off here."

"What's off about it? Mr. Vance is from the second branch. There's still the eldest branch above him. I've long heard the old patriarch favors the eldest branch..."

"So it's the Vance eldest branch causing trouble? How despicable."

The murmurs rose and fell, the accusations now squarely aimed at Penelope Valentine, Richard Evans, and Robert Vance.

Richard and Robert's faces burned with shame, but their attention was completely focused on Evelyn Ross. They stared at her in shock, their voices trembling slightly. "Evelyn Ross? You're not dead?"

Evelyn lowered her gaze slightly, her tone distant. "And these gentlemen are?"

Alexander immediately played along, introducing them. "Sterling Ge, this is my father. This is my elder brother."

He then turned to Richard and Robert. "This is Mr. Ross's long-lost biological daughter, Sterling Ge. Now that she has returned to the Ross family, she has taken the name Evelyn Ross."

Richard and Robert exchanged a look, their faces full of confusion. "Sterling Ge? Not Sterling Ge?"

Evelyn didn't answer. Her gaze shifted to the nearby Penelope Valentine.

Penelope was staring at them fixedly, still in a state of extreme shock and disbelief. Evelyn let out a cold laugh. "Penelope Valentine, he is Alexander Vance. Are you very disappointed?"

Penelope swallowed hard, hurriedly waving her hands. "I... I'm not..."

"Weren't you just saying repeatedly that the Vance and Ross families should call off the engagement? Wasn't it so that after I broke it off, you could conveniently step in?"

Penelope's face turned deathly pale. She quickly looked at Mr. Valentine, her voice choked with tears. "Uncle, that's not what I meant! I truly misunderstood! I was acting for the good of the Ross family! I didn't know Sterling Ge's boyfriend was Alexander Vance... I really didn't mean it, I had no other intentions!"

After crying out her plea, she put on a pitiful, delicate expression. "I know that since my sister came home, you all don't like me anymore, driving me out of the house. Don't worry, I will never set foot in the house again, so my sister won't be upset seeing me."

This immediately stirred some sympathy among the crowd.

"The Ross family got their biological daughter back and kicked out the adopted one. That is a bit harsh, isn't it?"

"Shh, keep your voice down..."

Evelyn gave a cold laugh and looked at Mr. Valentine.

Mr. Valentine spoke directly, his voice icy. "Your sister does indeed get upset seeing you. After all, someone as ungrateful and treacherous as you, who betrays the family, is truly unwelcome in the Ross household!"

His words caused an uproar in the hall.

Penelope's head snapped up, her expression panicked. "Uncle, wh-what are you talking about?"

Mr. Valentine's gaze was sharp as a knife. "Some time ago, there was a misunderstanding between the Ross and Evans families. Someone sent Justin Evans a fake report about your elder brother. Do you really think I don't know who sent it?"

Penelope was struck as if by lightning.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Mr. Valentine. "U-uncle, I don't know what you mean. It really wasn't me, I..."

She couldn't continue.

Because she knew very well that Mr. Valentine never spoke without being sure. If he said it, he must have solid evidence.

Mr. Valentine gave a cold laugh.

Penelope's legs gave way, and she collapsed to the floor.

She swallowed, her voice trembling. "Uncle, please, have mercy on me! I lost my head for a moment! I just felt that once Sterling Ge came home, you all didn't want me anymore... I couldn't accept it... I know I was wrong, Uncle... The Ross family raised me. I am grateful to the Ross family, Uncle..."

Mr. Valentine said coldly, "The Ross family raised you, never expecting anything in return. Since you can't seem to let this go, then repay the Ross family's kindness."

Penelope was taken aback. "How?"

Mr. Valentine said calmly, "We have an overseas business partner seeking a marriage alliance. Weren't you very eager to represent the Ross family in a marriage alliance? Since that's the case, you may go."

Penelope's eyes lit up. "Which family?"

Mr. Valentine curled his lips into a mocking smile. "The Castillo family."

Penelope immediately pressed. "Anthony Castillo?"

Mr. Valentine scoffed. "You dare to hope for that? Anthony Castillo is beyond your reach. His third uncle just lost his wife. You can go be his replacement. It's perfect."

All color drained from Penelope's face.

Anthony Castillo's third uncle... that notoriously brutal middle-aged man?

Rumors said he had physical issues but particularly enjoyed sadomasochistic relationships. He had already gone through three wives...

In an overseas place like that, within a powerful family like the Castillos, no one would dare investigate such matters...

Penelope gasped sharply.

She wanted to say more, but Mr. Valentine had already waved his hand.

Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward, grabbing Penelope's arms from either side.

Mr. Valentine ordered, "Keep an eye on her. Don't let her leave the house before the marriage alliance is settled!"

"Yes, sir!"

Penelope tried to struggle, but the bodyguards stuffed a cloth into her mouth and forcibly dragged her away.

The entire series of actions was smooth and decisive.

After publicly dealing with Penelope, Mr. Valentine slowly turned his gaze to Richard Evans and Robert Vance. "I trust you gentlemen don't mind? The Ross family has always acted with swift decisiveness."

Richard and Robert swallowed hard, quickly waving their hands. "N-no, not at all."

Mr. Valentine asked again, "You were saying earlier that the children's marriage should be canceled?"

Robert's mouth twitched. He hurriedly corrected himself. "You must have misheard! They are deeply in love. We couldn't be more pleased!"

Mr. Valentine gave another cold laugh. He glanced at Evelyn, then turned and followed the two men back into the banquet hall.

Evelyn raised an eyebrow, her gaze falling on Susan Langley, who was hiding behind Preston Valentine.