Chapter 523

Jane Evans did not leave the house today.

She turned off her phone, unplugged the television cable, and locked herself in her room to read.

Sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, casting dappled patterns on the pages of her book.

She read with intense focus, her fingertips brushing the paper with a soft, rustling sound.

The world seemed to shrink to this single, quiet space.

Until hurried footsteps echoed from outside, followed by a tearful cry. "Jane!"

Jane closed her book and frowned.

She stood up and pushed the door open.

Mrs. White stood in the living room.

Her hair was disheveled, her eyes swollen and red, tear tracks streaking her face. She stared at Jane with a fixed, intense gaze.

That look made Jane's heart skip a beat.

"Jane…" Mrs. White's voice was terribly hoarse. "Nathan… Nathan is going to jump off a building! For you!"

Jane's mind went blank with a buzzing sound.

"What?" she asked reflexively. "Where is he? I'll go with you!"

She disliked him. Hated him. Resented his past contempt and coercion.

But in the face of life and death, those emotions suddenly felt very light.

Light as a feather.

Jane walked quickly toward Mrs. White.

Mrs. White suddenly reached out and grabbed Jane's wrist.

The grip was shockingly strong.

"No need." Mrs. White's voice suddenly became calm. An eerie calm.

Jane froze. "He… was he saved?"

"No." Mrs. White shook her head, fresh tears welling up. "He's dead."

Three words.

Like three ice picks, they plunged straight into Jane's heart.

She stood rigid, her blood seeming to freeze instantly.

"How…" she murmured, her voice trembling. "How could he…"

Mrs. White looked at her, her eyes empty. "He said you would never forgive him. That he could never have you in this lifetime. That living was meaningless."

Jane's tears fell without warning.

She raised a hand to cover her mouth, but couldn't stop her shoulders from shaking.

She hadn't expected this.

She truly hadn't expected Nathan to love her to this extent.

If he loved her so much, why had he treated her that way before?

Jane's vision darkened, her thoughts a chaotic whirl.

Mrs. White took a step forward, grabbing Jane's shoulders. "Jane, Nathan loved you very much, right?"

Jane's eyes blurred with tears. She nodded.

"Yes."

Mrs. White smiled.

The smile was twisted, carrying a kind of insane tenderness.

"So, you should go keep him company, okay?"

Jane hadn't yet processed the meaning of those words.

Mrs. White's hand, which had been hidden behind her back all along, suddenly shot forward.

A flash of cold light.

A kitchen knife, aimed directly at Jane's heart!

Jane's pupils contracted sharply.

Time seemed to stretch.

The trajectory of the approaching blade was horrifyingly clear.

She could even see the cold light reflected on the steel.

But her body felt nailed to the spot, unable to move.

...

Not far away.

Evelyn Ross had already rushed to the doorway.

She saw Mrs. White raise the knife. She saw Jane standing frozen. She saw the blade tip mere inches from Jane's chest.

She threw herself forward with all her strength.

But the distance was too great.

Just those few steps.

A chasm between life and death.

Evelyn's heart sank to the depths.

It was that person from the Sterling Family. The one hiding in the shadows.

It had to be him.

He understood human nature too well. Knew exactly how to manipulate hearts.

Nathan, unable to have Jane, would take extreme measures.

Mrs. White, having lost her son, would lose her reason.

Jane dying by Mrs. White's hand was perfectly logical.

A crime of passion.

Clean.

Leaving no trace.

As if that person had never been involved.

But if Jane died, Evelyn's connection to the Evans family would be completely severed.

The mission would fail.

The Sterling Family's recognition, her mother's freedom—all would vanish like bubbles.

Evelyn clenched her teeth, a wave of intense helplessness rising in her eyes.

She hated herself for not being fast enough.

Hated herself for being unable to save anyone.

Forced to just watch.

...

The knife tip touched Jane's clothing.

Jane could even feel the cold metallic texture.

She closed her eyes.

It's over.

At that moment.

A figure slammed into her from the side!

A tremendous force shoved her violently away!

Jane stumbled and fell to the floor.

She looked up.

She saw Justin Evans standing in front of her.

Mrs. White's knife plunged solidly into Justin's back!

Most of the blade disappeared into his body.

Mrs. White froze for a second, then immediately tried to pull the knife out.

But the blade was lodged in bone. It wouldn't come out easily.

She yanked hard.

Evelyn had already arrived. She kicked Mrs. White's wrist!

The knife flew from her grasp.

Mrs. White screamed as Evelyn twisted her arm and pinned her to the floor.

Jane scrambled up and rushed toward Justin.

"Brother!"

Justin stood with his back to her, unmoving.

Blood gushed from the wound, rapidly staining his white shirt crimson.

Yet he seemed not to feel the pain. He slowly turned around and reached a hand out to Jane.

"Belle," his voice was soft, carrying a hint of a smile. "Did you get hurt from the fall? I didn't mean to push you so hard…"

Jane's tears broke through like a dam.

She grabbed his hand. It was ice cold.

"How are you? Let me see…"

She tried to move around to his back, but Justin stopped her.

"Don't look," he shook his head. "It'll scare you."

"Let me see!" Jane cried out.

Justin's strength was fading.

He couldn't stand steadily anymore.

Jane supported him, helping him turn slowly.

The knife was still embedded in his back.

Only the black handle was visible.

Blood had soaked through his shirt, dripping steadily onto the floor.

Justin raised a hand, wanting to cover Jane's eyes.

His hand lifted halfway, then lost its strength.

His whole body began to slump.

Jane desperately tried to hold him up.

"Justin! Justin, don't scare me!"

Justin leaned on her shoulder, his breathing becoming ragged.

He looked at her, his gaze gradually growing unfocused.

"Little sister," he tugged at the corner of his mouth. "This time… your brother protected you."

With that, he closed his eyes.

...

Mrs. White was taken away by the police.

Justin was rushed to the hospital in an emergency.

Outside the operating room.

The red light was on.

Jane stood outside the door, motionless.

She stared at that door, her eyes empty.

Evelyn stood beside her in silence.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Hurried footsteps sounded from the end of the corridor.

Mrs. Evans and Mr. Evans walked quickly, followed by Jane's two other brothers and a group of bodyguards.

It was a large entourage.

Mrs. Evans's face was pale. She grabbed Jane's shoulders. "How is Justin? What on earth happened?!"

Jane seemed awakened by these words.

She turned her head and looked at Mrs. Evans.

Tears streamed down her face again.

She suddenly knelt down.

"I'm sorry…" her voice was hoarse. "He was saving me… I'm sorry…"

She knelt on the floor, her shoulders trembling.

Mrs. Evans was stunned.

Evelyn stood to the side, pressing her lips together tightly.

Just then, her phone vibrated.

She took it out.

A text message from an unknown number.

[Useless. Lost so quickly? If Justin dies, the Evans family will hate Jane to the core. Your pawn is worthless now. Fail the mission, and just you wait.]