Chapter 529

Evelyn stared at her phone screen.

Her fingertips felt slightly cold.

She knew she shouldn't have done this.

Hacking into someone else's phone was illegal.

But Susan was Fox's person.

She had to confirm.

Confirm if this woman's phone contained any clues about the Sterling Family.

Any traces of Fox.

She opened the photo gallery.

Scrolled quickly.

Nothing.

There was nothing.

The chat history was clean.

The call log showed no anomalies.

Not even a single suspicious photo.

Evelyn's heart sank.

She looked up.

Her gaze fell on Susan.

The woman was looking down.

Her shoulders trembled slightly.

As if she was crying.

But just as Preston reached out to support her.

Evelyn saw it.

Saw Susan's eyes as she lifted her head.

Those eyes held no tears.

Only a fleeting flash of triumph.

And calculation.

Evelyn tightened her grip on the phone.

She understood.

Everything became clear.

Fox had anticipated this.

Anticipated she would hack into Susan's phone.

Anticipated she would investigate.

So they had cleared all traces in advance.

And Susan's earlier retreat.

Her earlier show of grievance.

Her earlier display of weakness.

It was all for this moment.

To make her expose herself publicly.

To make her admit with her own mouth that she had invaded someone's privacy.

Such a vicious scheme.

Evelyn took a deep breath.

She put down the phone.

Looked at Susan.

"I apologize."

Her voice was calm.

"I misunderstood."

Today's loss.

She had to accept it.

Susan immediately raised her head.

Her eyes were red.

"It's alright."

She said softly.

"You checked my phone."

"It also clears my name."

"Maybe that day when my brother and I went shopping."

"Your sister saw us."

"It was an angle issue."

"Like in filming."

"A trick of perspective."

"So your sister misunderstood."

She looked at Preston.

Her gaze gentle and aggrieved.

"Preston."

"I don't blame your sister."

"She was just worried about you."

Ethan coughed.

"Right, right."

"It's good to clear things up."

"Let's consider this matter over."

Charles also spoke.

"Miss Susan."

"My cousin didn't mean it."

"Please don't take it to heart."

Susan lowered her head.

"How dare I take it to heart."

Her voice was very soft.

Almost inaudible.

"Your sister is the Sterling Family's treasure."

"The sister you've all been hoping for all these years."

"What am I?"

"Just an outsider."

"How dare I hold a grudge against her."

These words.

Spoken with the utmost grievance.

It wasn't that she didn't mind.

She didn't dare to mind.

Preston's heart ached immediately.

He looked at Evelyn.

"Sister."

"You were wrong in this matter."

"You need to apologize to Susan properly."

"How about this."

"You and Susan will be family soon."

"You give her a wedding gift."

"As an apology."

He paused.

"Susan has her eye on a wedding dress."

"But that dress was reserved by Mr. Vance."

"He said it was for you."

"When are you two... getting married?"

Evelyn lifted her gaze.

Looked at Susan.

Susan was looking at her.

Her eyes held expectation.

And a trace of barely detectable probing.

Evelyn understood.

This wasn't about the dress.

This was fishing for information.

Fishing for her and Alexander's wedding date.

Fishing for whether she would hold a wedding with Alexander.

After all, her third task.

Was to marry Anthony.

If she held a wedding with Alexander.

It would mean abandoning the task.

Fox was testing.

Testing her choice.

Evelyn remained silent for a moment.

"Not in a hurry."

She only said two words.

Susan's eyes lit up.

"Then..."

She asked cautiously.

"That dress."

"Could I borrow it to wear once?"

"I really like it."

"It's dreamy, like a princess's gown."

"I'll just wear it once."

"Just once."

Evelyn didn't speak.

Her expression turned cold.

The wedding dress Alexander reserved for her.

Why should someone else wear it?

After someone else wore it.

Would she still want it?

Seeing this.

Susan immediately looked at Preston.

"Preston."

"Did I say something wrong again?"

"I shouldn't have asked."

"That's your sister's dress."

"I shouldn't..."

As she spoke.

Tears fell.

Preston's heart ached terribly.

He looked at Evelyn.

"Sister."

"Susan really likes it."

"Just let her have it."

"I'll order a better one for you."

"The best."

"My wedding with Susan is in a week."

"The time is too tight."

"We really can't find a suitable dress."

"Just think of it..."

He gritted his teeth.

"As your fifth brother begging you."

"Alright?"

Evelyn looked at Preston.

Looked at this fifth brother blinded by love.

Then looked at Susan.

Looked at that woman hiding behind Preston.

Who was looking at her with triumphant eyes.

She suddenly smiled.

"Alright."

She said.

"The dress is yours."

"Consider it my wedding gift to you."

Susan's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

"Thank you, sister!"

But Evelyn's tone shifted.

"However."

"The dress was reserved by Alexander Vance."

"You'll have to ask him yourself."

"If he agrees."

"I have no objection."

The smile froze on Susan's face.

Preston was also stunned.

"Sister..."

"This..."

Evelyn stood up.

"Fifth Brother."

"The dress is Alexander's心意."

"I can't just give it away."

"If you want it."

"Go ask him yourselves."

"If he agrees."

"I'll have it sent over immediately."

After saying this.

She turned and left.

Leaving Susan and Preston looking at each other.

Susan bit her lip.

"Preston..."

"Mr. Vance..."

"Will he agree?"

Preston also had a headache.

That man Alexander Vance.

Was as cold as ice.

Except for Evelyn.

He showed no pleasant expression to anyone.

Asking him to give up the dress he reserved for Evelyn?

It was sheer fantasy.

But looking at Susan's expectant eyes.

Preston still steeled himself.

"I'll try."

He said.

"I'll talk to Alexander Vance."

Susan immediately hugged him.

"Preston."

"You're so good to me."

Preston patted her back.

But his heart felt heavy.

He knew.

This matter.

Was difficult.

Very difficult.

Meanwhile.

Evelyn had already walked out of the living room.

She stood in the courtyard.

Looked up at the sky.

The sky had darkened.

Stars began to twinkle.

She took out her phone.

Sent a message to Alexander Vance.

"Susan wants the wedding dress you reserved."

"I told her to ask you herself."

The message was sent.

Soon.

Alexander replied.

Only one word.

"Okay."

Evelyn looked at that word.

Suddenly smiled.

She knew.

Alexander understood her meaning.

The dress wouldn't be given.

But the act.

Had to continue.

She put away her phone.

Turned and went back to her room.

Next.

It was up to Susan to see how she would act.

And at this moment.

Susan was hiding in the bathroom.

Holding her phone.

Typing quickly.

"Evelyn didn't relent."

"The dress is with Alexander Vance."

"She told me to ask for it myself."

"The test failed."

"Can't confirm her and Alexander Vance's wedding date."

"Also can't confirm if she will abandon the third task."

The message was sent.

Soon.

The other party replied.

"Continue testing."

"At any cost."

"Get the dress."

"Or."

"Destroy it."

Susan looked at the words on the screen.

Her eyes gradually turned cold.

She deleted the chat history.

Walked out of the bathroom.

Her face resumed its gentle, aggrieved expression.

Preston was waiting for her.

"Susan."

"I'll go see Alexander Vance tomorrow."

"Don't worry."

"I'll definitely get the dress for you."

Susan hugged him.

"Preston."

"Thank you."

"You're so good to me."

Preston smiled.

"You're my future wife."

"If I'm not good to you."

"Who should I be good to?"

Susan leaned against his chest.

But her gaze drifted toward the direction of Evelyn's room.

Evelyn.

This time.

You can't escape.

The dress.

I will have it.

And your task.

I will also have it.

What Fox wants.

Is never just testing.

But...

To completely destroy you.

The corner of Susan's mouth.

Curved into a cold smile.

The night deepened.

Within the Ashcroft mansion.

Undercurrents surged.

No one knew.

A greater storm.

Was quietly brewing.