Chapter 554

Mason Evans turned his head away, wiping the moisture from the corner of his eye with his hand.

Evelyn Ross did not rush him, waiting quietly for him to compose himself.

Her suspicion that Mason Evans was connected to her sister wasn't based solely on that old photograph from years ago.

The more crucial point was that after she woke up in her sister's identity, her body showed no signs of shock or anemia.

This meant someone had replenished her iron stores during her coma.

The only person who could have done so with such precision was Mason Evans.

A stranger couldn't possibly know her physical condition that well.

It was just a suspicion back then, until that last time at the New York hospital, where she thought she caught a glimpse of Mason Evans.

After investigating, she discovered Mason Evans was actually a doctor at that hospital, having been stationed in San Francisco for the past few years.

Connecting all these clues, Evelyn Ross made her deduction.

She didn't know how much time passed before Mason Evans finally calmed down.

He let out a slow breath. "Regarding the Sterling Family, I don't know much either. I'm an orphan, grew up in an orphanage. The director told me only by being exceptional could I have a family. So I pushed myself relentlessly, became the smartest kid in the institution. Finally, one day, a luxury car came for me."

"I thought I was entering a happy family, but instead I was sent to a school abroad. They made me learn various skills. It wasn't until I was fourteen that they sent me back to the country, to your sister's side. They told me my life's mission was to protect her, to be her guardian. She was my master."

"She was about seven or eight then, sweet and adorable... She treated me like an older brother, never as a subordinate..."

His tone grew exceptionally tender when speaking of Grace Valentine.

The nostalgia and deep affection in his eyes were unmistakable.

He truly had loved her sister deeply.

Evelyn Ross felt a momentary daze.

Her sister was indeed gentle and kind-hearted; it seemed most men around her held affection for her.

Like John Evans...

Who wouldn't like such a woman?

Evelyn Ross looked at Mason Evans. "What happened after that?"

Mason Evans spoke slowly. "Your sister only wanted to keep a low profile, to be abandoned by the Sterling Family. So when the second mission came from the family, she directly chose to give up. Since Mina Sherwood and Marcus Valentine weren't together, she chose a husband like that."

Evelyn Ross was stunned. "Second mission?"

"Yes. The first mission was to become friends with Mina Sherwood. She was still in preschool then; her adoptive parents sent her to the same preschool as Mina. She was young; her parents told her to play with Mina, so she did, not paying much attention. As she grew older, she realized she didn't want to exploit that friendship. So she found an opportunity to have a falling out with Mina, gradually fading from your lives..."

Mason Evans gave a bitter smile. "That's the kind of kind-hearted girl she was. Unwilling to burden anyone, she shouldered everything herself. Including that time on the sea, choosing to save you and giving up herself."

Evelyn Ross's eyes gradually grew moist.

She wasn't actually close to this sister she had met for the first time only to be separated by life and death.

Pretending to be her was half out of duty, half to save her mother Sophia Ashcroft.

But listening to Mason Evans's account now, her sister's image seemed to come alive before her eyes.

Timid and fearful, yet willing to abandon a Sterling Family mission for a friend.

Terrified and panicked, yet willing to send the only guardian by her side—the one who would never betray her—to protect her and Sophia Ashcroft for their sake.

How could this foolish girl be so foolish?

Evelyn Ross clenched her fists.

Mason Evans continued. "After your sister learned about her origins, choosing to become a discarded pawn was also to protect you, afraid you'd be discovered by the Sterling Family... After she was abandoned, I was essentially exiled too. I could only be an ordinary doctor for the rest of my life, staying by her side. But to protect you and Mrs. Ashcroft, she sent me to San Francisco..."

He lowered his gaze. "I was taught from childhood that I must obey my master's orders. So even knowing this request was unreasonable, knowing the one who would get hurt was only herself, I still had to carry it out."

"I went to San Francisco, met you. I thought you were gentle and lovely like your sister, but your sister was like a docile rabbit, while you were like a cat ready to unsheathe its claws at any moment. You two are completely different people."

His analogy was apt.

But that wasn't what Evelyn Ross wanted to hear.

She asked directly, "What exactly is the Sterling Family? What do they want? Why are they doing this? What was my sister to the Sterling Family? And what does the codename 'Rabbit' mean!"

Seeing her urgency, Mason Evans sighed. "Actually, I don't know either."

Evelyn Ross was taken aback. "What?"

Mason Evans smiled bitterly. "I'm just an orphan. What right do I have to access the upper echelons of the Sterling Family? So I truly don't know. I only know I received instructions from above. My mission was to protect your sister's identity from being exposed, assist her in completing missions, until finally gaining the Sterling Family's recognition, then I could go home."

Evelyn Ross keenly caught a word. "Go? Go home?"

"Yes, go home." Mason Evans looked at her. "Don't you think, whether it's me, your sister, or even you, we're all like orphans stranded outside? Having a home we can't return to. The Sterling Family is our home. Only by completing the missions can we go back."

Evelyn Ross frowned. "Who is your contact?"

"I don't know." Mason Evans continued. "I just received missions periodically."

Evelyn Ross scoffed. "So you've never been back to the Sterling Family? Don't know where the Sterling Family actually is?"

"Right."

Mason Evans answered straightforwardly. "Your sister never went back either. What she yearned for constantly was to go home. So, can you complete the mission for her? Marry Anthony Castillo. Even if it's fake, get through this immediate hurdle first. I believe if it's a fake marriage, Mr. Vance will understand you!"

"Marriage is sacred; it shouldn't be used as a transaction."

Evelyn Ross said calmly, then looked at him. "But, Mason, I'm curious. Since you don't know the Sterling Family, don't know the Sterling Family members, why do you have that video of the Sterling Family threatening my mother?"

As her words fell, Mason Evans's pupils contracted sharply.

Evelyn Ross took a step forward, staring intently at him. "Can you tell me why? Where did the video come from? Where did the photo come from?"

Mason Evans looked at her.

Evelyn Ross took a step back. "So, I only believe half of what you just said. You must know what the Sterling Family is doing, must know where the Sterling Family is! Cooperate with me. Help rescue my mother. Let's avenge my sister together! I believe if my sister were here, she would never stand by and watch our mother fall into their hands... Tell me, where is the Sterling Family?!"