Chapter 572

Nicole Sterling's voice rose sharply.

"Are you insane?!"

"How dare you spout such nonsense?!"

"Alexander Vance, you'll stop at nothing to ruin my engagement with the Castillo family, won't you?!"

Alexander Vance's gaze was steady, but his tone was resolute.

"Miss Sterling, the more agitated you become, the more it seems like a guilty conscience."

"You've known about Grace Valentine's true parentage all along, haven't you?"

"You've always known that the daughter of Elder Castillo was her mother."

"That's absolute rubbish!"

Nicole trembled with rage.

"I never even met her mother!"

Alexander pressed on relentlessly.

"Then why did you obscure the faces in the photograph? Why prevent us from seeing them?"

Nicole sneered coldly.

"I simply didn't want to give you any further excuse to harass the Castillo family!"

"That excuse doesn't hold water."

Alexander shifted his gaze to the side.

"Elder Castillo has made it perfectly clear. Even if we had news of his daughter, it wouldn't change his decision."

"Therefore, you had another reason for hiding those faces."

"Am I correct, Elder Castillo?"

All eyes turned to Elder Castillo.

Nicole grew frantic.

"Old man Castillo, don't let him twist your thoughts!"

"He's using sophistry!"

"He's been steering the conversation from the very beginning!"

"That's not what I meant at all!"

Elder Castillo seemed not to hear Nicole's protests.

He walked slowly towards Evelyn Ross.

His eyes locked onto her face, scrutinizing her intently.

The resemblance was there.

Not in the features, but in the aura.

That innate pride and aloofness in her bones.

It was exactly like his first love from all those years ago.

They both resembled resilient bamboo, unyielding and unbending.

They carried an air of inviolability.

No wonder he felt an inexplicable familiarity the first time he saw this girl.

Elder Castillo suddenly grasped Evelyn's wrist.

His voice trembled.

"You... are you my granddaughter?"

Evelyn's eyelashes fluttered slightly.

She shot a quick glance at Alexander.

In that instant their eyes met, she understood his intention.

This man, usually so sparing with words, had spoken at length just now.

He was deliberately provoking conflict between Nicole and Elder Castillo.

He wanted to force Nicole into saying something reckless.

He wanted to expose more of her arrogance and disrespect.

Elder Castillo appeared compliant with the Sterling Family on the surface.

But no one enjoys being ordered around like that.

The Castillo family's agreement to this marriage alliance must stem from some unavoidable pressure.

Otherwise, why had previous generations never married into the Sterling Family?

So, deep down, Elder Castillo might not be truly willing.

He just needed a seemingly reasonable excuse to waver.

Like now...

Evelyn knew perfectly well that Alexander's words were pure fabrication.

She had seen that photograph.

The mother and daughter stood stiffly for the picture.

What 'aura' could possibly be discerned?

Posing for photos is about posture; it proves nothing.

Nicole had obscured the faces simply to prevent Evelyn from claiming a connection.

She never expected Alexander to exploit that opening.

This man... truly a master at manipulating people's hearts.

Evelyn withdrew her gaze and looked at Elder Castillo.

"I'm not certain either."

"But the daughter in the photograph does bear some resemblance to my mother."

Alexander chimed in at the perfect moment.

"Grace, do you have a photo of your mother?"

Evelyn almost rolled her eyes.

Even if she had one, she couldn't produce it!

Wouldn't that immediately expose the whole charade?!

Alexander's question wasn't to undermine her; it was to make the act more convincing...

Evelyn cooperatively showed a troubled expression.

"I grew up in New York."

"I only saw my mother once, secretly."

"Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of her."

"As for her maternal family..."

She paused, sighing softly.

"Perhaps they have old pictures?"

"Should I... go look for them?"

Elder Castillo nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, go look! Let me see!"

His eyes grew moist.

He held Evelyn's hand tightly.

"But even if you don't find one... you are my granddaughter!"

"You and her... you're just too alike!"

Evelyn felt even more uneasy inside.

She resembled her paternal grandmother, not her maternal grandmother.

This had been confirmed long ago within the Sterling Family.

She offered an awkward smile.

She secretly shot Alexander an annoyed look.

This man's method of buying time... was far too clumsy.

As expected—

Nicole was already furious.

"Old man Castillo, they're deceiving you!"

"She is not your granddaughter!"

"Don't believe me? A DNA test will make it clear!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Anthony Castillo immediately agreed.

"That's right! If photos can't be found, DNA doesn't lie!"

Natalie Castillo, who had been silent, peeked out.

Her heart had been broken by her grandfather's actions.

Now, she couldn't help but shout.

"Exactly! Get a DNA test!"

"Let Nicole give up!"

Nicole glared furiously at Natalie.

"You—!"

Natalie stuck her tongue out at her and hid behind Spencer Valentine again.

Nicole took a deep breath, suppressing her rage.

"Old man Castillo, it seems this engagement can't proceed until the DNA results are in."

"So what are we waiting for?"

"Let's go do it now!"

Upon hearing this, Elder Castillo immediately nodded.

"Good! Let's go now!"

Evelyn's heart tightened.

A DNA test would expose everything!

She hesitated.

Nicole sneered coldly, looking at her.

"What's wrong, Evelyn Ross?"

"Are you scared?"

"Don't dare to go?"

Elder Castillo, hearing this, looked at Evelyn with confusion.

Evelyn knew she couldn't let him grow suspicious now.

No matter what, she had to stall.

She immediately straightened her back.

Her tone was firm.

"Scared of what?"

"I am certain that Elder Castillo's daughter is my mother."

"It's just a DNA test."

"Let's do it!"

Anthony Castillo quickly stepped forward.

"Let's go!"

"The results can be ready in two hours at the fastest!"