Chapter 576

"Stop!"

A cool voice cut through the air.

Joanna Sterling jerked her head around.

Evelyn Ross stood at the doorway, her brow slightly furrowed, her gaze fixed on the vase held high in Susan Langley's hand.

Joanna's eyes instantly reddened. "Miss Evelyn, it wasn't me..."

Susan raised an eyebrow, looking at Evelyn. "Little sister, I'm just trying to force out the formula to save Uncle. As his biological daughter, are you going to stop me?"

Evelyn stared at her. "Joanna might be innocent."

"Might?" Susan scoffed. "What if she's the one who poisoned him?"

She spread her hands. "Better to kill the wrong person than let the guilty go free. Uncle is lying there between life and death, yet you, his daughter, don't seem the least bit anxious."

Her gaze shifted to Preston Valentine. "See? A child not raised by your side just isn't close."

Evelyn's frown deepened.

Preston took the vase from Susan's hand. "Interrogation is one thing. Smashing this could kill someone."

Susan snorted. "Without such a threat, would a trained person like her tell the truth?"

Preston wanted to argue further.

Susan cut him off directly. "Mercy to the enemy is cruelty to oneself."

Preston was left speechless.

Evelyn ignored her, turning to the butler. "Joanna is a suspect. Lock her in a room for now. We'll deal with her after I finish investigating the scene."

The butler nodded.

The request was reasonable.

Susan opened her mouth to speak again.

Evelyn shot her a cold look. "The Valentine family is a respectable household. We do not permit private torture chambers, nor do we allow confessions extracted by force."

Susan, cowed by her tone, pursed her lips and fell silent.

The butler led Joanna out, taking her to an empty guest room on the third floor and locking it from the outside.

Joanna's eyes were red-rimmed. "Uncle Butler, it really wasn't me."

The butler sighed. "I know you're a good kid. I've checked your family background. No suspicion there... Just wait. The young lady isn't one for unlawful punishment. She'll clear your name."

Joanna nodded. "Alright."

The butler left.

Joanna paced back and forth in the room.

...

After Joanna was taken away, Mr. Valentine's room remained crowded.

The eldest uncle and aunt, the second uncle and aunt of the Valentine family had all arrived, their faces etched with worry.

Evelyn watched the scene, sighing inwardly.

The familial atmosphere in the Valentine family was truly exceptional.

So many families fought tooth and nail over inheritance, yet the Valentines' bond seemed unbreakable.

The group kept vigil by Mr. Valentine's side for a long time.

It wasn't until the doctor repeatedly assured them that Mr. Valentine would be stable for the next seven days, urging everyone to disperse.

Although Mr. Valentine's study was over a hundred square meters, the Valentine family was simply too large.

While everyone had a place to sit, the air had grown stale.

Finally, Evelyn managed to persuade everyone to leave.

Only Marcus Valentine remained.

Marcus stood before the two of them. "Alright, talk. What exactly is going on?"

Evelyn sighed and explained the situation with the Sterling Family.

She concluded with self-reproach. "I didn't expect the Sterling Family to be so formidable, their influence so strong. I've dragged Father into this..."

Marcus immediately spoke up. "Don't say 'dragged'! This is your home. We are all your family... But you're saying it's this 'Fox' who tampered with my medical report?"

Evelyn nodded. "It should be the same person."

Marcus frowned. "We still have time. Let's think again. Uncle has always loved your mother. If we can rescue her, the suffering Uncle is enduring now won't mean a thing."

Evelyn knew he spoke the truth.

But she still blamed herself.

The key issue was... what about the DNA test in two days?

Originally, delaying for two days was fine. If they could find a way to stop the marriage alliance between the Castillo family and Nicole Sterling, that would be best.

Even if they couldn't, there were no real consequences.

After all, once the Castillos and Nicole Sterling allied, they'd be opponents. A little extra animosity wouldn't matter.

But now, she had placed herself directly in the line of fire!

She took a deep, frustrated breath. "What do you think? If we can help Old Mr. Castillo find his daughter within two days, could that appease his anger and get us the antidote?"

Marcus immediately said, "That's a possibility! If we really find his daughter, this whole matter might be forgiven!"

He looked at Alexander Vance. "Hey, the photo?"

Alexander handed over the photograph.

Marcus glanced at it and was dumbfounded. "What can you tell from this? How are we supposed to find her! There's almost no clue at all!"

Evelyn took a deep breath. "I know someone at the police station. Let's search the database to see if there's anyone similar."

For now, they could only resort to this most rudimentary method!

...

Susan and Preston went downstairs.

Preston kept glancing towards the third floor.

Then he looked at Susan, reprimanding her. "You shouldn't have laid hands on Joanna earlier."

Susan pouted, feigning hurt. "Preston, I was just anxious. With Uncle lying in bed, I wanted to contribute to the family, to earn everyone's recognition..."

Preston was genuinely feeling weary now.

Today, at the Castillo family banquet, Susan's behavior had been glaringly obvious.

If he still couldn't see Susan's hostility towards his little sister, he'd be a complete fool!

He suddenly spoke. "Maybe you shouldn't come over tomorrow..."

Before he could finish.

Susan interjected, "If only someone could have pulled Uncle back at the critical moment, like I did for you. If someone could have stopped him from drinking that coffee..."

She sighed. "Then Uncle wouldn't be in this state, right?"

Preston's words of refusal stuck in his throat, unsaid.

After all, even though Susan's conduct was indeed problematic, and she seemed to have issues with his little sister...

She was still his lifesaver...

Susan, as if just hearing his earlier words, looked at him with feigned confusion. "Preston, what were you saying?"

He sighed softly. "Nothing. I'll have the driver take you home."

"Alright. I'll come see you again tomorrow."

Susan waved, a smile on her face as she left.

She knew she had been too obvious.

But it didn't matter.

As long as she remained Preston Valentine's savior, the Valentine family couldn't do anything to her!

Watching Susan disappear through the doorway, Preston finally snapped out of his thoughts.

He lowered his head, trudging dejectedly towards his upstairs bedroom.

After a few steps, he suddenly stopped.

He looked towards the third floor.

He went to the kitchen, gathered some food, and brought it up to the third floor.

The room where Joanna was confined had a small window that opened to the corridor.

He tapped on the window.

The window opened immediately.

Joanna's panicked face appeared.

She looked at him frantically. "Fifth Young Master, please save me! I don't want to die! I really didn't poison anyone!"

Preston frowned.

Joanna began to cry. "I'm begging you. I'm so scared. Please let me out, okay? Just... just for old times' sake, for when I saved you..."