Chapter 605

The study was dimly lit.

Evelyn Ross and Alexander Vance sat side by side on the mahogany sofa.

Old Mr. Castillo had asked Anthony Castillo and Natalie Castillo to leave.

He then walked to the door himself to confirm no one was eavesdropping outside before turning back.

His expression was grave as he slowly sat down opposite them.

Evelyn unconsciously straightened her back.

"You truly know nothing about the Sterling Family?" Old Mr. Castillo's gaze was sharp. "That child Nicole seems to know quite a lot. Weren't you both raised in the Sterling Family before the age of five?"

Evelyn did not explain about her sister.

She did not want this old man to suffer the pain of losing a granddaughter.

"I had a high fever as a child," she said calmly. "I forgot many things after waking up. I only knew there was a Guardian who would relay messages from the Sterling Family. My foster parents were servants of the Sterling Family. They passed away early. My aptitude was ordinary. I originally planned to live an ordinary life, so I rarely mentioned the Sterling Family."

Old Mr. Castillo nodded thoughtfully.

"I see."

"Do you know where the Sterling Family is?" Evelyn pressed. "What kind of family are they, exactly?"

Old Mr. Castillo was silent for a moment.

He picked up his teacup and took a sip of the now-cold tea.

"The Sterling Family," he began slowly, his voice carrying the weight of years. "That is an extremely mysterious realm. According to records, they have existed for over a thousand years. They seem to have vanished into the river of history, but in truth... they have always been there."

Evelyn held her breath.

Alexander also leaned forward slightly.

"The Sterling Family is very secretive," Old Mr. Castillo began his tale. "They are a family that rose two thousand five hundred years ago..."

Two thousand five hundred years.

The number sent a shock through Evelyn's heart.

"Their family," Old Mr. Castillo paused, then uttered four words, "is a matrilineal clan."

Evelyn's pupils contracted.

"Matrilineal clan?"

She certainly knew the meaning of the term.

It was one of humanity's oldest social structures. Children knew only their mother, not their father, and property was inherited through the maternal line. With the advent of the agricultural age, the physical advantages of men became prominent, and matrilineal societies were gradually replaced by patrilineal ones.

Even today, the concept of favoring sons over daughters remains deeply ingrained.

The Sterling Family was actually a matrilineal clan?

Evelyn suddenly understood many things.

No wonder her mother's surname was Sterling.

Her grandmother's surname was Sterling.

Her sister's surname was Sterling.

She had thought it was just a coincidence—her mother taking her grandmother's surname, her sister changing her surname after being taken by the Sterling Family. Now she understood that all descendants of the entire Sterling Family bore the surname Sterling.

In a matrilineal society, women pass on the family bloodline.

So in the Sterling Family, were girls held in higher regard than boys?

Seeing her comprehension, Old Mr. Castillo continued.

"In the Sterling Family, it is the girls who inherit the family business. Because they believe only girls can fully inherit the family's unique traits. Indeed, every hundred years, the Sterling Family produces a prodigy who leads the family to a more glorious future. But..."

He changed tack.

"Their family has too many girls."

Evelyn heard the implication.

The Sterling Family was powerful, so girls were esteemed.

Like Nicole, who could order Old Mr. Castillo around.

But because there were so many, the individual seemed less important.

Ultimately... the most important person in the Sterling Family should be the head of the family.

A flash of insight struck Evelyn's mind.

She suddenly understood.

Why was Nicole competing with her?

Why was Nicole desperately developing influence and expanding connections in the United States, firmly binding the five great families of New York to her side?

All of this was for—

"The Sterling Family's heir selection?"

The words escaped her lips.

Old Mr. Castillo smiled.

His smile held approval.

"Grace, you are indeed clever. Remembering nothing, yet able to guess based on what I've said... Correct, the selection of each heir in the Sterling Family is extremely rigorous. The Sterling Family has developed for thousands of years, accumulating wealth beyond imagination. If the heir is not wise enough, it's easy for the family to fall apart."

He paused.

"So their heirs are sent to various parts of the world from a young age, under the noble pretext of 'training.' In reality, it's exile. In the end, only the most capable one can return home to inherit the family business."

Evelyn narrowed her eyes.

Beside her, Alexander suddenly spoke.

"What a formidable inheritance law."

They both looked at him.

Alexander analyzed calmly.

"Today is the information age, developing rapidly with new things emerging constantly. In recent years, tech companies and real estate tycoons have made fortunes... If the Sterling Family remained complacent, only developing themselves, they would eventually fall into the trap of isolationism."

He looked at Evelyn.

"But they place their heirs around the world, assigning them tasks... letting them get to know the most elite families in each place and bind them firmly. Using external forces for internal competition."

Alexander's gaze grew profound.

"Assuming every person with inheritance rights, like you, has bound themselves to the most powerful forces in their respective countries... That would mean the Sterling Family is using global resources to select an heir. The final victor can also bring external wealth back to the Sterling Family. The Sterling Family cannot lose."

Evelyn understood instantly.

"So, we girls are all the Sterling Family's... heirs raised outside?"

"More accurately," Alexander corrected, "the Sterling Family is using the world to raise Gu. In the end, only the Gu King can emerge victorious. The Gu King who can triumph after so many twists and struggles is unimaginably powerful. No wonder the Sterling Family has survived from such ancient times until now..."

But Evelyn frowned.

"But what exactly does the Sterling Family do? What qualifications, what resources do they have to make the world raise Gu for them? And why are they so mysterious that ordinary people don't even know they exist?"

"That's a question for Old Mr. Castillo."

Alexander and Evelyn looked at Old Mr. Castillo again.

Alexander asked directly.

"The Castillo family has always stayed aloof from worldly affairs. Why are you now stepping into the fray to join the Sterling Family?"

Old Mr. Castillo had decided to form a marriage alliance with the Sterling Family.

There must be a reason behind this.

He must have learned something.

A brief silence fell in the study.

Old Mr. Castillo slowly set down his teacup.

His eyes grew complex, holding reverence, struggle, and... a trace of barely perceptible fear.

"Because," he took a deep breath, "what the Sterling Family holds is not wealth, nor power."

He looked at Evelyn.

"What they hold is this world's most fundamental... secret."

Evelyn's heart skipped a beat.

"What secret?"

Old Mr. Castillo did not answer directly.

He stood up, walked to the bookshelf, and pulled out a yellowed ancient book.

He opened it to a page.

Strange symbols were drawn on it, resembling some ancient script.

"The Sterling Family," he pointed at those symbols, "what they guard is the... spark of human civilization."

Evelyn and Alexander exchanged a glance.

Both saw shock in each other's eyes.

"I don't know the specifics." Old Mr. Castillo closed the book. "But I know that the heir selected by the Sterling Family every hundred years must not only lead the family but also take on the mission of... guarding this spark."

He looked at Evelyn.

His eyes held an unprecedented gravity.

"Grace, if you are truly one of the Sterling Family's heirs... then what you are fighting for is not merely the position of family head."

He paused.

"What you are fighting for is the qualification to... guard the entirety of human civilization."

Evelyn was stunned.

She had never imagined that behind the Sterling Family lay such a heavy secret.

Guarding the spark of human civilization?

It sounded like a myth.

But Old Mr. Castillo's expression told her this was no joke.

"Why are you telling me this?" Evelyn asked.

Old Mr. Castillo smiled bitterly.

"Because Nicole came to see me. She promised that if she becomes the head of the Sterling Family, she would grant the Castillo family unprecedented protection and resources. But she also warned me... not to interfere in the struggle between you and her."

He looked at Evelyn.

"I originally planned to stay out of it. But that day when I saw you, when I saw your eyes... I changed my mind."

Evelyn fell silent.

Alexander took her hand.

His palm was warm and firm.

"Old Mr. Castillo," Alexander spoke, "you chose Evelyn because you believe... she is more suited than Nicole to guard that 'spark'?"

Old Mr. Castillo did not deny it.

"That child Nicole is too much like her mother. Ambitious, unscrupulous. Such a person might lead the Sterling Family to glory, but could also... lead the spark to destruction."

He looked at Evelyn.

"And you, Grace. You possess a quality rarely seen in the Sterling Family... mercy."

Evelyn was taken aback.

Mercy?

She never considered herself merciful.

In business, she was decisive and ruthless. Towards enemies, she never showed leniency.

"That's not mercy," Old Mr. Castillo saw through her thoughts. "It's a bottom line. You have a bottom line, principles in what you do. In the Sterling Family, that is a scarce quality."

He sighed.

"Over these thousands of years, to guard the spark, the Sterling Family has done too many things without a bottom line. They need a family head who... can both guard the spark and preserve humanity."

Evelyn fell silent.

She needed time to digest this information.

The Sterling Family.

Matrilineal clan.

Heir selection.

Guarding the spark of human civilization.

It all sounded too bizarre, yet... strangely fitting.

No wonder the Sterling Family was so mysterious.

No wonder they could exist for two thousand five hundred years.

"That spark," Evelyn finally spoke, "what exactly is it?"

Old Mr. Castillo shook his head.

"I don't know. Only core members of the Sterling Family are qualified to know. Perhaps... on the day you become the family head, you will naturally understand."

He paused.

"But for now, what you need to do is win this heir selection."

Evelyn took a deep breath.

She looked at Alexander.

Alexander nodded to her.

His eyes held complete trust and support.

"I will win," Evelyn said.

Her voice was not loud, but exceptionally firm.

Old Mr. Castillo smiled.

"I believe you."

He walked to the desk, opened a drawer, and took out an ancient wooden box.

He opened it.

Inside was a jade pendant.

It was entirely emerald green, carved with intricate patterns.

"This is the Castillo family's token," he handed the pendant to Evelyn. "Take it. The Castillo family will support you fully. Whatever you need, as long as the Castillo family can do it, we will spare no effort."

Evelyn took the pendant.

It felt warm and smooth to the touch.

"Thank you."

Old Mr. Castillo waved his hand.

"Don't thank me. I'm doing this for the Castillo family's future as well. If you can become the head of the Sterling Family, the Castillo family... might be able to break free from a thousand-year-old constraint."

Evelyn keenly caught the deeper meaning in his words.

"Constraint? What is constraining the Castillo family?"

Old Mr. Castillo did not answer.

He only looked deeply at Evelyn.

"Some things, it's still too early to know. When you win, everything will naturally be revealed."

Evelyn did not press further.

She put the pendant away carefully.

"I will contact you soon to discuss the next steps."

Old Mr. Castillo nodded.

"Good. Remember, Nicole is moving quickly. She has already won over the other three families in New York, only the Evans family is still watching. You must hurry."

Evelyn's eyes sharpened.

"I understand."

She and Alexander stood up to take their leave.

As they reached the door, Old Mr. Castillo suddenly called out to her.

"Grace."

Evelyn turned back.

"There's one more thing," Old Mr. Castillo's expression was complex. "About your mother... Sterling Jing."

Evelyn's heart jumped.

"You knew my mother?"

"I met her a few times." Old Mr. Castillo said. "She was a... very special person. When she left the Sterling Family, she took something very important with her. The Sterling Family has been looking for that item."

Evelyn clenched her hand.

"What thing?"

"I don't know." Old Mr. Castillo shook his head. "But the reason Nicole is targeting you, besides the heir selection, is likely also for that thing. You must be careful."

Evelyn nodded.

"I will."

She and Alexander left the study.

The corridor was quiet.

They walked side by side, neither speaking.

Only after leaving the Castillo mansion and getting into the car did Alexander speak.

"Do you believe him?"

Evelyn looked out the window.

Night was deepening.

"Yes," she said. "He has no reason to lie to me. And... many things match up."

Alexander held her hand.

"No matter what secret the Sterling Family holds, no matter what you have to face, I will be by your side."

Evelyn turned to look at him.

In the night, his eyes were firm and gentle.

"I know."

She leaned into his embrace.

"Alexander, I suddenly feel... my life seems to have taken a completely different path starting from that fever and memory loss at age five."

Alexander gently stroked her hair.

"Regret it?"

Evelyn shook her head.

"No regrets. If I hadn't lost my memory, I might have been dragged into the Sterling Family's struggles long ago and not survived until today. If I hadn't lost my memory, I wouldn't have met you either."

She looked up at him.

"So, everything is for the best."

Alexander lowered his head and kissed her forehead.

"Mhm."

The car slowly drove away from the Castillo mansion.

Evelyn watched the night scenery receding rapidly outside the window, her thoughts in turmoil.

The Sterling Family.

Her mother.

The spark.

The heir selection.

It all felt like a giant net, trapping her firmly.

And she had to fight her way out of this net.

Not for power.

Not for wealth.

But for... protection.

Protecting the people she cared about.

Protecting the people she loved.

And also, that spark of human civilization she still didn't know what was.

"Alexander."

"Mhm?"

"We will win, right?"

Alexander tightened his grip on her hand.

Their fingers intertwined.

"We definitely will."

His voice was especially clear in the night.

"Because we are... Evelyn Ross and Alexander Vance."

Evelyn smiled.

Yes.

She was Evelyn Ross.

He was Alexander Vance.

Together, nothing was impossible.

The night was deep.

The road ahead was long.

But as long as they had each other, even the darkest path could lead to light.

The car drove into the distance.

Towards an unknown tomorrow.

And tomorrow was destined not to be peaceful.

Nicole would not let it go.

The other members of the Sterling Family would not sit idly by.

This heir selection had only just begun.

Evelyn closed her eyes.

She would conserve her strength.

And prepare to face... the coming storm.