Chapter 683

Evelyn Ross was speechless.

Big sister, are you just casually blurting out the Sterling Family's secrets like that?

She stared at Natalie Castillo, wanting to say something but holding back.

In the end, she only said calmly, "I cook four dishes, and you tell me four secrets?"

"Deal!"

Natalie agreed readily, her eyes sparkling with a childlike innocence that made Evelyn feel a twinge of guilt, as if she were tricking a kid.

Evelyn sighed.

She stood up and walked toward the kitchen.

Natalie followed closely behind her.

Evelyn glanced at the remaining ingredients in the kitchen and said casually, "First dish, clay pot rice."

She picked up some pork ribs, placed them in an earthenware pot, and after some simple preparation, looked at Natalie.

"First secret, go ahead."

Natalie smiled brightly.

"You can't find the Sterling Family on any map, right? Not even on satellite imagery?"

Evelyn nodded.

"Yes."

Natalie chuckled.

"First secret, telling you why you can't find it—the Sterling Family uses cloaking technology. Someone invented a cloaking material that covers the entire Sterling Family territory. So on any map, that area appears either as ocean, forest, or land... perfectly blending into the surrounding environment."

Evelyn pressed further.

"Specifically, is it ocean, forest, or land?"

Natalie blinked.

"That's the second question~ What's your second dish?"

Evelyn shot her a look and pulled a live fish from the water.

"Fish soup."

"Great!"

Natalie clapped her hands.

Making fish soup was a bit more involved.

As Evelyn cleaned and prepared the fish, Natalie chattered beside her.

"I just saw the news. The Sterling Family's stock price has plummeted like that, and you're not worried at all? Mr. Vance is also remarkably calm. Your reactions make me think things aren't as simple as they seem."

Evelyn raised an eyebrow.

Natalie laughed.

"So I'm guessing, is Professor Nathaniel Wright about to return to the country?"

Evelyn's hands stilled.

She turned, the tip of her knife pointing directly at Natalie's face.

One inch closer, and it would have grazed her delicate skin.

Evelyn's eyes were icy.

"Don't touch them."

These scientists had borne years of slander.

They finally had a chance to return home.

They must arrive safely.

Natalie wasn't afraid.

She still wore a playful smile.

"Don't be so fierce! I'm the Sterling Family's representative in the country. Of course, I want the country to do well. The better the country is, the stronger my position becomes. So, the ones trying to stop their return definitely aren't me~"

Evelyn's pupils contracted.

"You mean..."

"I told you, we have nine competitors. Besides Nicole Sterling siding with me, there are six others eyeing you with hostility!" Natalie said, casually picking up a cucumber from the side and taking a crisp bite.

Evelyn frowned.

She understood something.

Immediately, she took out her phone and called Mr. Valentine.

"Dad, can we publicly disown each other as father and daughter for four days?"

Mr. Valentine was confused.

"...What?"

"Just four days."

"...Alright, how do we do that?"

"Just post it on Twitter."

Evelyn hung up.

Then she called the Cortez Sect Leader.

"Master, can we publicly sever our master-disciple relationship for four days?"

The Cortez Sect Leader sounded exasperated.

"What trouble are you causing now? Is the sect unable to cover for you this time?"

Evelyn was silent for a moment.

She said seriously, "Someone reminded me that the better I appear in public, the more suspicious I become."

Natalie was right.

The other six Sterling Family heirs didn't know about Mr. Valentine, Alexander Vance, and the Cortez Sect Leader's fiercely protective natures.

Seeing all three of them defending her would definitely raise suspicions about Professor Nathaniel Wright's identity!

Old Mr. Wright had been labeled a spy because of Professor Wright.

And she had been defending Old Mr. Wright.

The whole issue could only be completely resolved by tackling it from the root—Professor Nathaniel Wright.

Just like Old Mr. Wright.

Some higher-ups knew he was innocent.

But he offered no resistance.

He endured constant harassment within the special department.

Only by being harassed would outsiders believe they truly had no recourse!

Natalie's earlier words, which seemed like a threat, were actually a warning!

After explaining briefly to the Cortez Sect Leader, Evelyn hung up and looked at Natalie.

"Thank you."

Natalie grinned.

"Verbal thanks aren't enough. If you really want to thank me, how about cooking one more dish?"

Evelyn sighed.

"...Fine."

Natalie was surprised.

"So readily? Evelyn, you're not planning to poison the food, are you? I'm suddenly afraid to eat."

Evelyn rolled her eyes.

"If you don't want to eat, forget it."

Natalie laughed.

"No way. Even if it's poisoned, I'll finish every bite of the food you make."

"..."

Evelyn looked at her.

"Continue. What's the next secret about the Sterling Family?"