Chapter 699

Ethan Valentine hadn't even finished his sentence when Kiki Cortez immediately cut him off.

"Stop cursing! The situation has reversed!"

Ethan was stunned.

"Reversed? How is that possible? If I were an outsider, I'd want to give our little sister a couple of punches for her mistake. How could public opinion online reverse?"

Kiki shot him a look.

"Could you even beat the First Senior Sister? Are you sure it wouldn't be a one-sided beating?"

Ethan fell silent.

Kiki cleared her throat and handed him her phone.

"See for yourself. Stop guessing wildly."

Ethan took the phone.

His eyes scanned the news about Professor Nathaniel Wright's return to the country.

He nearly jumped out of his skin.

"Holy crap! This is the reversal!"

His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at the screen.

He then turned to look at the other Cortez Sect disciples nearby.

"If anyone dares to call the First Senior Sister unpatriotic again, I'll fight them to the death!"

...

The Sterling Family press conference ended.

Mr. Valentine and Evelyn Ross chatted for a few more moments.

Evelyn then left with Alexander Vance.

"Has the journalist we detained earlier been interrogated?" Evelyn asked.

Alexander's expression was grave.

"Yes."

"Who ordered it?"

"The journalist was just a hired hand. The money trail leads back to someone in Aldoria."

"Aldoria... Could it be the same group that captured Professor Nathaniel Wright?"

As soon as she finished speaking, a voice came from the side.

"If it's Aldoria, I know who it is."

Evelyn's body stiffened.

She turned to look.

Natalie Castillo had appeared out of nowhere.

She was cracking sunflower seeds, looking completely at ease, with no awareness that she had been eavesdropping.

Evelyn asked, "...Who is it?"

"Scarlett King," Natalie spat out a seed shell.

"I've clashed with her countless times over the years, but we've never known each other's identities. Scarlett is like a real lion on the hunt—steady and patient. She can lie in wait in the grass for her prey for a very long time."

Evelyn frowned.

"You don't know her identity either?"

Natalie looked surprised.

"Isn't that normal? I only know Nicole Sterling and your sister's identities because they voluntarily surrendered. Everyone's identities are kept secret from each other. Who else is like you, acting so boldly without knowing anything? Now Scarlett has you in her sights. I suspect she's already starting to doubt your identity."

Evelyn fell silent.

So her sister had endured all that humiliation under her disgusting husband and mother-in-law to conceal her identity?

After taking her sister's place, she had stood up for her at every turn, only to mess things up?

Evelyn lowered her gaze.

Natalie spoke again.

"See, you don't understand anything. You'd be better off obediently being my little sidekick. I'm good to you. Wouldn't it be nice if we teamed up to fight for the final victory?"

Evelyn didn't respond.

She had already realized that whenever Natalie said things like this, she wasn't actually trying to make her submit.

Evelyn looked at Alexander.

"If that journalist really knows nothing, let him go."

Alexander asked, "Where to now?"

"The Special Operations Division. To take Elder Benjamin Wright home."

Special Operations Division.

Grace Lorenz had been sneaking over every day since Evelyn had forcefully defended Elder Benjamin Wright.

She didn't do anything else when she came.

She just stayed in the department, silently helping everyone clean.

Everyone treated her poorly.

But she felt that only by doing this could she ease her conscience.

She continued wiping the tables, wanting to punish herself and her grandfather through physical labor...

At first, everyone yelled at her and shoved her.

But seeing her come every day, enduring the beatings and insults without fighting back...

Gradually, everyone lost the heart to continue.

Grace thought, if she could work for free at the Special Operations Division for the rest of her life, it might make up for her grandfather's mistakes.

She picked up a mop and headed toward the utility room.

Suddenly, she heard two people chatting up ahead.

"Why hasn't anyone been bullying Grace lately? I can see everyone's still angry."

The other person immediately replied, "Haven't you heard Leo's verbal warning?"

The first person was taken aback.

"What?"

The second person said, "Those who bullied Grace have all been warned by Leo. And I think Leo is right. What's the point of bullying a girl? Besides, Grace feels terrible too. Sigh..."

"Yeah, who would have thought Elder Benjamin was that kind of person?"

"But if Elder Benjamin is a spy, could Grace be one too? Deputy Director Marcus has already given the order: wherever Grace can go, confidential documents are strictly forbidden."

Hearing these words, Grace froze in place.

Her heart clenched painfully.

She had never imagined that one day she would be so distrusted by her former comrades.

She never expected that her so-called atonement was just wishful thinking.

Her staying here was actually a burden on the Special Operations Division.

She clenched her fists, put the mop back in the utility room, and turned to leave.

Looking up, she saw Leo Wright standing behind her.

Grace was startled.

She said softly, "Thank you for speaking up for me."

Leo snorted.

"I just don't like bullying girls. No need to thank me."

Grace pressed her lips together.

Her eyes reddened, and tears rolled down.

Seeing this, Leo panicked.

He reached out a hand.

"Hey, don't cry! You..."

His hand stopped halfway.

He felt it wasn't appropriate to wipe a girl's tears with his hand.

His hand hung awkwardly in the air.

Grace looked at him, covered in unhealed wounds, his outstretched hand looking somewhat comical.

She couldn't help but laugh through her tears.

Leo breathed a sigh of relief.

"Good, you stopped crying. When you cry, I don't know what to do."

Grace was stunned.

Leo also realized his words sounded somewhat ambiguous.

He fell silent and scratched his head.

For a moment, neither spoke.

But Grace felt something slowly brewing between them.

The air around them seemed to warm.

Especially Leo's direct gaze made her cheeks flush.

She couldn't bear it and lowered her head.

Just then, a cough sounded.

Both turned their heads simultaneously.

They saw Leo's father, Deputy Director Marcus Wright, standing not far away, staring at them.

Grace and Leo, as if caught red-handed, both took a step back.

Marcus walked forward.

He looked at Leo, then at Grace.

"Don't come tomorrow. Doing this is meaningless."

Grace's heart tightened.

She still nodded.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize I was causing so much trouble for everyone during this time."

Marcus said bluntly, "Grace, I've watched you grow up. I know you're a good kid. But the department has rules. Family members of spies must be strictly monitored. You coming and going from the Special Operations Division like this creates a very bad impression."

Grace clenched her fists.

Her chest felt unbearably stifled.

Yes.

Her grandfather's crime was no small matter.

She could never be trusted again.

She smiled bitterly.

"I understand."

She turned to leave.

Leo couldn't help but speak up.

"Dad, Grace isn't that kind of person. Don't talk to her like that."

Marcus looked at Leo.

"You know? Can you vouch for her?"

"I can."

Leo didn't hesitate.

Grace was stunned.

But Marcus frowned and sneered.

"You can? You can't afford to vouch for her. No one can guarantee Grace won't be the next Elder Benjamin! Leo, I know what you're thinking. Since Grace is here today, I'll make myself clear—don't even think about being with her!"

Leo's face turned red.

"Dad, don't talk nonsense!"

"Whether I'm talking nonsense, you know best." Marcus looked at Grace mockingly.

"Elder Benjamin clung to his position and refused to give it to me. I always wondered why. I thought I wasn't good enough. I never imagined it was for money. What a laughable reason!"

Marcus stared at Grace.

"Because of this, your grandfather wronged me! So, I will never agree to you two being together!"

Leo shouted, "Dad, don't say that! Grace is innocent!"

"Innocent? What about the families of those killed by spies? Aren't they innocent? You fool, how could you be so confused too!"

Marcus angrily scolded his son.

Leo was speechless.

Grace spoke directly.

"Uncle Marcus, I understand. I'll leave now. I won't appear in front of Leo again."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Leo stared at her retreating back.

He wanted to say something but couldn't find the words...

Just then, someone suddenly ran over, shouting.

"Deputy Director Marcus, look at your phone! The news is out!! Elder Benjamin is innocent!!"