Chapter 732

Natalie Castillo was completely unprepared for Evelyn Ross's sudden eruption.

She froze in place, her lips slightly parted but unable to utter a sound.

Evelyn's gaze was like a blade tempered in ice, piercing straight through her.

"Speak!"

The two words slammed down with undeniable force.

Natalie's throat moved as she swallowed with difficulty.

"I..."

She stammered, her mind a complete blank.

Alexander Vance approached at the right moment, his voice calm and even.

"Your mother should be fine."

Evelyn whipped her head around.

"What did you say?"

Alexander looked at Natalie, his tone indifferent.

"She said your mother was in trouble, but it was likely just a test."

"She didn't expect your reaction to be so intense."

Evelyn fixed her eyes on Natalie again.

"Is that true?"

Natalie was on the verge of tears.

She nodded vigorously.

"Yes, your mother is perfectly fine!"

"News from the Sterling Family takes at least a month to reach me."

"Even if something really happened, I couldn't possibly know about it now!"

Evelyn's tense shoulders finally relaxed.

She let out a slow breath and released her grip on Natalie's collar.

Natalie immediately took several steps back, patting her chest with lingering fear.

Evelyn closed her eyes briefly.

When she opened them again, clarity had returned to her gaze.

"Talk."

"What exactly were you trying to achieve with this little act?"

Natalie's voice trembled.

"I... I wasn't acting."

"I just wanted you to experience..."

She paused, gathering her courage to continue.

"To experience what you would feel if your mother were truly in danger."

"Then..."

"Then I would obediently follow your arrangements, is that it?"

Evelyn cut her off coldly.

Natalie bit her lip and nodded.

Evelyn took a step forward.

"My mother is my bottom line."

"You can negotiate with me about anything you want me to do."

"But you absolutely cannot use her to test me!"

Her warning gaze swept over Natalie.

"I know you heirs have been in contact with each other privately."

"Take this message back to them, word for word."

"I, Evelyn Ross, fear nothing."

"But if anyone dares to harm a single hair on my mother's head—"

She enunciated each word clearly.

"I will hunt them down to the ends of the earth, and I will never let them go!"

A chill ran down Natalie's spine, and she nodded repeatedly.

The Evelyn from that moment had seemed like a demon crawling out of hell.

It was terrifying.

She glanced up cautiously, testing the waters.

"Well... actually, if you don't want your mother to suffer in the Sterling Family, the best way is for you to become the heir."

"Or, you could support me in becoming the heir."

"So going forward... could we perhaps be a little more... unrestrained in our actions?"

"Be a little less bound by principles?"

Evelyn frowned.

She finally understood Natalie's intention.

Using her mother's safety as leverage to force her into doing things she was unwilling to do.

"What do you want me to do?"

Natalie cleared her throat.

"Do you know who Cecilia Evans married?"

Evelyn was taken aback.

"Wasn't it the Evans family?"

The Evans family was one of the five great families of New York.

Back then, Cecilia had used the Evans family's name to falsely claim she had obtained the Nora Research Institute's serum.

The corner of Natalie's mouth twitched.

"No."

Evelyn looked at Alexander.

Alexander stated calmly.

"She married into the Truman family."

"The Truman family?"

Evelyn was puzzled.

Alexander patiently explained.

"The Truman family of New York operates discreetly. Not many outsiders know about them."

"They are not involved in commerce, so they are not listed among the five great families."

"But the Evans family is actually their proxy among the five families."

Evelyn understood instantly.

"No wonder Mrs. Evans holds the real power in the Evans family."

"Mrs. Evans is a Truman?"

Previously, due to the incidents involving John Evans, Justin Evans, and Jane Evans, Mrs. Evans had come to cause trouble multiple times.

Even then, it was clear that Mrs. Evans was the one calling the shots in the Evans family.

Evelyn had originally thought Mr. Evans simply doted on his wife, but now it seemed...

Alexander nodded.

"Correct."

So that was it.

The Truman family was the true power behind the Evans family.

No wonder Mrs. Evans had dared to challenge both the Cortez Sect and the Sterling Family simultaneously. She had such backing.

"Why can't the Truman family engage in business?"

"Their status is sensitive. It's not suitable."

Alexander phrased it tactfully, but Evelyn grasped the meaning immediately.

They had official connections.

That indeed made it inappropriate for them to engage openly in business, but their status and influence were absolutely not to be underestimated.

She looked at Natalie.

"So, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Natalie leaned in closer, lowering her voice.

"The man Cecilia Evans married is the nephew of the Truman family head."

"Although he's from a collateral branch, he is highly valued by the family head and has some capability of his own."

"Now that his wife is in prison..."

"He wants the Vance family to provide a Letter of Forgiveness to secure her release."

Evelyn was stunned.

"What?"

Natalie laid it out plainly.

"The Truman family is the Evans family."

"You may have dealt with the Evans family, but you haven't dealt with the Truman family."

"Offending the Truman family means you haven't truly subdued the five great families."

"So now, the Vance family needs to make a concession."

"To let Cecilia Evans off the hook."