Chapter 790

Evelyn's gaze fell on the DNA report.

Her pupils constricted sharply.

She looked up abruptly at Elian.

Elian still maintained that pitiful appearance.

His eyes were slightly red.

His lips were pressed together lightly.

He looked like a startled fawn.

But the alarm bells in Evelyn's heart were ringing wildly at this moment.

She quickly scanned her surroundings.

She gave Natalie a meaningful look.

"Take Chloe upstairs."

Natalie immediately pouted.

She hadn't fully understood the drama yet.

Now she was being sent away again?

She was about to protest.

Evelyn lowered her voice and spoke.

"I only trust you."

These words seemed to have magic.

Natalie instantly beamed.

She scooped Chloe up in her arms.

"Come on, Auntie will take you to get something yummy!"

She walked briskly toward the stairs.

As she walked, she coaxed.

"Auntie has hidden lots of chocolate. We'll eat it secretly."

Chloe shook her head obediently.

"Mommy says I can't eat too much sugar."

"Just once in a while! Life is short, enjoy it while you can!"

Their voices gradually faded around the stairwell corner.

Only then did Evelyn look at Mr. Valentine.

Mr. Valentine understood.

He raised his hand and made a gesture.

The servants and Valentine family subordinates in the living room immediately retreated silently.

Their movements were uniform.

Mr. Valentine looked at Evelyn.

"Do you need me to step out?"

"No."

Before the words fully left her mouth, Evelyn moved.

She was like a bolt of lightning.

She appeared instantly in front of Elian.

"Young master, be careful!"

Elian's bodyguard cried out in alarm.

But the next second, Alexander grabbed his wrist.

He pinned the entire man against the wall, immobilizing him.

By now, Evelyn's hand had already grasped Elian's arm.

The sensation was peculiar.

The arm was excessively slender.

The muscles were lax.

The skin was cool.

It completely lacked the physique of someone trained in martial arts.

Evelyn's fingers naturally moved to check his pulse.

The pulse was weak and floating.

Both qi and blood were deficient.

He truly was a person of frail health.

But the more this was the case, the colder Evelyn's eyes became.

She stared into Elian's eyes.

She spoke word by word.

"You are not Chloe's father. Who are you, really?"

Elian suddenly smiled.

The moment that smile bloomed, the entire dim living room seemed illuminated.

The evening light slanted in through the window.

It cast alternating light and shadow on his face.

But his smile was dazzlingly bright.

It carried a strangely captivating beauty.

Evelyn's vigilance instantly shot to its peak.

She applied force with her hand.

She twisted Elian's arm behind his back.

"Speak!"

But Elian seemed not to feel any pain.

He just looked at her.

He asked softly, "Didn't you just say you would never forgive me? How come you don't even remember who I am now?"

Evelyn's eyes sharpened.

"You're testing me?"

"Yes."

Elian admitted frankly.

His smile deepened a little.

"I just wanted to confirm if you really are Grace."

Evelyn's breath hitched slightly.

Elian continued.

"In San Francisco, everyone said you were dead. But Alexander Vance, who was deeply devoted to you, came to New York. He came and refused to leave. I wanted to see what kind of person could make him so attached?"

His gaze traced Evelyn's face carefully.

His voice suddenly choked up.

"I never expected... it would give me such a huge surprise. You're not dead."

He suddenly grabbed Evelyn's wrist with his other hand.

The force was startlingly strong.

"Evelyn, do you know what it means to me that you're not dead? If you had really died, how could you have faced me?"

His eyes were red.

Tears welled up in them.

The emotion was terrifyingly real.

But Evelyn only found it absurd.

"Who are you, really?" she asked through gritted teeth. "I don't know you at all!"

This man had been acting from the very beginning.

First, he pretended to be looking for Grace.

Now he said he was looking for her, Evelyn.

But she searched through all her memories.

She couldn't find any trace of this person.

Elian was stunned.

He looked at her.

A flicker of disbelief passed through his eyes.

"You... don't remember me?"

Evelyn: ???

Alexander, who was controlling the bodyguard: ???

When this person earlier said he was looking for Grace, Alexander hadn't thought much of it.

But now he said he was looking for Evelyn—

Alexander's eyes instantly turned cold.

The hand holding the bodyguard unconsciously tightened its grip.

The bodyguard grunted in pain but didn't dare make a sound.

The atmosphere in the living room plummeted to freezing point.

Evelyn stared at Elian.

She asked word by word, "Should I remember you?"

Elian opened his mouth.

He seemed to want to say something.

But in the end, he only gave a bitter smile.

That smile held an indescribable bitterness and loss.

He lowered his eyelids.

His long lashes cast a shadow under his eyes.

"So... you really have forgotten."

His voice was very soft.

So soft it was almost inaudible.

But Evelyn heard it clearly.

She frowned.

She was about to press further.

But Elian suddenly raised his head.

His eyes became clear again.

"It's alright."

He smiled.

That smile held a kind of resignation.

"Forgetting might be for the best. Let's start over. My name is Elian Cross."

Evelyn did not let go.

She still held his arm.

Her eyes were sharp as knives.

"What is your real purpose in approaching Chloe?"

Elian sighed.

"What if I said I just wanted to confirm if you were still alive? Would you believe me?"

"No."

Evelyn answered without hesitation.

Elian smiled again.

This time, the smile held a touch of helplessness.

"Then consider me as having ulterior motives." He paused. He suddenly looked at Alexander. "Mr. Vance, could you let go of my bodyguard first? He means no harm."

Alexander looked at Evelyn.

Evelyn was silent for a moment.

She nodded.

Alexander released his grip.

The bodyguard immediately retreated behind Elian.

He watched Evelyn and Alexander warily.

Elian moved the wrist Evelyn had been holding.

Red marks had already appeared on the pale skin.

But he didn't seem to mind.

He just looked at Evelyn.

He said softly, "Miss Ross, I know you don't trust me now. But I can assure you, I mean no harm to Chloe. Or to you."

Evelyn sneered.

"Using a fake DNA report to get close to us is called 'no harm'?"

"That was to confirm your identity."

Elian stated frankly.

"If I hadn't done that, would you have let me near Chloe? Would you have given me a chance to confirm if you were really Evelyn Ross?"

Evelyn fell silent.

It was true.

If Elian had said from the start he was looking for her, she wouldn't have let him get within ten feet of Chloe.

Seeing her silence, Elian continued.

"I know my method was wrong. But I had no other choice. Miss Ross, there are some things I can't tell you right now. But please believe me, I would never hurt you. And I would never hurt Chloe."

His eyes were sincere and earnest.

Evelyn stared at him for a long time.

Finally, she released his arm.

"Leave."

She turned around.

She no longer looked at him.

"I'll pretend today never happened. But if you dare approach Chloe again, I won't be polite."

Elian stood where he was.

He didn't move.

He looked at her straight back.

His eyes were complex.

After a long while, he finally said softly, "Alright."

Having said that, he turned and walked out.

The bodyguard immediately followed.

When he reached the doorway, Elian suddenly stopped.

He looked back at Evelyn.

"Miss Ross."

He paused.

His voice was very soft.

"Some things... forgetting might be a good thing. But some things... forgetting can be more dangerous."

Having said that, he left without looking back.

The living room returned to quiet.

Mr. Valentine finally spoke.

"Do you need me to look into his background?"

Evelyn shook her head.

"No need."

She looked out the window.

Elian's figure had already disappeared into the twilight.

"He will come again."

Alexander walked to her side.

He took her hand.

His hand was warm.

It dispelled the chill from Evelyn's fingertips.

"Whoever he is, I will protect you."

Evelyn turned to look at him.

She smiled.

"I know."

But a faint unease lingered in her heart.

What did Elian's last words really mean?

Forgetting can be more dangerous...

What had she forgotten?