Chapter 808

Alexander Vance gave a slight nod.

They both glanced into the room once more.

Little Chloe Davis was sleeping soundly.

They gently closed the door.

The hallway lights were soft.

Alexander lowered his voice. "I'll arrange for someone to collect her DNA sample. We'll start the search as soon as possible."

Evelyn Ross nodded. "I'll proceed on my end simultaneously."

Their eyes met.

They both sighed in unison.

The world is vast.

Finding Chloe's biological father would be no easy task.

That night, Evelyn tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Images from her childhood kept surfacing in her mind.

Besides her attachment to her mother, Sophia Ashcroft, what she had craved most was to be lifted high by a father, to sit on his shoulders and see the world, just like Isabella Ashcroft had been.

William Ashcroft had never treated her that way.

That feeling of being overlooked remained fresh in her memory.

Was little Chloe now experiencing the same longing?

Evelyn turned over again.

An arm reached over and gently pulled her close.

Alexander's voice was drowsy. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I'm just getting up for some water."

Evelyn spoke softly, pushing back the covers and getting out of bed.

Alexander was exhausted from protecting her during the day and handling company affairs.

He merely mumbled an acknowledgment before falling back asleep.

Evelyn slipped on her slippers and quietly left the bedroom.

The living room downstairs was silent.

She walked into the kitchen and poured a glass of warm water.

She had just taken a sip.

A soft footstep sounded beside her.

Evelyn turned to look.

Mr. Valentine was walking over slowly.

He wore black silk pajamas. His tall figure resembled a monarch of the night in the dim light.

But as he drew closer, that imposing aura quietly faded.

It was replaced by a rare gentleness.

"Can't sleep?" Mr. Valentine asked softly.

"Yes," Evelyn nodded. "Seeing how much Chloe wants to find her father... I hope I can help her."

Mr. Valentine was silent for a moment.

He suddenly spoke. "When you were little... did you ever think about me?"

Evelyn was slightly taken aback.

Mr. Valentine continued. "Weren't you ever curious about what your real father was like?"

Evelyn pressed her lips together. "When I was a child, I always thought William Ashcroft was my father."

"Oh, right." Mr. Valentine awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. "I almost forgot about him."

Evelyn looked at him. "You knew William Ashcroft too?"

"Yes." Mr. Valentine's tone turned colder. "He, your mother, and I were at the same university back then. He was like a rat in the gutter, always sneaking around and watching your mother."

Speaking of William Ashcroft, Mr. Valentine's face filled with disgust. "I warned your mother back then to stay away from him. But she didn't believe me. She insisted he meant no harm. Hah! No harm? In the end, he did that insane thing to imprison her!"

Evelyn listened quietly.

A soft laugh escaped her.

Mr. Valentine was startled. "What are you laughing at?"

"I'm laughing at you," Evelyn said, a teasing glint in her eyes. "You're jealous, aren't you?"

Mr. Valentine snorted. "I don't know what your mother was worried about back then. Maybe it was that Sterling Family. But she wouldn't tell me anything. Instead, she chose to run off to San Francisco with William Ashcroft to live... Perhaps I really wasn't as good as William Ashcroft. I couldn't make her feel secure."

Evelyn shook her head. "That's not it. When I was little, I never understood why my mother could tolerate Kiki Cortez moving into our house as a Sterlingny. After I learned the truth about my background, I understood. It was because she didn't love William Ashcroft, so she simply didn't care."

Mr. Valentine nodded. "That's what I think too! Your mother's taste couldn't have been that bad!"

Evelyn's tone was calm. "Actually, after learning William Ashcroft wasn't my biological father, I felt relieved. At least... I wasn't an unwanted child. I was just unwanted by him. Back when you asked to see me three times a day, even though I refused, I was actually quite happy inside."

Mr. Valentine glared at her. "You little..."

Evelyn smiled. "Growing up, I was rarely valued like that. It was the first time someone was so persistent in wanting to see me..."

As she spoke, she suddenly remembered Julian Evans.

During university, she had almost agreed to Julian's pursuit.

To a large extent, it was because Julian was the only one who stuck by her side back then.

Fortunately, Julian hadn't proposed at the time.

Otherwise, she might not have been able to tell if she was marrying for love, or for that long-craved sense of security.

Lost in thought, Mr. Valentine suddenly spoke. "Child, some people's childhoods can heal them for a lifetime. But your father will use the rest of his life to heal your childhood."

Evelyn's heart trembled.

Mr. Valentine continued. "Whatever you want to do, I will support you unconditionally. You like the feeling of being valued, right? Starting tomorrow, I'll come to ask to see you every day. I will unconditionally fulfill your every need, in every aspect."

As Evelyn listened, her eyes gradually reddened.

After a long moment, she whispered. "Dad."