Chapter 823

Elian Cross fell silent.

Joanna Sterling and Natalie Castillo exchanged a look, their eyes simultaneously lighting up with the spark of gossip.

Hermaphrodite?

Could it be…

Before they could finish the thought, Elian's icy voice cut through the air. "What are you looking at? Keep staring and I'll gouge your eyes out."

A chill ran down their spines, and they both turned their heads away in unison.

That lifelong sense of oppression instantly flooded back.

When the Clownfish threatened to dig out eyes, others might be bluffing, but she… she would actually do it.

Back in kindergarten, someone offended her, and she said she'd beat them until their teeth scattered on the ground.

The next day, that child's teeth were indeed all gone.

Evelyn Ross didn't move, still looking directly at the Clownfish.

The Clownfish didn't lash out at her, just sneered. "Miss Ross, aren't you afraid I'll dig your eyes out?"

Evelyn's expression remained calm. "If you dig my eyes out, no one will cook for you anymore."

Elian paused.

He wasn't afraid of death, he could even go down with anyone.

But he was afraid of hunger.

The feeling of not being able to eat was too unbearable. He never wanted to experience it again.

He took a deep breath. "You should be grateful you have this skill. Otherwise, I would have stopped tolerating you long ago."

The personality shift was complete, utterly different from that gentle, refined gentleman.

Evelyn stared at him. "So, are you really a hermaphrodite?"

"You're the hermaphrodite!" Elian snapped angrily. "How could I possibly… I'm just…"

His words trailed off. He suddenly took a deep breath, and his tone became gentle again. "Let me explain it to you, Miss Ross."

The next second, his voice turned sinister again. "Tch, fine, you explain."

Elian returned to his gentle demeanor and looked at Evelyn. "Miss Ross, my apologies. That was my sister just now."

Evelyn: ?

Joanna and Natalie: ???

Their ears perked up instantly.

Natalie instinctively pulled out a handful of sunflower seeds, about to start cracking them—

Elian shot her a cold glance.

Natalie immediately put the seeds away.

She didn't dare crack them now.

Afraid of getting her eyes gouged out, sob…

Evelyn studied Elian for a long moment before finally understanding. "Dissociative Identity Disorder?"

Elian gave a bitter smile. "Yes."

He lowered his gaze. "The Sterling Family heir can only be a girl. So, from a young age, my mother told me I was a girl. This led to a blurred gender identity in my childhood; I truly believed I was a girl. As I grew up, a secondary personality split off—my sister."

He paused. "No. Actually, from childhood to now, my sister has been the primary personality. I am the secondary one."

His smile was pained. "This normal me split off only after I left the Sterling Family. My sister has occupied this body since childhood…"

Evelyn asked, "Then why are you in control now?"

"Because of hunger."

Elian's smile was bitter. "The feeling of starvation is too terrible. My sister didn't want that, so she let me take control of this body. All these years, I've searched the world, just to find someone who could make me able to eat. You truly saved my life. Back in San Francisco, if it weren't for you, I would have starved to death."

Evelyn looked at him. "So, that's why you're so influential in Aldoria too?"

"Mhm. I paid so much in taxes to Montgomery, of course he treats me as an honored guest." Elian smiled and glanced at Joanna. "That's why some people aren't favored by the King."

Joanna: "…"

Thinking of all the hardships she'd endured these past few years, how a single joke from the Clownfish made her afraid to return home, her fists clenched.

But she just… didn't dare look at her!

Afraid of getting her eyes gouged out, sob…

She suddenly looked at Natalie.

Natalie's heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat.

She really wanted to see what the Clownfish looked like as a hermaphrodite!

She really wanted to eat sunflower seeds!

Such a huge piece of gossip, how could there be no sunflower seeds!

Evelyn continued asking, "Are you willing to cooperate with me?"

Elian smiled. "Do I have any other choice? You're my rice bowl, my provider."

Evelyn: "…"

Elian continued, "Actually, you not only need our support, you also need the support of the kings of various countries. If Aldoria supports you, you'll have the power to contend with that person from M Country."

Evelyn frowned. "My father has already negotiated for me."

"That's just a cooperation of interests." Elian chuckled. "Montgomery's biggest problem is heirs. If there could be an heir related to you, then you'd be truly bound together."