Chapter 843

Evelyn immediately looked around.

The curtains were tightly drawn.

Only then did she unfold the note.

A wave of astonishment rose in her heart.

She had only been here for a day, and hadn't yet grasped the situation.

Had they already bribed someone to deliver a message?

Evelyn unfolded the note.

A line of handwriting came into view: The risk of going out is too great. Wait quietly to meet in six days.

The meaning was clear.

There was a curfew here.

Going out at night carried extremely high risks.

Her identity was too sensitive.

In the days since her return, she must have been watched by countless eyes.

Who knew how many informants were lurking around this small villa.

Evelyn pondered silently.

The Sterling Family had always been at the forefront of technology.

If she were setting up surveillance, she'd probably even use drone monitors.

She suppressed the urge to go out tonight.

It was better to listen to Alexander.

Caution was wise.

She lowered her gaze and looked out the window again.

At this moment, her heart was filled with unbearable urgency.

Knowing that Sophia might be so close.

Having waited for so long.

Yet still unable to meet.

Evelyn lay back on the bed.

Her eyes fixed on the ceiling.

She tossed and turned, unable to sleep all night.

A sense of powerlessness washed over her, the feeling of being unable to control the situation...

She had originally thought the Sterling Family was just a family.

Now it seemed, although this city only had a population of five hundred thousand.

It was already no different from a small country...

Early the next morning.

Evelyn woke up early.

She pushed open the door, looking weary.

She happened to meet Elara's complicated gaze.

Elara sat in her wheelchair.

Her eyes were locked on Evelyn's door.

Seeing Evelyn appear, her expression instantly turned cold.

She then turned her head to look outside.

Elara sneered, "You didn't go out last night?"

Evelyn stretched lazily. "After thinking about it, for your sake, I couldn't take the risk."

Elara's eyes darkened.

Mason walked up to the two of them. "Not going out was the right choice. You have to endure for now. The Sterling Family's control is very strict. I heard there are even infrared scans outside. No one can slip out of this house, whether by air or land."

Infrared?

Evelyn looked at Elara in surprise.

According to the original plan.

She should have slipped out after dark, under the cover of night.

But if there was infrared surveillance.

She would have been detected no matter what!

Thank goodness she didn't go out!

As soon as this thought flashed through her mind, she looked at Elara.

Why hadn't Elara warned her about the infrared?

Just as she was puzzling over this, there was a knock on the door.

The servant immediately opened it.

A group of fully armed people poured in.

The leader was a tall man.

He wore a security uniform, his face covered by a mask and hat.

He appeared exceptionally burly.

As soon as he entered, his sharp gaze swept across the room.

Finally, it landed on Evelyn.

He spoke slowly, "You didn't go out last night. Good behavior."

Evelyn's pupils contracted. She immediately looked at Elara.

Elara let out a derisive laugh, her expression cold.

The harmony from yesterday had long vanished, replaced by her usual sharpness.

She curled her lips in a mocking smile. "Not completely stupid."

Evelyn was startled. "You were testing me on purpose yesterday?"

Elara said slowly, "What else? The mother-daughter bond between us was always thin. Did you really think I would ruin my own face for you? Grace, why are you still as naive and weak as you were when you were little?"

Evelyn's face turned icy.

Elara looked at her mockingly. "But I did underestimate you. Living outside for over twenty years really nurtured some ambition. Daring to fight for something is actually a good thing."

Evelyn clenched her fists. "Why test me?"

"Why? Every heir who returns home has to undergo a test, didn't you know? If you have a clear conscience, you naturally wouldn't make a move at night. If you have ulterior motives, wanting to save Sophia... then you are no longer Grace!"

Elara gave her a cold look. "Grace is selfish and cowardly. Her personality has been cold since childhood. She would never risk her life for others. If you had taken one step out of that door last night, you wouldn't be Grace. You'd be her twin sister, Evelyn Ross!"

Evelyn stared at Elara.

Then she looked at the group who had entered. "They all know my identity?"

Elara laughed. "These are the personal guard of the current heir. They are also the strongest armed force controlling the Sterling Family. Of course they... know everything! People like us, those without children can go and snatch other people's children... Hahaha, did you really think Sophia and your sister Evelyn Ross truly escaped the Sterling Family's surveillance? No, it's just that the current head of the family didn't bother to pursue it!"

Her smile suddenly vanished. "But you contacted them. You disrupted the Sterling Family's order. So your mother and your sister were harmed because of you!"

Evelyn immediately retorted, "No, they weren't harmed because of me. They were harmed by the Sterling Family's harsh system!"

"Oh, still finding excuses for yourself. Exactly like when you were little! Every time you did something wrong, you'd shift the blame to others..."

Elara said sarcastically.

"Enough." The captain of the personal guard, the handsome man, stepped forward. "The head of the family knows you are now aware of your identity. To ease your concerns, he ordered us to bring Sophia Ashcroft to see you."

Evelyn was instantly shocked, looking toward the door.

She could hardly believe her ears.

She had already prepared herself to give up.

Could she really see her mother?

She tried her best to suppress the excitement in her heart and looked toward the entrance.

A familiar figure slowly walked in.

That figure was already deeply engraved in her memory.

It was the person she had longed for most since she was a child.

Her posture was as straight as bamboo. Even in these circumstances, she still carried an air of transcendent integrity.

Sophia Ashcroft walked step by step into Evelyn's field of vision...