Chapter 860

Evelyn's mouth twitched at those words.

She had once seen a joke online.

It was about an undercover agent who infiltrated an enemy organization.

After several years, he had risen to become the second-in-command.

The agent couldn't take it anymore and secretly contacted his superiors.

"When are you going to make your move?" he asked.

"If you don't come soon, I'll become the boss!"

She never thought such an absurd situation would happen to her.

Evelyn rubbed her temples.

"Their selection process seems... quite casual."

"Casual enough that you're having the time of your life, aren't you?" Natalie's sarcastic voice suddenly cut in.

Evelyn was confused.

"You're still angry? Weren't we just pretending to fight?"

"It started as pretend!" Natalie's voice rose sharply, tinged with clear hurt.

"But what you said was too infuriating! I'm genuinely angry now!"

She sniffled, her voice trembling.

"Evelyn, you're too much!"

A series of hurried footsteps came through the phone, followed by a loud slam of a door.

Evelyn held the phone, stunned for a few seconds.

"Was that an act, or is she really upset?"

Joanna chuckled on the other end.

"It's real. She was crying her eyes out. Quite pitiful, really."

Evelyn sighed, resting her forehead in her hand.

"I didn't even say anything that harsh."

"The problem isn't the words," Joanna said, shifting to a more comfortable position, her voice lazy.

"It's the attitude. Jerks make people angry because of their attitude—and you, my dear, are a jerk."

Evelyn was silent for a moment.

"...I don't get it, but I'll respect it. I'm hanging up if there's nothing else."

"Don't be in such a hurry," Joanna said with a laugh, stopping her.

"By the way, have you considered challenging Astrid? If you really win, you'd be the boss. Then what suspense would there be in the heir competition? They might as well just appoint you."

Evelyn was quiet for a moment.

"They haven't completely let their guard down around me. Do you really think Astrid is a pushover?"

Joanna made a clicking sound with her tongue.

"Good, you're still on your guard. A reminder: Astrid is incredibly shrewd. When she was three, she already knew how to scheme against us. She's an eagle soaring high, seeing farther than anyone. Back in kindergarten, she tricked us out of our snacks more times than I can count."

Evelyn nodded.

"Understood. Thanks."

After hanging up, Evelyn looked at Alexander.

Alexander spoke calmly.

"In any organization, the second, third, or even fifth in command don't matter much. Outsiders only recognize the boss. No one remembers who the second-in-command is."

Evelyn nodded.

"I know. I just want a chance to have a proper talk with Astrid."

At the very least, when she went to the Sterling Family to rescue her mother, she hoped Astrid would stay quiet and not cause trouble.

She opened the group chat.

Astrid's profile picture was a soaring eagle.

Evelyn thought for a moment and sent a friend request.

[This is Rabbit.]

The message was sent, but there was no response.

It was like a stone sinking into the sea.

Evelyn stared at the screen, her mind racing through the next steps of her plan.

The Sterling Family appeared glamorous on the surface, but it was twisted inside.

Every woman had to marry multiple husbands.

A woman's value seemed to lie only in her ability to bear children...

It was a matriarchal society, but it had turned women into breeding tools.

Evelyn lowered her gaze and looked at her phone again.

Astrid still hadn't accepted the friend request.

She frowned, got up, and went upstairs.

She opened her laptop and started working.

Immersion in work made time fly.

An hour passed.

Her phone remained silent.

Two hours passed.

The screen was still dark.

Four hours later, her phone suddenly chimed.

Evelyn immediately grabbed it.

Astrid had accepted her friend request.

She had just opened the chat window when a message from Astrid popped up.

Astrid: [This is Astrid. I know who you are.]

Just one short line, but it made Evelyn's heart sink.

The pressure in those words was overwhelming.

Could it be... that Astrid had already seen through her true identity?