Chapter 882

Sienna's voice trembled. "Uncle Sebastian, where are you taking my dad?"

She didn't understand what was happening, but a deep unease rose within her. Her fingers clutched desperately at Kingsley's sleeve.

Sebastian remained silent.

Kingsley gently patted his daughter's head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Sienna, go home first."

"I won't go!"

Sienna shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "Dad, what's going on?"

Kingsley pried her fingers open one by one and firmly pushed her toward Evelyn. His gaze settled on Evelyn's face. "Take her away."

Evelyn reached out and steadied Sienna by the shoulders.

Kingsley looked at Sebastian. "Is this the head of the family's order?"

Sebastian nodded. "Sophia refuses to cooperate. We have to start with you."

Kingsley gave a low, humorless laugh. "I understand."

The two men locked eyes, a complex emotion flashing in their depths.

They had been rivals for half a lifetime. Kingsley had fallen from the main family line to a branch, while Sebastian had climbed from a branch to become the head of the family's trusted confidant. Their grudges were long past untangling.

But at their core, they were both men of the Sterling Family.

In this matriarchal clan, men were born as accessories, tools, shadows serving women. They had been overlooked together since childhood, sweating together on the training grounds, struggling together to prove their worth...

Kingsley turned and strode forward.

The bodyguards followed silently behind him.

Sebastian did not order him bound. It was a final courtesy.

Watching Kingsley's retreating back, Evelyn felt an inexplicable sense of tragic heroism. Their conversation drifted to her on the wind.

"Sebastian, my daughter..."

"As long as she behaves, the head of the family won't touch her."

The voices gradually faded.

Evelyn pressed her lips together tightly.

She knew this was her uncle sending her a message—Sienna would be safe if she didn't act recklessly; the women of the Sterling Family wouldn't be easily disposed of; and her mother, Sophia, was still alive.

Evelyn clenched her fists.

"Dad! Let me go!"

Sienna screamed, trying to rush forward, but Evelyn held her back firmly. They all watched helplessly as Kingsley got into a car and disappeared down the road.

"Now you don't even have a father, Sienna. You'll never be able to turn your life around!"

Scarlett tossed these words over her shoulder before leaving triumphantly.

"Let me go! Why are you stopping me? Evelyn, I've been so good to you! Why won't you let me save Dad!" Sienna's face was streaked with tears as she pounded on Evelyn's chest.

Evelyn said nothing.

Kingsley had been taken because of her mother.

Looking at Sienna, who had just lost her father, Evelyn's throat tightened.

Alexander stepped forward and placed a firm hand on Sienna's shoulder. His voice was low and steady. "If she had let you go, it wouldn't just be your father taken now. It would be you too. Then who would be left to save him?"

Sienna froze.

She collapsed to the ground, tears falling drop by drop.

"After Aunt ran away, our family could never hold our heads high here... When I was little, Dad always said not to hate Aunt, that she had no choice. He protected us with everything he had, sheltered us under his wing... But now Dad's been taken too. What should I do? What do I do?"

Evelyn crouched down and wrapped her arms around Sienna's trembling shoulders. "Don't be afraid. I'm here. I will find a way to save Uncle."

Sienna gave a bitter laugh. "You? What can you possibly do?"

She suddenly pointed at the yacht docked at the pier. "You should leave! I can't even protect myself now. I can't protect you. Leave this place. At least you won't be dragged into this."

Evelyn's eyes reddened.

After learning her identity, Kingsley's first instinct had been to send her away.

Sienna, timid as she was, had made the same first choice.

These were her family.

Her blood relatives.