Chapter 284

Victor's voice was laced with urgency. "Understood, thank you, Mrs. Roland. I'll be there right away. Please keep an eye on Mr. Valentine in the meantime."

Evelyn gave a curt acknowledgment before ending the call.

She double-checked the IV drips for both patients, then took a seat on the bench near the doorway, maintaining a deliberate distance.

Adrian watched through half-lidded eyes as she positioned herself far from his bedside. The familiar ache flared in his chest.

She had changed.

In the past, even for a simple cold, she would have stayed by his side day and night, refusing to sleep until he recovered. She would remind him to take his medication long after he'd healed.

But now...

He shut his eyes, the image of Christian writhing in flames flashing behind his eyelids.

Evelyn sent a message to Nathan.

Nathan: [Still tracing the person in the photo. He targeted Julian today—I happened to be there.]

She stared at the screen, lost in thought.

Could this be the same group that framed Vincent?

Or were they Vincent Langley's men?

Vincent had always been ambitious. Last year, he'd even run for public office. Given his nature, it wouldn't be surprising if he coveted the presidency itself.

But why target the elite families?

Did they oppose him?

Was elimination his answer to dissent?

Evelyn leaned against the cold wall, brows furrowed.

No. Vincent was currently tied up with the diamond smuggling case. He wouldn't have the bandwidth to orchestrate an attack on the Roscente family.

Something felt off.

Sophia had been missing for over a year. Isabella's movements needed to be investigated as well.

The woman had been acting strangely lately.

Her gaze shifted unpredictably—sometimes sharp as a blade, other times deceptively gentle. That tenderness felt meticulously crafted.

Yet too many inconsistencies remained unexplained.

From Alexander's family to Vincent's, then Julian's... What connected them?

Evelyn massaged her temples.

She knew these families' public profiles inside out. Unless... there were secrets even she wasn't privy to.

Nathan's reply interrupted her train of thought.

[Where's Vincent Langley tonight?]

Zachary responded promptly: [Boss, he's currently wrapped up in a cozy evening with Mrs. Valentine.]

A thought struck her. [Hypothetical question.]

Zachary: [Go ahead, Boss.]

Evelyn: [Suppose Isabella is Mrs. Valentine's daughter.]

A string of question marks followed: [???]

[Boss, are you serious? If she were Mrs. Valentine's daughter, how could Isabella have married Adrian?]

Evelyn studied the screen blankly.

Right. Siblings couldn't marry.

Had she really regressed to such wishful thinking?

But Mrs. Valentine's behavior toward Isabella... Was it because she was her daughter-in-law, or due to her ties with Vincent?

Evelyn stood and began pacing.

The nagging sense of an elusive truth gnawed at her.

Adrian opened his eyes to see her striding back and forth, lost in thought.

Some habits never changed. Whenever she wrestled with a problem, she would pace like this, retreating into her own world.

In that moment, he remembered—this seemingly fragile woman had once committed an act so ruthless, it still haunted him.