Chapter 533
Evelyn Ross stumbled.
Alexander Vance quickly steadied her.
The brothers immediately gathered around, their expressions tense.
"What happened?"
Evelyn took a deep breath, her voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor.
"The Sterling Family villa is on fire! Quick, we need to go back now!"
She turned and rushed towards the parking lot, Alexander close behind her.
The engine roared as the car sped towards the southern district like an arrow.
Evelyn's phone screen lit up again.
It was the same familiar text message.
[This fire is the Fox's doing! Grace Sterling, haven't you seen the situation clearly yet? If you don't marry Anthony Castillo, the Fox will sever your connections with the five great families one by one!]
She stared at the screen, her knuckles white.
A raging fire burned in her eyes.
She gritted her teeth and spat out two words.
"Fox!"
Recently, everyone's attention had been focused on the emotional entanglement between Marcus Valentine and Mina Sherwood.
But Evelyn saw clearly that the two were deeply in love.
The previous estrangement was only because of Marcus's hidden condition...
Their reconciliation was just a matter of time.
Evelyn didn't push, wanting to give Mina enough space to figure things out.
But if Mina perished in the fire, the alliance between the Valentine and Sherwood families would be completely shattered.
Her cooperation with the Sherwood family would also be in jeopardy!
The car entered the residential area.
From afar, thick black smoke could be seen billowing into the sky.
The piercing sirens of fire trucks split the air.
The Sterling Family villa was surrounded by firefighters.
Water jets were continuously aimed at the ruined structure.
Evelyn rushed forward but was stopped by a firefighter.
"The fire was just extinguished. The internal temperature is extremely high. Going in now is suicide! Rescue operations are underway!"
Her entire body was tense, her voice strained.
"The people inside... how are they?"
The firefighter's expression was grave.
He hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"It's uncertain at the moment. But when the fire was at its fiercest, someone rushed in despite劝阻..."
Evelyn's pupils constricted sharply.
"Who?"
The Sterlingny holding Chloe stood to the side, her voice choked with tears.
"It was Mr. Valentine! He charged in before the fire department even arrived!"
It was Marcus!
How could he stand by idly if Mina was in danger?
He had been staying near the Sterling villa these past days, trying everything to earn Mina's forgiveness...
Evelyn clenched her jaw, her nails digging deep into her palms.
The Valentine brothers who arrived shortly after hearing this instantly erupted.
Ethan Valentine charged forward, his voice hoarse.
"Big brother!"
Charles Valentine swayed, his eyes red.
"Big brother went in to save sister-in-law..."
Preston Valentine had originally been about to go with his uncle to receive punishment.
Seeing Evelyn's distressed expression, he had followed.
Now he rushed to the firefighter, his voice trembling.
"The people inside... is there any hope?"
The firefighter was silent for a long moment.
Finally, he shook his head heavily.
"The fire spread extremely fast, almost instantly engulfing the entire villa. By the time we arrived, entry was impossible. We could only cool and extinguish it from the outside. The internal temperature is estimated to be over three hundred degrees Celsius... In such an environment, the chance of survival is almost zero."
His words fell.
Everyone froze in place.
Grief washed over them like a tidal wave.
The Valentine brothers all looked towards the charred ruins.
Marcus Valentine.
Since Mr. Valentine had declared he would never marry, Marcus had been tacitly acknowledged as the next head of the Valentine family.
He had received the strictest education since childhood.
He was a role model in the brothers' hearts, a reliable elder brother.
Within the Valentine family, brothers had always been respectful and affectionate towards each other.
No one coveted the position of family head.
Because everyone believed that even if their eldest brother took power, he would never abandon them.
On the contrary, their eldest brother would shoulder the family's burdens and hold up the sky for them.
It was precisely because of this that the other brothers could freely pursue their passions.
Studying medicine, practicing martial arts, delving into music...
They weren't trapped by family responsibilities.
All of this was borne by their eldest brother alone!
Ethan Valentine's legs gave way.
He knelt directly before the ruins, tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Big brother!"
The other brothers knelt down one after another.
Sobs rose and fell.
Preston Valentine stared blankly at the towering black smoke.
He had the deepest bond with his eldest brother.
The other brothers each had their own ambitions.
Only he had no clear goals, staying at home year-round, spending the most time with his eldest brother.
He couldn't imagine it.
That eldest brother who always smiled gently... was he just gone like that?
Evelyn clenched her fists, her knuckles white.
At that moment, a sharp female voice rang out from the side.
"Grace Sterling, are you satisfied now?"
Everyone turned.
Susan Langley stood there, her face streaked with tears, glaring fiercely at Evelyn.
"If you had persuaded Mina Sherwood to forgive my brother earlier, they would have moved back to the Valentine estate long ago! How could they have died in this fire!"