Chapter 553

Alexander Vance quickly followed, instantly recognizing the face.

White lab coat, gold-rimmed glasses, a startled expression.

Mason Evans.

The doctor from San Francisco who had treated Evelyn Ross.

Alexander remembered clearly—that time Evelyn was mistakenly taken to the police station, fainted from anemia, and was sent to the hospital, it was Mason Evans who treated her.

He said she had iron-deficiency anemia, and an episode could lead to shock, very dangerous.

But why would a doctor from San Francisco appear in a New York hospital?

And why did Evelyn come straight here?

There was another patient in the room, glaring at Evelyn with displeasure. "Who are you? Don't you know you have to wait your turn?"

Evelyn ignored him.

Mason spoke. "I'm sorry, I have some private matters to discuss with this lady…"

"On what grounds?" the patient shouted. "I've been waiting so long, and you just decide to discuss private matters? I'm going to file a complaint!"

Before he could finish, a stack of bills was handed to him.

Alexander had approached without a sound, tucking the money into the man's hand. "Could you please wait outside for a moment?"

His tone was polite, but carried an undeniable pressure.

The patient fell silent, clutching the money and sulking as he left the room.

The room quieted down.

Alexander looked at Evelyn, then at Mason. He turned to close the door, only to find the lock was broken from Evelyn's earlier kick. It wouldn't lock.

Tsk.

That kick must have been fueled by quite some anger.

Alexander simply leaned against the doorframe, blocking the entrance.

He looked back at the two of them.

Evelyn stared at Mason. Mason sighed. "Evelyn, what brings you here?"

"Stop pretending." Evelyn's voice was cold and hard. "The one who's been sending me messages all along is you."

Mason paused, lowering his gaze, a flicker of something dark in his eyes. "What makes you so sure?"

Alexander was curious too.

He didn't know much about Mason Evans. He only remembered that time in San Francisco when Evelyn needed a blood transfusion, Mason had helped. There always seemed to be a layer of distance between them, so Alexander hadn't probed further.

As he was thinking, Evelyn spoke.

"Mason, you want reasons? I'll give them to you."

"I could never figure out why you always showed up whenever I was in danger."

"After I moved out of the Ashcroft house, there were a few times I fell ill and fainted. It was you, living across the hall, who saved me."

"Even my first period, when I went into anemic shock, it was you who gave me the iron infusion, pulling me back from death's door."

"You seemed to know my physical condition better than I did myself."

Evelyn raised her eyes, meeting his directly. "So, Mason, who exactly are you?"

Mason smiled faintly. "Can't I just be the neighbor who had a crush on you? Didn't you discover my secret long ago and start keeping your distance?"

There was a trace of resentment in his tone.

Alexander immediately straightened up, his gaze turning alert.

But Evelyn laughed.

"Yes, I really did think you were just a kind neighbor back then."

"In those first few years after I moved out, living alone, feeling insecure, you were the one who always looked after me."

"I saw you as family then, as an older brother. When I earned money and bought fruit, I'd always share some with you."

"Until that year when I was seventeen. I accidentally went into your room and saw the photo you had hidden—"

Evelyn lowered her eyes.

She had been truly panicked back then.

Someone she had finally come to trust, to rely on, actually harbored such feelings.

She was at a loss, realizing she couldn't reciprocate, and could only choose to distance herself.

But she still had to go to him every month for the iron infusions, because he was her primary doctor.

Their relationship had always been complex and delicate.

Until now.

Evelyn gave a light laugh. "I'm sorry, I was presumptuous. I thought the person in that photo was me. Now I understand it was my sister."

Mason's face stiffened.

His jaw tightened, as if he still wanted to deny it, but in the end, he just sighed. "How did you figure it out?"

"The background in that photo, I didn't recognize it at all," Evelyn said. "I didn't think much of it at the time, thought I'd just forgotten. But after my sister appeared, I started to have a guess."

She looked at Mason. "That background was the Forbidden City, right? My sister had always been in New York, so it's normal she'd been there. I found a set of photos from the Forbidden City in her family album, exactly the same as the one you hid."

Evelyn paused, her gaze sharpening. "So, you were actually my sister's protector, weren't you?"

Mason stared at her, words caught in his throat.

Evelyn continued. "Did my sister find out about my mother and me, and ask you to protect us?"

Mason frowned. Seeing her determined look, he finally relented. "Yes. Her abilities were limited, and her nature was aloof. The Sterling Family had long given up on her. She could only ask me to protect you and your mother in secret."

Evelyn was silent for a moment.

"That time at sea, after my sister and I were taken, was it you who saved us?"

Mason clenched his fists. "Yes."

"Then why didn't you save my sister?!" Evelyn's voice suddenly rose.

Mason closed his eyes. "By the time I got there, she had already sunk… I didn't even know where to search. I only had time to pull you out."

Evelyn pressed on. "Then why did you bring me to New York? Why tell people I had drowned in a swimming pool? And after giving me the iron infusion, why did you send me back to the Sterling Family?"

Mason's eyes snapped open, red-rimmed. "Because I wanted you to avenge your sister!"

Evelyn was taken aback.

"She was so low-key, just wanted to live quietly in that little corner of the Sterling Family… But those people in the Sterling Family, they wouldn't leave her alone!" Mason's voice trembled. "They are the ones who killed your sister!"

Evelyn looked at the emotionally agitated Mason. She slowly walked forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Mason," her voice softened. "Tell me, what exactly is going on with the Sterling Family?"