Chapter 571

Alexander Vance's words fell.

The entire living room plunged into dead silence.

Everyone was stunned.

Anthony Castillo was the first to react. He snapped his head toward Alexander. "What did you say?"

Old Mr. Castillo also shakily stood up, his cloudy eyes fixed intently on the photo in Alexander's hand.

Nicole Sterling's face paled drastically.

She almost instinctively lunged forward a step, trying to snatch the photo, but Alexander sidestepped to avoid her.

"Impossible!"

Nicole's voice was sharp and piercing, tinged with panic. "The faces on that photo were torn to pieces and flushed down the drain! You couldn't have restored them!"

Alexander raised an eyebrow at her. "How did you know, Miss Sterling, that I restored the faces?"

Nicole choked.

Her eyes darted nervously, but she forced herself to appear calm. "The faces are the most important part of a photo. If you didn't restore the faces, what did you restore?"

"Who said only the faces are important in a photo?"

Alexander slowly unfolded the yellowed photo in his hand.

The photo showed the figures of two women.

They stood side by side, wearing similar cheongsams, their postures elegant.

However, the areas where their faces should have been were indeed torn away, leaving two empty holes.

But even so, their figures, their bearing, their stance...

Old Mr. Castillo stared at the photo, his pupils contracting sharply.

He staggered forward two steps, his voice trembling. "This... this cheongsam..."

Evelyn Ross also saw the photo clearly.

Her breath hitched.

The style of the cheongsam in the photo was all too familiar to her.

It was the style her mother wore most often in her youth, with delicate plum blossoms embroidered on the collar and silver piping on the cuffs.

Her mother had said it was made for her by her grandmother.

And the cheongsam on the other woman in the photo...

Evelyn abruptly looked up at Old Mr. Castillo.

Old Mr. Castillo was already in tears.

His hand trembled as he pointed at the figure of the young woman in the photo. "This cheongsam... was hand-embroidered by my wife... these plum blossoms... were her favorite pattern..."

Nicole's face turned deathly pale.

She said sharply, "Old Mr. Castillo! Don't be fooled by them! Many people have similar cheongsam styles! What does that prove?!"

"It proves a lot."

Alexander spoke calmly.

He looked at Nicole, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Miss Sterling, you've been obstructing us from seeing this photo from the start. When you tore it up, you specifically shredded the faces the most and flushed them away. You went to such great lengths. What exactly are you hiding?"

Nicole gritted her teeth. "I... I just didn't want you to deceive people with a fake photo!"

"A fake photo?"

Evelyn suddenly laughed.

She walked to Alexander's side, took the photo, and examined it carefully.

Then, she looked up at Old Mr. Castillo. "Old Mr. Castillo, regarding the plum blossoms your wife embroidered... on the third petal of the blossom on the left collar, did she embroider a tiny, almost invisible character for 'Lan'?"

Old Mr. Castillo shuddered violently.

His eyes widened. "You... how do you know?!"

Evelyn didn't answer.

She simply raised the photo higher, holding it up to the light.

Sunlight filtered through the area of the cheongsam's collar on the photo.

Faintly visible, on the third petal of that plum blossom, was indeed a tiny, almost imperceptible embroidered character.

"Lan".

Old Mr. Castillo staggered back, supported by Anthony.

He stared fixedly at that character, tears welling in his eyes. "Yes... it's my wife... she embroidered this... it was her habit... she would leave this character on every piece of her embroidery..."

Nicole's face completely changed.

She shrieked, "Impossible! This must be a coincidence! Evelyn Ross, you must have investigated this beforehand!"

"Investigated?"

Evelyn sneered. "Miss Sterling, my mother's cheongsam is still stored in a chest at my home. Would you like to come with me now and see if there's also this 'Lan' character on the collar?"

Nicole opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Alexander spoke slowly. "Old Mr. Castillo, do you still think we are deceiving you?"

Old Mr. Castillo shook his head, trembling.

He looked at Evelyn, his expression complex. "Your... your mother, she..."

"My mother's name was William Ashcroft."

Evelyn calmly spoke the name.

Old Mr. Castillo looked as if struck by lightning.

He murmured, repeating, "William Ashcroft... William Ashcroft..."

Suddenly, he grabbed Evelyn's hand tightly. "She... where is she now? Is she... is she well?"

Evelyn fell silent for a moment.

Then, she said softly, "My mother... passed away many years ago."

Old Mr. Castillo's vision darkened, and he nearly fainted.

Anthony hurriedly supported him. "Grandfather!"

Old Mr. Castillo steadied himself, tears streaming down his aged face. "I... I've searched for so many years... finally had a lead... how could..."

Seeing his heartbroken expression, Evelyn felt a tumult of emotions.

She pressed her lips together but still spoke. "But my mother lived a very happy life before she passed. My father loved her deeply, and I loved her very much too."

Old Mr. Castillo wiped his tears, his gaze toward Evelyn becoming affectionate and filled with guilt.

"Child... you... you've suffered..."

Nicole watched this scene, her nails digging deeply into her palms.

She suddenly let out a cold laugh. "So what if Evelyn Ross is your granddaughter? Old Mr. Castillo, don't forget the situation your Castillo family is in now! Without the support of our Sterling Family, can you even maintain your footing in New York?!"

Hearing this, Old Mr. Castillo's expression shifted slightly.

Seeing this, Nicole continued to apply pressure. "Even if Evelyn Ross is your granddaughter, what can she do for you? Can she restore your Castillo family to its former glory? Can she bring you the resources and connections of the Sterling Family?"

She pointed at Evelyn, her tone mocking. "She's just a discarded daughter kicked out by the Sterling Family! She's barely managing to stay in New York now, relying on Alexander Vance! What use is a granddaughter like that to you?!"

Old Mr. Castillo fell silent.

He looked at Evelyn, then at Nicole, his eyes conflicted.

Alexander suddenly spoke. "Old Mr. Castillo, have you forgotten something?"

Old Mr. Castillo looked at him.

Alexander said slowly, "Evelyn Ross is not only your granddaughter. She is also the heir to the Sterling Family."

Nicole's pupils contracted sharply. "What nonsense are you spouting?!"

Alexander looked at her, his eyes icy. "Miss Sterling, do you really think the affairs of the Sterling Family can be hidden from everyone?"

He turned to Old Mr. Castillo. "Old Mr. Castillo, Evelyn's mother was the most beloved daughter of the previous head of the Sterling Family. Back then, when she ran away from home, the Sterling Family searched for her for many years. Now, as her only daughter, Evelyn naturally has the right to inherit everything from the Sterling Family."

Old Mr. Castillo looked at Evelyn in shock.

Evelyn was also stunned.

She looked at Alexander, her eyes asking: Is this true?

Alexander gave her a slight nod.

Nicole's face turned livid. "Alexander Vance! Don't spread lies and confuse people here! I am the heir to the Sterling Family! I am the legitimate heir!"

"Legitimate?"

Alexander scoffed. "Miss Sterling, your father is merely a collateral branch of the Sterling Family. He only temporarily controls the Sterling Family through schemes. Do you really think the elders of the Sterling Family will always recognize you?"

Nicole trembled with rage.

She pointed at Alexander. "You... you..."

"Me what?"

Alexander said calmly. "Miss Sterling, shall I provide Old Mr. Castillo with the contact information of the Sterling Family elders so he can verify it personally?"

Nicole was speechless.

She clenched her teeth tightly, her gaze venomous as she glared at Alexander and Evelyn.

Watching this scene, Old Mr. Castillo had already made a decision in his heart.

He took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "Miss Nicole Sterling, I apologize. Our Castillo family... cannot proceed with the marriage alliance with you."

Nicole snapped her head toward him. "Old man Castillo! Think carefully! Without the support of our Sterling Family, your Castillo family can just wait to be swallowed up by other families!"

Old Mr. Castillo, however, smiled.

He looked at Evelyn, his eyes affectionate. "Even if we are swallowed up, I accept it. I've searched for my daughter for so many years, and now I've finally found my granddaughter. I cannot sacrifice my granddaughter's happiness for the sake of family interests again."

He looked at Anthony. "Anthony, please see Miss Sterling out."

Anthony nodded and walked up to Nicole. "Miss Sterling, this way."

Nicole shot Old Mr. Castillo a fierce glare, then looked at Evelyn and Alexander.

She sneered. "Don't celebrate too soon! This isn't over!"

With that, she turned and strode away.

The living room fell quiet.

Old Mr. Castillo walked up to Evelyn, his hand trembling as he reached out, wanting to touch her head but not daring to.

Seeing his cautious demeanor, Evelyn's heart softened.

She spoke first. "Grandfather."

Old Mr. Castillo shuddered.

His eyes reddened again, and he nodded repeatedly. "Good... good child..."

Alexander watched this scene, a slight curve lifting the corner of his mouth.

He walked to Evelyn's side and took her hand.

Evelyn looked at him, her eyes asking: Is the thing about being the Sterling Family heir true?

Alexander winked at her.

Evelyn understood instantly.

This guy... was bluffing again.

But it was a good bluff.

She looked at Old Mr. Castillo and said softly, "Grandfather, I'll visit you often from now on."

Old Mr. Castillo nodded repeatedly. "Good... good... visit often... visit often..."

Anthony stood to the side, watching his grandfather's happy expression, and also smiled.

He looked at Evelyn, his gaze complex.

This suddenly appearing cousin...

Perhaps she really could bring a turning point for the Castillo family.

Outside the window, the sunlight was just right.

In the living room, the heartwarming scene of grandfather and granddaughter recognizing each other finally brought a touch of warmth to this cold mansion.

Meanwhile, Nicole Sterling, who had just stepped out of the Castillo family's gate, had a face as dark as storm clouds.

She took out her phone and dialed a number.

"Dad, there's been a change in plans."

"Evelyn Ross... cannot be allowed to remain."