Chapter 585

Preston Valentine stared blankly at Joanna Sterling.

Fragments of her words flashed through his mind:

"Considering I saved your life..."

"Do you treat every person who saves your life this way?"

"Preston Valentine, you owe me this!"

...

Those once baffling statements now pieced together like a jigsaw puzzle.

His heart sank heavily.

He carefully supported Joanna and turned to look at Susan Langley.

Susan was still sobbing. "...Preston, you can't treat me like this. I'm the one who saved your life! Preston..."

Preston scooped Joanna into his arms and demanded sharply, "Are you really the one who saved me?"

Susan froze. "What do you mean?"

Ignoring her, Preston rushed out with Joanna in his arms. "Doctor! Butler, call the family doctor!"

A suspicion gnawed at him.

But everything had to wait until Joanna woke up for confirmation.

The Valentine family doctor, always on standby at the estate, arrived immediately upon hearing the commotion.

After the examination, the doctor looked at Preston's tense face.

Preston asked urgently, "Does she need to go to the hospital?"

The doctor shook his head. "It's a coma caused by oxygen deprivation. We have the necessary equipment here."

Preston frowned. "Can oxygen deprivation cause such a prolonged unconscious state? She didn't respond when I called her."

The doctor sighed. "She was frightened last night and didn't sleep at all. She was already in a state of extreme tension. After the near-drowning and oxygen deprivation, she suddenly learned the suspicion against her was lifted. The sudden mental release caused her to collapse into sleep. I believe Miss Sterling is simply catching up on rest. Let her sleep peacefully for the day."

Only then did Preston relax slightly.

He took Joanna back to his own bedroom. He summoned a maid to change Joanna's clothes, dry her hair, dress her in pajamas, and settle her into the bed.

After completing these tasks, Preston finally allowed himself to unwind.

The butler asked, "Young Master Preston, you didn't sleep last night either. With Miss Sterling sleeping here, where will you rest?"

Preston pointed to the sofa. "I'll rest here for a while. Wake me immediately when Joanna stirs."

"Yes, sir."

After Susan left in tears, Evelyn Ross went downstairs for breakfast.

Soon after, Alexander Vance joined her.

They exchanged a glance. Evelyn sighed softly. "I want to visit the Castillo family."

The poison affecting Mr. Valentine came from the Castillos. This matter required confirmation from Elder Castillo. Furthermore, admitting to the deception at the engagement banquet now—she wondered if Elder Castillo would forgive them.

Alexander stated simply, "I'll accompany you."

Evelyn nodded.

They finished a quick breakfast and drove to the Castillo residence.

Elder Castillo and Anthony Castillo came out to greet them.

Elder Castillo smiled. "The equipment will take another day to arrive. Why the urgent visit today?"

Evelyn and Alexander exchanged another look, about to speak, when Elder Castillo chuckled first. "It's about the Seven-Day Powder, isn't it?"

Evelyn paused.

Alexander asked, "Did you really give the Seven-Day Powder to Nicole Sterling?"

Elder Castillo nodded. "Indeed."

Alexander pressed further. "Why?"

Elder Castillo sighed. "Your statement at the engagement banquet disrupted Nicole and Anthony's wedding. I had to give Nicole some form of compensation."

He smiled meaningfully at Evelyn. "Aren't you my granddaughter? Then don't worry. Once the equipment arrives and the DNA test is complete, I'll give you the antidote. For your father, it's merely a potent tonic that enhances constitution. It's harmless to the body."

Evelyn immediately countered, "What if I'm not your granddaughter?"

"Don't talk nonsense. How could you not be?" Elder Castillo's smile was shrewd. "Besides, if you truly aren't, I need to offer Nicole my allegiance. Then this poison becomes my token of submission to her."

Evelyn understood instantly.

If she wasn't Elder Castillo's granddaughter, he would immediately join Nicole's faction. But he had offended Nicole at the engagement banquet. To appease her, he needed to do something that would satisfy her—

That was to kill Mr. Valentine.

Mr. Valentine was a key figure in the Valentine family and Evelyn's greatest support in the country. His death would be a severe blow to the Valentines.

Evelyn took a deep breath.

Cunning old fox.

She had thought the strategy she and Alexander employed at the engagement banquet had fooled the elder. It seemed he had already prepared a contingency plan.

Elder Castillo spoke again. "Of course, such a scenario is unlikely, isn't it? Grace, you are my granddaughter, correct?"

Evelyn remained silent.

She wasn't.

But facing Elder Castillo, she couldn't bring herself to say it.

There was no other way...

Evelyn and Alexander took their leave.

Anthony escorted them to the parking lot.

Evelyn looked at him, hesitating to speak.

Anthony's position was delicate.

Since she wasn't marrying him, he would eventually live with Nicole. If she asked for his help now, how would he and Nicole coexist later?

As Evelyn pondered, Anthony spoke. "The exact formulation of that poison... I don't know it either. Only the elder is aware."

Evelyn was taken aback.

Anthony said regretfully, "That poison was actually invented by Natalie. You've probably researched it. Those seven highly toxic substances—the family keeps some in stock. But because they can create a unique poison, the components are stored separately. Typically, when preparing it, we each take equal amounts, mix them unevenly, take half as the poison, and the remaining half becomes the antidote. So, unless it's the person who administered it, even my grandfather can't specify the exact ratios."

Evelyn inhaled deeply. "I see."

Anthony patted her shoulder. "But, aren't you my cousin? If you really are my cousin, Grandfather wouldn't treat you that way..."

Evelyn gave a bitter smile but said nothing.

Alexander, standing beside her, suddenly spoke. "Evelyn, why not show Mr. Castillo a photo of your mother? To confirm if she's Elder Castillo's daughter."

Evelyn was startled. "What do you mean?"

Alexander said, "You only have a maternal grandmother. The absence of a maternal grandfather has always been curious, don't you think?"

Evelyn couldn't help a wry smile. "It is a bit odd. But we can't suspect Elder Castillo is my grandfather just because of that, can we?"

Alexander asked directly, "Why not try?"

"Alright."

Evelyn took out her phone, found a photo of her mother, Sophia Ashcroft, and handed it to Anthony.

Anthony looked at the photo and his eyes widened. "The resemblance!"