Chapter 586

Evelyn Ross and Alexander Vance exchanged a look.

Surprise flashed in both their eyes simultaneously.

Anthony Castillo stared at the photo, his brow furrowed tightly.

He examined it carefully again.

"It's similar... really similar."

Evelyn immediately pressed him.

"You're saying my mother looks like your grandfather's first love?"

Anthony Castillo nodded, then shook his head.

"The facial features and bone structure do bear some resemblance."

"But it was so long ago."

"The photos my grandfather left are all black and white, and somewhat blurry."

"I can't be one hundred percent certain."

Alexander Vance suddenly pulled up another photo on his phone.

He handed it to Anthony Castillo.

"What about this one?"

Evelyn glanced at it.

It was a photo of Mrs. Roland.

She was puzzled.

Mrs. Roland and Sophia Ashcroft had completely different appearances.

Anthony Castillo stared at the screen for a few seconds.

He nodded again.

"This one... is also similar."

Evelyn sighed.

She couldn't help but rub her forehead.

"Mr. Castillo, you're not face-blind to Asian features, are you?"

Anthony Castillo immediately retorted.

"I'm not face-blind to you."

Evelyn was speechless.

Alexander Vance put his phone away.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Don't worry. I've already sent people to investigate."

"If we can help Mr. Castillo's grandfather find his daughter, using that as leverage for the antidote should be feasible."

Evelyn nodded.

Just as the two were about to leave, a cold, mocking voice came from behind.

"Mr. Castillo's grandfather has been searching in China for so many years without success."

"You think you can find her in six days?"

"Wishful thinking."

It was Nicole Sterling.

Evelyn turned around.

Her eyes instantly turned cold.

She stepped forward, reaching out to grab Nicole Sterling's collar.

Nicole Sterling reacted extremely quickly.

She sidestepped to avoid it, countering by grabbing Evelyn's wrist.

The two instantly engaged, their movements so fast they were a blur.

Fists and feet clashed, carrying sharp whistles of air.

Within ten seconds, they had already exchanged dozens of moves.

Evelyn spotted an opening.

Her figure flashed, circling behind Nicole Sterling.

Her arm locked around Nicole Sterling's neck.

Nicole Sterling sneered.

"Kill me, and your father will have even less chance of getting the antidote."

Evelyn released her grip.

She shoved Nicole Sterling forward.

"If anything happens to my father, I will make sure you accompany him to the grave."

Nicole Sterling straightened her collar, her demeanor arrogant.

"That depends on whether he deserves it, and whether you have the capability."

"Grace Sterling, you grew up in China's comfortable environment."

"You never underwent special training."

"What do you have to fight me with?"

"I advise you to admit defeat early."

"Otherwise, you'll lose your mother and your father."

"You'll lose too disgracefully."

With that, she strode away, her laughter arrogant and unrestrained.

Evelyn stared at her retreating back.

Killing intent surged in the depths of her eyes.

When they returned to the Ashcroft residence, the sound of suppressed crying came from the living room.

Entering, they saw Susan Langley sitting with her head bowed, wiping tears.

Beside her stood the boy who had accompanied her shopping that day.

He was now pointing at Mr. Valentine and Mrs. Valentine, his face full of anger.

"Where is Preston Valentine?"

"Tell him to come out!"

"My sister saved his life!"

"How dare he call off the engagement just like that?"

"Is this how the Sterling Family repays a debt of gratitude?"

The boy grew more agitated as he spoke.

"Back then, my sister almost lost her life saving him!"

"She still has burn scars on her arm to this day!"

"And this is how the Sterling Family repays their savior?"

Mr. Valentine frowned deeply.

"We are naturally grateful for the life-saving grace."

"But repaying a debt doesn't necessarily require marriage."

"It can be compensated in other ways."

Mrs. Valentine looked at Susan Langley, her tone gentle.

"Susan, we know this is Preston's fault."

"But forcing two people who don't love each other together won't bring happiness."

"Look... can we find another way to compensate you?"

"The Sterling Family will do our best to meet your demands."

Susan Langley raised her head, looking toward the second floor.

"Where is Preston? I want him to tell me himself."

The boy immediately chimed in.

"Yes! Let that scumbag Preston Valentine come down!"

"Let him explain face to face!"

Mr. Valentine sighed.

"Susan, a forced union is not sweet."

"And you and our Sterling Family... perhaps your destinies aren't well-matched."

"Even before entering the family, there have been so many unpleasant incidents."

"Let's just call off this marriage."

"State your conditions. As long as they're not excessive, we'll agree."

"After all, you did save Preston's life back then."

Susan Langley bit her lip.

"I don't want money..."

"I know you have feelings for Preston," Mrs. Valentine interjected.

"That's why we want to compensate you properly."

"If you don't state them, then... we'll directly give you one hundred million USD in cash. How about that?"

One hundred million USD.

For an ordinary family, it was an astronomical figure they couldn't earn in several lifetimes.

Susan Langley still kept her head bowed, silent.

Her brother suddenly stood up, his voice rising.

"One hundred million?"

"Is your son's life only worth one hundred million?"

"The Ashcroft Group's market value is in the hundreds of billions, right?"

"I heard Preston Valentine holds five percent of the company's shares!"

"That's fifty billion!"

"His life is worth fifty billion!"

"We're not asking for much, just half—twenty-five billion!"

"Transfer it to our account today, and we'll leave immediately!"

Twenty-five billion.

Mr. Valentine's expression changed.

"The family doesn't have that much cash on hand."

"No cash?" The boy sneered.

"No cash means you don't want to give it!"

"Stop pretending to be generous!"

"You told us to state our conditions, and now you can't fulfill them!"

"The Sterling Family is truly hypocritical!"

"In that case, don't blame us for not being polite!"

"Isn't the Sterling Family a publicly listed company?"

"If this gets out, how much will the Ashcroft stock price fall?"

"Abandoning a life-saving benefactor, ungrateful and unjust—is this the Sterling Family's tradition?"

Mr. Valentine's face turned ashen.

On the second floor.

Preston Valentine was awakened by the arguing downstairs.

He rubbed his temples, preparing to go down and see what was happening.

On the bed, Joanna Sterling stirred and also woke up.

Preston Valentine paused his steps.

He turned and walked to the bedside.

He stared at Joanna Sterling.

He asked the question that had been buried in his heart for a long time.

"That car accident I had years ago... was it really you who saved me?"