Chapter 845

Evelyn's gaze fell on the note.

Tears welled up in her eyes at the first glance.

The handwriting on the note belonged to her mother, Sophia.

There were only eight words.

Do not save me.

Live well.

How could she not save her?

Evelyn clenched her fist, her nails digging deep into her palm.

She stared at the words for a long time.

Finally, with trembling hands, she slowly tore the note to pieces.

The shreds were flushed down the drain, disappearing without a trace.

She could not leave any evidence behind.

From that day on, she became unusually quiet.

She stayed in her room all day, hardly ever going out.

After Elara's true nature was revealed, only a cold silence remained between them.

Evelyn stopped speaking to her.

There was only an old-fashioned tape recorder in the room.

She repeatedly tuned the few available radio channels, trying to catch sounds from the outside world.

She had tried connecting to a satellite signal, but found it impossible.

This area of the Sterling Family was completely blocked by some kind of device.

Time flowed by silently.

Five days passed in the blink of an eye.

The day of departure arrived.

Just like when she arrived, she would be drugged unconscious before being sent away.

This was the Sterling Family's rule—no one could ever know the location of this place.

Elara personally brought the sedative.

The pink liquid sat in a glass, emitting a sweet strawberry fragrance.

She placed the cup on the table, her voice very low.

"You used to love strawberry flavor the most."

Evelyn did not touch the cup.

"People's preferences can change."

Elara was silent for a moment.

"Do you hate me?" she asked.

"Do you hate me for helping them test you?"

Evelyn did not answer.

Elara lowered her eyes.

"I had no choice. If I didn't cooperate, they would cut off your Second Father's arm."

Evelyn looked up, her gaze shifting to her Second Father sitting in the corner.

The man who was always meek and submissive was now nervously wringing his hands.

Elara had once said she only pitied him, but now it seemed there might be more to it.

Evelyn then looked at her First Father.

The man in his forties sat on the sofa, a mocking sneer on his lips.

Seeing Evelyn look over, he scoffed.

"What are you looking at? In this house now, your Second Father is much more favored than I am."

Elara frowned.

"Enough."

Second Father immediately spoke up timidly.

"Big Brother, please don't be like this... I'm not here to compete with you. I just want a place to stay..."

"A place to stay?" First Father sneered.

"You break up someone else's family, yet you talk as if you're innocent."

Second Father lowered his head, his voice choked with tears.

"Then... then I'll leave. It's better to be sent to another family outside than to make Big Brother angry here..."

Elara's face darkened as she looked at First Father.

"That's enough! He's so frail. He'd be bullied by vagrants if he went out!"

First Father rolled his eyes and said nothing more.

Evelyn suddenly let out a soft laugh.

It seemed that whether men or women, judgment could fail when faced with a manipulative person.

She remembered those jokes online—when a group of people are vying for your affection, how could you bear to drive any of them away?

You'd only try to keep them all by your side.

Being fickle knows no gender.

In the Sterling Family's matriarchal society, women held absolute domiSterlingce.

Men survived by attaching themselves to women, their names seemingly unimportant.

To this day, Evelyn only knew them as "First Father" and "Second Father." Their real names had never been mentioned.

Lost in thought, Elara looked over at her.

"I'll give you one chance," Elara said suddenly.

Evelyn looked up.

"What chance?"

"Ask me one question," Elara's voice was heavy.

"I will tell you the truth."

Evelyn was stunned.

She stared intently at Elara, but Elara averted her gaze.

Mason, beside her, whispered softly.

"Ask her about the prophecy."

Evelyn shook her head.

She looked at Elara and spoke softly.

"What would make you happy?"

Elara jolted violently.

She looked at Evelyn in disbelief.

"What did you say?"

"I asked," Evelyn repeated, "what would make you happy."

Elara's lips trembled slightly.

She clenched her fists, her eyes instantly reddening.

After a long while, she let out a low laugh, her voice hoarse.

"Silly child... You really are a silly child."

"Can you answer that question?" Evelyn asked.

Elara turned her face away.

"If you could inherit the Sterling Family and set me free," she said quietly.

"That would make me happiest."

Evelyn nodded.

"Alright. I'll do my best."

With that, she picked up the cup of sedative.

Just as she was about to drink it, Elara suddenly spoke.

"It's almost New Year's Day."

She paused.

"Happy New Year."

Evelyn's movement faltered slightly.

She raised her eyes and gave Elara a faint smile.

"Happy New Year."

Then, she tilted her head back and drank the medicine in one gulp.

The sweet taste of strawberry spread on her tongue, carrying a strange, subtle fragrance.

The next second, darkness engulfed her.

She lost all consciousness.