Chapter 849

Their words hung in the air.

They looked at each other and smiled in unison.

Evelyn Ross had never experienced that kind of fiery, all-consuming passion.

Between her and Alexander Vance, it seemed to have been rational and restrained from the very beginning.

Even back in San Francisco, when they were on the brink of divorce, weighing the pros and cons, they had remained frighteningly calm.

But these seven days of separation, especially within the isolated cage of the Sterling Family compound—no phone, no internet—her longing for Alexander had grown like a wild vine.

It became the only thought that kept her going.

A slight curve touched Evelyn's lips.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small velvet box.

She opened it.

Inside lay a delicate wristwatch.

A flicker of surprise passed through Alexander's eyes.

He then retrieved an almost identical box from the inner pocket of his suit.

Two watches.

Same design.

One for a man, one for a woman.

The watch faces gleamed with a soft luster under the light.

They had been on different cruise ships.

Yet, as if guided by some unseen force, they had both walked into the same century-old shop.

They had both chosen the same pair of couple's watches.

Evelyn was marveling at this unspoken coincidence when a head of fluffy hair suddenly squeezed between them.

"Wow—" Natalie Castillo drew out the word, her eyes sparkling.

"Is this considered publicly flaunting your love?"

"Confess, did you plan this in advance?"

Evelyn ignored her.

She picked up the men's watch and carefully fastened it around Alexander's left wrist.

The soft click of the clasp was unusually clear in the quiet air.

Only then did she look up at Natalie, her tone flat.

"No planning."

Alexander picked up the women's watch.

With gentle movements, he fastened it on Evelyn's wrist.

They placed their wrists together.

The watch faces reflected similar halos of light.

Natalie pouted, about to say more.

But Evelyn had already turned, taking Alexander's hand and leading him toward their cabin.

Natalie immediately followed like a little tail.

At the end of the corridor, Mason Evans stood in place.

His outstretched hand hung in mid-air.

In the end, he couldn't call out to Evelyn.

He watched the three receding figures.

Finally, he just shook his head helplessly and turned to leave.

His duty was to protect.

Evelyn was safe and sound.

He would return to his identity as a doctor.

He would go back to the hospital and continue saving lives.

As for farewells... perhaps they weren't needed.

Evelyn, of course, sensed Mason's departure.

But she didn't look back.

She had no intention of seeing him off.

Mason knew the Sterling Family deeply.

Yet during those days at the Sterling compound, he had never given her any warning or hint.

This deliberate silence had built a wall of vigilance in Evelyn's heart.

The three entered the room.

The door had just closed when Natalie couldn't wait to speak.

"Evelyn, you didn't cause any trouble at the Sterling Family, did you?"

Without waiting for an answer, she nodded to herself.

"Of course you didn't. Otherwise, you wouldn't be standing here completely unharmed."

"I was really afraid you'd get carried away and rush to save your mom no matter what. Thankfully, you weren't that foolish."

Evelyn looked at her, her lips parting.

Before her words could come out, Alexander beside her suddenly spoke.

"Can you give us a moment alone?"

Natalie was taken aback.

Only then did she belatedly realize she had followed them all the way into the master bedroom.

She blinked, a mischievous smile appearing on her face.

"What's so secret that I can't hear it? Something you need to hide from me?"

Alexander's expression remained unchanged, his tone calm and even.

"Some topics are not suitable for minors."

Natalie immediately exaggeratedly covered her eyes, though her fingers were spread wide.

"Oh my god! You two have no shame!"

"Seven days apart and you're already like dry wood meeting a fierce fire? Tsk tsk tsk..."

Alexander didn't speak.

He just lifted his gaze and gave her a faint glance.

The look wasn't fierce. It held almost no emotion.

Yet, Natalie inexplicably shivered.

Before, she feared nothing and no one, except Evelyn.

But somehow, this time, a single look from Alexander made her feel somewhat guilty.

"Fine, fine, I won't disturb you." Natalie waved her hand, backing out while muttering.

"Putting romance before friendship..."

The bedroom door closed softly with a click.

Alexander strode over.

With another click, he turned the lock.

Evelyn leaned against the wall, raising an eyebrow at him.

"What did you do to her? She actually started listening to you?"

Alexander didn't answer.

He turned, took a few steps to stand before Evelyn, reached out an arm, wrapped it around her waist, and directly pulled her toward the sofa in the center of the room.

Before Evelyn could react, he pressed her into the soft cushions.

Then, a scorching, urgent kiss descended.

It carried an undeniable force.

It carried the preciousness of something lost and regained.

It also carried a certain panic that had been suppressed for too long.

At first, Evelyn tried to push him away.

But her lips and teeth were filled with his scent, familiar and reassuring.

She soon gave up resisting.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, tilting her head up to respond.

The kiss was long and deep, almost robbing her of all breath and thought.

Two hours later.

The bedroom was filled with an ambiguous, lingering atmosphere.

Evelyn lay on her side in Alexander's arms, her cheek pressed against his warm chest.

She could clearly hear his steady, powerful heartbeat.

She let out a soft laugh.

Her fingers unconsciously traced circles over his heart.

"What's wrong with you today?" she asked.

"You seem a bit off."

Alexander was silent for a moment.

His arm tightened, holding her closer.

"I feel threatened," he said in a low voice, his tone hoarse from their earlier activities.

After that trip to the Sterling Family, he had seen with his own eyes how absurd that place was.

The young ladies of the Sterling Family each had over a dozen male companions surrounding them.

Those men came in all styles.

Some were tough as iron.

Some were obedient as dogs.

Some were wild and untamed.

Some were gentle and considerate.

They each showed their unique skills, vying for attention, all just to earn a smile from their mistress.

For the first time, Alexander truly felt a sense of threat.

If Evelyn really returned to the Sterling Family and became one of their young ladies, would she also be surrounded by these various men?

He thought of Natalie's mother.

She had a legitimate husband, yet couldn't bring herself to be harsh to the other men around her.

A group of men fought for her favor, causing constant chaos.

Alexander buried his face in Evelyn's hair, taking a deep breath.

Her scent gave him a slight sense of peace.

"Evelyn," his voice was muffled, carrying a rare vulnerability.

"You have to win."

If she lost, she would become a breeding tool.

She would end up like Natalie's mother, surrounded by countless handsome men, drowning daily in a gentle paradise, gradually losing herself.

Evelyn heard the unease in his words.

She lifted her head, cupped his face, and looked directly into his eyes.

"Okay," she promised solemnly.

"I will definitely win."

Not for the power of the Sterling Family.

Just to be with him openly and honestly, unbound by anyone or any rules.

They held each other quietly for a moment.

Evelyn suddenly remembered something.

She sat up from Alexander's embrace.

"Alright, time to get down to business."

Alexander's gaze darkened.

He hooked an arm and pulled her back into his embrace, his chin resting on her shoulder.

His voice carried a lazy smile.

"Didn't we just take care of business? You want more?"

Evelyn's ears grew warm.

She pushed him away, annoyed.

"What are you thinking! I mean real business!"

Where did this guy learn such suggestive talk!

She broke free from his embrace.

Barefoot, she stepped onto the carpet and walked to the desk.

From a drawer, she pulled out a folded nautical chart.

"That coordinate," she unfolded the map, her expression turning serious.

"We need to determine the exact location of the Sterling Family as soon as possible."

"Then... find a way to get there."

Elara Sterling had said a lot of nonsense.

But the information about the "homeless person" had given her a crucial clue.

Since she couldn't act rashly as Grace Sterling within the Sterling Family to avoid implicating the innocent, she would change her identity.

An identity the Sterling Family wouldn't care about or guard against—a homeless person.