Chapter 861

Evelyn stared at her phone screen.

The words were cold and stark.

She was silent for a moment.

The number of people who knew her true identity could be counted on one hand.

Evelyn Ross was supposed to have died in the San Francisco maritime disaster.

The person alive now was her sister, Grace Sterling.

She took a deep breath.

Her fingertip hovered over the screen for a moment.

Then she pressed the video call button.

Since the other party knew who she was.

They must have seen this face.

There was no need to hide.

If the other party dared to answer.

She wanted to see what the famous Astrid looked like.

The video call ringtone echoed in the silence.

Once, then again.

Evelyn waited quietly.

The screen remained dark.

The other party did not answer.

She lowered her eyes, about to hang up.

Just as her fingertip was about to touch the screen—

The call connected.

Evelyn's pupils constricted sharply.

A face appeared on the screen.

An Eastern face.

An unfamiliar woman.

Very beautiful.

Deep-set double eyelids.

Eyes as sharp as blades.

Short hair.

Neat, efficient.

Possessing a kind of androgynous, cold beauty.

Evelyn stared at her.

"You are Astrid?"

"Correct."

The woman's voice was cold.

Like the surface of a frozen lake.

She looked at the screen.

"I knew you were looking for me."

"So I sent Poppy to find you."

Evelyn pressed her lips together.

"Do you know why I'm looking for you?"

Astrid nodded directly.

"I know."

"You want to win."

"You want to save your mother."

"Right?"

"Right."

Evelyn's reply was crisp.

Astrid lowered her gaze.

"Forget it."

"I will not concede defeat."

"Moreover, the Sterling Family would not allow me to concede."

Evelyn was taken aback.

"The Sterling Family wouldn't allow it?"

"Correct."

Astrid's voice grew even colder.

"The Sterling Family does not allow an heir to concede defeat."

"They believe only a victor forged through battle is qualified to lead the Sterling Family."

"Only such a person can lead the Sterling Family toward a prosperous future."

Evelyn frowned.

"What kind of future?"

"That depends on your interpretation."

Astrid explained.

"Successive generations of heirs are like gu."

"Only the Gu King survives to the end."

"Now that there are fewer heirs, people don't fight to the death."

"In the past, one of us would have had to die."

Evelyn waited for her to finish.

"Then why did you contact me?"

"If you're not here to concede."

"Do you really think I would join you?"

Astrid smiled.

The smile was cold.

Devoid of warmth.

"Of course not."

"I'm just giving you an opportunity."

Evelyn was about to refuse.

Astrid spoke again.

"We will have a temporary truce."

"You go do what you want to do."

"As for me..."

"I am also waiting for an opportune moment."

Evelyn was stunned.

"I have nothing I want to do."

"Nothing?"

Astrid smiled again.

"If not, why did you ask so many questions about the Sterling Family?"

"If I'm not mistaken, you plan to land on the Sterling Family island as a drifter."

"After all, you already know the coordinates of the Sterling Family, don't you?"

Evelyn's jaw tightened.

Astrid continued.

"I also want to know if anyone can walk out of the Sterling Family alive."

"You go and try."

"I'm giving you the chance."

"If you can walk out alive, I will acknowledge you as my master from now on."

"If you are captured, then you are a failure."

Astrid's smile deepened.

"So, you don't need to be wary of me."

"If you're seeking your own death, I won't stop you."

Evelyn frowned deeply.

She did have that plan.

Deal with Astrid first, then go to the Sterling Family.

She was worried that after she and Alexander landed as drifters, Astrid would take the opportunity to swallow her forces in New York.

She hadn't expected Astrid to guess.

Poppy's visit was not a coincidence.

It was arranged by Astrid long ago.

Going to the Sterling Family, in Astrid's eyes, was suicide.

She was waiting for Evelyn to bring about her own demise.

Then she would unify everyone.

Evelyn was silent for a moment.

"With your word, then we shall see."

Astrid said lightly.

"I'll give you one month."

"If you can retreat from the Sterling Family unscathed, I and my people will pledge allegiance to you."

"If you die on the Sterling Family island, have all your people submit to me."

Evelyn shook her head.

"There are no 'my people.'"

Astrid frowned.

"Don't think I don't know."

"Scarlett, Natalie, Elian, they've all submitted to you."

"No."

Evelyn's voice was calm.

"We don't call it submission."

"It's an alliance."

"They are not my subordinates."

"They are my friends."

She had never treated Scarlett and the others as followers.

They were equally strong.

They were comrades fighting side by side.

On the other end of the screen.

Astrid was silent for a few seconds.

Then she smiled.

"Friends?"

"Interesting."

"Then I wish your friends good luck."

The video call ended.

The screen went dark.

Evelyn stared at her phone.

Her fingertips felt slightly cold.

Astrid had given her one month.

One month later, she would either win or lose.

There was no third path.

She put away her phone.

Walked to the window.

The night was deep.

Distant lights twinkled faintly.

The Sterling Family.

That mysterious and dangerous place.

Her mother was still waiting for her there.

She had to go.

And she had to come back alive.

Not for Astrid's wager.

For her mother.

For Alexander.

For all those waiting for her.

Evelyn turned around.

Took out another phone.

Dialed a number.

"Hello?"

Alexander's voice came through.

Low, steady.

"I've decided."

Evelyn said.

"We're going to the Sterling Family."

"As drifters."

There was a moment of silence on the other end.

Then Alexander's firm voice came through.

"Alright."

"I'll go with you."

Evelyn gripped the phone tightly.

"Astrid gave me one month."

"If we can come back alive, she will concede."

"If we don't come back..."

"There is no 'if.'"

Alexander interrupted her.

"We will come back."

Evelyn smiled.

"Right."

"We will come back."

She hung up the phone.

Walked to the desk.

Opened a drawer.

Inside was a photograph.

In the photo, her mother was smiling gently.

Evelyn gently touched the photo.

"Mom, wait for me."

"I'll come to save you soon."

Outside the window, the night grew thicker.

A new adventure was about to begin.

And this time, she was no longer alone.