Sophia Ashcroft asked urgently.

She wasn't sure what answer she wanted.

She didn't know what the future held either.

She just needed to know if Evelyn Ross and William Ashcroft were biologically related.

After all, it was hard to fake an amniocentesis.

How could Linda Lowell's daughter not be William's?

Unless...

A thought flashed through her mind.

As Sophia was pondering, Nancy Ashcroft spoke up.

"Madam, please don't worry. Normal test results take three days."

"Oh."

Sophia felt disappointed.

The fleeting thought was interrupted, and she couldn't recall it anymore.

Forget it. She would wait for the results.

…

Evelyn Ross was completely unaware of the drama at the Ashcroft residence.

She had returned to the Vance estate and entered the bedroom in Eleanor Vance's cottage.

She had texted Alexander Vance, letting him know she was back and that he didn't need to pick her up from the Ashcrofts'.

But Alexander hadn't replied.

Evelyn didn't think much of it at first.

But by midnight, her WhatsApp was still silent.

She couldn't help but glance at her phone.

She was usually calm when people didn't reply to her messages.

But this time...

Was Alexander in trouble?

She was a little worried and decided to text Thomas Watson.

[Is Mr. Vance still busy?]

Thomas replied instantly.

[Yes, it's a bit tricky.]

[Do you need my help?]

[This isn't something you can easily get involved in.]

[?]

[I don't dare say. You should ask the boss directly.]

Evelyn frowned.

What was it that he didn't dare say?

She tilted her head slightly.

Did Alexander have another woman?

The thought seemed absurd.

Alexander had spent almost every evening recently with his grandmother, and she had been there too.

Even when she was falsely accused of murder and detained, he had been there those nights...

Wait, the night she was hospitalized, he hadn't come back at all.

Was there a connection these past two days?

Evelyn shook her head, dismissing the thought.

She lay down and went to sleep.

The next day, Evelyn woke up at nine.

She opened her bedroom door and saw Fiona Vance and Eleanor sitting on the sofa.

"Has Mr. Vance gone to work?" she asked casually.

Fiona paused.

"What's wrong?" Evelyn asked.

Fiona coughed and glanced at Eleanor.

"Well, Mr. Vance didn't come back last night."

Evelyn frowned.

She checked her phone. There was still no reply on WhatsApp.

Her jaw tightened.

Eleanor immediately picked up her phone.

"What is that brat doing? How dare he stay out all night? Doesn't he know it affects making babies?"

Evelyn was speechless.

As Eleanor dialed, a ringtone sounded outside the door.

They all looked over.

Alexander Vance strode in.

The man looked exhausted, having not slept all night. His eyes were tired and bloodshot.

He pulled his phone from his pocket, saw it was Eleanor, and declined the call.

"Sorry, I just came back to shower and change," he said.

After hanging up, he saw Evelyn's WhatsApp messages.

He looked up at her. "Sorry, I didn't check my phone last night."

He hadn't checked his phone all night...

What had he been busy with?

Evelyn was curious but nodded understandingly.

She wasn't one to make a fuss.

Alexander headed toward the bedroom but suddenly stopped and looked at Evelyn.

The girl was wearing a blazer and skinny jeans today, looking more formal than usual. She was clearly going out.

"Do you have plans?" he asked.

"Yes, it's..." Evelyn saw how tired he was and swallowed the part about Professor Lowell's birthday. "There's something at the company. I need to go handle it."

Her company with James Klein was busy with its IPO. Alexander knew this and nodded.

"Let me know if you need any help," he said before entering the bedroom.

Evelyn wasn't exactly lying.

After breakfast, she did go to the company.

James had several documents for her to sign, and there was work to handle.

She usually dedicated one day a week to this.

But she had been too busy lately, and tasks had piled up.

She didn't finish until eleven-thirty, then rushed to Professor Lowell's birthday gala.

…

Alexander took a shower and napped on the sofa for two hours.

He didn't set an alarm, but his strong self-discipline woke him exactly at eleven.

He changed into a fresh suit and got ready to leave.

He noticed Isabella Ashcroft and Julian Evans were there, chatting with Eleanor.

Alexander intended to ignore them and leave.

But as he was about to exit, he heard Isabella deliberately raise her voice.

"Grandma, Julian and I are going to Professor Lowell's birthday later. Evelyn will be there too, and her husband is going as well."

Alexander stopped in his tracks.

He was going?

Since when did he know about this?

He frowned, turned back to pour a glass of water, and decided not to leave just yet.

As expected, he didn't need to ask. Eleanor spoke up.

"Is that brat going? Why didn't he leave with my granddaughter-in-law?"

Isabella said, "Great-grandma, you remembered wrong. Evelyn isn't your granddaughter-in-law. She's married and has a husband. Julian and I saw him at the Ashcrofts' yesterday!"

Alexander, who was drinking water: ??

He frowned sharply, his gaze turning cold and imposing as it landed on her.

Isabella braved his intimidating stare. "Mr. Vance, it's true. Her husband is a construction worker. He works on construction sites. He's going to the class reunion later too."

A construction worker? Works on construction sites?

Alexander felt a tightness in his chest.

Did these people really look down on Evelyn that much?

He suddenly remembered earlier when he asked Evelyn where she was going, she had hesitated before answering...

She was clearly worried about disturbing his rest.

He hadn't accompanied her to the Ashcrofts' last night.

Today's class reunion was definitely another occasion for comparisons.

"Where is the reunion?" Alexander asked.

Isabella answered directly, "Julian arranged it. It's at The Ritz-Carlton."

Alexander picked up his suit jacket and turned to leave.

Once in the car, the driver asked, "Where to, sir?"

"The Ritz-Carlton."