James Klein immediately shouted, "You dare take off your mask, car thief? I'm taking a picture of your face for the police!"

His eyes were swollen and red from crying, barely able to open.

But the moment he clearly saw Evelyn Ross's face, his crying abruptly stopped.

"Huh..."

James's jaw dropped in shock, his trembling finger pointing at her. "You... you..."

Evelyn gave him a cool glance and put her mask back on.

James stared intently at her. After a long moment, he cautiously asked, "Boss, what's on your face? It's so yellow and scary. Ugly as hell."

Evelyn looked up at the sky speechlessly.

James suddenly burst into even louder sobs. "Wah... Boss, you're not dead! I've cried almost all my tears these past two days! I cried even harder than Alexander Vance!"

He was both crying and laughing, tears streaming uncontrollably.

Evelyn silently handed him a tissue. "Wipe it off. It's unsightly."

That familiar tone of disdain finally convinced James—his boss was truly alive!

As James's emotions settled slightly, Evelyn was about to speak when the roar of an engine approached from afar.

Alexander Vance's black Bentley shot past her side like an arrow!

Though it was just a flash, both clearly saw Alexander himself in the driver's seat.

James instantly bristled. "Damn! Where is Alexander going? Today is your funeral. He's not even coming to see you one last time?"

Evelyn froze momentarily.

She recalled Thomas Watson's words earlier—Sophia Watson was threatening suicide by starvation...

He had softened after all, hadn't he?

She understood. In Alexander's heart, she was already dead. The living always matter more than the dead.

Yet a fine, sharp pain still pierced her heart...

Seeing her dim expression, James flared up in anger. "He's going to see that lunatic again? Boss, how could he do this to you!"

James's eyes reddened with rage, his fists clenched tightly.

Evelyn held the steering wheel steadily, lowering her gaze. "I'm already dead. I can't let him lose another."

James was stunned. "Boss, what exactly happened? If you're not dead, who is in the coffin? The body was too disfigured by the water, but I specifically ran a DNA test..."

Evelyn's fingers tightened. "And the result?"

James scratched his head. "It said it was you!"

Evelyn's last shred of hope shattered.

Eleanor Vance might make a mistake, but James never would.

She pressed her lips together. "That wasn't me. It was my twin sister."

James was baffled. "What? Didn't Mrs. Ashcroft only give birth to one daughter back then? How is it twins?"

Evelyn's tone was calm. "I want to know that too."

She decided to temporarily assume her sister's identity to lure out the mastermind.

But she wouldn't fight alone. She chose to trust James, asking for his help in the investigation.

Though the first person she thought of was Alexander Vance...

James, having followed her for years, was used to her ways. He didn't ask further and stated directly, "What do you need me to do?"

Evelyn's eyes turned cold. "Find out who drugged us at the western restaurant that day and threw us on the boat!"

The perpetrator acted in San Francisco. There must be traces left behind.

She had operated in the city for years. Her courier company was the perfect intelligence network!

Find the culprit first, then follow the clues... uncover Grace Nan's secrets!

James responded immediately. "I already sent people to investigate! The restaurant's surveillance was deleted. We're checking nearby cameras now..."

He paused, then added, "The Vance family is also looking into this. But the culprit was very sly. Left almost no clues."

Evelyn was silent for a moment before speaking. "Change the direction of the investigation."

"To what?"

"That strange scented narcotic is very rare. There should be transaction records on the black market. See who purchased it recently."

James had a sudden realization. "Understood!"

"Also help me investigate Grace Nan's family background and social circle in New York."

Since she was going to impersonate, she needed to do her homework thoroughly.

They said no more. Evelyn asked for Mrs. Ashcroft's hospital address and drove there.

Getting out of the car, she put on a black baseball cap and mask.

Entering the hospital doors, her reflection in the glass showed her all-black outfit. Evelyn paused slightly.

Grace Nan had dressed exactly like this when she came to San Francisco to find her.

Suppressing her complex emotions, she quickly walked toward the inpatient wing.

She happened to overhear two nurses discussing Mrs. Ashcroft's condition.

"So tragic. Just found her daughter, only to lose her. The patient is heartbroken, almost doesn't want to live..."

"Being unconscious now, she can at least rest properly, right?"

"It's forced rest, I suppose..."

The nurses' conversation made Evelyn's heart clench.

She hurried to Mrs. Ashcroft's room. Seeing William Ashcroft leave to fetch water, she slipped inside immediately.

...She didn't trust William Ashcroft.

She had never felt any familial affection for this father.

She gently closed the door and turned toward the hospital bed—

Only to unexpectedly find an uninvited guest in the room.

Alexander Vance was standing by the bed, reviewing the medical chart.

At that moment, he turned and quietly watched Evelyn, clearly having witnessed her furtive movements.

Evelyn had a question mark over her head: ?

...Wasn't this man going to see Sophia Watson?

What was he doing here!

Just as she was silently complained, Alexander's gaze suddenly turned sharp.