Sophia Ashcroft's fingers trembled.

She pointed at her phone screen, sobbing uncontrollably.

William Ashcroft set his phone down.

He patted her back gently. "The person in the video is covered up. It might not be Evelyn. Don't panic. I'll investigate immediately."

"Go now…"

Sophia pushed William out of the room.

William left the ward with a frown.

Sophia thought for a moment.

She doubted William could identify the girl. The person wore a baseball cap and a mask. Her face was completely hidden.

Her daughter had returned but refused to acknowledge her. Evelyn must know the killer was nearby!

Sophia clenched her fists.

She retrieved her phone from the bedside table.

She opened WhatsApp.

She found the contact she had added just two days ago: Marcus Valentine.

She had lived a secluded life in San Francisco for years. She lacked the means to protect herself. Even if she never wanted to see Marcus again, she had no choice now.

She typed quickly: [Can you do me a favor?]

Marcus replied instantly: [Anything you ask. Just name it.]

Seeing those eight words, Sophia's fingers paused.

She pressed her lips together, emotions swirling inside her.

Those past events were buried deep. She had intended to never have any contact with him again. But for her daughter…

Sophia took a deep breath.

She continued typing: [I have news about our daughter. I need your help…]

As she was typing, the ward door suddenly opened.

Sophia looked up.

William had returned.

She asked casually, "Did you find anything?"

William walked toward her, his brow furrowed. "I've sent people to investigate. Sophia, don't worry…"

His gaze fell on her phone. "Who are you messaging?"

Sophia had nothing to hide from Marcus. She turned the screen toward William. "I thought our resources might be insufficient. I planned to ask Mr. Valentine for help. This concerns Evelyn's life."

She let William glance at the chat interface.

She was about to continue typing. "With his involvement, we should find Evelyn faster…"

Before she could finish, her phone was snatched away.

Sophia looked up in surprise.

William had taken her phone. Worry clouded his features. "Sophia, you don't trust me?"

Sophia was taken aback by his unusual mood.

She was silent for a moment. "William, that's not what I meant. Someone is trying to kill Evelyn. I want to protect her. That's why I asked Marcus for help…"

"And then what?" William sat by the bed, his eyes sorrowful. "Marcus helps you find Evelyn. He sees her face, so similar to her mother's. He will realize she is his child. Given his nature, he will take you both by force. I am not strong enough, Sophia. I can't compete with him."

Sophia smiled bitterly. "I won't go with him."

"But he is domineering! Once he knows Evelyn's parentage, he will never let go!"

William's voice trembled.

Sophia sensed his anxiety. She held his hand. "I am old and faded now. The follies of youth should be over. William, you are overthinking this…"

"I am not!"

William stood up abruptly. "Sophia, you are not old at all! To me, you are always as unattainable as a fairy! The way Marcus looked at you was the same! He never married all these years. He clearly still has feelings for you!"

Sophia frowned and clenched her fists.

William's eyes reddened seeing her reaction. "Sophia, I want to ask you a question."

Sophia spoke gently. "Go ahead."

"We have been together for twenty-two years, Sophia. Even though you never let me touch you, in my heart, you have always been my wife. I love you more than myself. But you? Sophia, have you ever loved me?"

Sophia was stunned.

William stared at her intently. "When we got together, you said you only wanted a surname for the child. I said I didn't expect your love. I only wanted to stay by your side. But human hearts are greedy, Sophia. Tell me, after all these years, have you ever loved me, even for a moment?"

Sophia sighed. "William, at our age, why talk about love?"

"But I love you! All these years, my love has never diminished! I thought this life was fine. Even if our daughter was locked up, I didn't care. As long as you stayed with me…"

William ran his hands through his hair agitatedly.

He paced around the ward. "But once Marcus appeared, everything changed! Sophia, you are different! Since you woke up last time, you often stare out the window. You look at your phone, wanting to call Marcus! Even… the way you look at him has changed! That unexpected meeting, there was no hatred in your eyes. Only deep longing, as if you would leave with him any second!"

William rushed to the bedside.

His eyes were red. His whole body shook. "Now when you have a problem, the first person you think of is still him! Do you also want to tell him that she is his daughter? Sophia, I have protected you for twenty-two years, four months, and three days! All these days and nights, couldn't they warm your heart even a little?! Have you… have you ever loved me even a tiny bit?!"

He looked as sorrowful as an abandoned child.

Sophia was stunned. Her jaw tightened. She was not moved by his words.

Her eyes gradually cooled. "William, that time I met Marcus with Evelyn, I didn't know it was him. How did you know how I looked at him?"

William was speechless.

Sophia suddenly understood. "Were you watching me?"

She remembered meeting Marcus. They were about to introduce themselves when a kidnapping call interrupted them…

Sophia's pupils constricted.

She looked at him in disbelief. "Was it you… mmm!"

William lunged forward and covered her mouth. "Sophia, don't say it!"

Sophia's eyes widened in shock.

She struggled fiercely but couldn't push the man away. She bit his finger hard.

William cried out in pain and released her.

William gasped, looking at the bite marks and blood on his hand.

He was about to speak when Sophia said decisively:

"It was you. You tried to kill Evelyn!"