Alexander Vance’s steps halted abruptly.

His entire body stiffened like stone.

His gaze locked onto the woman before him.

Yvonne Sherwood had left him since birth.

This was the first true meeting between mother and son.

Alexander had secretly looked at her photos as a child.

Though he no longer needed a mother as an adult, he never forgot her face.

He recognized her instantly.

The world spun.

Violence and gloom surged within him instantly.

He stared at her with resentment in his eyes.

But the next second—

Yvonne indifferently looked away.

She turned and went upstairs without expression.

As if he were just an insignificant stranger.

Alexander’s heart clenched painfully.

It felt worse than before.

So his years of lingering resentment meant nothing to her.

Of course, she never cared about this son.

She didn’t care about his frail body from being born seven months premature.

She heartlessly abandoned him at the Vance family, leaving him to fend for himself.

The hostility around Alexander gradually faded.

Only a dead, hollow emptiness remained.

In this world, he truly had no one who cared for him.

Evelyn Ross keenly sensed his emotional shift.

Just as she was wondering, Mrs. Sherwood quickly stepped forward, blocking Alexander’s view.

Mrs. Sherwood spoke meaningfully, "Grace, is this your friend? Don’t stare like that. The eldest lady is of noble status. She’s not someone you can look at directly."

Eldest lady?

Evelyn understood instantly.

Seeing the loneliness surrounding the man, her heart swelled with both pain and anger.

Angry that Yvonne didn’t recognize her own son.

Heartbroken for Alexander’s current sorrow.

She didn’t bother maintaining Grace’s persona and went straight to Alexander.

She tightly held his hand.

Alexander was slightly startled and turned to look at her.

Evelyn nodded firmly.

Alexander lowered his gaze, his voice hoarse. "I’m fine."

This suppressed demeanor was nothing like "fine."

She gently patted the back of his hand and turned to Mrs. Sherwood. "I’m here to see Mina."

Mrs. Sherwood quickly nodded. "Good, Grace. You’re Mina’s best friend. Persuade her not to do anything foolish. Marrying into the Valentine family with this child means a life of endless luxury!"

Evelyn listened with a tense face, then looked at Alexander. "Wait for me here."

But Alexander followed closely behind her. "I’m fine."

Evelyn had no choice but to take him upstairs.

Just outside Mina’s room, they heard Yvonne’s cool voice. "Mina, if you don’t want to marry Marcus Valentine, don’t keep this child. You can’t let a child bind your entire life."

A low, mocking laugh came from Alexander.

Evelyn’s heart ached again.

She knocked on the door, ignoring Yvonne, and spoke directly to Mina. "Mina, I’m here to take you home."

"Okay."

Mina had already packed a few clothes. She immediately came out upon hearing this.

Evelyn took the suitcase and was about to carry it downstairs when Alexander silently took it and went down.

Yvonne suddenly spoke. "Wait."

Alexander paused.

Yvonne walked over, her eyes sweeping over him again before landing on Evelyn. "Please take care of Mina."

"It’s no trouble. We’re good friends." Evelyn’s voice held a hint of hostility. "I’m not heartless enough to abandon Mina."

Her words carried a deeper meaning.

Yvonne seemed not to notice, merely nodding faintly.

Evelyn helped Mina downstairs.

The three of them, each lost in their own thoughts, left in silence.

With Yvonne present, Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood didn’t dare to stop them too much. They could only watch Mina leave.

They returned to the Nan Family Villa.

The three-story house had five bedrooms.

They prepared a guest room for Mina.

Evelyn looked at Mina, then at the dejected Alexander, unsure who to comfort first.

While hesitating, Alexander spoke again. "I’m fine."

Three "I’m fine"s in a row were clearly a cover-up.

She said to Mina, "Mina, rest first."

Then she pulled Alexander back to the master bedroom. After closing the door, she immediately hugged him.

She tried to use her warmth to dispel the cold emptiness around him.

Alexander hugged her back. In a angle she couldn’t see, the corner of his lips curled up slightly.

Seeing Yvonne did upset him.

But Alexander was used to restraining his emotions.

Since childhood, he had grown accustomed to this kind of pain.

After the initial shock, he had already calmed down.

There were too many people in this family who received her care and concern.

First Chloe, and now Mina.

If he didn’t act a bit pitiful, when would she have time for him?

Completely unaware she was being manipulated, Evelyn: "..."

...

Mina’s sadness came quickly and left just as fast.

By the next morning, she had returned to normal, even busy with work. "President Nan, the cooperation agreement between the Sherwood Group, Valentine family, and NanTech Ltd. has been signed. There’s a celebration banquet tonight. We need to attend."

Evelyn nodded. "No problem."

She instinctively looked at Alexander.

The man said slowly, "I’ll go too... is that okay?"

Mina couldn’t help poking Evelyn. "Your little pup is quite clingy, isn’t he?"

Evelyn was both amused and exasperated.

That evening, they left Chloe with the nanny. The three of them dressed up and attended the celebration banquet.

Alexander didn’t bring a suit and still wore his sporty casual clothes.

The car stopped at the banquet entrance. Evelyn and Mina got out first. Alexander went to park the car.

He was treated completely like a driver.

Yet he showed no sign of being offended.

Evelyn and Mina waited briefly at the entrance. After Alexander parked the car and joined them, the three entered together.

The banquet guests were all from the Valentine family, Sherwood Group, and NanTech Ltd. There was no formal dress code. Both women wore business professional attire.

Entry required signing in.

Evelyn bent down and wrote: Grace Nan.

Just then, a luxury car pulled up ostentatiously at the entrance.

Two uninvited guests got out: Fiona Valentine and Penelope Valentine.

They wore gorgeous evening gowns and became the center of attention the moment they stepped out.

Valentine Group employees immediately surrounded them. "Second Young Miss, long time no see!"

Penelope smiled in response.

Mina whispered to Evelyn, "This Penelope used to be low-key. Now that she’s a Valentine Group executive, her status has really risen. I heard the Vances and Valentines have an old marriage arrangement. Probably, she’ll end up marrying that divorced man Alexander Vance in the end."

Evelyn: "..."

She finished signing and moved aside.

Mina was still watching the spectacle and said to Alexander, "You sign next."

"Divorced man" Alexander Vance shot her a cold glance and signed his name with a flourish.

It was Mina’s turn to sign.

She finally looked away from the commotion and turned to the sign-in sheet.

She still didn’t know the name of Grace’s little pup...

When she saw the signature above, she froze.