Justin Evans immediately sent a disciple to fetch the sect leader.

Ethan Valentine was sweating under Mrs. Evans' stare.

He forced a smile.

"Madam, let's discuss this calmly. Please, don't be angry... By the way, is Mr. Zhao not here today?"

Mrs. Evans snorted coldly.

"He's too embarrassed to confront you all. I told him to rest at home."

She gestured with her hand.

Someone immediately brought a chair.

Mrs. Evans sat down directly.

"I'm waiting right here today. I want to see how the Cortez Sect plans to give me an explanation!"

Ethan Valentine fell silent.

He took two steps forward, trying to ease the tension.

Evelyn Ross stood to the side, frowning slightly.

This Mrs. Evans appeared to be nearly fifty, yet she remained decisive and formidable, her face filled with anger.

Evelyn looked at Ethan Valentine and asked quietly, "Is Mrs. Evans very influential in the Evans family?"

Ethan lowered his voice.

"The Evans family appears to be led by her husband, but everyone actually listens to her. Her status is practically equal to the family head. She has three sons and dotes especially on the youngest..."

Evelyn was thoughtful.

This Mrs. Evans clearly was a strong, capable woman.

This matter probably wouldn't be easily resolved today.

She lowered her gaze.

Ethan whispered again, "I heard Mrs. Evans had feelings for Third Uncle when she was young. Should we call Third Uncle over now? Use his charm?"

Evelyn was speechless.

Does your Third Uncle know how badly you want a beating?

Kiki Cortez nodded beside them.

"Good idea! Good idea!"

Evelyn thought... These two were quite the pair.

She looked away and asked again, "According to sect rules, how is this matter handled?"

Ethan answered, "According to sect rules, martial arts cultivation is to be abolished, and the person is expelled from the Cortez Sect."

Evelyn frowned.

She was about to say her martial arts weren't learned from the Cortez Sect but suddenly remembered she was currently Grace Nan.

Grace Nan was an outer disciple of the Cortez Sect and had practiced Cortez Sect martial arts.

She didn't want to implicate Ethan Valentine or damage the Cortez Sect's reputation.

Ethan added, "But don't worry, we're all part of the Five Great Families. You're Third Uncle's newly recognized daughter. Mrs. Evans wouldn't dare punish you so severely. The Cortez Sect will also consider your standing in the Valentine family before deciding any punishment!"

Ethan's tone was firm.

"At most, you'll leave the Cortez Sect. If we want a clean exit, our family has countless ways. Let's see who dares to lay a finger on you!"

Evelyn remained silent.

But she couldn't back down!

She had to be accepted as an inner disciple to secure cooperation with the Cortez family.

Ethan Valentine spoke, "...The incident at the Valentine family yesterday caused quite a stir. This is Mr. Valentine's biological daughter, just recognized after being lost for many years. Mr. Valentine dotes on her greatly and specifically called to ask me to accept her as an inner disciple. You and Mr. Valentine are old acquaintances. This is just children fooling around. Perhaps we can let this matter go?"

Mrs. Evans shot a sharp glance over.

Seeing Evelyn's face, she frowned slightly.

After a moment, she suddenly asked, "Is your mother Sophia Ashcroft?"

Evelyn did not deny it.

Mrs. Evans sneered.

"No wonder you dare to hit my son. You're that woman's child! Back then, she led Mr. Valentine on. If she wanted to be with him, then she should have stayed! Instead, she disappeared, leaving Mr. Valentine unmarried all these years! I never thought she hid away and secretly gave birth to you!"

Evelyn sensed resentment towards her mother in Mrs. Evans' words.

Did she have feelings for Mr. Valentine and was taking it out on her mother?

Mrs. Evans suddenly said, "Since you're his daughter, I'll show you some consideration. Here's what we'll do: Kowtow to my son, and this matter ends here!"

Evelyn frowned.

Ethan stepped forward.

"Mrs. Evans, don't go too far!"

"Too far?"

Mrs. Evans pointed at Justin Evans.

"Look what she did to my son! There isn't a patch of good skin on him! I'm only asking her to kowtow. I'm not having her beaten in return only because she's a girl!"

Ethan Valentine also frowned.

"Mrs. Evans, this is a bit excessive towards a junior..."

Mrs. Evans scoffed.

"I'm just dealing with the matter at hand!"

Evelyn prepared to reason with her.

"Mrs. Evans, do you know why I hit your son?"

Mrs. Evans laughed coldly.

"Isn't it just about some romantic affair? If Mina Sherwood did it, can't my son talk about it?! Since she seduced my son and took the cooperation deal from our Evans family, she must pay the price! My son wasn't spouting nonsense. How dare you attack him? Do you think the Evans family is weak?"

Evelyn immediately retorted, "Mina did not seduce your son! He was lying! He admitted it himself!"

"Hah, he only admitted it under your coercion and torture. I heard you had an assistant? Bring him here too. I want to see who is so bold as to beat my son like this in New York!"

The Evans family was powerful, on par with the Valentine family.

Justin Evans was Mrs. Evans' beloved son, thoroughly spoiled.

This was also why Justin Evans remained defiant when Marcus Valentine was interrogating him.

Because Justin Evans was certain Marcus Valentine wouldn't actually kill him.

Until he encountered Alexander Vance.

Evelyn looked at Justin Evans.

She now understood Mrs. Evans was somewhat reasonable, just blinded by her son's lies.

But Mrs. Evans trusted her son. Where could Evelyn find proof now that Justin Evans and Mina were innocent, that it was all his slander?!

Evelyn felt trapped in a dead end.

How could she break this impasse?

Just then, a hoarse voice, cracked from too much crying, arrived.

"Mrs. Evans, how can you be so unsympathetic towards a junior?"

"A little girl beat your boy. You should look at yourself. How could a boy be beaten until he wailed by a girl? Don't you think so?"

The person hadn't entered the courtyard, but the voice arrived first.

Ethan's eyes lit up.

"It's the Sect Leader!"