Father and Daughter Meet!

Goddaughter!

Cold sweat beaded on Richard Evans's forehead.

Evelyn Ross had secured such powerful backing. What hope did the main branch have now?

Where did Alexander Vance find such a wife? A love child's status had skyrocketed overnight!

He looked pleadingly at Robert Vance.

Robert cleared his throat. "Send a message to Cecilia. Have her tidy up the matriarch's room. Prepare to receive guests."

Richard understood immediately. He quickly texted Cecilia Evans.

Alexander spoke calmly. "Will you be dining at home tonight, Mr. Valentine?"

"Unnecessary." Mr. Valentine's tone was even. "I heard there's a good private kitchen in San Francisco. Le Jardin Secret. Marcus reserved a table."

Alexander nodded. His gaze turned toward the courtyard.

He had witnessed Mr. Valentine's deep affection for Sophia Ashcroft. His past protectiveness of Isabella Ashcroft was also moving.

Evelyn might not care about these things.

But Mr. Valentine was half a mentor to him. Alexander did not wish to cause difficulty.

Since he wanted to meet, then let them meet!

The group entered Eleanor Vance's courtyard. Only Julian Evans sat alone in the living room.

No one paid him any mind. They proceeded directly to the bedroom.

Alexander pushed the door open. Mr. Valentine's eyes immediately scanned the room.

Only Dr. Liam Lawrence and Fiona Vance were inside. No one else.

Mr. Valentine frowned.

Alexander looked at Fiona. "Where is Mrs. Vance?"

Fiona answered respectfully. "Miss Cecilia said a certain medicine was missing. Mrs. Vance accompanied her to purchase it."

Richard secretly sighed in relief.

He had just instructed Cecilia to send Evelyn away. He feared she might complain to Mr. Valentine.

The Vance family could not afford to offend the Valentines of New York. They certainly couldn't offend Mr. Valentine, who had influence in both legitimate and illegitimate circles!

It was good that Evelyn was not here...

He feigned regret. "What unfortunate timing..."

Alexander sneered.

Mr. Valentine narrowed his eyes. He suppressed his displeasure. "When will they return?"

Before Fiona could answer, Dr. Lawrence smiled. "Many medicines are needed. The pharmacy might not have them all. It will likely be late..."

Mr. Valentine snorted. He forced down his anger.

He glanced at Eleanor Vance. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Alexander, he stood to leave. "To Le Jardin Secret."

...

Elsewhere, Evelyn was pulled out the back door by Cecilia. They visited multiple pharmacies.

By the third pharmacy, Evelyn spoke coolly. "Mr. Valentine has left. Can we return now?"

Cecilia stiffened. "Aunt, what are you talking about? I don't understand..."

Evelyn laughed mockingly. "Your suitcase is more full of tricks than Isabella's."

Cecilia was stunned. "What?"

"More acting than her!"

"..."

Cecilia was not angered by the exposure. She still smiled. "Aunt, I truly am getting medicine for Great-grandmother. If you don't wish to follow, you can return first."

Evelyn had no patience for games. She turned and left the pharmacy.

She checked the time. Hailed a cab to Le Jardin Secret.

Cecilia relied on Dr. Lawrence stealing medicine to throw her weight around in the Vance family. Her arrogance needed to be crushed.

The urgent matter was investigating if Dr. Lawrence's theft was connected to Dr. Frank Melville.

If Dr. Melville was involved, he could forget about remaining director!

Lost in thought, Evelyn arrived at Le Jardin Secret.

Entering, she saw Dr. Melville sitting at a public table. He waited for her bored.

Evelyn walked directly over.

Dr. Melville was around forty. His skin was pale from years of research. His slightly plump build made him appear younger.

Dr. Melville stood with a smile. "Director Nan, you've finally arrived!"

Evelyn sat across from him.

Dr. Melville handed over a box of medicine. "This is the batch you requested."

He also produced a printed document.

It was a list of cases meeting the screening criteria. Each person's physical condition was recorded in detail.

Dr. Melville said, "These are the preliminary candidates. You just need to finalize the list."

Evelyn looked at him. "Director Melville, is there a researcher surnamed Lawrence at the New York Institute?"

Dr. Melville paused. "There are several. Which one do you mean?"

Evelyn's gaze was sharp. "The one connected to the Truman family."

Dr. Melville's eyes were clear. He held nothing back. "Oh, Liam Lawrence. He's been busy at the institute recently. He just took ten days of annual leave!"

Evelyn sneered. "Do you know he's in San Francisco?"

Dr. Melville was stunned. "What? He's in San Francisco? On vacation? I truly didn't know..."

He sensed something wrong. "Director Nan, what happened?"

Evelyn laughed coldly. "Someone showed up at the Vance family. Claimed they obtained an experimental slot. Is throwing their weight around."

Dr. Melville shot to his feet. "Impossible! The slots haven't been released yet! Where did he get one?!"

Evelyn remained silent.

Cold sweat dripped down Dr. Melville's back. "Director Nan, I understand. I will investigate immediately!"

He rushed out to investigate without even eating.

Evelyn sat down leisurely.

Since she was here, she might as well eat.

Her seat faced the restaurant entrance. She ate while watching the scenery.

Suddenly, a black luxury car stopped outside.

A man in a black cloak strode through the door.

Evelyn looked at him curiously.

This man had a cold, hard demeanor. He appeared to be in his forties or fifties. Full of mature charm. A handsome older man!

Evelyn glanced a few more times.

Mr. Valentine, who had just entered,敏锐地捕捉到了目光. He immediately turned to look.

The moment he saw that face, he froze completely on the spot!!

Zhao Nian stared fixedly at Zhao Ji.

Her eyes were red-rimmed.

Her nails dug into her palms.

After a long moment, she took a deep breath.

She crossed out the words she had just written and started again.

[What service do you require?]

Zhao Ji sneered.

"Smart move. Serve me well, and you might have a future."

He pointed to the fruit platter.

"Wash these fruits and cut them into pieces. Remove every single strand of pith from the oranges. Not a single trace can remain."

Peng Hui couldn't help speaking up.

"This isn't an intern's job…"

Zhao Ji laughed coldly.

"Intern? Do you want to keep your job?"

A bodyguard stepped forward.

"Do you know who our young master is? Young Master Zhao! This hospital belongs to him! He decides who stays and who goes with one word! Shut up!"

Peng Hui immediately fell silent.

Zhao Ji stared at Zhao Nian.

"Well? Are you going or not?"

Zhao Nian's eyes grew even redder, but she still nodded.

She picked up the fruit platter and walked out of the room.

She washed the fruits by the sink.

Tears silently streamed down her face.

Suddenly, someone called her name.

"Zhao Nian?"

Zhao Nian turned and saw Evelyn Ross standing behind her.

Her eyes lit up, and she hurriedly reached for her pen and paper.

Evelyn spoke first.

"I'm here on some business. What are you doing here?"

Evelyn had come regarding Marcus Valentine's azoospermia report.

Marcus clearly had normal fertility, so why had three different hospitals all produced azoospermia reports?

She had come today to find the attending physician from that time.

But she was told he had suddenly left the country for an exchange program last night.

Just as she was feeling disappointed, she ran into Zhao Nian.

Zhao Nian wrote on her paper: I'm interning here.

Evelyn understood.

"You're studying medicine?"

Zhao Nian nodded.

Evelyn remembered Zhao Ji was on this floor.

She frowned.

"Has Zhao Ji given you any trouble? Do you need me to help you transfer departments?"

Zhao Nian quickly waved her hands.

She didn't want to trouble Miss Evelyn again.

Getting the jade pendant back last time had already put her deeply in the woman's debt.

It was only because of that pendant that she had been able to return to the Zhao family…

She unconsciously touched the pendant at her neck.

Evelyn was about to say something else when Justin Evans and Mrs. Evans suddenly appeared.

Justin was speaking as he walked.

"Mom, my sister hasn't replied to any messages. Her phone's GPS shows she's on this floor. Which one is she?"

He looked up and saw Evelyn and Zhao Nian.

His face darkened instantly.

"What are you doing here?"

Evelyn shielded Zhao Nian behind her.

"Does the hospital have rules against the Ross family entering?"

Justin sneered.

"I'll hang a sign right now: No Ross family members or dogs allowed!"

Evelyn raised an eyebrow.

"Does the hospital pick and choose its patients?"

"This is my family's hospital. I make the rules!"

Evelyn scoffed.

"Would you dare say that publicly?"

Justin choked.

"You…"

Mrs. Evans pulled him back.

She looked coldly at Evelyn.

"Miss Ross, are you carrying a voice recorder? Trying to provoke my son to get leverage? To get revenge on us?"

Evelyn rolled her eyes.

"I don't have that much free time. I'm here to investigate my brother's azoospermia report."

Justin said angrily.

"What else could it be? Your brother swapped the sample, used azoospermic sperm to frame us! Our hospital's report is absolutely genuine!"

Evelyn frowned.

"You're sure the report is real?"

"Of course! This is a hospital, not a joke!"

Justin glared at her.

"Trying to bring us down this way? No chance!"

Evelyn pressed further.

"Then why did the doctor suddenly fly abroad last night? Why is his phone unreachable?"

Justin was taken aback.

"What did you say?"

"The attending physician flew abroad last night. He's out of contact."

Justin frowned.

"More of your tricks, right? Bribed the doctor, then framed our hospital for producing a fake report? The Ross family is truly despicable!"

Evelyn was speechless.

"Do you have a persecution complex?"

Justin fell silent.

Evelyn rolled her eyes again.

"Don't act so righteous. If you were truly fair, would you be bullying her?"

She pushed Zhao Nian forward.

"Placing her as an intern on the third floor—isn't that just to let Zhao Ji vent his anger?"

Justin smirked.

"I'm not that bored. But this wild girl got Zhao Ji beaten half to death. What's wrong with us getting a little payback?"

Evelyn was about to retort when Mrs. Evans cut Justin off.

"Don't waste time on trivial matters."

Justin came back to his senses.

He was here to find his sister.

He shot Evelyn a fierce glare, then glanced at Zhao Nian.

Zhao Nian flinched and avoided his gaze.

Justin snorted coldly.

He took out his phone and dialed that number…