Tears silently streamed down Jane Evans' face.

She looked at Justin Evans, her fingers trembling slightly.

Justin violently shook off her hand.

"Don't touch me!" His face was full of disgust. "You're filthy, mute!"

Jane staggered back a step.

She looked at Justin in disbelief.

He clearly hadn't understood her hoarse attempt to speak. He irritably adjusted his sleeve. "What bad luck! If my sister refuses to acknowledge me because she thinks I'm dirty, I will never forgive you!"

Jane's heart sank completely.

The gentle smile from her memories of her brother couldn't overlap with the cruel face before her.

She turned to look at Mrs. Evans.

Her mother's once-loving gaze was now only icy. "Stay away from my son!" Mrs. Evans snapped sharply. "Muteness is contagious! If it weren't for you, this jinx, the Evans family wouldn't be on bad terms with the Valentines!"

She called toward the door. "Security! Throw these two out!"

She pointed at Evelyn Ross. "Remember this face. They are banned from this hospital permanently."

Black-clad bodyguards quickly swarmed in, surrounding them.

Evelyn said coldly, "We'll leave on our own."

She supported Jane's arm.

Tears welled in Jane's eyes as she took one last, deep look at Justin and Mrs. Evans.

She bit her lip hard, her nails digging deeply into her palms.

Suddenly, she pulled on a mocking smile.

Linking arms with Evelyn, she turned to leave.

She passed by Justin without looking back.

Each step was slow and deliberate.

Such family wasn't worth having.

Justin recoiled in disgust, continuing to dial the number. "I'm sorry, the number you have dialed is currently switched off…"

He was frantic, his eyes reddening. "Mom, do you think Sister is too poor to pay her phone bill? Or maybe her phone is too old and always dies?"

Mrs. Evans said sympathetically, "We must find her quickly. She's suffered all these years."

Justin nodded emphatically.

From his hospital bed, Jason Evans watched Jane's retreating figure with a smug smile.

...

Outside the hospital, Jane looked utterly lost.

The wound on her hand had scabbed over, simply bandaged.

Evelyn, thinking she was worried about work, took her hand. "Go submit your resume to the Nora Research Institute."

Jane nodded with a bitter smile.

She knew the institute's standards were extremely high, but she didn't want to seem ungrateful for the suggestion.

Evelyn drove her home.

Jane wanted to write a thank you note, but her injured hand made it impossible.

She silently pointed toward the alley entrance.

The car couldn't enter the narrow lane. Jane got out here.

Evelyn offered to walk her in, but Jane firmly refused.

Watching Jane enter the alley, Evelyn and Alexander Vance followed quietly.

They saw Jane stop at a corner.

She carefully washed her face at a public water faucet.

She leaned against the wall, waiting quietly.

Only when night had fallen did she pat her cheeks, force a bright smile, and walk toward her home.

Hidden in the shadows, Evelyn and Alexander overheard the conversation in the courtyard.

John Evans asked with concern, "How was your internship today? What happened to your hand? Did someone bully you?"

Jane gestured with her hands, her smile radiant. "It's nothing! I just got a small cut while caring for a patient. How was your day, Brother? I'm so hungry!"

John sighed in relief. "Dinner is in the pot. I saved your favorite chicken wings for you. Are you sure you're okay?"

Jane waved her hands, gesturing. "I have work again tomorrow. I'll eat and then go straight to sleep~"

She skipped into the house.

...

A pang of sadness hit Evelyn's heart.

She looked at Alexander and sighed softly.

Alexander said in a low voice, "Let's arrange for their protection first."

Evelyn nodded. "Constant vigilance is hard to maintain, but it's all we can do for now."

"Agreed."

They left quietly, driving toward the Nan family home.

...

In the hospital, Justin paced anxiously.

Every girl of the right age had been checked. None fit the criteria.

Justin was going crazy. "She's definitely here. How can we not find her?"

Mrs. Evans suddenly thought of something, her face changing dramatically. "Could it be…"