Chapter 410

Evelyn's lips curved into a smile, but before she could speak, her phone buzzed.

She glanced at the screen—Sebastian.

Answering naturally, she exchanged a few brief words before ending the call.

"Alexander, there's an issue at the boutique. I need to head back now."

"I'll walk you out."

"No need. We'll see each other tonight." She turned to leave, but his hand caught hers.

When she looked back, questioning, he lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers.

"A parting kiss."

"..."

Despite her initial resistance, Evelyn accepted it with a soft laugh.

As she walked away, the warmth in his expression faded, replaced by something heavier—regret, lingering like an unspoken confession.

Earlier, when Eleanor had whispered that Evelyn might be her biological daughter, the revelation had untangled the knots in Alexander’s mind.

"Lillian..."

The name slipped from his lips, tender yet weighted with longing.

When Evelyn met Sebastian, she relayed everything she’d uncovered.

"Alexander's computer is password-protected. The information won’t be easy to retrieve."

"Just getting you inside his office this quickly is already a breakthrough." Sebastian turned, his dark eyes softening as they traced her features.

"Truthfully, compared to all this, I just wanted to see you."

"Once I get what I need and finish this, I’ll come back to you."

"Will you?" Doubt flickered in his gaze. "You loved him so deeply. Are you sure there’s nothing left?"

Evelyn exhaled, a wry smile touching her lips.

"The depth of my love for him is matched only by my hatred now."

Her gaze drifted toward the distant horizon, where the sea met the sky.

"That love sank to the depths of Pinecrest Heights. It will never resurface in this lifetime."

Meanwhile, Eleanor and William had nearly given up their search for Evelyn’s belongings when Alexander’s call came.

At the meeting point, he handed Eleanor a sealed plastic bag containing a toothbrush.

"This is—?" Her pulse quickened as she took it, realization dawning.

"It’s hers. There should be enough DNA for testing." Alexander’s voice was calm, but his eyes held quiet intensity. "But Vivian can’t know."

Eleanor and William nodded, understanding.

Of course he wouldn’t want his wife discovering he’d kept traces of Evelyn’s past.

After hurried thanks, they rushed to the lab.

From that moment, Alexander’s composure wavered.

With their connections, results would come swiftly.

Night had fallen when his phone rang again. An unknown number.

He answered after a pause.

William’s voice, breathless with excitement, spilled through the line—