Chapter 270

Sunlight filtered through the curtains as Evelyn Roland stood by the window, scrolling through news notifications on her phone.

"Adrian Valentine, CEO of Valentine Group, Sets Wedding Date with Heiress Isabella Langley."

Her finger hovered over the screen for a second before she calmly swiped past it.

Victoria Laurent entered with breakfast, studying her expression carefully. "Evelyn..."

Turning, Evelyn accepted the tray with a perfectly measured smile. "I'm fine. It's been almost two years since the divorce. Felicia is already walking."

She stirred the porridge absently, lashes fluttering in the rising steam.

Victoria's eyes reddened. "Let's take a trip somewhere."

"Felicia had a fever last night. She just fell asleep." Evelyn lifted a spoonful, her wrist trembling imperceptibly.

The porridge stuck in her throat like a lump.

Her steps slowed as she climbed the stairs.

In the crib, Felicia slept soundly. Evelyn gently stroked her daughter's cheek, whispering almost inaudibly, "Daddy's starting a new family."

Felicia's eyes fluttered open briefly before drifting shut again with innocent trust.

That fleeting glance pierced Evelyn's heart.

The doorbell rang downstairs.

Gabrielle Flores burst in waving a document. "The results are in!"

Evelyn flipped straight to the final line—

"No Maternal Match Detected"

"I triple-checked," Gabrielle said excitedly.

A glint of steel flashed in Evelyn's eyes. "The show begins."

She went upstairs and photographed the report with a burner phone, sending it through encrypted software to Eleanor Langley.

Another message went to Zachary Deross: "Monitor Eleanor closely."

The medical textbook lay open on her lap, but the words blurred before her eyes.

The Diamond Project was halfway to completion. Now for the next move—

Her phone vibrated with a message from Isabella: "Sis, Mom's been acting strange lately."

Evelyn's lips curved slightly as she left it unanswered.

Meanwhile, in the master bedroom of Langley Manor...

Eleanor Langley woke from her nap to find the other side of the bed empty.

She reached for her phone. An unknown notification flashed:

"Would you like to know Isabella's true origins?"

Her finger froze above the screen.