Yara Reagan’s words lingered for a long time before Evelyn Clayton slowly opened her mouth— "So, he couldn’t get the truth out, and just kept torturing Charlotte Sterling?" Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novèlfire.net Evelyn Clayton couldn’t articulate her feelings. She no longer felt any mother-daughter affection for Charlotte Sterling, but after all, this person shared her bloodline, the person Evelyn Clayton had loved most since childhood, and also hated the most. Hearing that Charlotte Sterling was being "tortured," Evelyn Clayton’s heart was filled with mixed emotions. "I wouldn’t really call it torture." Yara Reagan was a bit anxious, pulled out a cigarette from the pack, lit it, and then very naturally handed it to Evelyn Clayton. Evelyn Clayton took the cigarette pack, but didn’t move, just looked at Yara Reagan, waiting for her to continue. Yara Reagan took a puff of the cigarette, exhaled deeply, and said slowly, "James Grant still has some reservations. At first, he just kept Charlotte Sterling locked up. Later, Charlotte Sterling somehow managed to escape, and James Grant searched everywhere, caught her, and locked her up again." "Charlotte Sterling was caught by him again a while back. If nothing unexpected happened, she’s still with James Grant now." Evelyn Clayton felt as if even her breathing paused for a moment. She was not exactly angry or distressed, but it was hard for her to describe her emotions. Something gradually became clearer, but Evelyn Clayton wasn’t inclined to dwell on it at the moment. She swallowed, her throat dry and sore, and said slowly, "Where has Charlotte Sterling been running all these years, and what has she been doing?" "That’s a bit unclear," Yara Reagan frowned slightly, "but the only thing certain is that Charlotte Sterling’s life hasn’t been good, not at all." The always quiet Iris Lockwood now spoke with a very complex expression, "I know a bit." Evelyn Clayton suddenly looked at her. Even Yara Reagan was somewhat surprised. Because before this, Iris Lockwood had never mentioned knowing about Charlotte Sterling’s situation. Iris Lockwood lowered her eyes, making it difficult to read the emotions in them, and only her muffled voice could be heard— "At first, Charlotte Sterling smuggled herself out, she seemed to stay out on the high seas for a while, in short, she’s pretty much like a fugitive now." After speaking, Iris Lockwood finally raised her eyes, somewhat cautiously saying, "That’s all I know." Evelyn Clayton pressed her lips together, her voice slightly hoarse, "Have you been keeping track of her situation all along?" Iris Lockwood seemed a bit agitated, rubbed her nose, and said, "Kind of, but she’s elusive..." Seeing that Iris Lockwood didn’t seem to want to dwell on this issue, Evelyn Clayton chose to respect her. Evelyn Clayton more or less understood why Iris Lockwood would want to keep track of Charlotte Sterling’s whereabouts. Because Iris Lockwood’s feelings for Charlotte Sterling were even more complex, probably surpassing those of her own biological daughter. Many things tangled in Evelyn Clayton’s mind, making her already unclear thoughts tonight even more muddled. After a long time, Evelyn Clayton suddenly laughed. Yara Reagan looked up at her, instinctively asking, "What’s so funny?" "I just find it all rather amusing." Evelyn Clayton shook her head, closed her eyes, and pinched the bridge of her nose, "Actually, I never quite understood before why James Grant seemed so much more mature, but still clung to the obsession with what happened back then. I even wondered if he really was too in love..." In hindsight, that’s not it at all. All of this, is just James Grant’s subconscious guilt acting up.