Chapter 461

“Besides, if she really came back to Serenity City, why wouldn’t she come find us?”

This was another point that Evangeline couldn’t quite wrap her head around.

Glenn thought for a moment. “Or maybe someone is helping her.”

Evangeline’s mind went to Leo.

She hadn’t interacted with him much, but she knew Leo was a reliable person.

If Leo was handling things for Tessa, it would seem plausible.

But for some reason, she still felt something was off.

Did Victor really let her off that easily?

He was so paranoid, so obsessive. For every day Tessa was gone, his hatred for Evangeline grew.

Five years of hatred… could he let all that go so easily because of a single letter from Tessa?

It wasn’t that she didn’t think Victor would do this for Tessa.

It was just that his letting go of all that resentment and unwillingness seemed far too simple.

Evangeline couldn’t figure it out. An image of Finn flashed in her mind, and she decided to ask him about a few things once he woke up.

Tessa had contacted him once; perhaps she had done so again since.

…

The luxury car headed back toward Lockridge Manor.

Inside, Victor sat with the letter spread open in his palm.

His fingers pinched a corner of the paper, his gaze fixed on the few words as if trying to see right through them.

Madden pulled out a UV light and handed it to him. The purple light fell on the letter, clearly revealing the English letters ‘Lockridge.’

“Is Miss Tessa at the Lockridge estate?” Madden asked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

The paper used by the Lockridge family was custom-made. It looked no different from ordinary paper, but under a UV light, it revealed a special watermark.

It wasn’t just the paper; almost everything in the Lockridge estate had a specific mark, a secret known only to Victor’s most trusted men.

This was a precaution against anyone in the family who might have ulterior motives.

Now, the letter handwritten by Theresa was on Lockridge paper.

Didn’t that mean Theresa was at the Lockridge estate?

Victor remained silent, staring at the paper with its Lockridge mark, his thoughts unreadable.

After a long while, he gently folded the letter twice and, with a look of reverence and devotion, placed it in the breast pocket of his suit.

“Give the order. Lock down Lockridge Manor. I don’t want to see so much as a fly get out of there!”

Madden’s expression grew stern. “Yes, sir,” he replied immediately.

At that very moment, Theresa had finished packing her things and found Leo, preparing to leave that night.

The moment she heard Madden and his men were going to harm Evangeline, she took a risk and had Leo send a messenger with a token to her brother Glenn. Then, fearing out of

she was running time she

immediately called Finn.

With Glenn and Finn involved, Evangeline would be safe.

She hadn’t originally planned to leave, but after a few seconds of silence, Finn told

her she would be exposed soon.

In less than a day, Victor would find her.

Finn’s voice was serious. “He’s been

looking for you for many years The Victor of today is more obsessive than you can possibly imagine.

“1

“If he finds you this time, you might never be able to leave his side again.”

Theresa believed him.

She had returned because Soren

had told her about the torment and suffering Evangeline had endured because of her. She didn’t want Evangeline to get hurt again on her account.

But she hated Victor. She hated him so much that even the thought of seeing him made her break down.

If she had to stay by Victor’s side, she would rather die.

Theresa took Leo with her and quietly prepared to leave through a small side gate of the Lockridge estate.

But before they could even step outside, all the lights in Lockridge Manor suddenly blazed to life.

In an instant, the grounds were flooded with light.

Lockridge Manor was as bright as day.