Chapter 191: Evelyn Returns to the Lawrence Family
Half an hour later, the hospital lobby.
Elias had his scrapes treated by the nurses and was now curled up in a temporary wheelchair, fast asleep and clutching a dinosaur plushie. Evelyn had changed into a clean black trench coat. As Ryan pushed the wheelchair toward the automatic doors, several black sedans suddenly swerved to block their path.
The doors flew open, and seven or eight men in sharp grey suits and grim expressions stepped out, obstructing the way.
"Ms. Sophia Bell?" The lead middle-aged man flashed a document bearing the red seal of the Lawrence Family’s Internal Inspection Committee. "I am an executive officer of the Family Inspection Department. Regarding tonight’s explosion and the issue of your fraudulent identity, we need to take you back to assist in our investigation."
"Assisting in an investigation" was just a polite term for house arrest. This was Marcus’s doing. Since he couldn't stop them with force, he was using the family’s internal bureaucracy to buy time.
"Get lost." Ryan stepped forward, shielding Evelyn and the child. His eyes were murderous. "I’m not in the mood for your games right now."
"Master Ryan, please don’t make this difficult for us," the leader said with a thin smile, his hand straying toward his waist. "This is a special inspection order signed by Victor years ago. The department has the right to detain any member suspected of damaging the family’s interests. If you resist, we will have to use force."
The men in grey closed in, the atmosphere tightening to a breaking point. Evelyn watched them coldly, her hand inching toward the gun in her pocket.
Suddenly—
Vroom! Vroom!
The heavy rumble of engines tore through the air. Two armored off-road vehicles smashed through the perimeter fence and screeched to a halt at the hospital entrance. Bernie stepped out of the car. Behind him were two squads of fully armed family soldiers, their rifles aimed directly at the inspection team.
"An inspection order?" Bernie gripped his cane and walked up to the leader. Without a word, he delivered a stinging slap.
Slap!
The sound was sharp and loud. The man stumbled back, his cheek swelling instantly.
"You dare block the path of the Lawrence heir with a twenty-year-old expired order?" Bernie’s voice was low but commanded absolute authority. "How much did Marcus pay you dogs to forget who your real masters are?"
"Bernie..." the leader stammered, his arrogance replaced by terror. "We were just following orders..."
"Whose orders? Marcus has been stripped of all command." Bernie pulled a gold-embossed document from his coat and shoved it in the man’s face. "Look closely! This is the highest directive just issued by Victor. Even if we have to flip Washington upside down, we will ensure Lady Madeline’s daughter arrives safely!"
The men in grey turned pale. They immediately lowered their weapons, stepped aside, and bowed deeply.
"Sir, Ma'am, please get in the car." Bernie turned to Ryan and Evelyn with a respectful gesture. "The private jet has been granted the highest priority flight path. No one can stop us."
The private jet touched down at a private airport in D.C. just as dawn was breaking. A fleet of Rolls-Royces swept into the century-old estate perched along the Potomac River. The Lawrence Estate—a behemoth symbolizing power and wealth—loomed through the morning mist, cold and majestic.
As the cars stopped, there was no warm welcome. A dozen attendants in stiff uniforms stood in two rows, their faces expressionless. Standing at the top of the stairs were several white-haired, arrogant men—members of the Family Council.
Ryan got out first and helped Evelyn out. Before she could find her footing, a cold voice rained down from the steps.
"Hold on." An old man with a hooked nose leaned on his cane, his eyes scanning Evelyn and the sleeping Elias with blatant disgust. "According to family rules, outsiders entering the inner circle must first undergo 'screening'."
He waved a hand, and two doctors in white coats stepped forward with metal kits. "We need to collect biological samples from this mother and son for DNA verification. After all, Madeline ran off with a nobody back then. Who knows if the blood she brought back is clean?"
"You insolent...!" Ryan exploded, his eyes bloodshot and full of rage. He shoved the doctors away, sending a medical kit clattering to the ground. "She is Madeline’s daughter! Her child is my stepson! I dare any of you to touch them!"
Ryan stood firmly in front of them. Elias, startled by the shouting, woke up and buried his face in Evelyn’s neck, sobbing quietly.
"Ryan! This is the rule!" the old man shouted, slamming his cane against the stone. "Do you want to challenge the entire Council for a woman of unknown origin? Victor is still bedridden. You don't run this house yet!"
The tension was electric. Guards placed their hands on their holsters. Evelyn felt the ache in her arm, but the humiliation of being scrutinized like a specimen hurt more. This was the Lawrence family—no warmth, only cold bloodlines and classism.
She took a deep breath, patted Elias’s back, and stepped out from behind Ryan. "Ryan, step back."
"Evelyn?" Ryan looked at her with disapproval.
Evelyn lifted her chin, her amber eyes meeting the old man’s gaze with defiance. "Since you doubt my blood, then test it. I won't have the 'unknown origin' label hanging over me on my first day in Washington."
She rolled up her sleeve, revealing skin bruised from needles and scrapes, and held her arm out to the trembling doctor. "Take it."
Her calm resolve and inner strength caught everyone off guard. Even the hook-nosed old man blinked, let out a cold huff, and looked away.