?Chapter 150:


    The moment Victor’s name was mentioned, something flickered in Elliana’s eyes. Without hesitation, she revved the engine and drove her motorcycle straight into the study.


    Matthew followed closely behind, not wasting a second to catch up. Once Elliana brought the bike to a stop, she removed her helmet and nced at him sideways. “Spill it.”


    Matthew didn’t pause. “Fifteen years ago, Victor was living in Ublento, but he kept a low profile. He owned a small restaurant not far from the Jones family estate.”


    The words hit Elliana like a brick wall. She froze, her eyebrows lifting in surprise. “A restaurant?”


    He gave a slight nod, handing her a folder. “Yeah. These are photos from that time. The ce was tiny, only about fifty square meters. He made a modest living—roughly a hundred thousand dors a year.”


    Perched on her bike, Elliana flipped through the file. Her eyes scanned each page with growing intensity. “How long did he keep it running? What happened after?”


    Matthew answered with precision. “He ran it for just over five years. Then came the fire at the Jones estate. Shortly after that, the restaurant shut down. And Victor? Gone. No records, no trail.”


    The timeline hit her hard. A man with such an unassuming past disappearing right after her mother vanished—and then showing up yearster in Podgend, right in the middle of her and Cole’s marriage registration? It didn’t add up. His life had changed too dramatically to ignore.


    Elliana pressed her lips into a thin line, her mind racing with questions.


    The file Matthew handed her contained a series of photos of Victor, each one capturing his face in sharp, unmistakable detail.


    Victor had a thick build, heavy brows, and eyes that held an unsettling sharpness. There was something about him—too poised, tooposed for a man who supposedly spent years flipping noodles in a cramped eatery. This wasn’t just a humble business owner. That restaurant had to have been a cover. He was hiding behind it, masking something far moreplex.


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    She couldn’t help but wonder—was Victor an operative from Delta, nted in Ublento on assignment? And if so, who sent him? What mission could he possibly have been on?


    Elliana’s gaze sharpened. The more she thought about it, the more the puzzle began to shift. Victor’s involvement in her marriage registration with Cole couldn’t be dismissed. That detail made everything personal. There was no way this was just a coincidence. Finding Victor could be the key to unlocking both her mother’s disappearance and the real reason she was bound to Cole.


    “Mobilize every branch of the Star Society,” she ordered, not looking up. “I want Victor found. Now.”


    Matthew gave a crisp nod. “Right away.”


    Operating quietly under Donovan’s leadership, the Star Society had once kept a low profile throughout Ublento. Things had started to shift when Elliana stepped in at just sixteen. Though the organization stayed subtle on the surface, it had rapidly expanded its reach across borders and even pushed into the Delta’s territory. That entire expansion had one driving purpose: finding her mother. And now, it felt like those years of effort were finally starting to yield something real.


    Some timeter, tucked away in the study of her suite, Elliana lost herself in paperwork and research until sunset. She took a break to eat the meal Matthew had left for her. Afterward, she finally rose to leave. Darkness had already settled over the Evans family’s estate when she returned.


    Inside, the dining room had fallen quiet, and the family had migrated to the living room, lingering over drinks and conversation. Trinity’s voice stood out from the rest, brimming with pride. “Professor Sampson said he’s heading out soon on a confidential trip. It’s all part of a medical coboration with Milena. He asked me to apany him.”


    Elliana had nned to offer a quick greeting and head upstairs. But at the mention of her own name—one the others didn’t know belonged to her—she paused by the stairs and listened closely. She hadn’t scheduled any meeting with Murray. There was no n, no invitation.


    “That’s incredible, Trinity!” Lance eximed, clearly impressed.


    Looking over at Ruben, Lance added with excitement, “Grandpa, we should prepare a handwritten note. Trinity can deliver it when she meets Milena. I bet Milena would agree to treat Barbara and Charles if the Evans family made the request directly.”


    Ruben didn’t hesitate. “We’ll rely on you for this, Trinity. Bring our words to Milena.”


    With a soft, graceful nod, Trinity smiled. “I’ll do what I can, Ruben. I’ll make sure she listens.”


    “You’re like a lucky star for the Evans family, Trinity.” One of the older rtives chuckled warmly.


    A light blush touched Trinity’s cheeks. “You’re all too generous. Professor Sampson holds a prominent ce in Ublento’s medicalmunity. He runs several hospitals and research centers. Milena respects his expertise, which is why she’s open to coborating. I just happen to be tagging along. This opportunity came through Professor Sampson, not me.”


    Even while keeping her tone modest, Trinity couldn’t quite hide the pride shimmering beneath the surface. The more she spoke, the more the Evans family seemed enchanted by her charm.


    Someone added, “It’s not luck—it’s your talent, Trinity. That’s why Professor Sampson trusts you.”


    “Trinity really is the pride of the Evans family,” another said, as the room continued to echo with admiration.


    Amid the ttery, Trinity noticed Elliana standing quietly by the staircase. With a subtle tilt of her chin, she threw Elliana a smug little nce, basking in the glow of her imagined superiority.


    But Elliana didn’t blink. Instead, she cut through the room’s warmth with a voice as cold as steel. “Miss Craig, you might want to tread carefully… Sounds like someone’s setting you up.”


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