CHAPTER 107: CHAPTER 107: CATCHING AN AFFAIR

Juliana clung to the sink.

Evan’s deep voice came through.

"Let go."

Yvonne seemed to be pushed away, but then clung on again.

"Your stepsister said you’re about to divorce. That dull and boring woman should have been replaced long ago. You should try me."

Their voices grew nearer.

Juliana inexplicably panicked, gripping the edge of the sink, unsure where to hide.

Elias stepped forward swiftly, pulling her over.

The sink area and the outside were separated by a screen.

Amid the interplay of light and shadow, Evan walked in from one end of the screen, while Elias, holding Juliana by the waist, walked out from the other end.

Yvonne skillfully diverted Evan’s gaze, and with Elias’s tall figure serving as a shield, this near miss was flawless.

However, Elias did not take her far. Just after leaving the restroom, he pinned Juliana against the corridor wall.

Afraid she’d get hurt, he protected the back of her head with his hand.

The cold scent of cedar drifted from his cuffs, entwining her breath inch by inch.

Juliana’s mind was in chaos for a moment, and she instinctively pushed him away, whispering, "Let me go..."

Elias chuckled softly by her ear, his fingertips brushing her wrist’s pulsing vein, grasping it.

"Aren’t you curious about what happens next?"

Juliana glared up at him. Over thirty, and still like a nosy gossip-seeker, lighting up at the slightest excitement—what kind of behavior was this!

In the restroom, Yvonne hadn’t given up yet.

As Evan was about to enter the men’s room, Yvonne suddenly grabbed his tie.

"President Grant, I know exactly why you’re seeking out my father. About the innovation in new energy heavy-duty truck batteries, I’ll tell you a secret..."

She leaned in with his tie, her red lips nearing.

Evan did not push her away.

"... Your soon-to-be ex-wife’s company isn’t the only one with the latest technology."

Evan squinted, tilting his head, saying, "Let’s hear it."

Yvonne smiled, leaning into him.

"My father’s favored student has already developed a product comparable to Aetherflame Dynamics’ heavy-duty truck batteries. As long as you divorce and marry me, my father will surely have his student support you fully."

However, Evan smiled, pulling out his tie and pushing her away.

"Miss Quinn sees relationships too materially."

Yvonne laughed, "If President Grant engages in ’deep’ exchanges with me, you’ll find I’m much more interesting than her."

Evan brushed off the spot she touched, his smile deepening, "Miss Quinn must have fully embraced the ’passionate’ aspect of foreign life."

Yvonne heard the disdain in his words, her red lips pouting, "We’re all adults; if you like someone, go for it. No need for childish timidity or wasting time. You need new energy battery tech, and my father, as a director at Veridian University, has plenty of geniuses to deploy."

As she spoke, Yvonne hooked his belt buckle.

"If we combine, from the lab to the bedroom... you’ll be insatiable."

Hearing this, Juliana nearly considered the "deal" on Evan’s behalf.

After all, her marital life with Evan was not only sparse but also textbook-like.

A woman like Yvonne could offer him cutting-edge technology and ignite his primal desires, making it a win-win deal.

If he didn’t rush to register their divorce now, what was he waiting for?

Thinking this, Juliana unknowingly pursed her lips into a straight line, not realizing this change in expression caught Elias’s attention.

At that moment, the room at the end of the corridor opened, and Quentin’s voice came first, "Where did Mr. Langley go? Why hasn’t he returned?"

Juliana’s heart panicked; before she could react, Elias already wrapped his arm around her waist, lifting her swiftly and darting into the nearby stairwell.

This time, Juliana was closely pressed against him, without a hair’s breadth between them.

Though he had embraced her several times, her "married woman" status always stood between them, so as soon as her feet touched the ground, she pushed away from him as if shocked.

Elias stepped back a few paces like a gentleman, but his expression was taunting, "Too scared to barge in and catch them in the act, but acting guilty as a thief? That’s some guts you’ve got there."

Juliana’s face flushed with nervousness, and she retorted irritably, "Has Mr. Langley had enough laughs yet?"

Elias raised his handsome eyebrows slightly, "You’re not quite a joke, more like a turtle hiding in its shell."

Having been verbally jabbed by him before, Juliana’s tolerance was somewhat built up.

"Men who gossip like this may have adrenal issues. I suggest scheduling an endocrine checkup before your kidneys develop problems."

Finishing, she intended to head down the stairs and leave, only to be blocked by Elias’s outstretched arm.

"The lights here are out; one wrong step, and you won’t want the child anymore?"

Child?

Juliana was momentarily stunned before recalling he had misunderstood her pregnancy the other day.

She laughed suddenly.

"Mr. Langley, are you so concerned about my belly because you can’t have one yourself and are looking to adopt?"

Elias’s eyes darkened for a moment but soon returned to a lazy demeanor.

"Miss Jacobs, it’s a waste that you’re not writing scripts with that imagination."

He calmly withdrew his arm, turning to take out his phone, switching on the flashlight, illuminating the dim stairwell a bit more.

Then, Elias stepped aside briefly, the light steady three inches from Juliana’s feet.

"If you want to leave, follow me."

...

In the restaurant corridor, Jared followed out of the room, speaking to the lookout Quentin, "Since everyone has things to do, why don’t we call it a day? I’ll thank Professor Quinn on behalf of my uncle for the hospitality."

Quentin was actually eager to hear this, quickly responding with a smile, "Good, good. Today was lacking, let’s chat more next time, Mr. Langley."

Right as Jared left, Evan came out of the restroom, Yvonne stumbling behind him.

Quentin was momentarily stunned, then approached with a smile, "President Grant, Mr. Langley and his nephew have already left."

"Where’s my wife?" Evan inquired.

Quentin hesitated, "Uh... I haven’t seen her."

Evan’s expression darkened slightly, "In that case, let’s conclude for today. I’ll reach out to Professor Quinn another time."

Stella saw Evan return from the restroom in just over ten minutes; she felt both relieved and anxious.

Relieved that, with a woman’s jealous intuition, Yvonne hadn’t succeeded.

But this man could still only accommodate Juliana, making Yvonne seemingly an ineffective pawn.

Seeing Evan leave, she promptly followed.

Once the guests were gone, Quentin’s smile disappeared.

"What’s going on? At the ranch, you were getting along well; you didn’t win him over?"

Yvonne leaned against the railing, lighting a cigarette.

"Dad, you’re too impatient. Evan is a restrained man; winning him requires enough patience. Once I successfully bind him, even Cortexa Group could change its family name to Quinn."

Quentin stated, "This time he needed something from me, which gave us a chance to connect with him. You must seize this opportunity to make him divorce his wife."

Yvonne was tired of the argument and turned to leave.

Quentin displeased, asked, "Going somewhere again?"

Yvonne, "Bar, friends are waiting."

Quentin, "If you want to marry him, you’d better behave. Men like Evan won’t want their women frequenting such places."

Walking out, Yvonne retorted, "Once we’re married, I’ll be chaste for him."

The manor parking lot.

A Hongqi L5 was slowly driving out, only to be stopped at the gate.

Evan approached, lightly knocking on the rear window.

The window rolled down slowly, revealing Elias’s face.

Jared was driving, with Juliana in the passenger seat.

"Mr. Langley seems in good spirits today, personally escorting my wife home, but since I’m here, there’s no need to trouble you and your nephew any longer."

Elias offered a faint smile, "I’m not escorting your wife; there’s no need for such courtesy."

Evan’s smile vanished, "Shall we step aside for a word?"