CHAPTER 112: CHAPTER 112: A SLAP FOR YOU

Juliana’s patience wasn’t what it used to be; her lowered hand moved slightly.

"Is there anyone dirtier than the Eldest Miss Quinn in this world?"

"What are you saying!"

Yvonne stepped forward, intending to hit her.

Evan frowned and shouted, "Enough!"

Yvonne was taken aback, turned her gaze to him, and said aggrievedly, "She’s insulting me."

Evan’s tone was much calmer, "You both step out for a moment, I need to talk to her."

Yvonne was reluctant, but Stella softly said, "They’re a couple, we’re outsiders; let’s let them talk."

She then looked at Evan, "Brother, should I help you with your shirt?"

Evan nodded.

Her fingers brushed over his shirt buttons, as if skimming the contour of his chest, but paused appropriately half an inch above the fabric, as if behaving properly.

Juliana felt nothing, averting her gaze.

Stella led Yvonne away, leaving only Evan and Juliana in the study.

"Is Mrs. Grant happy to see me like this?" Evan asked with a half-smile.

"What you look like has nothing to do with me. When do we handle the divorce formalities?"

Evan stood up, walking towards her with some difficulty.

Juliana intended to dodge, but he grabbed her by the waist, his other hand, bandaged, pinching her chin.

"You can flirt with Jared Langley, but I can’t have someone take care of me?"

Her and Jared?

Such imagination.

But Juliana didn’t plan to explain.

Suppressing the physical discomfort he caused her, she raised an eyebrow, "Since President Grant has found someone better, let’s get divorced quickly."

Evan snorted, "That’s not for you to decide."

Juliana’s gaze sharpened, "You’ve found a new lover, why not divorce? Is it because Miss Quinn satisfies you so much that you can’t bear to sacrifice her as a shield for your sister?"

Evan’s grip tightened, his knuckles turning white.

Juliana gritted her teeth, refusing to utter a sound.

A moment later, Evan let go, smiling mockingly, "Don’t provoke me. When I’m in a good mood, I’ll naturally take you to the civil affairs office."

Juliana spat out three words through clenched teeth, "You’re despicable!"

Afterwards, Juliana grabbed her car keys and left the disgusting place without delay.

As soon as she left, Yvonne rushed into the study.

"What does that woman have that makes you so reluctant to let go?"

Sitting in his chair, even though Evan was exhausted with a sore back, he looked at her calmly, "Make use of everything, understand?"

Yvonne smiled, turning to face him, kneeling.

"I can give you more than she ever could."

Evan also smiled, "But I haven’t seen an ounce of sincerity from Miss Quinn."

Yvonne understood his implication, placing his hand on her chest, "You’ll soon see my softness and honesty."

She then guided his hand further down.

Just then, the sound of medicine bottles clashing came from the doorway.

Stella stood there, looking somewhat flustered.

Evan swiftly withdrew his hand, acting as if nothing was amiss, "Come in and change the dressing."

Yvonne glared unhappily at Stella...

...

Juliana returned to work at Aetherflame Dynamics a day later.

Summer anxiously inquired about her well-being, "Your phone was unreachable yesterday, where did you go?"

Juliana replied, "Not in a good mood, turned off my phone and slept at home."

Summer sighed, "Human history has always been a survival of the fittest era, truly leaving no way out for ordinary people."

Juliana picked up on what she meant, "Is there trouble with the cash flow again?"

"Not exactly," Summer handed her a peeled apple, "With the confirmation of the partner for our new energy heavy truck battery business, keeping Aetherflame running normally isn’t an issue. But for deeper research and development, we’ll need more money. To grow Aetherflame bigger, we might need to seek financing."

Juliana considered this, nodding, "I trust your business acumen more than mine. Do what’s best for the company."

"Then, about the heavy truck battery contract..." Summer leaned in closer, "Have you decided which company to sign with?"

Juliana hadn’t expected her to entrust such an important decision to her.

"What’s your suggestion..." she asked.

Summer pushed a document titled "Cryovault Titanium Group Company Profile" in front of her.

"Originally, the most suitable would be the heavy truck company under Cortexa Group, next to Titan Heavy Industries. But grudges die hard, so these two aren’t considered. This company expanded overseas in recent years and only recently returned their business domestically."

Juliana nodded, "As long as you see potential, go ahead and talk to them."

Summer checked the time, "You should meet someone outside first."

"Who?" Juliana asked, puzzled.

Summer gestured toward the lobby, "Your Aidan, he came by yesterday afternoon but couldn’t wait for you, so he’s back today. You might want to give the Langley family a chance?"

Juliana quickly made her way to the reception.

Adrian Langley was seated in the reception area, flipping through a document.

The overhead light cast a glow over him: sharp features, neat short hair, and precise, focused eyes.

For a moment, Juliana was transported back in time—he was no longer Aidan Linton but a scion of the Langley family.

She regained her composure and sat on the single sofa opposite him.

Adrian stood up nervously upon seeing her, eyes scanning her intently, "I called you, only to find out you’ve blocked me. Are you hurt? Did he... force you?"

Juliana didn’t give a direct answer; instead, she lowered her voice and questioned him back, "Aren’t you afraid the Langleys will discover you never lost your memory?"

Adrian slumped back into the sofa, "If not to save my grandfather, you wouldn’t have married Evan Grant. Your marriage makes me feel guilty."

"Aidan Linton is dead," Juliana said with emotionless calm as if discussing the weather, "Adrian Langley need not feel guilty."

Adrian leaned forward, agitated, "Evan Grant is stalling on the divorce on purpose, putting you in a tough spot. Juliana, don’t waste your time with him, let me..."

He stopped mid-sentence, noticing Juliana’s gaze harden as she focused on something.

Adrian followed her line of sight and his pupils constricted.

Stella stood there, smiling at Juliana, "Am I interrupting my sister-in-law’s date?"

"I have my plans for the divorce, you should leave now."

Juliana left him behind and walked over.

Stella continued with a smile, "You’ve got skills, holding both Langley brothers in the palm of your hand."

The next second, slap!

A slap landed on Stella’s face.

"Why did you hit me?" she asked in astonishment.

Juliana replied coldly, "Remember, this was a friendly slap. Come to Aetherflame again, and I’ll have security feed you a mop from the bathroom."

Stella clutched her face, tugging at the corner of her lips, suppressing her anger, "The only reason I’m here is that my brother told me to teach you how to change the dressing, otherwise, I wouldn’t bother."

Saying so, she tossed the medical kit at her.

"My brother hasn’t changed his dressing yet, he’s attending a private dinner hosted by Professor Quinn at the Rhine Garden Hotel tonight. He wants you to find him there."

A dinner party?

It sounds more like a trap.

A veil of inscrutable mist covered Juliana’s eyes.

...

In the evening, Juliana donned something simple and carried the medical kit, arriving punctually at the hotel entrance.

Stella had been waiting for some time.

Seeing her approach, Stella lifted her chin and said, "Tonight’s a special dinner for elites in the new energy R&D field. My brother said you wouldn’t get in without an invitation, so he had me come to fetch you."

Juliana noticed the mockery in her words and responded with a faint smile, "Miss Windsor, are you trying to move up but ended up as a doorman instead?"

Stella’s composed mask nearly cracked.

She gritted her teeth, "Don’t be smug. Tonight’s dinner, Yvonne Quinn invited your old classmates, remember those who always ’accidentally’ knocked over your tray in the cafeteria?"

Pasts swept through her mind briefly.

Juliana’s gaze instantly turned cold.

Seeing this, Stella smiled, "After you, sister-in-law."

On the third-floor glass corridor.

Quinn Shepherd was about to push open the private room door when out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a recognizable figure entering the lobby on the first floor.

He hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at the man beside him who was slowly adjusting his cufflinks, "Boss, you’re really not going to intervene?"