CHAPTER 117: CHAPTER 117: CLINGING TO HIS THIGH

Elias thought for a moment and frowned at his suggestion.

"Her immune system is weak, what if she catches something else?"

Quinn, "..."

Then, Elias fetched a disposable syringe, removed the needle, and slowly fed her the fever medicine by drawing it into the syringe.

Not wanting to watch, Quinn went to wait in the living room for further instructions.

After administering the fever medicine, Elias was about to let her go when he found that at some point she had grabbed onto the pocket of his trousers.

Probably due to her rising body temperature, Juliana mumbled "cold" and reached out to hug his leg.

A slight shiver ran down Elias’s spine.

The warmth of her arms penetrated through the thin fabric of his trousers, burning like a soft flame against his skin.

He instinctively tensed his legs as his throat bobbed slightly.

"Um..." He gently pushed her shoulder, his voice hoarse, "Could you let go of me?"

But the semi-conscious woman only clung tighter, burying her entire face against his leg.

Elias understood that people with rising fevers would feel cold and unconsciously seek warmth, yet the intensity with which she held his leg clearly indicated more than just needing warmth; it was like a drowning person clinging to driftwood.

He held his breath momentarily, eventually sighing, and softly placed his warm palm on her burning forehead.

"I’m here. As long as you want, you’re never alone."

...

Elias leaned against the headboard for a while and suddenly opened his eyes, frowning deeply.

He lowered his gaze to the woman by his leg; her fever hadn’t returned, yet her hand still held on tightly to his leg.

He tried to pry her fingers open, but as soon as he moved, Juliana clung even tighter.

With a trembling deep breath, Elias called, "Quinn."

Quinn hurriedly jogged in from the living room, standing respectfully at the bedroom door, "What is it, boss?"

"I need to use the bathroom, do you have any suggestions?" Elias’s voice was low and hoarse.

Quinn peeked in and saw the woman’s fair arms tightly wrapped around his boss’s leg, clad in black trousers, a scene that stirred quite the imagination...

The next moment, he was met with a warning glare, causing him to quickly regain his composure, looking serious.

"There’s no other way, you just have to use a bit of force."

Elias frowned, reluctantly accepting his suggestion.

Yet the moment he pried the woman’s hand away, she, as if suddenly losing her support, wildly and tightly grabbed onto his waistband.

Elias’s body stiffened as he looked towards Quinn, his gaze icy.

With no other option, Quinn closed his eyes briefly, biting the bullet as he suggested again, "Either I bring you a basin, or... you take off your pants."

Elias, "..."

He raised a hand to rub his temple, voice restrained and cold, "Get out."

"Alright!"

Not daring to linger another second, Quinn swiftly disappeared from the bedroom door.

...

In the early morning, Juliana’s fever subsided, yet she was trapped in a nightmare, even crying.

Elias, wearing a pair of gray trousers, was drinking coffee in the living room. Upon hearing the sound, he hastily set down his cup and went to the bedroom.

"What’s wrong?"

As soon as he spoke, he saw Juliana curled up in bed, tears streaming down her pale face, soaking a dark patch into the white pillow.

Elias felt a tug at his heart.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he sat at the edge of the bed and drew her into his arms.

Juliana’s tears seeped through the fabric of his shirt, scorching his heart.

"It’s alright, it’s alright."

With his gentle reassurance, Juliana calmed down but wrapped her arms around his waist.

Her nose pressed against his chest, inhaling his scent mixed with shower gel, she muttered words he couldn’t hear clearly.

It’s said that sleep talking can reveal secrets.

Elias chuckled softly, just about to tease her, when Juliana’s fingers, without visible guidance, deftly found the second button of his shirt and lightly hooked it.

The words of mockery stuck in Elias’s throat, shattered by a wave of emotion.

In his memory, the little girl who loved curling up in his arms to sleep would use her tiny fingers to hook onto his buttons as if seeking more security.

"Heng..."

Elias’s fingers instinctively moved to caress her face, but stopped mid-air.

Years of experience had taught him to crush emotions deep within his heart.

He’d had moments when hope kindled only to be extinguished.

Some imitators even mimicked her childhood, but those deliberate small actions ultimately gave them away.

With Juliana... he didn’t want to be impulsive.

Because the more hope you gather, the harder the fall when it shatters.

Thinking of this, Elias calmly tucked her in and whispered, "When you wake up tomorrow, don’t be sad anymore, okay?"

The only reply he got was her soft breathing.

Meanwhile, at Abyssal Reach.

Isaac slapped Angus hard, sending him sprawling to the ground, while Stella, startled, retreated to the door.

Pointing at Angus, Isaac snarled, "Has your brain been eaten by a dog? We just finally managed to settle the commotion, and now you’re trying to kill someone over a woman’s words? Are you trying to get us all exposed?"

Angus got back up, wiping the blood from his mouth, "Isaac, I’ve always succeeded in everything while working for you these years, except for dealing with that woman... I’m unwilling!"

"Your unwillingness means nothing! Don’t forget why we came back with fake identities this time. Screw up again, and I’ll cripple you myself!"

Isaac’s words made Angus hang his head.

At the door, Stella timidly added, "As long as Juliana is alive, she’ll always be a thorn in your side... You’ll never get what you want."

Her words sparked Isaac’s fury, and he charged at her to hit her.

Terrified, Stella immediately cowered, holding her head.

However, Isaac suddenly seemed to realize something and lowered his hand.

With his arms crossed, he glared at Stella.

"The person Evan now likes is Yvonne. If anyone needs guarding, it’s to make sure Yvonne doesn’t bear his child! Juliana is just a plaything now; Evan finds her disgusting to even touch, she’s worthless. What does it mean you’re egging my people to keep targeting her?"

Stella shrank back, her mind racing on how to respond.

Isaac suddenly pieced things together, erupting in anger, "It turns out you joined me to use me as a weapon, to clear your obstacles! Claiming that once you got Evan, the Grant family assets would all be mine, only for you to turn his gun on me next, right? Stella, you’re quite the schemer."

"No, it’s not like that..."

Isaac looked at her with contempt and viciousness in his eyes, "I’m not afraid of people smarter than me because if I can’t outsmart them, I’ll kill them. Angus, send her to your crocodile farm!"