CHAPTER 157: CHAPTER 157: FIRST OFFICIAL DATE

Juliana instinctively looked at him, only to realize that he was dressed very formally today.

Meanwhile, she was dressed casually, perhaps even carrying a hint of The Shaw Corporation’s special Lucky Water scent.

She suddenly felt a bit embarrassed and casually picked up a cup of tea.

"Sorry, let me drink this first out of respect. I’ll go back and get ready before coming again."

She finished speaking and turned to leave.

Elias quickly called out to her, "Juliana!"

Juliana paused and turned back.

"Running around like this, aren’t you worried about low blood sugar?" he asked, speaking as usual.

She did feel a bit dizzy at the moment.

Elias said, "It’s just a meal, why are you so nervous?"

Juliana clutched her chest and took a deep breath.

It would have been better if he hadn’t dressed so formally.

Now she felt like a married woman on a blind date; how could she not be nervous?

Elias, appearing composed, was about to gesture for her to go to the dining table when his elbow bumped into the teapot.

The teapot clattered, and both of them reached out in a hurry to steady it.

Juliana was a fraction slow and ended up placing her hand on the back of Elias’s hand.

She wanted to withdraw as if she’d been shocked, but Elias flipped his hand over and held hers down.

Juliana’s heart skipped a beat; she didn’t dare to breathe or look up at him.

Sure enough, she still felt more at ease when she could punch and kick him.

Elias looked at her profile so close and his voice naturally turned low and hoarse, "The tea you just drank... I already drank from that cup."

Juliana was too shocked to respond, her ears quickly turning a faint red.

She instinctively wanted to pull her hand away from the teapot, but Elias held it firmly.

Juliana could clearly feel the warmth of his palm and an imperceptible caress.

Her heart was pounding like a drum, and she forgot the rhythm of her breathing, just staring at him dazedly.

"Drinking my tea, isn’t that an agreement?" Elias asked.

"A... A... Agreement to what?" Juliana squeezed out after a long moment.

"I’m not some young guy in my twenties, I don’t want to beat around the bush. I came to Kenton because of you. This meal isn’t just a dinner between friends, and you should know the purpose behind inviting you here."

Juliana swallowed and looked at him. His eyes held no mockery, just sincerity and a seriousness that left her with nowhere to hide.

Her nervous heart calmed a little.

"You’re very excellent, it’s easy for people to like you. But why me?"

Elias smiled at her question, "Isn’t it because you keep appearing in my life on your own?"

Juliana was stunned by his words.

"Even on your wedding anniversary, I had to personally take you there. Do you dare say all of this isn’t fate guiding me toward you?"

Juliana’s heart was in turmoil; she opened her mouth but didn’t know how to refute him.

Elias suddenly leaned forward, closing the distance between them, his breath enveloping her.

Juliana thought he was going to kiss her and her heart surged in confusion, debating whether to push him away or let it happen. Then she heard him speak with clear intent, "If you’re not hungry and don’t want to eat, let’s change venues and chat."

Juliana, "..."

Suddenly, she felt as if he’d played her.

Elias’s face wore a faint smile as he released her hand.

Juliana calmed down, realizing just how passive she had been.

Despite having experienced relationships before, how had she let him handle her so easily?

"Elias!" she called out to the man walking towards the dining table.

The man turned his head, his deep gaze warm and kind.

"You’re still wearing a wedding ring," she said.

Elias looked down at it and nodded.

"This isn’t a wedding ring in the conventional sense. I don’t have any unethical intentions toward you, but I will handle it."

Juliana didn’t understand what he meant.

Not a conventional wedding ring?

Could it be he’s in a non-traditional marriage?

A few minutes later, a server wearing a golden brocade robe brought the food.

Each dish was like a delicate work of art, every bite worth its weight in gold.

Elias nonchalantly categorized the lavish feast as a "high-end low-calorie meal," so she could eat more freely.

The final dessert was a "steamed sugar custard."

He even managed to explain it, "Natural sugars, fast metabolism, doesn’t affect blood sugar."

Juliana couldn’t help but smile, "Why doesn’t President Langley go raise pigs with your art of persuasion? With your skill, pigs would easily grow to five hundred pounds."

Elias smiled softly, "Your suggestion is taken. Though I’ve never raised pigs, I can start with you and gain some experience."

Juliana’s heart fluttered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure.

After taking a few bites of the "steamed sugar custard," she gently pushed the white porcelain bowl away.

"Not to your taste?" Elias, observing her every subtle move, immediately asked.

Juliana wiped her mouth, "It tastes good, but I can make it better."

Elias lightly raised his lips, "I wonder if I could have the chance to taste the Director Jacobs-made version that surpasses ’The Azure Pavilion’?"

She understood the implication in his words.

But she fell silent.

Neither of them were single, and perhaps meeting tonight was overly impulsive, but the long-lost stirrings in her heart were tangible.

Elias was great, but who could predict the future?

At first, Evan also treated her well, if not for a single photo...

As the car arrived at the entrance of her apartment complex, Juliana returned to her senses.

"Thank you for dinner, and thank you for bringing me home. G... goodbye."

She unclasped her seatbelt and her fingertips had just touched the car door when he gently caught her wrist.

"Your hair..."

Elias leaned closer and removed a white fiber that had somehow gotten caught in her hair.

The proximity between them closed in an instant, his breath brushed her face, and Juliana’s mind was in chaos.

And Elias seemed to be guided by some invisible force, slowly and tentatively drawing closer.

Juliana’s heartbeat went off-kilter, and just as his lips were about to touch hers, she quickly turned her head.

Elias’s kiss fell on an empty spot.

"I’m sorry," she said, catching her breath from nerves, "I can’t accept it until the divorce is through."

How could Elias not understand her retreat, "I’ll give you time to consider, okay?"

Juliana nodded and hurriedly got out of the car.

It’s not her first time in love, yet in front of a man like Elias, she was as flustered as if she’d never loved.

How disappointing!

Juliana walked away, covering her face.

...

Meanwhile, at Dreamfall Manor.

Evan’s alternate residence.

Stella sat awkwardly in the living room. As soon as she saw him return, she got up quickly.

Yet she always lacked confidence, hesitant to speak.

Mrs. Young greeted him, "President Grant, dinner is ready."

Evan handed his coat to her and nodded, "Let’s start dinner."

After saying this, he gave Stella only a brief glance before turning towards the dining room.

"Brother..." Stella said excitedly, causing Evan to pause.

"That pair of shoes was taken by Isaac forcing me to sneak into Platinum Bay for. He said if I didn’t do it, he’d marry me off to the old man. I was desperate, so I did something bad for him."

"Isaac?" Evan’s gaze shifted slightly, "Since when did you become so close with him?"

Stella quickly explained, "No, he’s been trying to get close to me, threatening me."

"How did he threaten you?"

Stella’s face filled with hatred, "He wanted me to break up with Ryan, but brother, you need him, so I have to keep Ryan."

Evan laughed, "You’re certainly loyal to me."

Stella instantly began to cry, "But now the police are looking for me to take a fingerprint test. I don’t know what to do."

The fact is, the plan failed, and she is at significant risk of exposure; Isaac plans to send her to neighboring Valtara.

In that place, people who go are treated like livestock.

If it weren’t for George stopping him, she wouldn’t even have had the chance to flee.

If Ethan hadn’t brought her here today, she would have had nowhere to go.

Evan raised an eyebrow and asked, "Did you kill Chase?"