CHAPTER 16: CHAPTER 16: LEAVE IF YOU CAN

Stella’s words make sense.

Originally, there was already a rift between them, and not going inside to meet at the hospital entrance was not only impolite, but would also strain their relationship further in the future.

"Then I’ll go fish the car out of the sunken ocean."

Ethan found an excuse and dashed away.

Evan lifted his foot and walked outside the hospital.

Stella didn’t know what he wanted to do, so she quickly jogged to catch up.

After a while, the two of them arrived at a nearby porridge shop.

Stella understood, he wanted to buy breakfast for Juliana.

Evan packed porridge and snacks according to Juliana’s preference, and when he turned his head, he saw Stella looking longingly at the steamed dumplings she hadn’t seen in a while and swallowing her saliva, but she didn’t say anything.

His gaze fell on the bandage on her wrist, and ultimately he was moved by compassion.

"Brother, aren’t you going to eat?"

Stella looked at the breakfast on the table with joy, and even though she wanted to eat, she held back and didn’t start right away.

Evan looked at the time, "You should eat quickly, when your sister-in-law wakes up, she’ll be hungry."

Stella pushed her lotus seed porridge in front of him.

"You should eat some too, if you’re hungry, you won’t have the strength to cheer up your sister-in-law."

Evan didn’t respond to her, but his expression was calm as he sat down opposite her.

After finishing breakfast, the two returned to the ward.

Opening the door, they were stunned by what they saw.

The hospital bed was empty, and the patient gown that had been taken off was neatly folded at the end of the bed.

Realizing something, Evan picked up the phone to dial a number.

Halfway through dialing, he remembered he was still on her blacklist.

Evan breathed heavily, while Stella stood silently beside him.

At this moment, Mrs. Young called.

"President Grant, Madam came back earlier, but after taking some things, she left again. Is she allowed to be discharged yet?"

Evan pinched his brow, "What did she take?"

"Her bag and the bracelet the old lady gave her. She wouldn’t sell her jewelry and leave, would she?"

But Evan sighed in relief, "No, I know where she’s going."

Juliana has a weak spot; once her caretaker stops the medication, it could be fatal. So no matter how upset she is, she would swallow it down herself.

Evan was confident she would come back.

Once she returns, he would have plenty of time to make her happy again.

Mrs. Young felt relieved after he said that.

"I explained to Madam why there was no water in the basement. It was because the cleaner moved it while Mrs. Lu was here and didn’t put it back. You never intended to harm her, but Madam didn’t react after hearing this."

Evan hung up the phone, his lips pressed into a line.

"Should we go find sister-in-law?" Stella asked.

"I’ll send you back to the old house."

"Huh?"

Evan was always hard to fathom.

...

A few hours later, Juliana’s figure appeared at the gate of a suburban residence.

The afternoon sunlight was intense, and she couldn’t distinguish whether the heat emanating from her body was from a fever or the sun exposure.

Just as she walked to the door, a middle-aged woman inside happened to open it.

Their eyes met unexpectedly.

"Why are you here at this time?" the woman asked.

Besides being a bit swollen, Juliana showed no other abnormalities.

"Where’s Grandpa? I came to see him."

Rosalind Linton had been deceived by a man in her early years and bore a son, losing interest in love. She remained single all these years.

Although she had no experience in marital matters, seeing Juliana’s faint dark circles, she guessed that she probably suffered grievances at her in-laws’.

She stepped aside, allowing her in.

"He’s taking a nap. His spirit has been worsening, maybe..."

She choked up a bit.

"...he mustn’t be agitated, so talk to him about happy things."

Juliana lowered her eyes and entered the small courtyard, familiar with the path to her grandpa’s room.

The old man was asleep, his bedside filled with medicines.

Grandpa had heart disease and, due to his age, couldn’t undergo heart surgery, relying on medication each month.

When she was 13, she was pulled out of a river, waking up not knowing who she was, not remembering her parents or home. After a series of turns, she was sent to a children’s welfare home.

But after less than a month, she was adopted by an old man.

The old man, a wealthy merchant, claimed to be childless. But when she got to his house, she realized he had sons and daughters and adopted her to satisfy his peculiar hobby.

Juliana barely escaped with her life but, having nowhere to go, wandered around homeless.

After living near a garbage bin in a small alley for half a year, this family’s son, Aidan Linton, found her on his way home from school and brought her home.

At that time, Rosalind Linton reacted particularly emotionally.

"Aidan, aren’t you clear about our family’s situation? Picking up cats or dogs is too much, and now you’re bringing home a person, what are you trying to do?"

Aidan knew his mother was a materialistic person, but in his rebellious phase, he liked to oppose her.

"I’ll support her, it won’t be a burden to you."

Rosalind Linton was furious, "You’re only 13, still dependent on me, what can you support?"

At this point, Grandpa spoke up.

"It’s just one more mouth to feed, and since she’s here, it means she’s fated to be with us. Haven’t you often lamented that Aidan has no siblings to rely on? Now heaven has sent a child, and you refuse?"

Though harsh, Rosalind Linton grudgingly accepted Juliana after a rant.

The entire Linton Family treated Juliana well, especially Grandpa, who, at 60, took a job sweeping streets to support an additional child’s schooling.

The time at the Linton Family was the happiest in Juliana’s memory until four years ago when Aidan unexpectedly passed away, and Grandpa suffered from a severe heart condition.

It was during this emergency hospital visit that she encountered Old Mrs. Grant at the hospital entrance.

At that time, Grandpa would die without an expensive surgery, so Juliana had no choice.

Married to Evan for four years, every month, the living expenses for the Linton Family and Grandpa’s medication and treatment fees were punctually paid into Rosalind Linton’s account.

This was her condition for marrying Evan Grant.

And she did not disappoint the heavy responsibility Old Mrs. Grant placed on her.

Now the Grant Family has climbed to the top tier of the wealth pyramid, their entire business world intimidated by Evan Grant’s ruthless decisiveness, though no one knows it was precisely Juliana’s gentle words and meticulous sculpting over four years that crafted this leader’s profile.

She owes nothing to the Grant Family, but how to carry on the burden of the Linton Family without their financial support, she hasn’t figured out.

But divorce? It must happen.

Juliana was just thinking when Grandpa, as if sensing something, woke up.

Seeing her sitting by the bed, the old man’s cloudy eyes became bright.

"Why didn’t you wake me?"

He wanted to get up, and Juliana quickly helped.

"You need to rest well for your health; it’s a blessing to be able to sleep."

Grandpa leaned against the pillow, seeing her putting on a brave face.

Though he hadn’t lived a wealthy life, he had clear insights about human relationships.

An unequal marriage meant that Juliana had no voice in the Grant Family.

Even if she suffered grievances, her husband would consider the family’s interests rather than give her true justice.

Though Juliana was a granddaughter found halfway, she and Aidan were like the back of his hand, both dearly beloved.

"Girl, stop troubling yourself for me. This old life of mine isn’t worth you losing your wings, bowed under the Grant Family. Divorce if you can."

"Dad, how can you ask her to divorce?"

Rosalind Linton walked in, agitated.

"If she can’t get money from the Grants, you won’t get the special imported medicine and will die."