CHAPTER 172: CHAPTER 172: DO YOU CHOOSE HIM, OR ME?

Summer randomly gave the flowers she bought to a patient.

As she pulled Juliana by the hand to leave, she laughed, "Are you really going to juggle both uncle and nephew of the Langley Family?"

At this point, Juliana no longer had to pretend, her gaze somewhat helpless.

"Jared has saved me twice, I definitely have to repay this debt. Now I just need to cooperate with his treatment to help him get better. If I don’t, my conscience will never be at peace."

Once it’s done, I will have no regrets, and we’ll be even.

Summer nodded in understanding, "But his mother isn’t easy to deal with; be careful."

As they chatted, they had already reached the elevator.

Summer hesitated a bit, still asked, "Old Mrs. Grant is also hospitalized in this hospital, do you want to visit her?"

Juliana pressed her lips together, "No, I don’t owe the Grant Family anything."

Summer approved of her decision.

"I heard that the Cortexa Group is about to file for bankruptcy. Evan’s methods are impressive, managing to pull out perfectly before Isaac struck. Now, all the bad debts and losses are pinned on Isaac and his father. One is gone, the other is imprisoned. Those senior executives and shareholders who betrayed Evan are regretting it immensely now!"

As Summer spoke, she nudged Juliana’s arm, "Do you think he can adapt to a life of ordinary people now that he has nothing?"

Juliana lowered her eyes, not responding to her.

Summer dropped Juliana off at her place and rushed off to a social event.

Having been away for three days, the food in the fridge was no longer edible.

Juliana was just picking up her phone to order takeout when the doorbell suddenly rang.

She frowned slightly.

Among the people she knew, only three could be directly let in by security.

Summer had just left, and it couldn’t be her.

Juliana took a deep breath and walked to the door to open it.

Evan stood at the door, his shabby suit full of wrinkles, a blue stubble on his chin, his gaze maintaining a pride that was already shattered.

It felt like an eternity had passed in just three days.

Looking at him in this state, the rumors of the Grant Family’s downfall seemed confirmed.

"Won’t you invite me to sit inside?" Evan asked.

Juliana stood by the door, showing no intention to let him in.

"I promised not to make our divorce public, and you agreed we wouldn’t contact each other anymore. You should honor your promise."

Evan wore a faint smile on his lips, "When we exchanged rings, I also promised to take care of you for a lifetime, shouldn’t I honor that promise too?"

Juliana smiled lightly, but there was no warmth in her eyes.

"When your dear sister sent me a ’surprise’ and your brother arranged ’special treatment’ for me, I didn’t see you keeping your promise. Talking about a lifetime now... I guess the Cortexa Group is really going bankrupt, because you even have time to dream."

Evan accepted her sarcasm, looking at her with still gentle eyes, "I’ve been worried about you ever since Angus abducted you."

Juliana looked away, "I can’t afford to receive your concern, it’s not necessary."

"Juliana, it’s all in the past," Evan lowered his stance.

"What’s in the past?" Juliana leaned against the door, "To you, the big picture comes first, the Grant Family second, responsibilities third, I never make the list. Next time another Stella, Isaac, or whatever comes along, I’ll have to gamble with a lifetime of luck. Can’t you just..."

Juliana hadn’t finished speaking when Evan immediately reached out to grab the back of her head, pulling her out of the door.

She staggered a step, barely had time to break free, when she heard a calm voice from the direction of the elevator.

"The Grant Family has fallen off the wealth list, yet the heir still has the leisure to pester his ex-wife?"

Both looked over simultaneously, only to see Elias Langley walking over leisurely, a faint smile on his lips, but his gaze was cold.

Juliana seized the moment Evan was distracted, stomped on his foot, forcing him to let go.

She stood three meters away from him, glaring at him displeased.

Evan, however, kept his composure, smiling lightly at Elias Langley, "Three days ago, my men failed to do a proper job, so I had to trouble Mr. Langley to step in. Now that we’ve met, I’d like to thank you in person."

Elias Langley heard that this was intended for Juliana’s ears.

He steadily walked up to Evan, his face showing no emotion, only responded faintly, "No need to be polite. I stepped in, not for you."

Evan tugged at the corners of his mouth, continued to speak calmly, "Since I hinted to Juliana that I had no choice, we haven’t discussed a word, but have tacitly feigned a breakup to confuse those with ulterior motives until their efforts were in vain. You can also take some credit for this, Mr. Langley."

Elias Langley surely heard that he was boasting about how in sync he and Juliana were.

He didn’t get angry, instead continued in a steady tone, speaking clearly, "Juliana is righteous, she only cooperated with you to complete this drama because she received favors from the Grant Family before. Don’t mistake her gratitude for you as leftover feelings. If you..."

He naturally took Juliana’s hand into his palm.

"...make us unsure of what to do with an obsessed person."

Evan finally found it hard to maintain his outward composure, his eyes locked tightly on their clasped hands, his chest slightly heaving.

Eventually, he snorted coldly, looking at Juliana, "Do you know him? Do you know how complex he is? You will never get a status being with him. Think carefully, do you choose him or me?"

Juliana, with almost no hesitation, leaned against Elias Langley’s arm, her voice gentle yet firm, "I said I never take choices like a test. Standing beside him today is a decision I’ve already considered carefully."

Evan seemed hit with a thousand shocks, his body swaying slightly.

"If choosing me made you feel it was a mistake, then choosing him is the greatest mistake!"

After speaking, Evan pulled a cold "you’ll regret it" smile, striding away.

In the empty doorway, only Juliana and Elias Langley were left.

Juliana raised her eyes to Elias Langley, before she even had a chance to ask why he suddenly came, he pulled her into his arms.

His warm kiss fell with gentle insistence, not allowing refusal.

Just when Juliana thought she might be kissed into hypoglycemia, Elias Langley restrained himself, let her go, and whispered, "I’ll take you somewhere."

"But I haven’t eaten yet, I’m starving."

Elias Langley gently tapped her forehead, "Deliberately leaving your stomach empty waiting for me to treat, but you can’t starve like this, you’re not being good to yourself."

After speaking, without letting her expend more energy, he picked her up and left.

After a while, they arrived at a private room in The Apex Hotel’s restaurant.

Isabelle was arranged in advance to wait for them in the private room.

Seeing the two enter, she quickly stood up.

Juliana was taken aback at the sight of her.

"You, why did you bring me to see her?"

She turned to leave but was pulled to a seat by Elias Langley.

"Sit properly."

He pressed her into a chair, sat next to her, and then looked at Isabelle, speaking lightly, "Start."

Isabelle reluctantly said, "I’m sorry, Miss Jacobs, I’m not Elias’s wife. At that time, I thought you were pursuing him, so I deliberately lied to you."

"This is Isabelle, my fiancee’s sister," Elias Langley briefly introduced.

Juliana suddenly understood, Elias Langley brought her here for Isabelle to apologize to her.

Isabelle bit her lip, her fingers digging into her nails, evidently she’d never suffered such humiliation in her life.

Elias Langley gently raised a brow, "Hope this incident teaches you a lesson, you can leave now."

Isabelle ran off resentfully.

Elias Langley turned his face to Juliana, the previous sternness had completely vanished.

"Is it clear now?"

Juliana looked down without speaking.

Elias Langley sighed, "Take me off the blacklist, I don’t want to be treated worse than Jared."

Juliana couldn’t help it, she burst out laughing.

Isabelle stormed back to her room, extremely furious.

That woman... looked so much like the picture and also captured her brother-in-law’s heart.

She rushed back to her room, slammed the door.

Took out her phone, found a number, and called.

"Help me investigate a woman, see if she provided a blood test sample at Hospital 547 over two months ago."