CHAPTER 176: CHAPTER 176: I HAVE A GIRLFRIEND, SO WHY SHOULD I ’DIY’?

Juliana was pushed against the door by a force, instantly enveloped by the fresh scent of pine.

"Elias..."

She wasn’t used to being restrained like this from behind and instinctively wanted to break free, but the man was pressed tightly against her, motionless.

Warm breath brushed against her ear as Elias’s fingers continued to entangle and play with her hair.

The questioning voice was low and seductive, "What, I’ve been gone for less than two days, and you’re tangled with my nephew one moment and entangled endlessly with your ex-husband the next? Are you doing this on purpose to provoke me?"

Juliana instinctively turned her head to speak to him, nearly kissing his lips.

Her breath caught, she moved her head a few inches away, and managed to pull out a polite smile: "Thank you for tonight."

Elias chuckled, "I gave you unlimited research funding and backed you up against Evan Grant, and all I get is a verbal thank you?"

Juliana smiled, pressing her lips together, "Don’t worry, I’ll make sure your investment sees great returns."

"How great a return?"

Elias suddenly tightened his grip on her waist.

Juliana felt the heat emanating from him, instinctively thinking he meant something more intimate, leaving her at a loss for words. She looked down, avoiding his gaze.

Seeing her timid look, Elias chuckled softly and released her.

Then, as if performing a magic trick, he pulled out a document and handed it to her.

"Take a look at this first. You can start thanking me here."

So that’s not what he wanted...

Juliana was suddenly ashamed of her mistaken assumption.

She calmed her emotions and took the document to look at it.

It was a personal medical examination report, with Elias Langley’s name boldly printed on the cover.

The heart that had just returned to its place leapt again.

Could something be wrong with his health?

An indescribable mix of worry and another emotion gripped her, prompting her to eagerly flip through the pages.

Most of Elias’s indicators were within normal range until she noticed that the value for letter "T" was significantly higher than the upper limit of the reference range.

"What’s this T..."

Remembering what the letter abbreviation stood for, Juliana’s cheeks uncontrollably flushed slightly.

Seeing her flushed face, Elias laughed low and deep, "The doctor said that this indicator being too high... is not good for physical or mental health, and suggested... regular, periodic relief."

Juliana slapped the medical report against his chest with a "smack", "Can’t you handle it yourself?"

A turbulent undercurrent swirled in Elias’s eyes as he slowly grasped her hand on his chest and drawled, "I have a girlfriend, why should I ’take care’ of it myself?"

Juliana was completely defeated by him.

Fortunately, at that moment, her phone rang.

It was Summer Shaw calling for her.

"The party’s over, where are you?"

"I’m... I’ll be right out." Juliana’s face was still a bit red.

"No need to come to the showroom, let’s meet directly at the parking lot."

With that, Summer hung up the phone.

Juliana put down her phone and touched her face, "You’re the worst, making me blush like this, how can I go out?"

Elias smiled lightly, "The blush looks nice, just walk out naturally."

Juliana found herself unable to respond to him, ignoring him, and opened the door to leave.

She thought he would avoid attention, but he unexpectedly followed her out.

The few remaining executives, upon seeing Elias, greeted him as if they had seen a celebrity.

And so, the Great Langley was escorted into the elevator.

Elias looked around and realized Juliana hadn’t entered. Seeing someone about to close the door, he immediately shouted, "Hold on!"

Then he looked at her standing at the door, "Aren’t you coming?"

Just those three words, yet delivered in a tone not as cold as usual, made the executives in the elevator suddenly fall silent.

Unable to withstand their scrutinizing gazes, Juliana stepped into the elevator.

As they descended, an awkward atmosphere spread through the cabin.

No one spoke.

Not until the elevator doors opened did Juliana quickly step out and head eagerly towards her car.

Summer was waiting for her in the car.

Yet, just as she arrived at her car, the red flag stopped behind her.

"Ride with me back." Elias said.

"I have my own car."

No sooner had Juliana spoken than she heard the central lock of her car engage.

"Well... she might also end up without a car."

Having said that, Summer hit the gas and drove off.

Elias immediately laughed out loud, "You’ve got a good friend there."

Juliana was left with no choice but to get into Elias’s car.

Once back home, as soon as Elias was through the door, he pulled her into a kiss.

The scene quickly shifted to the couch.

Juliana was pinned down, unable to move.

Elias’s kisses were intense and searing, irresistibly forceful, as if he was intent on devouring her whole.

Juliana felt weak all over, her rationality almost completely evaporated.

Just as his hand slipped under the hem of her shirt to caress her waist, Juliana snapped back to clarity, pushing him away, turning her head to prevent more kisses.

"What’s wrong?" Elias sensed her sudden resistance to him.

"Did you get what you needed done in Kingsford...?"

Elias’s eyes glimmered, clearly aware of what she truly wanted to ask.

He planted a kiss at the corner of her mouth, "Every step forward is progress at this point."

Juliana could tell he was facing significant difficulties.

"Until things are settled on your end, no one outside can know about us."

Elias squinted slightly, "So far, there’s nothing I haven’t accomplished. Don’t you have faith in me?"

Juliana averted her gaze, "A woman always needs a backup plan. And your nephew, he can’t be upset again."

Elias considered this for a few seconds, "Fine, I’ll do as you wish."

With that, he leaned in for another kiss.

This time, the kiss went deeper.

But just as they were about to progress to the next step, his phone rang.

Glancing at the number, he saw it was Isabelle Sinclair calling.

Reluctantly, he released her and stood up to take the call by the window.

Juliana felt the emptiness, bringing her back to cold reality.

In truth, she was still hesitating on whether to take things further with him.

"Brother-in-law, I’ve got a high fever." Isabelle’s weak voice came through the phone.

"No one’s at the Langley Family, and you’re calling me from afar, as if I can fly over to save you?"

Elias’s harsh words left Isabelle stung.

"You’re heartless; I’ll tell Grandpa that you don’t care about me."

"You’ve already said I’m heartless, do you think I care if you tell?"

A surge of resentment clenched Isabelle tightly.

He must be with that woman right now!

When the DNA report comes out, if it confirms she is indeed the biological daughter of his foster mother, she’ll secretly get rid of her!

Elias hung up the phone, frowning as he gazed out the window.

Isabelle was becoming more and more troublesome, and her gratitude seemed misplaced.

Seeing his distracted look, Juliana stood up and adjusted her clothes.

Evan Grant used to leave whenever Stella Windsor called.

She figured Elias couldn’t escape the "sister-in-law calling" rule either.

With a mocking smile, she headed to the bathroom, saying, "Make sure to close the door when you leave."

However, after she finished her shower, she smelled stir-fried rice coming from the kitchen.

Looking closely, Elias was busy in the kitchen, wearing her apron.

The sight of the man’s tall figure wrapped in a domestic aura easily sparked a woman’s desire to conquer.

Juliana’s heart fluttered for a moment, and she walked into the kitchen, embracing him from behind.

Elias chuckled, "What, you missed me already?"