CHAPTER 185: CHAPTER 185: ELIAS LANGLEY TURNS OFF THE LIGHT

"Please stop talking!!"

Jared Langley’s face was pale, his breathing rapid, as if he were struggling not to fall ill.

"You go first, I’ll give you an explanation for this matter."

Victor Langley said nothing, but it was clear that he had agreed with his son’s decision.

Juliana Jacobs turned to leave.

As she passed by Leona Sheridan, she stopped, and with a mocking expression that only they could see and a voice only Leona could hear, she whispered:

"Signing the agreement doesn’t mean you bought me. Don’t mistake my cooperation for weakness. If you make me unhappy again, I guarantee you’ll regret ever provoking me in this lifetime."

With that, she let out a mocking laugh and continued to leave.

"Honey! She threatened me!"

However, Victor Langley’s voice was filled with icy disappointment.

"Look at the mess you’ve made! Using such underhanded means to ruin a woman’s reputation, you’ve brought shame to the Langley Family! You... make me feel like I don’t know you."

Leona Sheridan shook all over, stunned in disbelief.

However, Victor Langley didn’t want to say another word and left her, heading outside.

Leona Sheridan turned to Jared Langley, her voice trembling.

"Son, your father is actually despising me because of that woman."

Jared Langley’s brows were furrowed, his tone heavy, "Mom, over the years, you’ve used various means to drive away many women around Dad. Just because he hasn’t said anything doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. I’ve advised you countless times to stop, but you’ve never listened. Now you’ve even laid hands on my fiancée; have you ever considered my feelings?"

"How can you blame me too? I am your mother; everything I’ve done is for you."

Jared Langley appeared a bit weary, "Thank you for doing so much for me. But I want to walk my own path."

He then took off his coat, draped it over her, but also left her behind.

Juliana Jacobs walked out of the teahouse as a Hongqi sedan slowly pulled up in front of her.

She was slightly startled, opened the car door, and sat in.

"Why are you here?" she asked, a bit surprised.

On the way, she had only notified Jared Langley and... she didn’t have Victor Langley’s number, but had informed his office manager.

Elias Langley didn’t answer, pulling her into his arms and carefully checking if she was injured.

His fingertips brushed her neck, tickling her a bit.

Juliana Jacobs pushed him away, "He didn’t touch me, it was your sister-in-law who almost got bullied by him."

Elias Langley paused, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment, his lips curling slightly, "You can protect yourself now; that’s good."

Juliana Jacobs raised an eyebrow, "Aren’t you going to say something for your sister-in-law? Your brother’s reputation, your nephew’s reputation, and the Langley men’s reputation?"

He held her tighter, his cheek pressed against hers, whispering, "Other people’s reputation has nothing to do with me. You’re more important than my own face."

Juliana Jacobs was amused by his words and laughed happily.

"You haven’t told me, how did you know I was here?"

Elias Langley’s hand remained on her waist, and he leaned back against the seat.

He looked at her and just replied with four words, "A telepathic connection."

Fine, don’t say it then.

Juliana Jacobs tried to get up from his lap, but he held her firmly.

She then realized that the car had already merged onto the highway.

"Where are we going?"

He pinched her chin, speaking with natural authority, "It’s dark, if we’re not going home, where else do you want to go?"

Juliana Jacobs was momentarily speechless.

She didn’t speak, so Elias Langley began playing with her hair.

His fingers wrapped around a lock of her hair, twisting it a couple of times before letting go, enjoying the process immensely.

She frowned, ’rescuing’ that lock of hair, and grabbed his wrist ’warningly’: "If you pull out a single strand of my hair, you’re dead."

Hearing this, Elias Langley laughed deeply.

The laughter resonated from deep within his chest, a rare indication of unguarded joy.

He rarely displayed such relaxed emotions in front of outsiders.

Quinn Shepherd, driving, glanced in the rearview mirror and let out a soft sigh.

He had privately suggested Elias to take the opportunity to collect a couple of strands of Miss Jacobs’ hair for testing.

Yet, Elias had neither acted on his suggestion nor rejected it.

Was Elias hesitating, weighing options, or... afraid?

That was something he couldn’t figure out.

The car stopped at the apartment building’s entrance.

Juliana Jacobs got off Elias Langley’s lap.

Curiously, this time the man was extremely well-behaved.

Ever since returning from Oakhaven, each meeting inevitably included a kiss, yet this time it stopped at a mere hug.

"I’ll head up first, see you later."

She said as she pushed the door open to get out.

However, surprisingly, the man behind her also stepped out of the car with his long legs.

Juliana Jacobs paused, confused, and looked at him, "Why are you following me?"

Elias Langley slid his hands into the pockets of his suit pants, calmly walking towards the building door. Passing her, he just uttered two words, "Upstairs."

Juliana Jacobs followed behind him into the elevator, watching him expertly press the button for her floor, her curiosity only growing.

The elevator ascended slowly, the atmosphere in the cramped space growing increasingly subtle.

She couldn’t help but study his defined profile, tentatively asking, "Didn’t you say it’s late and you wanted to go home early?"

Elias Langley glanced away from the floor numbers, a playful glint in his eyes, "Thinking about why I didn’t kiss you today?"

Juliana Jacobs’ face suddenly flushed red, avoiding his gaze.

The elevator doors opened, she hurried out, but Elias Langley followed closely at her side.

Juliana Jacobs stopped at her apartment door, ready to turn and ask him what he intended to do when she saw him approach the vacant apartment next door, enter a code, and open the door.

She was stunned.

"You..."

Elias Langley turned to her, his eyes filled with triumphant mirth, "We’ll be neighbors from now on, Miss Jacobs. Looking forward to your care."

Juliana Jacobs rushed over, pushed him aside, and stepped into the room first.

The lights were on; the entire room was clean and bright, the furniture all new, evidently well-arranged long ago.

So when he asked that day, "Why not buy this place," it wasn’t just a casual question.

"When did you..."

Juliana Jacobs turned around, not even finishing her question before Elias Langley took the opportunity to pin her against the wall by the door.

His kiss came as scheduled, even more intense and profound than any before.

Juliana Jacobs found it a little too much, and pushed him away.

But this time he didn’t let her go so easily; instead, he raised a hand and turned off the lights.

The belt buckle clicked open, and Juliana Jacobs’ eyes widened.

But the man didn’t give her a chance to hesitate, gripping the hand she wanted to hide...

Juliana Jacobs fled back to her apartment, shut the door behind her, and leaned against the cool door panel, breathing heavily.

No lights were on in the living room, and in the darkness, she could almost hear her own deafening heartbeat.

Her cheeks were burning, and the hand that had felt the hardness and intensity was even hotter.

Originally, her traditional values meant she needed a long time to accept a second man after leaving Evan Grant.

But Elias Langley, with a series of subtle tests, had gradually broken down her reserve.

And this breakthrough was only for him.

Her heart was in turmoil, disturbed by him.

Just then, the doorbell rang.