CHAPTER 203: CHAPTER 203: HOPING HE CAN TRULY MARRY A SINCLAIR DAUGHTER

Florence Sinclair couldn’t control her shudder and stared intently at Juliana without speaking.

Seeing her like this, Juliana’s eyes held derision, and her voice was icy.

"Your adoptive parents’ daughter is now missing and possibly dead, and you’re so eager to call her a ’dead sister’? Your eagerness to see her never find peace in death certainly writes ’wicked and malicious’ all over your face."

Because of her words, Florence dropped her gaze.

When she looked up again, a thin layer of moisture shimmered in her eyes.

"Even when my parents wanted to give up searching for my sister, it was always me who knelt to beg them not to lose hope; it was me who believed my sister was still alive... until recent years when there was just no news, and I couldn’t stop them. Only then did they set up a memorial tablet, believing she was dead."

As she spoke to this point, she seemed to choke a little, causing a long pause.

"And now, because of a ’slip of the tongue,’ you say I’m vicious. I know I’m just an adopted daughter, not someone who can enter the mainstream, but all these years I’ve worked hard to be a daughter my parents would be proud of, striving for the best in everything, not daring to slack off even a bit. I’m not the kind of person you think I am."

Florence Sinclair held back, her eyes reddened, but didn’t let the tears fall.

Juliana was puzzled by her sudden emotional outburst, when Elias Langley’s voice came from behind.

"Have you finished talking?"

Juliana suddenly understood, turning to look at him meaningfully: "We probably finished a long time ago, but now... since you’re here, I have to add some drama."

Florence pretended not to understand, took off her glasses to wipe her tears, and forced a smile at Elias Langley.

"Grandfather asked me to apologize for Isabelle’s matter. Earlier... Miss Jacobs misunderstood me. I hope my brother-in-law can say a few good words for me. I’m not like Isabelle, not one to lose myself in love, I already have a boyfriend."

The implication being that it was as if Juliana warned her not to try to steal her man.

Juliana really admired her adaptability.

First, she was tearful, then she turned the tables, implying that Juliana was bullying her; then she quickly shifted gears, saying a few seemingly earnest but actually trap-laden words to Elias Langley, trying to coax the truth out. Her scheming was indeed remarkably sinister.

"Miss Sinclair’s words make no sense," Juliana said coldly and indifferently. "You having a boyfriend has nothing to do with apologizing for Isabelle Sinclair. You’re trying to force two unrelated things together—are you a noodle-pulling master from the street?"

Florence opened her mouth but was at a loss for words.

Elias Langley had a faint smile on his lips, "Okay, enough with your sharp words. Florence isn’t eloquent enough to outtalk you."

Juliana raised an eyebrow: "If you can’t outtalk someone, take the detour, I’m not here to indulge anyone."

Elias Langley turned to Florence, "Let’s move on from Isabelle’s issue. Avoid what’s troublesome; let’s go."

The two left together, and Juliana turned away, not looking at them.

"Brother-in-law, did I do something wrong to make Miss Jacobs unhappy?" Florence asked.

Elias pretended to think, then nodded.

"If you could clarify your words like a noodle master, maybe these misunderstandings wouldn’t happen."

Florence lowered her head, seemingly reflecting.

Elias Langley smiled, "Just convey the necessary words, don’t burden yourself."

Florence seemed to accept his encouragement and smiled brightly, "Maybe because she resembles my sister a bit, I subconsciously thought she’d have mom’s gentle temperament too... I was being naive."

Elias Langley’s smile deepened, "How many people have we found over the years who look similar? Was any of them real? Even you resemble the photos a bit, yet your personality is just as different from your mother’s. You indeed were being naive."

Florence bit her lip, "Oh, you’re saying my personality is not good either?"

Elias thought for a moment, "Women’s personalities are either likable or not. Which do you think you are?"

Florence laughed at his words, "You’re really good at comforting people."

Elias Langley chuckled.

The two headed towards the dining room where Jared Langley noticed that Juliana hadn’t followed and asked, "Uncle, where’s Juliana?"

Elias Langley responded nonchalantly, "I’m responsible for inviting guests to eat; is she a guest?"

Florence watched his every move, smiling slightly.

"I’ll go get her."

Jared said as he walked out.

Leona Sheridan sniffed disdainfully, "Needing an invitation just to eat—who does she think she is, a deity?"

Victor Langley and Elias Langley both glanced at her but said nothing.

Leona Sheridan warmly invited Florence, "Come sit by Auntie."

Juliana sat lost in thought on a cool chair, not even noticing Jared approaching.

"What are you thinking about?" he placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Thinking about Summer," Juliana said.

Jared consoled, "Things are what they are now. Being sad won’t help. The Shaw Family is looking for a suitable heart, and they’re also contacting the lab..."

His consolation was irrelevant, and Juliana couldn’t help but interrupt, "The lab’s head is the Second Miss Sinclair. How likely do you think it is that she would agree to make an artificial heart for Summer?"

Jared considered her question seriously, "Do you want the truth?"

Juliana nodded.

Jared sat beside her, "Although the Sinclairs are impartial in Isabelle Sinclair’s affair and have shown great magnanimity, a grudge is still a grudge. This matter would be difficult to achieve."

This was exactly what Juliana feared.

She lowered her eyes, openly showing her disappointment.

"Ultimately, it’s my fault; I failed her."

Jared put an arm around her shoulders, "I forgot to tell you something. That lab belongs jointly to Florence Sinclair and her boyfriend; it’s not solely her decision to make. And it just so happens that her boyfriend is my good brother."

Juliana looked up at him.

Jared laughed lightly, "I didn’t say it sooner because I was waiting for you to bring it up. Turns out, it took this long for you to open up to me."

Juliana stood up, "So you were holding out on me too. I knew there wasn’t a good person around me."

"Juliana," Jared stood up and grabbed her hand, "it’s you who always kept your distance."

Juliana spoke earnestly, "My reluctance to be close to you has to do with your memories, something I can’t explain in this situation."

"So am I really that unattractive now, that you don’t fancy me at all?" Jared asked.

Juliana withdrew her hand, "I have high standards."

Jared raised an eyebrow, "And I consider myself a high-quality man."

Juliana chuckled and looked at the seat’s position, "If only there were a swing here."

Jared smiled softly, "Let’s go, let’s eat."

The two returned to the dining room laughing, but no one inside seemed pleased.

The most displeased was, of course, Leona Sheridan.

"The guest is here, but the host is nowhere to be found. It’s truly unrefined."

Juliana said nothing, lowering her head, while Jared seated her beside him.

"Mom, can’t we just talk for a while?"

"They’re an engaged couple, practically family; you shouldn’t interfere with young people’s business."

Victor Langley’s tone was calm, but he was warning Leona Sheridan not to make the same mistakes as with Isabelle Sinclair.

Though dissatisfied, Leona closed her mouth.

"Juliana, try this crab. It’s from Briarclear Lake. I don’t know how it tastes this year, but if it’s good, we’ll have it for Mid-Autumn Festival."

Jared peeled a crab for Juliana and placed it in her bowl.

Juliana didn’t refuse and continued to eat silently.

Florence looked at Elias Langley, "Suddenly they seem so loving."

Elias Langley replied blandly, "Crab’s cold by nature. You’re prone to cold, don’t eat it."

Florence smiled, "Brother-in-law, you care about me more than my boyfriend does."

Victor Langley interjected appropriately, "Elias grew up with the Sinclairs and shares deep bonds with them. Although he is now honoring his three-year marriage contract with the eldest Miss’s memorial tablet, after it expires, I certainly hope he will genuinely marry a Sinclair daughter, unite the families, and not betray the bond between our families."

Juliana smiled slightly while eating the crab meat.