CHAPTER 246: CHAPTER 246: ISABELLE SINCLAIR COMES KNOCKING HERSELF

The two of them simultaneously turned their attention to the scene.

They saw Mrs. Sinclair nodding to the person who had escorted her, then stepping out of the elevator with a graceful stride.

Underneath, she wore a dark green dress with excellent drape, over which she had a silk long coat in sandalwood color, her neck adorned only with a strand of lustrous South Sea Pearls matching the two simple pearl earrings on her earlobes.

She looked serene and dignified.

Juliana’s sense of time froze at that moment.

That was her mother, fourteen years had deepened her natural elegance, making it more solid and... unfamiliar.

She recalled the last night before leaving home, when the rain drizzled outside.

Juliana was squatting on the hallway carpet playing with puzzles, the study door not fully closed, letting light spill out along with her father’s and Elias Langley’s grave conversation.

Elias Langley was reporting on the itinerary, repeatedly emphasizing safety measures.

It seemed this was his first mission with her father, and he was quite nervous.

Her mother came carrying a cup of herbal tea, gently patting her head as she walked past, then entered the study.

"Since it’s a mock tourist trip, take Juliana along. With her there, it looks more genuine, and it’s safer for you. I trust Elias, you both will return safely."

Juliana didn’t remember what was said after that.

Before leaving the next day, her mother bent down with a smile, reminding her, "You must behave on the road, don’t bother your father, help me protect him, okay?"

At that time, although Juliana was already 12, she didn’t know much about her father’s situation.

She nodded in confusion, joyously following her father out the door.

Unexpectedly, a few days later, she became a shield for her father, ultimately abandoned in the icy river water.

"Juliana? Juliana!"

Raine Kane gently shook her arm, pulling her back from cold memories.

"What were you thinking about so intently? I called you several times without any response."

Juliana lowered her eyes to hide their redness, replying, "What did you say?"

Raine Kane nodded toward the departing white Alfa.

"I said, you and she look somewhat alike in your bone structure."

Juliana lifted an eyebrow slightly, her tone as faint as a wisp of smoke.

"There’s no need to doubt my background. If I were, Elias Langley would’ve found me long ago."

Raine Kane blinked: Is this why Mr. Langley forbids anyone from acquiring Juliana’s biological materials?

"Drive," Juliana instructed.

"Oh."

Raine Kane started the car.

Vivacore Bio General Manager’s Office.

Florence Sinclair pushed open the door.

The first thing she did was turn on the office ventilation system.

She couldn’t stand the scent of another woman in Auden Hughes’s office.

Auden Hughes kept his eyes on the computer screen, ignoring her actions.

"What were you talking about with Juliana for so long?"

"Personal matters," Auden Hughes said, still not looking up from the screen.

Florence stood in front of the desk, her tone questioning, "Didn’t you say you were going to interrogate her? How did it become flirting instead?"

Auden Hughes remained silent, his fingers still typing rapidly on the keyboard.

Not getting a response, Florence’s anger soared, she hurried to the desk and yanked out the computer’s power cord.

Auden Hughes finally looked up at her, his brows slightly furrowed.

"I have nothing to say about fabricated matters."

"I’m warning you, she’s a promiscuous woman! If you’re with me, you must stay clean!"

Auden Hughes met her gaze, speaking calmly, "Could you act like this in front of your parents?"

"Auden Hughes!"

Ignoring her fury, he got up, reconnected the power, and in a low clear voice said, "Sometimes, I wish your parents could see the real you. If I don’t comply with Juliana’s request, tomorrow your parents will see it."

"What... what did you say?" Florence said incredulously.

Auden Hughes picked up the voice recorder on the table, tossing it in front of her.

"Listen well. I don’t care what grudge you have with him, but your personal matters shouldn’t affect the company. Vivacore is our reputation, even though we’re a couple, I can’t allow you to tarnish it. Be careful next time with Juliana."

The recording had barely begun when Florence smashed the recorder.

"Juliana, how dare you set me up! Auden Hughes, you will not approve his friend’s application!"

Auden Hughes, unfazed, leaned back into his chair.

"Fine, as long as you retrieve the recording from her phone, I’ll reject it instantly."

Florence gritted her teeth.

She had to maintain her image, so she couldn’t personally ask Juliana for the recording.

But Isabelle Sinclair could...

Thinking of this, she felt calmer.

"My mother came by, she wants us to find a time to go home for dinner."

Without thinking, Auden Hughes replied, "Not today, I have a dinner tonight."

...

Back at the hotel, Juliana and Raine Kane were living as if on vacation.

"Juliana, aside from waiting for the results, what’s our plan in Kingsford?"

Raine Kane, holding a fruit plate, lounged in the chaise longue bored, popping an apple slice into her mouth.

"I can’t seem to sit still, something feels off with me."

Standing by the window, Juliana looked out at the lined skyscrapers, her tone calm, "No plan."

"Huh?"

Raine Kane quickly popped a lychee into her mouth.

Juliana turned to look at her, her lips curling into a smile, "Why rush? We won’t be idle for long; someone will soon come looking for trouble. I’m waiting for them... to drag me into the game."

In the afternoon, Juliana took a shower, changed into pajamas, and prepared for a nap.

At that moment, the room door was opened with the hotel’s master key.

Raine Kane raised an eyebrow towards the door, musing: Here comes the action?

The door opened, and Isabelle Sinclair entered unceremoniously with the hotel’s director of room service and a few bodyguards.

"How do you even have the nerve to come to Kingsford, you bitch?"

Isabelle got angry just looking at Juliana’s face.

Juliana didn’t even bother to lift her eyelids, slowly tidying her sleeves.

"If Kingsford is a refuge for people like you, then yes, I’ve come rather unexpectedly."

Isabelle almost boiled with rage.

"Mr. Wyatt, how can someone like her stay at your hotel? Get them out immediately!"

Not daring to offend the Sinclair family, Mr. Wyatt had no choice but to step forward, "Miss Jacobs, an extremely important guest has specifically requested this suite. Please assist us by moving to another five-star hotel."

Juliana glanced at him nonchalantly, "Can you just throw out a guest who’s legally extended their stay for the sake of an ’important guest’? Is your hotel a stellar establishment or merely a symbol of currying favor?"

The director of room service was at a loss for words.

"What’s the point of talking to her!"

Isabelle shoved him aside, ordering the bodyguards, "Throw these two out along with their belongings."

"Especially..." She pointed at Raine Kane, "this woman who can fight well, beat her to a pulp."

Raine Kane instantly brimmed with excitement.

The bodyguards moved at the command.

Two of them clearly aimed for the bedroom, intending to search through chaos for Juliana’s phone to erase Florence’s recording.

Yet before they reached the bedroom door, two loud thuds were heard.