CHAPTER 38: CHAPTER 38: NO LOVE LEFT, WHY TALK ABOUT LIVING ON LOVE ALONE?

Chase Miller opened his mouth but ultimately lowered his eyes and bowed his head slightly to her.

"The patient is still waiting for me, let’s talk another time when there’s a chance."

The lack of answers was within Juliana Jacobs’ expectations.

She didn’t expect him to tell the truth in just one or two encounters.

...

When Evan Grant hurried back to Platinum Bay, Mrs. Young happened to be coming out of the master bedroom.

Her hands carried the scent of medicated ointment.

Evan was about to speak when the master bedroom door clicked shut, not only locked but also bolted.

Mrs. Young pretended not to notice the chill on Evan’s face.

"President Grant, madam has injured her back and has already gone to bed. Don’t disturb her tonight."

"Is her back injury severe?"

"Not too severe, she took a fall and even her knees are bruised."

Mrs. Young’s words were contradictory and still unsatisfied, she added, "Fortunately, there’s the ointment from the doctor. In a couple of days, she’ll be fine."

Evan frowned, "Which doctor provided it?"

Mrs. Young thought for a moment on purpose, "A doctor named Zhang. Madam said this doctor is very nice, just like Dr. Shaw."

Evan’s expression grew even darker.

Mrs. Young didn’t care about any of it.

After taking a few steps, she turned back and said, "President Grant, when you have time, you should take madam up the mountain to offer prayers. Lately, she’s been getting injured whenever she goes out alone, and even when she’s with you, it happens. Maybe only the heavens can keep her safe now."

Mrs. Young seemed to be giving advice, but in reality, she was stabbing Evan in the heart.

To feel like nothing more than a prop, even a man like Evan Grant would be despised.

Juliana might seem calm, but the silent protest is the most dangerous sign of divorce.

A thin mist formed in Evan’s eyes.

The next day, Juliana woke up late.

When she went downstairs after getting ready, Mrs. Young happily informed her, "Madam, Miss Grant has moved out. Early this morning, President Grant asked her to pack up and took her away."

Mrs. Young was unaware of what had happened at the hospital last night.

Lily Windsor had already entrusted Stella to Evan, and having her move today was just to avoid doing something to her, and just relocating his canary somewhere else.

No sign of joy appeared on Juliana’s face.

"In the future, don’t tell me anything about them. I’m going to the office."

Seeing Juliana about to leave, Mrs. Young quickly handed her a small box.

"President Grant said he found the pendant you’ve asked him to look for over the past four years."

Juliana opened the box to find a small stone shaped like a twisted raindrop.

It was shortly after their marriage when Evan still took the time to accompany her on walks by the river where Juliana had found a piece of stone resembling half a heart.

She said she’d look again to see if a pair could be found, to make matching pendants for them both.

But that day, they searched until nightfall found nothing.

Four years later, just when she was about to forget there was such a thing in her dresser drawer, he found it.

"Madam, President Grant is putting in thought to apologize to you; in his heart, you’re still irreplaceable," Mrs. Young said with satisfaction.

Juliana thought for a moment, then turned to go upstairs. When she came back down, she pried the stone out of the box, and without hesitation, tossed it along with the one in her hand into the trash can.

"Madam, such a meaningful thing, are you really going to give it up?" Mrs. Young was surprised.

Juliana dusted her hands, indifferent.

"You ask him for me: after sleeping with him for four years, am I only worth two worthless stones?"

Without love, who talks about romance sustaining life? Talking about money is more practical.

...

After arriving at the Aetherflame Dynamics laboratory, Juliana began analyzing the components of the battery remnants she had desperately protected last night.

By afternoon, her back couldn’t take it anymore, and she lay down on the sofa in Summer Shaw’s office.

Summer, noticing this, took out a bottle of medicinal wine.

"Lift your shirt."

Juliana paused for a moment, "How did you know my back was injured?"

Summer’s eyes glazed momentarily, "Aren’t you having a run of bad luck? There’s always a bruise here, a cut there. I’ve got a medicine box prepared for you here."

Juliana shifted her gaze from herself and sniffed the medicinal wine, pushing it away disdainfully.

"If I apply it, I’ll reek of it. I’d rather not."

"Then you deserve the pain."

Unhappy, Summer put the medicinal wine away.

"We gathered DNA at Hospital 547; did they upload the data?" Juliana asked.

Summer thought for a moment, "It must have been uploaded."

Juliana fell silent.

Summer understood, she was concerned about the lack of progress regarding her search for family.

"Just wait. It hasn’t even been a week. Maybe they haven’t seen it yet."

That’s right, all that could be done now was to wait.

Juliana remembered something important and forced herself to stand up from the sofa.

"I have something to do today, leaving early."

Summer craned her neck to ask, "Where are you going this time?"

She didn’t answer.

Summer said, "If your husband asks, shall I say you went on a date?"

"You may."

Juliana walked away without looking back.

Summer was surprised, "Sister, are you going for extramarital affairs too?"

...

Over an hour later at the community stray cat rescue center.

Juliana, dressed in casual clothes with a fisherman’s hat, squatted in the corner feeding a ginger cat that had just undergone an amputation surgery.

Chase Miller pushed open the door, and upon seeing her, looked surprised.

"Mrs. Grant..."

"Call me Miss Jacobs, I’d be happier."

Juliana didn’t lift her head.

"Does Dr. Miller rescue stray cats too? What a coincidence."

But it wasn’t really a coincidence; she had found out Chase often came here, so she came.

Chase wasn’t sure how to respond, just then the ginger cat started convulsing, and the bandages on its amputation site began to bleed profusely.

"Has the wound ruptured?"

Juliana wanted to check, Chase moved quickly, "The bandages might have been too tight, causing ischemic necrosis. Take it to the operating table, I’ll take care of it."

Juliana quickly picked up the cat, not minding the blood staining her clothes.

Chase skillfully redressed the ginger cat’s wounds.

As Juliana watched the cat’s breathing steady, her tense shoulders finally relaxed.

"Dr. Miller, you’re truly professional and kind-hearted; this cat is lucky to have you."

Chase turned red at her praise, looking down to tidy up the instruments.

"It’s just a small effort."

Not wanting to delve into that topic, he quickly pointed to her sleeve.

"You’ve got blood on your clothes."

Juliana glanced down and laughed, "Now that’s troublesome. What if someone mistakes me for coming from a crime scene on the way?"

Chase looked out the window, his tone subtly gentler, "There’s a mall nearby, why not buy a new one and change?"

He paused, then added, "I’ll go with you, just in case someone actually suspects, I’ll vouch for you."

They handed the ginger cat over to volunteers at the rescue center and left together.

At the mall, Juliana chose a white long dress to change into.

When she emerged, she saw Chase playing with kittens at the pet store window, his profile relaxed under the lights.

"Dr. Miller, do you like cats?" she approached and asked.

Chase withdrew his hand, a bit uneasy, "Uh-huh, they’re simpler than people."

Juliana nodded introspectively, "Indeed. At least cats don’t make you do things you don’t want to do."

Chase’s gaze landed on her, suddenly pausing.

The new white dress under the mall lights looked like moonlight sprinkled over pear petals, making her radiate a gentle glow.

Realizing he was drifting off into imagination, Chase blushed and was about to leave when Juliana pointed towards a restaurant outside the mall, "It’s about mealtime, how about we have a meal before leaving?"

Chase hesitated for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

While chatting about cats during the meal, Chase relaxed again and spoke with enthusiasm.

Juliana rested her cheek on her hand, smiling genuinely for the first time in days.

Evan stood outside the restaurant, his gaze locking icily onto them.