CHAPTER 52: CHAPTER 52: A GRAND GIFT FOR THE FOURTH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

The next evening.

Evan Grant personally drove to pick her up.

Seeing her wearing the dress he had personally prepared and the wedding ring, Evan curved his lips in satisfaction.

No matter how fierce their fights, she still gave him face on formal occasions.

"Evan, just live well with your wife and don’t interfere with things you shouldn’t," the old lady said.

Evan Grant smiled slightly, "Don’t worry, Grandma, Juliana is the most sensible, I’ll handle it well."

Juliana Jacobs sneered silently.

Halfway through the drive.

Evan Grant’s phone rang again.

It was a special ringtone.

He didn’t use the car phone but pulled over to call Stella back.

Whatever the other party said on the phone, Evan’s expression grew serious as he glanced at Juliana.

"I have to be delayed for a while, can you get a taxi there first? Ethan Carter will be at the event to help you receive the guests."

How could he have the nerve to say such a thing?

Juliana got out of the car, slamming the door shut with a "bang."

Evan frowned, knowing she was angry but could only deal with that side first and then come back to appease her.

Despite it being rush hour, Juliana still managed to get a taxi.

"To The Apex Hotel," Juliana said.

The masked driver nodded and locked the central controls with a "click."

At first, Juliana thought it was a normal procedure and didn’t care.

But when her eyes moved from her phone to the window, she realized something was wrong.

The car was speeding down a suburban road.

"Who are you? Where are you taking me?"

Juliana took out her phone to call the police but found the signal intermittent.

The driver ignored her and instead accelerated.

"Stop the car!"

In panic, Juliana pulled at the car door. The driver violently swerved the steering wheel, causing her to fall in the back seat.

When she regained her balance, the car braked hard on an overgrown patch of land.

The driver roughly pulled her out of the car and quickly got back into the driver’s seat, speeding away.

Juliana sat on the ground, completely bewildered.

Where is this?

Why did he throw her here?

Before she could figure out her situation, behind her, the grass rustled.

Juliana turned her head to see several wild dogs with red eyes, drooling and approaching her slowly.

Her heart pounded violently.

In the desolate wilderness, with no one around, a brick on the ground became her only weapon.

"You... you stay away..."

Despite having faced countless dangers, she was still trembling with fear at this moment.

A single brick was far from enough to save her.

Juliana kept backing away, her dress getting worn and torn on the rough ground.

The wild dogs, sensing an easy prey, barked ferociously and lunged at her.

"Help!"

Just when Juliana thought they would tear her apart, an off-road vehicle burst through tall grass, the piercing horn scaring the animals into scattering.

Juliana breathed heavily, grateful for her narrow escape.

The off-road vehicle halted, and two men got out, one on each side of the car.

In the dim twilight, it wasn’t until one of the men approached that Juliana recognized him in shock.

"Can you walk?"

The man squatted beside her, the wind carrying his scent of sandalwood and pine to her nose.

Juliana was dazed for a moment, "I... I can."

Yet the man laughed at the sound of her trembling, cat-like voice.

The secretary, holding a baton for defense, urged, "Mr. Langley, these beasts could return at any time, we need to get back to the car as soon as possible."

The man asked no more, half-kneeling to lift her up.

The car sped back to the city.

After drinking half a bottle of water, Juliana finally calmed down.

The secretary glanced in the rearview mirror and asked, "This place hasn’t seen anyone in fifty years, and the stray dogs here have the ferocity of wolves. If Mr. Langley hadn’t noticed something unusual here... who brought you to this place?"

Juliana’s just-relaxed hand clenched into a fist.

Who didn’t want her to attend tonight’s fourth wedding anniversary party?

Countless tiny sparks of cold light detonated deep in her pupils.

"Could you please take me to a clothing store near The Apex Hotel, I need to buy a new dress."

The secretary looked at the man in the passenger seat.

The man said nothing, just nodded.

The grand ballroom at The Apex Hotel was lavishly decorated.

Evan Grant checked the time for the fourth time, his slightly furrowed brow not relaxing.

"Don’t worry, brother, sister-in-law is very sensible, maybe something just delayed her."

Stella was wearing a strapless little black dress, accompanying him to greet the guests.

If it weren’t for the main screen in the center displaying the welcoming photos of Evan and his wife on a loop, the guests might have thought she was the leading lady today.

"President Grant," Ethan Carter hurried over, "Madam didn’t return to Platinum Bay, tonight looks uncertain."

Just as he finished speaking, Juliana walked into the hall in high heels, drawing many eyes.

Stella was momentarily speechless.

Seeing that she had even changed her dress, Evan didn’t react in front of the guests but walked over, gently placing her hand in the crook of his arm.

The room erupted into enthusiastic applause.

Not far away, the man and his secretary entered the elevator.

"So she’s Evan Grant’s wife," the secretary remarked.

The man remained silent, and the secretary clicked his tongue, "Survived a danger only to rush back for a wedding anniversary banquet, she must truly love her husband."

The man grew impatient and lightly said, "Will gossip stop the village grapevine from spreading?"

Secretary: "..."

"Is this really the time to act out during such an important event?"

During the emcee’s speech, Evan lowered his voice to admonish the woman beside him.

Juliana opened her mouth but swallowed her explanation that was about to spill out.

"Yes, being late means I shouldn’t have come; walking down the red carpet with your dear sister must please you more."

"Juliana!"

Evan called her name through gritted teeth in anger.

The emcee then invited them on stage to exchange gifts.

"In a moment, Stella will apologize to you through her actions, you just need to cooperate, don’t act on your own," Evan whispered, then with a faint smile led her onto the stage in front of everyone.

Juliana raised her delicately made-up face, the smile on her lips like a faded candy wrapper.

Four years of emotions finally coming to an end.

"Next, we invite Mrs. Grant to present a gift symbolizing eternal love," announced the emcee as the lights dimmed except on the stage.

The side door of the banquet hall slowly opened.

Stella gracefully pushed in a cart, carrying herself elegantly.

"She was just beside President Grant receiving guests, and now she’s presenting the necklace, who is this woman?"

"Isn’t she the Grant family’s adopted daughter?"

"Why does it feel like she’s the hostess?"

Guests whispered among themselves.

The cart stopped in front of Evan and Juliana.

Stella looked at Juliana with great poise.

"Sister-in-law, to show sincerity, I’ve personally delivered the gift my brother prepared for you. I wish you and my brother a lifetime of love and happiness."

Juliana’s smile grew deeper.

Instead of losing composure as Stella expected, she responded gently, "Thank your whole family, your ancestors must be proud to have such a considerate descendant like you."

Stella’s smile stiffened on her face.

Evan shot Juliana a warning look and picked up the diamond necklace from the jewelry box.

Stella quickly added, "Yes, now please have my brother place the symbol of unity, the diamond necklace, on my sister-in-law."

Juliana understood perfectly well why Stella was so eager for her to wear this necklace.

Just to let her know that the things she, Juliana, wore, were always leftovers Stella had.

Just as the necklace was about to go over her head and fall onto her neck, Juliana suddenly stepped to the side.

"Why not take a look at the gift I’ve prepared for you all first?"

Evan’s hands holding the necklace froze mid-air.

Meanwhile, the main screen of the banquet hall suddenly changed.

A high-definition photo of Stella and Evan gazing affectionately into each other’s eyes appeared in everyone’s view.