CHAPTER 60: CHAPTER 60: I NEVER KNEW JULIANA JACOBS COULD BE SO SHARP-TONGUED

She was determined to pierce Juliana’s heart with her words.

However, Juliana covered her nose with disdain.

"Do you smell something on you?"

Stella didn’t understand her, "I’ve just showered."

Juliana smiled faintly, "A rotten stench, your mom is very familiar with it."

Stella got angry, "My mom is your elder. Haven’t you been taught any manners?"

Juliana remained calm, "I’m about to divorce Evan, what does she count as? You’re just a product of a loose belt, who gave you the right to talk to me like this?"

Stella never knew Juliana could have such a sharp tongue.

"I’ve been with my brother for ten years now, I already belong to him. If anything, you’re the other woman. Such harsh words should be kept for yourself."

"Ten years and you still haven’t learned what ’legitimate’ means, looks like your mom only taught you shady ways."

As Juliana spoke, she grabbed a chair from the vanity and swung it at her.

Stella dodged, and the chair shattered the window.

The noise alarmed Evan.

When he came in, he saw Juliana pinning Stella on the table, slapping her twice.

"Brother..."

Stella cried upon seeing him.

Evan looked at Juliana expressionlessly, "Just one meal and you’re already full of energy?"

Juliana released Stella, glancing disdainfully at her own hand.

"Sending her here to provoke me, isn’t this exactly what you wanted to see?"

Evan gestured for Stella to leave.

Stella wiped her tears and walked out.

"Stop!" Juliana commanded.

"What do you want now?" Stella sniffled.

Juliana smiled lightly, "I wouldn’t even let a dog use the clothes I don’t want, let alone someone like you. Take it off!"

Tears filled Stella’s eyes again.

It wasn’t an act; she was truly made to cry by her words.

"I’ll go change right now."

"I want you to take it off right now!"

Stella realized that Juliana had changed ever since her falling out with Evan.

She looked to Evan for help.

The man’s sharp gaze lingered on Juliana’s face for a few seconds before softening.

"Stella, go out."

See, he still couldn’t bear to see his beloved humiliated.

Juliana’s face wore a faint sarcastic smile.

Stella fled the room as if she had received a royal decree.

Evan approached her and wanted to take her hand to check, only to have Juliana ruthlessly shake him off.

"Don’t touch me with your filthy hands!"

Evan remained patient with her.

She wouldn’t let him touch, so he put his hand down.

"You don’t like her, I’ll send her away at once and won’t bother with her again. You sign the ’statement’, and we’ll get along for three years. After three years, if you still want a divorce, I won’t interfere."

Juliana smirked cynically, "Are you still dreaming, or do you think I’m stupid enough for you to deceive me twice?"

Evan’s gaze darkened, and he slammed the door as he left.

Juliana glanced at a disorderly stack of A4 papers on the table, indeed one was missing.

Stella had quite the scheme, getting hit and still thinking of calculating against her.

Evan returned to the study, where Stella was waiting for him.

"Brother, I found this in sister-in-law’s room."

It was an A4 paper with a rough sketch of the estate and a few marked spots.

"Brother, sister-in-law quarreled with me on purpose, broke the window, she intends to escape through that window when no one’s around in the middle of the night."

Evan didn’t respond to her words.

At this moment, Ethan walked in.

"President Grant, there’s a bit of trouble."

Evan looked at him.

Ethan approached and said, "This morning, a blogger uploaded a video questioning ’Where is Mrs. Grant’, and it trended in less than an hour. Luckily, I discovered it quickly, but..."

"But what?" Evan asked, his gaze deep.

"But even after taking it down, it keeps reappearing. I’ve assigned someone to handle it continuously. Previously, when she caused a scene at the wedding anniversary banquet, though rumors spread, the video didn’t leak, so the situation wasn’t out of control. But now, the internet is openly focusing on your relationship with your wife, making it hard to explain to the board and clients."

It’s well known that a married man’s reputation often starts with the stability of the family.

Even for a business mogul, if news of favoring a concubine over a wife spreads, it ruins not only his reputation but also shareholders’ confidence and accumulated goodwill.

What’s more, Evan here still has the added layer of scandal.

"Isn’t it done by her good friend? That night at the wedding anniversary, the hotel surveillance captured her friend’s figure in and out, she must have helped her upload the photos."

Stella used this doubt to blame Summer Shaw.

But Evan didn’t even raise his eyebrows, "She doesn’t have that capability."

Stella found her words stuck in her throat.

"Find out who the mastermind is," Evan said to Ethan.

Ethan nodded in agreement, "The old lady couldn’t reach you and called me, she wants you to see her."

Evan remained expressionless, "Just tell her you haven’t seen me."

Juliana had been confined here for four or five days, and Evan hadn’t left either, the old lady’s spies in the company must have reported to her long ago.

"What does brother plan to do about sister-in-law trying to escape tonight?" Stella asked.

Evan laughed slightly and instructed Ethan, "Find someone to fix the window immediately and strengthen the patrol tonight."

Ethan nodded and went about his task.

"You take off the clothes, wash them, and return them to her."

"Yes."

Tears brimmed in Stella’s eyes as she reached the door of the study.

Evan suddenly said, "Though you’ve been wronged, I think you’re still somewhat useful."

Stella understood, he wouldn’t send her away.

But that’s not enough, only by making Evan resent Juliana could she have a chance with him.

She lowered her eyes, "As long as brother is satisfied."

...

In the afternoon, Stella returned the washed and dried clothes to Juliana.

Juliana disdainfully ignored them and uttered a few harsh words, telling her to get out.

Stella waited to see the embarrassment when Juliana’s meticulously arranged escape plan completely failed at night, so she didn’t react or argue.

She knew that when those bodyguards acted, they wouldn’t hold back, and Juliana might end up with broken limbs.

Just as she left the bedroom, the window repairmen arrived.

These people were also arranged by her, who would purposely leave a movable window to "assist" Juliana in her escape at night.

Stella smiled and walked away.

After four in the afternoon, the repairmen finished fixing the window and left the estate.

No one noticed that someone had quietly joined the group behind them.

Juliana, wearing the clothes Stella had worn that morning, deliberately mimicked her makeup and walked with her head down behind a few workers.

The intention behind letting Stella discover that paper was just a smokescreen to direct their attention to nighttime and let them relax during the day.

Juliana would never wait until dark to leave.

The guards remembered this outfit: Stella had indeed worn it in the morning.

So they only scanned her briefly and let the "familiar" figure out of the gate.

Juliana wanted to hitch a ride with the workers, but there was no space in their car, and they were concerned about traffic rules, so they refused her.

Left with no choice, she sprinted along the highway, trying to escape the mountain.

Soon, the downside of not having eaten for days caught up to her.

Before long, she was short of breath, dizzy and sweating.

Worse yet, the sound of a car engine came from behind.

They found her!

Juliana watched the road disappear around the bend, dispirited, and stopped, quickly surrounded by several cars.

Evan got out, taking Stella with him from the back seat.

Stella mocked, "Sister-in-law, running away in clothes I’ve worn looks much more genuine than your fake dignity this morning."