CHAPTER 69: CHAPTER 69: UNABLE TO RESIST COMPROMISE

But by the time he reached the door, the car had already sped away.

Director Wallace took the initiative to say, "Mr. Langley, she came to my office. I have surveillance there."

The man showed no expression, but gave his secretary a look.

The secretary stepped forward and said, "Director Wallace, Mr. Langley’s visit is purely personal. It is inappropriate to host such a grand reception. Making the children dance in the sun on a hot day—why don’t you go dance yourself?"

Director: "..."

"Mr. Langley will donate 300,000 in his own name for the children, and this money must be entirely used for the children."

Director quickly nodded, "Don’t worry, Mr. Langley, I will handle it promptly."

The man showed no expression, told the secretary, "Go check the surveillance here," and then looked at the director.

"If this happens again, you won’t be the director anymore. You’ll be cleaning toilets."

Director: "......"

Juliana wasn’t particularly disappointed at not getting useful information.

"The teachers at this orphanage never really cared about the children. It’s normal not to gain anything."

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been handed over to a pervert back then.

"Our main task in Arlan City is to meet President Holt. Let’s first find a hotel to rest, then go see him."

...

By evening, President Holt had another unavoidable engagement—dining with guests at a garden restaurant.

"Is he messing with us on purpose?" Summer grumbled.

Yet, Juliana wasn’t discouraged and asked for the secretary’s address, then took Summer along.

They waited at the restaurant’s entrance, knowing they could meet him after the engagement.

President Holt’s private room faced the street, with the shadows of three people cast against the bright windows.

"Juliana..." Summer tugged at her sleeve, "You haven’t even left yet, and that little bitch is haunting your husband. Does she have no shame?"

Juliana followed her gaze. Evan Grant and Stella Windsor were seated in the private room, chatting and laughing with a middle-aged man.

Evan Grant and the middle-aged man seemed neither close nor distant, while Stella, sitting between the two men, occasionally poured wine, served dishes, and said things to liven up the atmosphere, her actions filled with Evan’s indulgence.

Juliana withdrew her gaze, her clear eyes calm and steady.

"She even followed to The Springs Resort."

Summer was surprised. "Is she like a sticky plaster?"

Juliana pulled up the Titan Heavy Industries webpage on her phone for Summer to see.

"Isn’t the man beside them the President Holt we are supposed to meet?"

Summer was even more surprised.

"This... Cortexa’s project involves heavy trucks, and Titan Heavy Industries specializes in them too. Aren’t they competitors? How can they be sitting together?"

"In business, there are no eternal enemies or friends. Even competitors can drink together as long as there’s no immediate conflict of interest. That is their social code."

Summer looked at the sky filled with dark clouds.

"It’s going to rain. Do you have an umbrella in the car?" Summer asked.

Juliana shook her head. She hadn’t found time to prepare such things after buying the car.

"This meal won’t end anytime soon. I’ll go buy an umbrella so that we’re prepared to wait them out."

Summer left for the nearby mall after speaking.

This private room was deliberately chosen by Stella, clearly wanting Juliana to see she was becoming a companion to her husband.

"It’s about to rain. How about we wait for it to stop before leaving?" Stella suggested.

President Holt’s gaze shifted to the woman standing outside the window, presumably waiting for him.

He mumbled to himself, "Young people today are quite persistent."

Stella smiled without responding and ordered two more dishes on her phone.

The summer weather changed quickly, and within a few minutes, heavy rain poured down.

With Summer not back yet with the umbrella, Juliana had to stand under the restaurant eaves.

But the rain was too heavy, and the eaves too narrow to shield her properly. By the time Summer returned with the umbrella, Juliana was already soaked.

President Holt looked at Evan Grant. "What did the young lady from Aetherflame do to wrong you, making things difficult for them like this?"

Evan Grant’s eyes fell on Juliana’s drenched yet stubborn little face, his gaze dark and deep.

President Holt glanced at Juliana, then at Stella intentionally delaying their meal, thinking: Is this a lover’s spat, with Evan Grant backing his wife?

He had never seen Mrs. Grant before, and Evan Grant hadn’t introduced the woman by his side tonight. But seeing her so bold, and Evan so indulgent, it was likely she was Mrs. Grant.

Given that, President Holt didn’t ask further.

The meal lasted over two hours.

The rain outside finally stopped.

Juliana’s clothes had gone from thoroughly wet to almost dry by now.

"That woman did it on purpose! Let’s go, I’m not doing this business anymore."

Summer Shaw couldn’t bear this grievance and pulled Juliana Jacobs to leave.

Juliana held her hand, "Do you think just because President Holt is meeting us tonight, the deal is definitely going to go through?"

Summer was puzzled.

Juliana said, "The more important the collaboration, the more it requires repeated communication and negotiation to reach an agreement. Think about our current situation, let’s endure it."

Could these words have come from a housewife disconnected from society for four years?

Summer looked at her, as if meeting her for the first time.

The dinner finally ended, and President Holt, Evan Grant, and Stella Windsor walked out of the private room.

As they walked to the lobby, Stella suddenly said, "Their pastries are pretty good, I’d like to take a box to go for a late night snack."

Evan remained silent, while President Holt laughed, "Sure, as long as Mrs. Grant likes it."

Hearing this, Stella didn’t deny it; instead, she blushed.

Evan’s eyes were as dark as ink.

The wind after the rain was chilly, making Juliana’s hands and feet cold.

"Shall we go back?" Summer asked, seeing her pale face.

Juliana shook her head, unwilling to give up when there was just a little time left.

Finally, Stella got her hot pastries, and President Holt’s group left the restaurant.

Titan Heavy Industries’ driver had already brought the car around.

Seeing that President Holt was about to get in the car, Juliana walked over quickly, "President Holt!"

Stanley Holt paused.

Should he continue to ignore her?

She had already called out, it would be rude not to respond.

He glanced at Juliana, feigning ignorance, and asked, "And you are...?"

Juliana initially intended to formally state her company and position, but a thought crossed her mind.

"I’m Evan Grant’s wife."

As soon as the words were spoken, Stanley Holt’s face showed an undisguised astonishment.

"And also the technical director of Aetherflame Dynamics. I came specifically to visit you this time, hoping for a chance to talk."

"So it’s Mrs. Grant, sorry for the lack of hospitality tonight, let’s arrange a meeting another day."

After speaking, Stanley Holt nodded coldly to Evan and got into the car, without giving Stella even a glance.

Stella pouted, her fingernails piercing through the pastry box.

After seeing off President Holt, Juliana pulled Summer away.

Evan called after her, "Weren’t you insisting that we have nothing to do with each other? Why use the identity of ’Mrs. Grant’ to negotiate with President Holt?"

There was amusement in his voice.

Juliana retorted coldly, "President Grant, your means are despicable, I couldn’t resist compromising, you should be pleased."

After saying this, she gave him a cold look and drove off with Summer.

Ethan Carter pulled the car up in front of Evan.

But Evan didn’t get in, instead giving a detached order, "Take her to the train station."

Stella suddenly panicked, "Brother, I want to stay with you a little longer."

"Know your place!"

Evan’s voice grew colder.

"Your unauthorized decision to follow me to Arlan City displeases me greatly. This is the last time. If you act on your own again, I wouldn’t mind sending you overseas permanently like Isaac."

Stella wanted to act coy, but upon seeing Evan’s warning gaze, she instinctively closed her mouth.

He didn’t love her, so she had no leverage to act willfully in front of him, while Juliana did.

In the end, with tears streaming, she got into the car.

Seeing Evan get into a cab from the rearview mirror, she asked, "Is brother going to find Juliana?"

Ethan looked straight ahead, "They’re still married, staying together isn’t unusual, right?"

Stella felt a suffocating frustration in her chest.

Juliana came back to the hotel and soon developed a high fever.

The antipyretics provided by the hotel were harmful to the body, so Summer suggested she try physical cooling first while she went out to get medicine.

Soon after Summer had left, Juliana’s phone rang.

In a daze, she picked it up, hearing Adrian Langley’s voice, "I’ve revised the divorce agreement according to your requests from that day. Is there a time for us to discuss it?"

Juliana pulled herself together and replied, "Not now, I’m on a business trip in Arlan City."

Adrian chuckled, "I’m in the café on the second floor of your hotel, you won’t come?"